50 years since the end of steam in NE England

[Trev52A]

As well as the familar locos on coal trains, visiting locos sometimes added a bit of glamour to the scene in 1967. 'Jubilee' 4-6-0 45562 Alberta appeared on several specials, nicely cleaned (by enthusiasts at its home depot of Holbeck?) for the occasion. Alberta might be difficult to model in this condition - the engine itself is nicely lined out, the tender is just plain green with no lining!

 

The night shot was at Newcastle on 25th February, working the 'Border Countryman'

The other was near Low Fell on 10th June, returning south at the head of the 'Ashington Rail Tour'.

 

Trevor

 

 

[Silver Sidelines]

What a splendid thread - brings back lots of childhood memories trainspotting at the beginning of the 60s.

.

 

The night shot was at Newcastle on 25th February, working the 'Border Countryman'

.

Was the carriage number significant - I don't remember NE prefixes to Mk1s?

 

Ray

 

PS One of those 'flying pigs' at the beginning of the 60s still relatively clean

[45125]

NE prefixes on MK1s where quite common on both maroon and blue/grey vehicles allocated to the NE region.

[Trev52A]

What a splendid thread - brings back lots of childhood memories trainspotting at the beginning of the 60s.

Was the carriage number significant - I don't remember NE prefixes to Mk1s?

 

Ray

 

PS One of those 'flying pigs' at the beginning of the 60s still relatively clean

 

Hi Ray

Although technically the NE Region didn't exist in 1967 (it had become part of the Eastern Region from the start of the year) it no doubt took many months before the NE on rolling stock was converted to E. Here's a shot showing NE1826 at Woodburn on 2nd October 1966. In the distance 43000 and 43063 have just run round ready to return to Newcastle with the 'The Wansbeck Piper' Rail Tour.

 

Trevor

[keefer]

some DMUs also had the NE prefix and including Trans-Pennine vehicles in blue/grey. I think they got b/g early as they didn't get plain blue,  due to being 'main line' units

(thought i could find a pic of a TP, will keep looking)

[Silver Sidelines]

Thanks  Trevor.  I don't recall seeing NE on carriages in 1960.  The last Ian Allan abc that I bought is dated 1960 and has the Tyneside Electric Units and the north east allocation of Metrocammels (Class 101) all with single E prefixes.  Perhaps the NE came with TOPS and the blue and grey era with the letter N applied retrospectively to left over maroon stock?

 

Regards

 

Ray

 

Addendum  In the 1960 abc,E50748 - E50751 are tabulated separately with the sub heading (N.E. Four -Car Units)

Edited October 8, 2017 by Silver Sidelines

[Alcanman]

At the end of steam South Blyth shed was 100% J27s.The depot received 10 locos when Percy Main shed closed in 1965. Around 20 locos could be found on a Sunday morning visit.

 

However, at North Blyth, in addition to J27s, Q6s, K1s and 4MTs could be found. The shed even had a couple of B1s for a short while. Here is a selection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RfDforever]

With reference to the query about NE coach prefix; these appeared during 1965, and eventually applied to everything used on NE-originating trains including catering and sleeping cars and pre-BR standard stock. The June 1966 RO provided a number list of many vehicle types so lettered.

I suggest (and am happy to stand corrected) that the reason was as follows; for a long period after nationalisation, the Eastern and North Eastern Regions had a joint CM&EE organisation but at some date, possibly 1964-5, they were separated. It would then be logical to distinguish the two regions' stock at that point..

The NE prefix was adopted at about the same time as the G of the GE one was being painted out and it may be that the two are connected in that the same reorganisation brought the GE line independent management back under ER control.

Of course, it wasn't long before the ER and NER were merged.

[Trev52A]

South Blyth closed to steam on 26th May 1967 with J27 65789 getting a mention in our local paper (as well as the railway press of the day).

 

Four days later 65789 plus another former Blyth resident, 65795, were en route to their new home in Sunderland (52G) and I captured them passing Pelaw (30th May 1967).

 

Trevor

 

[Axlebox]

Hi Ray

Although technically the NE Region didn't exist in 1967 (it had become part of the Eastern Region from the start of the year) it no doubt took many months before the NE on rolling stock was converted to E. Here's a shot showing NE1826 at Woodburn on 2nd October 1966. In the distance 43000 and 43063 have just run round ready to return to Newcastle with the 'The Wansbeck Piper' Rail Tour.

 

Trevor

 

NE1826 is still with us on the Yorkshire Dales Railway, NE9329 spent time in departmental use before going off to Vic Berry's yard in 1989.

A/box

[russ p]

Interesting shot of k1 62067, never seen an eastern loco with the electrification friendly offset center lamp irons

[pH]

However, at North Blyth, in addition to J27s, Q6s, K1s and 4MTs could be found. The shed even had a couple of B1s for a short while. Here is a selection.

 

62067 at North Blyth.jpg

 

 

 

Interesting shot of k1 62067, never seen an eastern loco with the electrification friendly offset center lamp irons

 

Alcanman, what's the date of that picture of 62067? I know the engine was shopped in Glasgow in 1966 - I saw it at Gourock 14 June 1966. I wonder if that was when it got the modified lamp irons.

