SIR ROBERT was built at the Stoke works of the North Staffordshire Railway in 1920 and was purchased by Manchester Collieries in February 1937. It was a powerful and favourite locomotive, being in almost constant use until 1962. A new boiler had been provided by Hunslet in 1950 and fitted at Walkden. Note the pipework for the steam jets which were fitted to the majority of the surviving engines from 1963.