24081

24081 (D5081) is privately owned and a permanent resident on the GWR. It was built at Crewe Locomotive Works in early 1960 (from batch D5076–D5093) and entered traffic on 9th March 1960, allocated to March (31B) as part of a batch of fifty Type 2s delivered to assist with the dieselisation of East Anglia. Like many of its classmates, it quickly migrated to the London Midland Region, moving on loan to Willesden and then Rugby before settling at Watford in November 1960 for a four-year stint.

The locomotive's early career included a couple of notable public appearances. In April 1960, barely a month old, D5081 was exhibited at Marylebone Goods Yard for the Institute of Transport Congress, and again at Stoke-on-Trent the following month as part of the city's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

By the end of 1966, the electrification of the southern end of the West Coast Main Line and the arrival of newer Class 25s saw the Class 24 fleet dispersed northwards. D5081 moved to the Stoke Division, beginning a long association with the North Wales and Cheshire area. It was renumbered to 24081 in late February 1974, and received its final classified repair at Derby Works in the summer of 1975, emerging in BR Blue with gangway doors sheeted over and the boiler water tank removed.

Through the late 1970s, 24081 became a familiar sight on freight and trip workings across North Wales, Cheshire and Staffordshire — iron ore trains to Shotwick, sand trains from Oakamoor and Cauldon, trip workings along the North Wales coast to Amlwch and Holyhead, and parcels turns from Bangor to Crewe. It was a regular at Cockshute stabling point and Llandudno Junction.

From April 1979, following the withdrawal of classmate 24063, 24081 held the distinction of being the last Class 24 in service — a position it maintained for eighteen months. During this remarkable swansong it continued to turn up on a variety of duties, and even rescued a failed Class 40 at Colwyn Bay on the 18:05 Holyhead–Euston in August 1979.

The end came in October 1980 when 24081 attended a joint BR/Steamport exhibition at Southport and was failed with flat batteries. It was withdrawn on 5th October 1980 after a career of just over twenty years, and was quickly rescued for preservation. It arrived at Toddington and has remained operational throughout its preservation life. A bogie refurbishment has recently been completed and the locomotive is fit for service.

By November 2000, 24081 had spent more time in preservation than it ever did in service with British Railways.