The West Lancashire Light Railway has been handed ownership of a small industrial locomotive that it has had on loan for the last 50 years.

Planet, an 0-4-0 diesel locomotive, was originally owned by the North West Water Authority, which used it at Llanforda Hall water works near Oswestry in Shropshire, where it moved sand to be washed that had been used in the filter beds.

The waterworks were owned by Liverpool Corporation, and after Planet became redundant, the corporation donated it to the City of Liverpool Museum, which placed it on loan with the railway in 1975. After being repaired and with the advantage of having an electric starter, since then, Planet has been in regular use at the West Lancashire Light Railway.

The ownership of Planet was transferred to the West Lancashire Light Railway Trust thanks to the generosity of the Board of Trustees of the National Museums & Galleries on Merseyside, operating under the title National Museums Liverpool. The railway has expressed its gratitude to the trustees and staff of the National Museums & Galleries of Merseyside for arranging its transfer.

Although Planet is now 80 years old, it can often be seen on operating days and at the railway’s Working Engines Gala in September each year.

Anyone who wishes to see Planet when it is not working can do so by asking at the ticket office.

Planet was built by F.C. Hibberd & Co Ltd. at Ashford in Kent in 1946, the name Planet being used by Hibberd’s to market its range of small petrol locomotives.

Last year, the Lancashire Environmental Fund awarded the West Lancashire Light Railway Trust a 75% grant towards the installation of solar panels on the roof of the engine shed.

The West Lancashire Light Railway is one of three heritage lines joining forces over the late May bank holiday in a unique steam celebration. Along with the Apedale Valley Light Railway and the Amerton Railway, the three railways have jointly organised a showcase of steam locomotives built by W.G. Bagnall of Staffordshire.