Ken 63388

I accept Porcy's evidence that the photo Alcanman posted cannot be 65859. It was a while ago when I sent a message to BR Database informing of the errors with the class J27 data. In the meantime it is best to doublecheck the data against other sources.

The photo of the J27 at Blyth looks like 65859 to me. I've pointed out earlier in this thread (page 5) that some of the shed allocation data (and therefore possibly other information) for class J27 locomotives has been entered incorrectly on the BR database website. According to 'Shed by Shed part 3 (North Eastern)' by Tony Walmsley 65859 was allocated to Blyth between 4/66 and 8/66. I did send a message to the BR database informing them of the error(s) but I assume no corrections have been made.

I have a small book by Doug Hardy called 'Scarborough 50 years ago -1959 Occurrences' which mentions a crossing movement at Robin Hood's Bay in August 1957. Fairburn 4MT tank 42085 was working a passenger train from Scarborough towards Whitby and K1 62005 (now preserved) was Light Engine. Unfortunately no other details are given. The class 40 that worked excursion 1Z26 on 19 May 1964 over the Whitby Scarborough line was D352. In June 1959 K1s 62001/3/41/42 were all allocated to Thornaby, though 62041 didn't stay long. Prior to this ten different K1s had been based at Stockton including the four transferred to Thornaby. K1 62005 was based at Darlington between 7/52 and 9/59. K1s were common at Saltburn. They may have been small enough to have been turned on the turntable there without needing to go to Skinningrove. The Great Marquess worked a three coach special (for the BBC I think) to Whitby on 13 April 1964 via Pickering.

I've checked the credits for the 'Steaming back to the Southern - Vol 2' DVD. The script was written by Neil Wooler, the narrator was Peter Fairhead and the editor was Philip Metcalfe. Ken

The Steam World Archive Series volume 2 Video/DVD 'Steaming back to the Southern' contains some footage taken at Basingstoke on Saturday 12th September 1964. This shows BB/WC 34037 Clovelly returning the 'Farnborough Flyer' to London. This was an air display special train organised by Alan Pegler and had been hauled in the down direction by Flying Scotsman. The narrator states that the train mainly consisted of Metro-Cam Pullman cars. Only four of the coaches can be seen in the footage; the first coach is a Pullman brake (i.e. older type) and the following three coaches are Metro-Cam 1960 types. Ken

I'm afraid I've only just noticed this topic. Anyway I've attached a couple of (poor quality unfortunately) photos of the goods' yard at Whitby which were taken in late December 1973. Ken

Alan, I ordered the Oakwood Press 'Whitby - Loftus Line' book a couple of weeks ago without realising that it was a reprint. I'd browsed through the original version when it was first published but decided not to buy it as, like you say, it concentrated on the economics of the line and contained no new photos. My main interests are the locomotives and rolling stock used on the line and details of train workings during BR days, especially unusual ones such as excursions etc. There is however one chapter ('The Suez Specials') that I don't recall seeing in the original version which I found to be of interest. This chapter gives details the of special trains that ran from Whitby to Redcar and Marske for ICI workers during the Suez crisis in the winter of 1956/7. This explains why two L1 locos (67763/5) were transferred to Whitby shed at that time. During this period there was also a second special (a three coach push pull set hauled by a G5 loco) which ran out from Middlesbrough as far a Hinderwell in the morning. This presumably explains why Middlesbrough shed received two G5's (67323 & 67337) at the same period. Ken

For anyone who is unware there is a selection of good quality photos (mainly colour) of railways in the Guisborough area on Flickr. These were mainly taken by John Boyes. Ken

Alan, You should have received a PM from me. The photo of D5153 at Guisborough with train 1Z54 circa 1961, which was mentioned earlier in this topic, has appeared in a recent book titled 'First Generation Eastern & North Eastern Region Diesels in Colour' by David Dunn and published by Book Law Publications. Ken

Unfortunately, at least for some of us, No 65837 was not based at Whitby. I assume this information was obtained from the BRDatabase website. The shed allocation history shown on this site for 65837 I believe should apply to 65857 (the allocation history shown for this loco is also incorrect). No 65837 was based at Percy Main from 8/50 to 11/62 according to the book 'Shed by Shed - part 3' by Tony Walmsley. A quick check through a few ABC locoshed books confirms this. Ken

The number of the Q6 in the photo taken near Brotton is 63389. The tender attached to 63389 has full length coal rails. No date is given but the photo of the Q6 on the viaduct in Saltburn woods was taken in May 1955. If you do a Google search e.g. Q6 63389 at Guisborough then you should be able to find a photo of this loco on the coal depot incline at Guisborough on 30/3/55. Hope this helps. Ken

Alan, In the summer 1963 WTT the following parcels ran on weekdays: 3D04 arr Saltburn 9.3 am 3D06 dep Saltburn 10.30 am 3D02 arr Saltburn 5.5 pm 3D07 dep Saltburn 7.30 pm In addition the passenger workings below were steam hauled: 2D50 dep 4.30 am Darlington & arr Salburn 6.0 am 1D57 dep 7.45 am Saltburn & arr Darlington 8.47 am 2D57 dep 5.9 pm Stockton & arr Saltburn 5.51 pm (SX) There is a photo in the book 'British Railways Past 7 Present No 14 on page 51 of 4MTT 42477 near Marske working the 5.9 (17.09) SX Stockton - Saltburn. The coaches appear to be Mark 1 non-corridors. Did you ever see any of the rarer locos that appeared at Saltburn from time to time e.g. tender pacifics, Black 5s, Jubilees etc? Ken

In the summer 1962 and 1963 passenger timetables only the evening Newcastle - Guisborough and return through trains are shown as having a miniature buffet car in the formation. Ken

Alan, The WTTs I have list only passenger trains (plus parcel trains and light engine movements associated with passenger trains). At least from the summer of 1960 the Guisborough pick up goods normally arrived mid morning. In response to your other queries, the North Eastern Railway Association (NERA) have published a facsimile of the 'Working of Local Freight Trains - Darlington District from 8th June 1953' document. This gives details of the Lingdale and Kilton mines branch workings at that time. NERA have also have another publication available titled 'Line Diagrams of the North Eastern Railway: Railways around Cleveland'. The diagrams show all features such as signals, ground frames, signal boxes, sidings etc. The Guisborough to Brotton, Lingdale, Kiltonthorpe and Priestcroft branches are all included but the North Skelton to Saltburn West line is not. Did Maurice Burns note the running numbers of the DMUs used on the last day of passenger trains on the Guisborough branch? Ken