[citation needed] 48151 was sold to Woodham Brothers scrapyard on Barry Island for in September 1968, and remained there until November 1975 when it was purchased for preservation.

It was then bought by David Smith and after its heavy restoration was completed in 1988 at Carnforth MPD, it was certified for mainline use and is currently operated by West Coast Railways (WCR) working steam charters across the UK, running on lines never visited before by an 8F.

The engine has visited the route on a number of occasions in July and August 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2018 with other trips being worked by 45231 The Sherwood Forester, 46115 Scots Guardsman and 61994 The Great Marquess.

[2] This trip was run to mark the re-opening of the Conwy Valley Line following a closure period due to damage inflicted from Storm Gareth which resulted in numerous washouts.

The 8F took over the train at Carnforth and worked northbound over Shap's 1 in 75 to Carlisle with the return leg being via Whitehaven and Grange-over-Sands on the Cumbrian Coast and Furness Lines.

Following repair work to mark the reopening of the line "Transport for Wales Rail" in co-operation with "West Coast Railways" ran a train called "The Conwy Quest" which ran from Chester to Blaenau Ffestiniog via Llandudno Junction on Sat 3 Aug.[9] The load that was to be hauled on the day which was 9 coaches required the special to be double headed (the gradient being 1 in 40 in the Blaenau direction alongside the tight curves would be too much for the 8F to cope with alone).

46115 Scots Guardsman was the original second engine intended to work with 48151 however owing to a hot axlebox days before while on a test run following completion of its overhaul her place was taken by 45690 Leander.