[Alcanman]

Sorry pH, I don't have the date of the pic of 62067.

 

Mal

[Trev52A]

Lucky ol' you lot , the one area I didn't make it to, just a little too outta reach, distance, and financially for a steam mad Essex schoolboy. But do like the pics, keep 'em coming, especially for me , a WD fan ( I know, no hope!).  

 

Well, here are two WD in Low Fell yard on 22/1/67. 90116 arriving on the left with 90370 ready to depart.

 

Trevor

[Trev52A]

63395, by this time the subject of a preservation appeal, being cleaned up by NELPG (North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group) members at Sunderland shed on 3/9/67.

 

Trevor 

[R Marshall]

As well as the familar locos on coal trains, visiting locos sometimes added a bit of glamour to the scene in 1967. 'Jubilee' 4-6-0 45562 Alberta appeared on several specials, nicely cleaned (by enthusiasts at its home depot of Holbeck?) for the occasion. Alberta might be difficult to model in this condition - the engine itself is nicely lined out, the tender is just plain green with no lining!

 

The night shot was at Newcastle on 25th February, working the 'Border Countryman'

The other was near Low Fell on 10th June, returning south at the head of the 'Ashington Rail Tour'.

 

Trevor

 

Trevor,

 

Here's a couple of colour shots of that engine at West Hartlepool MPD on 06.05.67. These were given to me by Chris Davies (sadly no longer with us), so no copyright worries.

 

Regards,

 

Roy

[Alcanman]

Alcanman, what's the date of that picture of 62067? I know the engine was shopped in Glasgow in 1966 - I saw it at Gourock

 14 June 1966. I wonder if that was when it got the modified lamp irons.

 

It was August 1966. Another photo of the loco, taken at the time, by my old school friend, Trevor Gregg, is included in his article in Set/Oct Heritage Railway magazine entitled 'The last day of North Blyth steam.

 

(Thanks to Trev52A for letting me know of this article)

 

Mal

Edited October 11, 2017 by Alcanman

[Trev52A]

Trevor,

 

Here's a couple of colour shots of that engine at West Hartlepool MPD on 06.05.67. These were given to me by Chris Davies (sadly no longer with us), so no copyright worries.

 

Regards,

 

Roy

 

Excellent pictures, Roy. Thanks for sharing them. Good views of the coaling stage as well. The Jubilee had worked a Bradford to Middlesbrough RCTS Special that day (then D6778 to Whitby), so it must have run light engine to West Hartlepool for servicing. By the time I saw it in June it had lost the red backing to the numberplate and the AWS 'bash plate' below the buffer beam had also reverted to black. (At least that what it looks like on my b&w pics. - are there more colour shots out there to confirm?)

 

Trevor

[Trev52A]

Two more of mine of 45562 on the 'Ashington Rail Tour' of 10/6/67.

 

After heading east from Newcastle along the Coast line, it turned north at Percy Main over the freight-only line (i.e. coal trains, normally) and climbed up the gradient and under the Coast Road on its way to Bedlington and Ashington.  A short section of this route is now used by the North Tyneside Steam Railway between Percy Main and Middle Engine Lane. 

 

Trevor

 

[Alcanman]

On 9th September 1967, in addition to 7029 'Clun Castle' and 62005 working specials at Newcastle, there was another illustrious visitor. - 4472 'Flying Scotsman'

 

I was reminded of this in Trevor Gregg's article in Heritage Railway magazine. So, after witnessing the last day of steam at North Blyth we were off to Gateshead and Newcastle.

Quite a memorable day.

 

 

4472 at Gateshead shed

 

 

 

 

4472 departing Newcastle Central

 

 

[R Marshall]

Excellent pictures, Roy. Thanks for sharing them. Good views of the coaling stage as well. The Jubilee had worked a Bradford to Middlesbrough RCTS Special that day (then D6778 to Whitby), so it must have run light engine to West Hartlepool for servicing. By the time I saw it in June it had lost the red backing to the numberplate and the AWS 'bash plate' below the buffer beam had also reverted to black. (At least that what it looks like on my b&w pics. - are there more colour shots out there to confirm?)

 

Trevor

 

Trevor,

 

All credit to Chris - he was a great photographer and very knowledgeable about railway matters. The last time I saw him was at the "Great Goodbye" at Shildon in 2014. A lot of his pictures are on photo-forums.net, under the Time Capsules segment - worth a look and free to download.

 

Regards,

 

Roy

[ikks]

Great photos one and all, BUT, I could not, emotionally, watch the final demise of these engines, Once I read that my beloved Duchesses were starting to be withdrawn at the end of 1962 and that many of the Princesses had already gone. Seeing Scots, Jubilees and Patriots with sacking over their chimneys at the various depots we had visited was too much, that was it! Only a couple of years before, these locomotives were heading crack expresses, most in good condition and to be sent to the scrapyard years before their time was a bloody crime.........unbelievable! Next time I was reminded of this debacle, was when I saw the news on the tele showing the last run of steam, having(then) for years, lost interest.

 

Mike

Edited October 15, 2017 by ikks

[leopardml2341]

NE prefixes on MK1s where quite common on both maroon and blue/grey vehicles allocated to the NE region.

Would like to see a blue/grey one with NE prefix