E828 was one of a class of 25 heavy freight locomotives designed for the Southern Railway by the Chief Mechanical engineer, R.E.L. Maunsell at a cost of £10,500 each. The design was based on that used by his predecessor, R.W. Urie of the L.S.W.R., This had already proved successful, but Maunsell added improvements and modifications to Urie's design, making it one of the most advanced freight engines of the period. Fifteen were out-shopped from Eastleigh, including E828 which was built in July 1927, with a further ten of the class being built in 1936.

828 was one of a class of 25 heavy freight locomotives designed for the Southern Railway by the Chief Mechanical engineer, R.E.L. Maunsell at a cost of £10,500 each. The design was based on that used by his predecessor, R.W. Urie of the L.S.W.R., This had already proved successful, but Maunsell added improvements and modifications to Urie's design, making it one of the most advanced freight engines of the period. Fifteen were out-shopped from Eastleigh, including E828 which was built in July 1927, with a further ten of the class being built in 1936.

The class was steadily withdrawn from service from 1962, with 30828 being withdrawn in January 1964 and despatched to Woodham Brothers Scrapyard at Barry in June that year. She stayed there until March 1981 when, with the help of a grant and loan from Eastleigh Borough Council, the locomotive, complete with an eight wheeled bogie flare top tender was purchased by the Eastleigh Railway Preservation Society for £10,500 and returned to the place where she was built fifty-four years earlier to be restored.