Named after the mythical Greek hero famed for his strength, Hercules was built for the Great Western Railway at Swindon Works in 1920.
Designed as a heavy mineral engine, the 4200 Class used its 2-8-0 wheel arrangement to navigate the undulating tracks and tight curves of the South Wales valleys, hauling coal from pit to port. Withdrawn from service in 1964 and sent to Barry scrapyard, she waited 22 years before being rescued and restored to full working order in 1986.
For the 2024 and 2025 running seasons, her owners at the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway loaned Hercules to the North Norfolk Railway — a line she would never historically have worked, but one she has clearly made her own.
The heritage railway, fondly known as the Poppy Line, runs 5½ miles of stunning coastal scenery between the Victorian seaside resort of Sheringham and the Georgian town of Holt.