 It was acquired as a source of a spare boiler for the solitary preserved K4 but in 1972 the K1 was donated, still with its boiler, to the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group.By 1975 the K1 had been restored to main line running order and made an appearance at the Stockton and Darlington Railway 150th anniversary celebrations at Shildon, County Durham.Since then the NELPG has endeavoured to keep the locomotive available for use on the main line.