Matthew Murray was built by Manning, Wardle in 1903 (Works No.1601 - Class L), for P.&W. Anderson and Company to use in their contract, Andersons' sold the locomotive to the cement company. At some time during its career, the loco aquired the name Arthur. It remained at the cement works until 1967, when it was sold to the Industrial Locomotive Preservation Co., based on the Kent and East Sussex Railway. Here it enjoyed some use as their No.17 in the early days of public running on that line, but was stored out of use by the mid 1970's, Arthur was purchased privately, and by the late 1980's was at the Buxton depot of the Peak Railway Society, undergoing repairs.

The Loco was sold to the Middleton Railway, where it arrived on 31st January, 1990, filling an important gap in its collection of Leeds built locomotives. However, there proved to be a great deal of work necessary to bring the loco into working order. Many parts were badly worn or badly corroded, and needed extensive repair or complete replacement. It had been hoped to have the loco ready to make its debut at the autumn 1997 Gala but, during an in-steam Boiler Inspection, a small leak was discovered to have developed in the boiler, which had previously undergone hydraulic and ultrasonic testing without any weakness. The decision was therefore taken to replace the boiler, with generous assistance from a member.

Following the completion of its restoration, for which the Railway was awarded the "John Coiley award for locomotive restoration" by the Heritage Railway Association (see  press release), the locomotive was named Matthew Murray during the Railway's Gala on Saturday 29 September 2001 in order to continue a long tradition of there being a Manning Wardle locomotive at Middleton bearing the name of its pioneer locomotive builder. 

Click here to view the rostered turns for this locomotive