BR Bo-Bo Class 33 "Crompton" No. 33053

D6571 (later 33053) was built by Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Co Ltd (BRCW) at their works in Smethwick (works number DEL 175) and entered service on 14th October 1961 being allocated to Hither Green depot.

It was one of a fleet of 98 delivered to British Railways Southern Region in the early 1960s which, in due course, earned an enviable reputation for reliability and capability across many of BR's regions.

The loco was air braked and had vacuum and air train braking equipment. It was also fitted with an electric train heating system at 750v DC so that it matched third rail voltage on Southern Region. It left the BRCW works in BR Green with white window surrounds and white waistline band along both body sides.

By July 1970 it was noted as having been repainted in all-over BR Blue livery with full yellow ends. On 31st December 1973 it was allocated to the Class 33 fleet and renumbered 33053 under BR's Total Operating Processing System (TOPS).  

33053 was condemned officially on 13th February 1997 at Stewarts Lane depot. The following month saw it purchased by the Harry Needle Railroad Company (HNRC) at Barrow Hill.  HNRC then moved it to Crewe in April 1998 for further storage. In May2000 the loco was moved to HNRC's base at Barrow Hill.

In December 2000, 33053 was sold by HNRC to Direct Rail Services (DRS) and moved to MoD Smalmstown for a short period. It was then moved to the DRS base at Carlisle Kingmoor for overhaul.  It re-entered main line service for DRS in June 2001 and used on their nuclear flask and other trains.

33053 was used by DRS for just over three years before being sold back to HNRC in November 2004. It was moved to Barrow Hill in July 2004 but, six months later, it was sold to the D5581 Group also at Barrow Hill. In April 2006 it was moved to the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway followed by the Battlefield Line at Shackerstone in March 2007.

It's travels were not over with 33053 being transported to the Northampton & Lamport Railway at Pitsford. In August 2010 it was loaded onto a lorry again to travel down to the Mid Hants Railway. There 33053 underwent repairs and returned to service on the Watercress Line.  

May 2024 saw HNRC purchase it again and move it to their new base at Worksop for one of its cabs to be almost completey rebuilt with new metal. It arrived on the Swanage Railway by road from their Worksop depot on 7th August 2025.