Built at Leeds for the National Coal Board for use at Hem Heath Colliery in Staffordshire. It was fitted with BR two-line automatic air brakes for working coal trains prior to the full introduction of merry-go-round trains. By 1976 No. 7016 became redundant with the full introduction of merry-go-round trains, and the loco was kept as a spare in the shed. In 1982 it was sent to Walkden workshops where it was then overhauled and transferred to Bold Colliery at S Helens, Merseyside, where it was used to replace the Austerity 0-6-0ST steam locomotives. The colliery closed after the national strike of 1984 / 85 and along with all other railway stock, the locomotive was offered to sale. It was purchased by C. F. Booth of Rotherham in March 1986. The locomotive was believed to be in good condition, needing only a few small parts and recommissioning after its long layoff. Its oddometer showed it had only covered 9,090 miles from new. It was purchased from there by a QRS member and overhauled, arriving at Quainton in October 1986. It was fitted with a Rolls Royce C8TFL 400hp turbo charged engine and a hydraulic transmission, with a Twin Disc CF11500 torque converter and Hunslett final drive mounted on the rear axle. It is fitted throughout with roller bearings and has a tractive effort of 37,350lbs. It has a top speed of 16mph and automatic train air brakes.

In August 1990 No. 7016 left Quainton, taken by the Yorkshire Engine Company and refurbished at BREL Crewe works. Here it was fitted with a new Cummins engine instead of its original Rolls Royce unit (which is now in a preserved Sentinel locomotive), plus the installation of an electronic engine management system. It was painted in the Brown and Orange colours of Balfour Beatty and taken to the site of the Cheriton terminal of the Channel Tunnel. Being the first locomotive there, it was used on the heavy rail laying and ballast trains right up to the end of the contract and commencement of operations.

The locomotive then went back to the company's Sheffield yard for storage. A new contract was then obtained and the locomotive again went to the Yorkshire Engine Co. for a light overhaul and modification of the outer edges of the buffer beams to clear an electric third rail. It was also repainted into new colours of Blue and White. It was then shipped via Southampton docks to Singapore where it was used for the construction work on the new suburban electric railway system. On completion of this work the loco moved onto the next contract, an extension to the Hong Kong railway system which was completed just before the handover of Hong Kong to the Chinese authorities.

The locomotive then returned to Singapore where it was used on further works on the railway system there.

Current Location - Singapore Rail System - Works Loco (though no confirmation recently)

References:
A Powerful Diesel for Quainton - Quainton News No. 61 Autumn / Winter 1986 / 87
Quainton News No. 84, Summer 1999