In October 1987, Doncaster wagon works was sold by the British Rail Board to RFS Industries in a management buyout. On 30 June 1989 Thomas Hill was sold to RFS Engineering. The Thomas Hill name was dropped, but developments of TH designs continued to be produced. RFS’s first seven locos (narrow gauge locos for the channel tunnel contract) were numbered into their own scheme, thereafter, works numbers of locos continued TH’s numbering.

The final loco (CRACOE, for Tilcon, Grassington, N Yorks) was built at Doncaster as RFS Doncaster went into receivership. In 1998 RFS was acquired by Westinghouse Air Brake Company and in 2000 was renamed Wabtec Rail Limited.