[Preston Pilot 47472]

My home backs on to the Blackburn-Hellifield line at Clitheroe and was woken at 1.30 am today to the sound of a repetitive "whoosh, bang, crash, wallop" and an uncomfortable house shaking. I thought I was experiencing the same kind of misfortune that has been witnessed recently by the people of New Zealsnd.
I immediately went to the window and saw for the first time a tamping locomotive with support coach, all lit-up and lifting track and pushing ballast back under the rails.
Can anyone enlighten me as to the background of this unique locomotive, where it is stabled and how often it is used to perform such a task?
Must have done the trick as the 06.20 and 06.50 dmus were a lot quieter.
BTW, just as I was getting back to sleep the darned nocturnal thing came back on the up line performing the very same.
Very bleary-eyed this morning!