LNER Thompson Class B1 (6)1264
Encyclopedia
London and North Eastern Railway
(LNER) Thompson Class B1
No. 1264, (later British Railways No. 61264, and Departmental No. 29) is a preserved British steam locomotive.
, Works No. 26165. It was initially allocated to Parkeston Quay (shed code 30F), near Harwich
, for working the Great Eastern Main Line
, and would remain there for 13 years. In January 1948, 1264 passed into the ownership of British Railways, and in March she was allocated the number 61264, though this was not applied until October 1949. The class were given the power classification 5MT by BR.
In November 1960, 61264 was transferred from Parkestone Quay to Colwick Depot (38A), near Nottingham
, for working the Great Central Main Line
. She would remain there until withdrawn in December 1965.
29 was withdrawn from departmental stock in July 1967. She was initially stored, but in March 1968 she was sold for scrap
.
Restoration took some time; the boiler and firebox were in such poor condition that a new boiler and firebox seemed the only option, but steady work during the 1980s and 1990s brought the original boiler 'back from the dead', and the completed engine moved under its own power in 1997, resplendent in LNER Apple green as No. 1264. It is currently in BR Black livery as 61264. It has now been withdrawn from service (mid-'08) for a 10 year overhaul which is well underway at LNWR Crewe.
61264 is one of two surviving Thompson Class B1s; but the only LNER-built example, the other being BR-built 61306
, aka "Mayflower".
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
(LNER) Thompson Class B1
LNER Thompson Class B1
The London and North Eastern Railway Thompson Class B1 is a class of steam locomotive designed for medium mixed traffic work. It was designed by Edward Thompson.- Overview :...
No. 1264, (later British Railways No. 61264, and Departmental No. 29) is a preserved British steam locomotive.
Service
1264 was built in 1947 by the North British Locomotive CompanyNorth British Locomotive Company
The North British Locomotive Company was created in 1903 through the merger of three Glasgow locomotive manufacturing companies; Sharp Stewart and Company , Neilson, Reid and Company and Dübs and Company , creating the largest locomotive manufacturing company in Europe.Its main factories were...
, Works No. 26165. It was initially allocated to Parkeston Quay (shed code 30F), near Harwich
Harwich
Harwich is a town in Essex, England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea to the east. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the northeast, Ipswich to the northwest, Colchester to the southwest and Clacton-on-Sea to the south...
, for working the Great Eastern Main Line
Great Eastern Main Line
The Great Eastern Main Line is a 212 Kilometre major railway line of the British railway system, which connects Liverpool Street in the City of London with destinations in east London and the East of England, including Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, Norwich and several coastal resorts such as...
, and would remain there for 13 years. In January 1948, 1264 passed into the ownership of British Railways, and in March she was allocated the number 61264, though this was not applied until October 1949. The class were given the power classification 5MT by BR.
In November 1960, 61264 was transferred from Parkestone Quay to Colwick Depot (38A), near Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, for working the Great Central Main Line
Great Central Main Line
The Great Central Main Line , also known as the London Extension of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway , is a former railway line which opened in 1899 linking Sheffield with Marylebone Station in London via Nottingham and Leicester.The GCML was the last main line railway built in...
. She would remain there until withdrawn in December 1965.
Departmental service
That was not the end of her BR service however as she was transferred to departmental stock, and renumbered 29 in the Eastern Region departmental stock series. There she was used as a mobile boiler for heating carriages. She had her couplers removed in order that she could not haul trains, but she could still propel herself.29 was withdrawn from departmental stock in July 1967. She was initially stored, but in March 1968 she was sold for scrap
Scrap
Scrap is a term used to describe recyclable and other materials left over from every manner of product consumption, such as parts of vehicles, building supplies, and surplus materials. Unlike waste, scrap has significant monetary value...
.
Preservation
Luck was on her side however; she was sold to Woodham Brothers scrapyard, Barry Island. 61264 was the only former LNER locomotive to be sent to Barry. She was rescued from Barry in 1973, the 83rd engine to leave Barry, by which time she had become the last surviving ex-LNER locomotive not preserved.Restoration took some time; the boiler and firebox were in such poor condition that a new boiler and firebox seemed the only option, but steady work during the 1980s and 1990s brought the original boiler 'back from the dead', and the completed engine moved under its own power in 1997, resplendent in LNER Apple green as No. 1264. It is currently in BR Black livery as 61264. It has now been withdrawn from service (mid-'08) for a 10 year overhaul which is well underway at LNWR Crewe.
61264 is one of two surviving Thompson Class B1s; but the only LNER-built example, the other being BR-built 61306
LNER Thompson Class B1 61306
London and North Eastern Railway Thompson Class B1 No. 61306 is a preserved British steam locomotive. In preservation, it carries the number 1306 and the name Mayflower, complete with LNER Apple Green Livery, though this guise is entirely fictional.- Service :61306 was built in 1948 by the North...
, aka "Mayflower".