26004 was purchased from British Rail by the 6LDA Group in September 1993, following withdrawal as surplus at Inverness in December 1992. It had been stopped whilst undergoing an ‘E’ exam and was in full working order, although the air receivers were missing, having been removed for testing. However, problems arose with the specification for the asbestos removal, and BR Scientific's insisted on a far more in depth examination than what had originally been planned prior to the tender being issued. By this time, the sales had already been agreed, therefore BR had to stand the extra cost, which was further complicated when, in April 1994 , responsibility for the locos passed to Trainload Freight West. 004 eventually moved to MC Metals, Glasgow in September 1994 for the asbestos checks.Two months later, in November 1994, 26004 arrived at Bo’ness.

Both cabs had been completely stripped out, the former boiler room dismantled and the brake frame removed to give access to the bulkheads. The rest of the loco was known to be in good condition, as the air receivers had been refitted and the loco started while at Inverness, making it the first 26 to run in preservation.Slow progress was made, due to the size of the task, and also due to extensive corrosion being discovered in the cab structure. Large parts of the structure and the platework were replaced on both cabs, the boiler room rebuilt and the loco returned to working order. By September 1995, enough had been replaced to allow the loco to work a train, and it made its debut at the SRPS diesel gala, in grey undercoat with partially completed bodywork. Progress continued to be slow due to other projects, but it ran in the first pair of 26’s in preservation during the September 1996 gala, with D5301(26001). Better progress was made in 1997, and the majority of the bodywork repairs were completed by the end of the year.

Then, in March 1998, a short notice invitation to attend the Spring Diesel Gala at the Llangollen Railway led to a concerted effort being made to get the loco ready. It duly appeared in Trainload Coal colours, and performed well."004" then moved on to the East Lancs Railway and took part in their July diesel week. It returned North with 27001, and appeared at Toton open day. The next outing was in July 1999 when it traveled, again with 27001, to the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway diesel weekend. Since then it has seen regular use at Bo’ness. At present the locomotive is out of service and will receive body work,minor power unit repairs and bogie overhaul. It will also be outshopped in a new livery before returning to service.