LNER Class J27

A Worsdell P3 Class design for the North Eastern Railway, the LNER J27 0-6-0 freight locos’ numbers were added to by Raven in 1921, which included modifications. 115 were built altogether at Darlington and elsewhere, and they were classified as 5F under BR. The last class members were withdrawn in September 1967 and No. 65894 is preserved on the North York Moors line.

John Dyer photographed his lone example, No. 65887, at York on 26/7/60. Brian Leay and I were lucky enough to catch up with a few of them on our visit to the Newcastle area sheds in 1966, though we only saw one in steam. No. 65855 was chuffing around outside South Blyth sheds on 26/2/66 and on the same day Nos. 65835, 65832, 65853, 65817 and 65788 were having a turntable party in Sunderland round house. We had taken the ferry between North and South Blyth as foot passengers. The ferry closed down in 1997 after 130 years of continuous operation.

 

A fraction too late

I was there just in time, as the barrier was being lowered. Then I made the mistake of trying to get a zoom shot first, and the light engine working of two Class 20s, No’s 20118 and 20132, was too quickly upon me. No doubting the number of the lead locomotive, however.

Compensation was later provided by the stoat I saw on the trail, a first in that location. The next morning was positively spring-like and I celebrated with a shot of the millennium daffodils on the old Roman road into the village. I thought I’d better get another one without my bike in the foreground, but my phone told me that the cloud was full, or some such, so we can expect rain again soon, I think.

 

LNER Class J36

These 0-6-0s freight locomotives were introduced by Holmes for the North British Railway in 1888. 168 were built in total, at Cowlairs and by Neilsen and Sharp and Stewart. 25 were used in France during World War I and were named after battles and generals on their return. The names were hand-painted on the splashers. 123 eventually made it into BR ownership and the class had all been withdrawn by 1967. No. 65243 Maude is preserved on the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway. I only saw 2 of this class, however, John Dyer photographed Nos. 65234, 65243, 65267, 65282 and 65309 at Bathgate MPD on 1/8/64 and No. 65231 at Carlisle Canal sheds on 5/8/60.

LNER Class J39

These Class 4P5F 0-6-0s were a Gresley design dating from 1926. 289 were built at Darlington works and by Beyer Peacock, all of which made it into BR ownership. There were still 125 listed in my 1962 combined volume, though the whole class had been withdrawn by the end of that year, explaining in part why I saw only 6 of them. None were preserved.

John Dyer photographed 5 J39s – No. 64738 at Bidston sheds on 16/6/60, No. 64801 at Low Moor on 12/8/62, No. 64857 at Neville Hill also on 12/8/62, No. 64871 at Newcastle on 28/8/60 and No. 64880 at Gorton works during the same trip to Yorkshire and Lancashire on 12/8/62.

LNER Class J20

This 1920 GER Class D81 design by Hill was re-classified as Class J20 by the LNER. 25 had been built in 3 batches at Stratford works. The 0-6-0 Class 5 freight engines were then rebuilt between 1943 and 1956. All were taken into BR ownership but had been withdrawn by the end of 1962, with none being earmarked for preservation. John Dyer found No. 64691 at Littleport sidings, near March, on 13/6/62. As with Scotland, my trainspotting exploits never took me to East Anglia in the days of steam, so these ex-GE locomotive types were completely outside my experience.

 

British Rail[ways]

The afternoon coal train from Immingham docks to Ratcliffe power station was hauled past Rolleston racecourse yesterday by Class 66 No. 66789 British Rail 1948 – 1997. Call me a pedantic old trainspotter, but the term British Rail was actually introduced in 1965, when British Railways became British Rail. Surely, it should be British Rail 1965-1997 or British Railways 1948-1965. I’m just saying.

Real Time Trains had not only informed me that the freight was on time, however, but that it was being hauled by the aforementioned No. 66789. Although this was one that I’ve seen before, I was also able to check up retrospectively on one I had observed from quite a distance a few days earlier, which turned out to be a cop. This is a very handy addition to the already very useful RTT website. Where that information is now added, I could check out the locomotive from the comfort of my own computer chair and then nip down there if required, assuming, of course, that that was something I could fit in to my otherwise demanding schedule.

