[2] Sharp, Stewart and Company received four orders totalling 65:[3] The balance (57 locomotives) were built at Ashford Works between 1882 and 1899,[4] their numbers being scattered between 1 and 258, plus 299–301, 314–8, 331–4.

The engine was withdrawn by British Railways in 1961, its major claim to fame being the working of the last railtour to run over the Hawkhurst branch in Kent, along with C class No.

Within a month of operating the special over the Hawkhurst branch, the engine was withdrawn from general traffic by British Railways and was moved to Ashford Works.

The locomotive was used to train apprentices in the works and was discovered by Esmond Lewis-Evans while he was back visiting from his home in Rhodesia.

To avoid repossession by British Rail for non-payment of rent on the Ashford Steam Centre, 31065 was dismantled and dispersed to sites around Kent; the frames and tender went to Essex.

With the impending centenary of the SECR due in 1999, work started swiftly on restoring the engine to traffic.

323 Bluebell), the now-numbered 65 briefly became the sole operational ex-SECR engine in the world, until the restoration of another P class tank at the Kent & East Sussex Railway in 2001.

The engine has performed regularly at the Bluebell Railway since its overhaul, often to be found operating the line's vintage trains, which is often formed of ex-SECR carriages[broken anchor].

In May 2009 the engine made a historic return to the K&ESR, having been a regular on the line during the 1950s, including working some of the demolition trains.

This was the first time since its arrival that the engine had left the Bluebell, although a previous visit to the Mid Hants Railway for a gala appearance in 2007 had been planned, but was cancelled owing to a failure.

The frames were moved into the Bluebell's workshop at Sheffield Park in 2016 for work to commence on the rest of the locomotive.