A DIESEL locomotive which ferried passengers in the Malvern area 40 years ago is being lovingly restored to its former glory after being rescued from the scrapheap.

Gary Hibbs and John Wade, members of the South Yorkshire Railway Society, tracked locomotive number D2139 to a coking yard in Monkton.

"We used to go up there regularly, about three or four times a year, to check on the train," explained Mr Hibbs.

"The last time we went up there we found the yard was derelict, so we asked the security guard what had happened to the trains.

"He gave us an address and we ended up buying it for around £2,600."

The train was taken back to a siding in Meadowhall, Sheffield, where society now has four locomotives in its possession, three of which are steam engines. Eventually, it intends to run them along the old colliery line between Meadowhall and Chapeltown, Leeds, as a passenger service.

Mr Hibbs, of Derby, has appealed for anyone who has any photographs of, or remembers seeing, diesel locomotive Class 03, number D2139, to get in touch with him.

He is keen for any details of its working life in Worcestershire.

"I've always been interested in that class of locomotive," he said.

"I used to go round the country photographing them and I've traced the history of this particular train.

"But there is a big gap in the 1960s and I've got no sort of sightings and records at that time."

If anyone has any information or photographs, Mr Hibbs can be contacted at 42, Matthew Street, Alvaston, Derby, DE24 OER, or on 01332 754 945.