It was withdrawn in January 1966. It was bought by the Witherslack Hall Locomotive Society and it arrived on the Great Central Railway in November 1975, having operated on the line during its BR days. Restoration was completed in 1986 and the locomotive operated until 2001 when it was withdrawn for overhaul. After 14 years out of service, 6990's overhaul was completed in October 2015 and was operating at the GCR. The locomotive visited East Lancashire Railway for the 2017 and 2018 summer season. During the engines overhaul it also had its Collett tender swapped with 4930 Hagley Hall's Hawksworth tender, the latter going to 4930.
