O4s north of the border

[Guest Max Stafford]

With a cunning plan in mind, I'd like to ask the following of those 'in the know'.

From the mid 1920s until about 1942, there was a small allocation of these locos based at Dunfermline for coal haulage.

Please can someone enlighten me as to their numbers and most importantly their subsequent BR numbers?

It would also be extremely useful to know that they remained in original condition in 1956.

 

Many thanks.

 

Dave.

[coachmann]

6286/91 and 6328 to Dunfermline, 6288/90, 6346/52 to Thornton, 6351/70 to Aberdeen and 6372 to Dundee in Jujly & August 1924.

 

In 1928-29 a further six reconditioned 04's were sent to Scotland : 6543/50 to Thornton, 6544/8 to Dunfermline, 6551 to Dundee and 6582 to Aberdeen.. In 1930 6582 transferred to Dundee. 1931 : 6286/91 transferred to Dundee, 6286 soon passing to Aberdeen. 1937 : 6291 to Aberdeen. 1943 for only 2-3 months, Nos 6288, 6372 ad 6582 to Dunfermline.

 

Initially, the instructions was that no 04's were to be used on any route other than Edinburgh - Berwick, Edinburgh - Aberdeen, Edinburgh - Glasgow via Polmont, the Winchburgh - Dalmeny connection, Dunfermline - Thornton, the Methyl Branch and the line from Colairs to Yoker. They were not to be double-headed, speed was restricted to 30mph and they were not allowed into colliery sidings. However, there was heavy coal traffic from Fife to Perth worked by Dunfermline engines and the 04's were subsequently allowed on this route.

 

Like other large LNER engines, they had to go to Perth South LMS shed to turn, for which the LMS charged one shilling per engine.

 

In Fife the engines wrere known as "Big Aggies", but in Aberdeen they were known as "Tin Lizzies". 6346 and 6551 were taken out of traffic in 1941 for WD use. In early 1943, five 04's went to Sctoland, Nos 5393, 6524, 6633 to Thornton, and 6220, 6365 to Dunfermline. They only worked for a few months bvefore returning to Enland together with the remaining fourteen Scottish engines of the class. Henceforth from October 1943, no 04's were ever allocated to Scottish Area sheds, although two Thompson 01's spent some time in Fife.

 

Info gleaned from Part 6B Locomotives of the LNER (RCTS)

LG

[3737]

According to the green RCTS book 6B 10 O4's went to Scotland in 1924 (nos 6286/91, 6328 (Dunfermline), 6288/90, 6346/52 (Thornton), 6351/70 (Aberdeen), 6372 (Dundee), in 1928-9 another six (6543/50 (Thornton) 6544/8 (Dunfermline), 6551 (Dundee) 6582 (Aberdeen). Another 5 went in 1943 (5393, 6524, 6633, 6220, 6365)

 

LNER no. - BR no - builder- LNER type - rebuilt type in 19xx:

6286 - 63880 - NBL- O4/2 - O4/1 in 1944; 6291 - 63848 - NBL- O4/2 - O4/7 in 1943; 6288 -1946 (3879) no BR no. - NBL - O4/2 rebuilt to O1 11/44; 6290 - 63847 - NBL - O4/3 - -; 6346 - to WD 9/41; 6352 - 63673 - Stephenson -O4/2 - O4/7 in 1940; 6351 - 63674 - Stephenson -O4/2 - O4/8 in 1957; 6370 - 63653 - Kitson - O4/2 - O4/8 in 1947; 6372 - 63648 - Kitson - O4/2 - -; 6543 - 63644- Kitson - O4/2 - O4/8 in 1954; 6550 - 63704 - - Stephenson -O4/2 - O4/8 in 1953; 6544 - 63647 -Kitson - O4/2 - O4/8 in 1958; 6548 - 63682 - Stephenson -O4/2 - - ; 6551 - to WD 9/41; 6582 - 63766 - NBL- O4/2 - -.

This information is listed in the book about the rebuilding of the O4's.

 

Leen.

 

Sorry, Coachmann, you were just ahead.

 

12/9 edited with rebuilding info.

['CHARD]

With a cunning plan in mind, I'd like to ask the following of those 'in the know'.

From the mid 1920s until about 1942, there was a small allocation of these locos based at Dunfermline for coal haulage.

Please can someone enlighten me as to their numbers and most importantly their subsequent BR numbers?

It would also be extremely useful to know that they remained in original condition in 1956.

There are only two words I'd like to offer at this stage: inch and kennet.

 

You, sir, are such a bad lad.

[Guest Max Stafford]

looks like 'Big Aggie' and pals might have stayed up there a bit longer then...

 

Dave.