Unfortunately the industry was now showing signs of a downturn in both new and refurbished locos, and price became the all important factor to prospective buyers. THR had rarely, if ever, won business on price. However, the situation in the petroleum industry was more encouraging, there was a move to use more rail transport and heavier trains. THR had a good relationship with most of these people having previously supplied locos to Shell, BP, Lindsey Oil etc. and had developed a good water exhaust gas quencher. This time Shell was asking for much more to satisfy the new more stringent OCCMA standards, and also a battery electric starter system which would have to carry a Buxton Approval Certificate. The order was to be for four locos and after Some discussion it was decided that we should quote against this requirement.