Alf was built in Gorton, Manchester, by Beyer-Peacock in 1958 and  was given the works No.7856. It was built for the Steel Company Of Wales (Orb Steel Works) who had ordered numerous Brush Traction designed shunters previously. 

Alf follows a standard Brush design and as such wears Brush works plates. It was the first Brush-Beyer-Peacock locomotive to be built and was the first Brush designed diesel-electric not to be built by Bagnalls of Stafford. Built with a 200HP National Gas engine which powers an electric traction motor which drives the rear axle, it has a top speed of 18MPH. 

It worked at the Orb Steel Works (Newport) carrying the No.91. In 1976 it was put into store despite being in full operational condition. After over a decade in storage, it was put on permanent loan to the Middleton Railway in 1987 by the British Steel Corporation. 

Despite its time in storage it was started up and drove itself onto the low loader which was to bring it to its new home. Unfortunately, upon arrival at Moor Road, it became grounded during unloading. This was due to the depth of the buffer beams and was eventually overcome with the help of a forklift. 

It has adopted the name ‘Alf’ as the name ‘Fat Alf’ was found painted on it when it first arrived at the railway. 

Shortly after arrival, a significant repair was completed to fix the gear case which had become split following a derailment. Numerous other repairs were also completed in addition to the fitting of vacuum brake equipment (quite some task as this required a hole to be drilled through the 3″ thick buffer beams). Following a repaint into its original steelworks livery, Alf entered service in 1991. 

During the 2002/3 winter, Alf was repainted into British Railways Brunswick Green and given the number D2999. This was the number and livery worn by its long-scrapped sister which had worked at BR’s Stratford Depot. 

Alf remains in regular use on diesel services and can often be seen shunting in the yard. It is unique in being the only diesel-electric at the railway.