45212 was purchased directly from british railways service for preservation so never had to be restored from scrapyard condition unlike other preserved locomotives which ended up being sent to barry island. the majority of its class including 45212 were purchased directly from br service for preservation with only six being purchased from barry island and then required restoration to run again. before being overhauled at ian riley's workshop in bury it spent most of its previous boiler ticket operating at the north yorkshire moors railway, but was not able to run trains into whitby or battersby as it was not mainline certified.