This locomotive, built at Horwich, was one of a class of a class totalling 115 engines of 2-6-0 wheel arrangement designed by British Rail at Doncaster for mixed traffic duties, and built at Horwich and Doncaster between 1953 and 1957.  They are of slightly smaller capacity than the 75000 class 4-6-0's and were developed from the LMS Ivatt 43000 class.  They have 5ft 3in driving wheels with two outside cylinders, and Walschaerts valve gear (piston valves).  The locomotives weigh 59tons 2 cwt and have a low axle loading of under 17tons, giving them a wide Route Availability (4 under British Rail classification).  The footplate is raised and the cylinders are set at a sharp angle to the horizontal and the cab is closed at the rear by a built-up cylinder.

The locomotives were designed to attain maximum interchangeability with other British Rail standard types in all its details and by this means maintenance was greatly facilitated.  The tenders of these engines weigh 42tons 3 cwt and have a coal capacity of 6 tons and a water capacity of 3,500 gallons.

When introduced the class were divided amongst all regions except the Western, with the largest allocation to the Southern and Scottish.  76017 was delivered from Horwich to Eastleigh in June 1953, where it joined others of the class in replacing aging LSWR 4-4-0 and 0-6-0 engines on mixed traffic duties in the Southampton area.  After seven years at Eastleigh it was transferred to similar duties at Salisbury, where it remained until withdrawn from traffic in December 1965.  Withdrawal of the class had commenced in 1964

76017 found its way to Woodham Brothers scrap yard at Barry, South Wales scrap yard where it languished for eight years, but ultimately escaped the cutters torch.  It was purchased for preservation by a group of QRS members and arrived at Quainton in January 1974.  It was moved to the Mid Hants Railway in February 1978, though it did return to Quainton for a visit in June 1994.  She was withdrawn in 1997 and is now awaiting its turn in the restoration queue.