Beautifully kept, the station environs are a credit
to those who work so had to make them so
You are guaranteed a busy half day or day
Always plenty going on and in between the odd
quiet spell can be filled visiting the shop, running
shed and viewing the workshops
Here 75029 departs with its train for the run down
to Pickering via Goathland and Levisham
The little pilot was out that day. LNER E1/J72
The N.E.R. E1 Class of locomotive is a remarkable design being unique in that it
was constructed over a period of 54 years, by 3 different railway companies.
Designed by Wilson Worsdell for the N.E.R. and introduced in December 1898, the
first 20 engines were built at North Road Works, Darlington by 1899. Sir Vincent
Raven, who succeeded Worsdell, had 20 more built in 1914 with very slight
modifications to the original design, then a further 10 were built in 1920 and
another 25 by Armstrong Whitworth at Newcastle in 1922/3. Sir Nigel Gresley for
the newly formed L.N.E.R. re-classed the engines as J72’s and then built 10 at
Doncaster in 1925. And then remarkably 54 years after they were first introduced
British Railways built a further batch at Darlington, 20 in 1949 and 8 in 1951,
bringing the class total to 113.
These 0-6-0T's were used in shunting yards, railway owned docks and coal
staithes and on station pilot workings all over the Northeast. Eventually they
were found further afield at Wrexham, Kittybrewster at Aberdeen, Keith and
Kipps. The last batch were almost identical to the original but were given a
vacuum brake, steam heating and sanding gear to enable them to be used on empty
passenger stock workings, in addition, some of the earlier engines were
similarly modified. The N.E.R. and L.N.E.R. built engines became under B.R. No's
68670 to 68754 and as no provision had been made for further construction the
last batch had to be numbered in a special series and came out as No's 69001 to
69028. All 113 remained in service until 1958, when following the introduction
of diesel shunters some of the earlier engines began to be withdrawn from
traffic.
By 1964 and all but two of the class had been scrapped, mostly at Darlington
North Road or at T.J. Thomson Ltd. of Stockton-on-Tees. The two exceptions were
69005 and 69023, which were taken into Departmental Stock as No. 58 and No. 59
initially at Gateshead but latterly at North Blyth and Heaton, where they were
used for de-icing. Both withdrawn near the end of steam in the Northeast, No.
69005 was scrapped but 69023 became the only survivor when it was purchased by
Mr. R. Ainsworth for preservation.
69023 was delivered to the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway in 1969 where it
was restored with its original number, in N.E.R. livery and named 'Joem', this
being taken from the names of his father Joseph, 50 years service with the
L.N.W.R., and his mother Emmeline. Later 'Joem' saw service on the Derwent
Valley Railway at York but following the death of its owner the locomotive was
put into store at the National Railway Museum, awaiting disposal. 69023 was then purchased by the N.E.L.P.G. and delivered to Grosmont in January
1983, remaining in traffic until late 1985 before undergoing overhaul at I.C.I.
Wilton. At the same time a repaint in N.E.R./BR pattern lined green was
undertaken, this style of livery was inspired by British Railways action in
repainting two J72's No’s 68723 and 68736, for use on station pilot duties at
Newcastle and York in N.E.R. green in the early 1960's.
Many thanks to NERPG for the above text. Pictures are my own.
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