 

LNER Class J37

Reid designed his sturdy and powerful 0-6-0 freight locomotives for the North British Railway in 1914 as the S Class, itself a development of the NBR B Class of 1906. All 104 engines made it into LNER and then BR ownership. They lasted until 1966 and none were preserved. They remain as a blank in my 1962 abc, totally unblemished by any red biro underlining, although 95 of them were still around at that time.

John Dyer photographed 5 members of the class – No. 64546 at Carlisle Canal on 5/8/60, No. 64569 at Bathgate on 1/8/64, No. 64591 at Edinburgh Waverley on 30/7/60, No. 64606 at Bathgate on 1/8/64 and No. 64607 At Edinburgh St Margaret’s on 30/7/60. As always, I’m grateful to John for allowing me to use these splendid old photos on my blog.   

 

LNER J11 Class

These Robinson 0-6-0s were designed for the Great Central Railway in 1901 as Class 9J, becoming Class J11 for the LNER and then BR. 174 locomotives were built in total - by Neilson, Reid and Co’, Gorton works, Beyer-Peacock, Vulcan Foundry and the Yorkshire Engine Co’. They were nick-named Pom-Poms because their exhaust sounded like machine guns that were used during the Boer War.

They were popular with enginemen as versatile performers on both freight and passenger trains. They had a 2P3F power classification. The whole class was taken into BR stock in 1948 but all had been withdrawn by the end of 1962 and none were preserved. John Dyer photographed various members of the class on the 19 August 1962, at Gorton works and sheds.

 

LNER Class O2

These GNR Class 8F 2-8-0s were introduced in 1921 as a development of Gresley’s experimental 3-cylinder heavy freight design of 1918. 67 examples were eventually constructed - at Doncaster works and by the North British Locomotive Company. All members of the class were taken into BR stock in 1948. They had all been scrapped by the end of 1963 and none were preserved. My summer 1962 abc shows 56 still surviving, of which I saw just 7. John Dyer captured No. 63955 at Doncaster works on 30/4/62 and No. 63967 on Doncaster sheds on the same day.

On the flat

Network Rail’s 13.40 from Derby to Doncaster West Yard on 11/3/21 passes over the gated farm crossing and footpath just to the east of Rolleston village. Top and tail Class 67s, Nos. 67023/7, came through 15 minutes early at 14.55. The circuitous journey ahead was due to end up at Doncaster at 02.43 the next morning after a journey of 321.77 miles, which would have no doubt required some crew changes along the way.   

This section of the Castle Line nearest to home and within easy cycling distance is between Lowdham and Staythorpe. There are no bridges over the route after Lowdham, as the railway runs along the flood plain of the River Trent. A series of automatic barriers and gated crossings provide the means for road users along this route. From a photographer’s point of view, this is a distinct disadvantage as it precludes shots from a higher elevation that would allow for a bit more environmental context as well as generally showing off the locomotives to better effect.

I’ve tended to revisit the stations at Fiskerton and Rolleston. Bleasby is less inspiring, with staggered platforms and no additional features of note. I tend to gravitate to the farm crossings behind Rolleston village. I like the solitude and quiet while waiting for the train to arrive. With spring approaching and longer daylight hours, I’m looking forward to experimenting with this new telephoto lens, which had its first outing yesterday.  

 

The ex-GCR Robinson 2-8-0s

These heavy freight LNER Class 04 locos were first introduced in 1911. There were various subsequent rebuilds and modifications. A substantial number of surviving engines was still listed in my 1962 abc. They could be found at Bidston sheds in the 50s and 60s, having arrived on freight trains using the former GC mid-Wirral lines to Birkenhead docks. John Dyer photographed the following examples there between August 1959 and May 1962 – Nos 63575/713/9/743/862. Bidston sheds closed in February 1963 and its allocation went to Birkenhead Mollington Street. No. 63601 is preserved as part of the National Collection, one of only two ex-GCR locomotives to survive. 63601 is based at the modern-day GCR at Loughborough.

Bournemouth in May 1963

Andy Mace spent time on Bournemouth Central station with an additional day trip to Basingstoke, where steam-hauled expresses were passing through at speed. Merchant Navy Class No. 35021 New Zealand Line was seen at Bournemouth Central, Standard Class 5 No. 73089 Maid of Astolat at Basingstoke and West Country Class No. 34003 Plymouth was on Bournemouth sheds. Thanks are due to Andy for the use of the photos, reminding us how lucky we were to see steam on the main line as an everyday occurrence. Andy's bonus was a footplate ride to Bournemouth West.