“Rusty” was built by Ruston and Hornsby in Lincoln in 1952 for the Electricity Supply Board at Portarlington Generating Station Co. Laois. It worked there until 1988 when the station closed. It was donated to ISPS in 1989 entering service at Stradbally in 1990/1. It was built with a 48hp Ruston 4VRH engine but was extensively rebuilt in 1982 and re-engined with a Lister HR6 power unit. It has been the workhorse at Stradbally handling all manner of tasks hauling track repair trains, ballast trains and covering diesel passenger trains. It celebrates its 73rd birthday in 2025.
