An interesting survivor. This is one of four similar, but not identical, locos used by the North Eastern for hauling inspection saloons over their system. As single drivers, they would not be able to handle much in the way of service trains.

The name, 'Aerolite', goes back to a 2-2-2T built by Kitsons in the 1850's but the name is all there is of the original in this. In 1868, the first 'Aerolite' was wrecked in a collision whilst hauling a saloon in which the Locomotive Superintendent of the day, Edward Fletcher was travelling. He was uninjured in the accident and a replacement 2-2-2T was built at Gateshead works in 1869, and subsequently rebuilt in 1886 under T W Worsdell. In 1892 it was rebuilt again, By Wilson Worsdell as a 4-2-2T and as a 2 cylinder compound on the Worsdell - Von Borries system (check out the cylinder sizes in the data.) NER built a lot of locos on this system, but most were subsequently rebuilt as 2 cylinder simples, but NOT this one, which is the only Worsdell - Von Borries compound in existence.

In 1902 it was rebuilt yet again as a 2-2-4T, the form it retains today. Always unique, 'Aerolite' took part in the 1925 Stockton and Darlington Railway Centenary celebrations, going into the original York Museum later. The LNER classified the four NER 2-2-4Ts as class X, and there were three sub classes to cover the four engines! Aerolite was class X1.

Today it has its old NER livery restored and it is on display in the NationalRailway Museum, York.