It eventually undertook a proving run on Sun 26 Jun from Alton to Fratton before entering mainline service later in the year.

Due to the railway not being connected to the national network, it had to be moved by road from Carnforth and the entrance to the yard at Llangollen was very tight.

45231 is currently based at Crewe Diesel TMD alongside a number of other mainline certified locomotives to help with charter trains.

[2] Then on the Sunday of the same week, 11 August (the final day of regular steam on BR in 1968), 45231 was given the honour of double heading once again with sister 44932, but this time acting as pilot engine, and it carried the 1T57 Headboard for the occasion.

45231 & 44932 worked the Carlisle to Longsight via Hellifield and Darwen leg of the Railway Touring Company's "Fifteen Guinea Special" 45th anniversary train.

[2][3] On 2 October 2015, The Sherwood Forester was working a West Coast Railways (WCR) special through Doncaster when it was noticed that its Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS) had been isolated by the footplate crew.

Previously, isolation of TPWS on a WCR operated locomotive had been a factor in the 2015 Wootton Bassett SPAD incident and the resultant suspension of WCRC's access to the network.

As a result, in November 2015 a further prohibition notice was issued to WCRC by the Office of Rail and Road, suspending further steam services operated by them.