03156 / D2156

[scarby]

According to Railways Illustrated's newly-revived 'Rumour mill', "Could Italian-exiled Class 03, 03156, be on its way back home? Talk is it's already landed at the NYMR, but the railway denies it..."

The loco, which apparently left the UK for Italy in 1976, has most recently been plinthed at Ferramenta Pugliesie, Terlizzi, Bari. After its "discovery" there it became something of an objective for British enthusiasts going there to see and photograph it.

Sometime between July 2023 and July 2025 it disappeared from is plinth - a visitor in July 2025 reported that demolition of the Ferramanta Pugliesie premises was taking place.

The NYMR itself seems to be maintaining a silence over it.

Anyone know anything?

 

[PP57601]

I’ve read a few online reports/rumours that 03156 has recently been returned from Italy to The UK. Can anyone shed any further light on the situation please?

 

[Trackman]

I've read the rumours and someone decided to have a look around the NYMR for this mystery loco under a tarp but couldn't find anything, unless it was hidden behind the p/way shed.

 

[Cowley]

I’ve read a few online reports/rumours that 03156 has recently been returned from Italy to The UK. Can anyone shed any further light on the situation please?

I’ve merged this with the existing thread if you were wondering.

 

[JKF]

If anyone spots the missing exported 06 under a tarp anywhere too please report back!

 

[DBS92042]

I've read the rumours and someone decided to have a look around the NYMR for this mystery loco under a tarp but couldn't find anything, unless it was hidden behind the p/way shed.

The report I saw suggested this mystery tarped loco was moved into the p/way shed at New Bridge and there was a strict 'no photo' policy for anyone there. I have no idea how accurate/truthful this report was though...

 

[Trackman]

The report I saw suggested this mystery tarped loco was moved into the p/way shed at New Bridge and there was a strict 'no photo' policy for anyone there. I have no idea how accurate/truthful this report was though...

It begs the question of why would it be so secretive?

 

[JKF]

There’s 56 of these in preservation, including some in need of restoration that could probably be taken on by another railway. Not sure why anyone would bother shipping one in from overseas, although apparently this has happened with two examples previously (plus the 04 the HST lot have now) so not unprecedented. I’d also expect it to appear at Peak Rail if anywhere. I seem to recall it was asked about in the past but the Italian owner was after silly money.

 

[scarby]

It begs the question of why would it be so secretive?

It does indeed and what's more, the effect of that is going to be precisely the opposite of what is wanted - it's just going to make people more curious and determined to find it, as shown by apparently at least one person already going in search of it, fuelled by it being in Railways Illustrated's rumour column, rather than just reported as a story if the facts were readily available.

 

[John Webb]

It begs the question of why would it be so secretive?

It does indeed and what's more, the effect of that is going to be precisely the opposite of what is wanted - it's just going to make people more curious and determined to find it, as shown by apparently at least one person already going in search of it, fuelled by it being in Railways Illustrated's rumour column, rather than just reported as a story if the facts were readily available.

May I suggest that if the loco has been bought privately, and regardless of which railway they've made arrangements with to store/restore it, they simply don't want to be known publicly as the owner and be pestered with requests to view the said loco.

 

[Wyrleybart]

I have read the stories about the mystery tarped loco arriving at Pickering. One story reckoned it was the Belgian vertical boilered loco returning to it's home railway. I think there would be a marked difference i nther shape of the tarpaulin around and 03 compared to a centre-cabbed steam loco, but that is only my opinion.

 

[scarby]

According to a recent post on the Shunterspot forum, "It is not at NYMR. Confirmed by a senior member of NYMR. So we have to believe that. For now at least."