The LNER Encyclopedia

This is a thought I had while boiling the kettle just now; it's fairly well known that in 1925, a batch of N2's were built for work in Scotland, and during the 1930's, a number of B12's were also assigned to the former Great North of Scotland lines, until they were replaced in the post-war era by Thompson B1's. Similarly, some E4's were assigned to the former NER metals over the Stainmore route, with new cabs to better protect the crews from the winter conditions.

What I was thinking then was, what other classes designed in the Pre-Grouping days roamed far from their home turf; particularly on more 'long-term transferrals'?

For instance, might you have ever seen an ex-NBR J36 shedded on the Great Central, or an ex-NER B16 assigned to work in East Anglia?

A few that come to mind: D11s built for service in Scotland; J67s and J69s in Scotland; J72s in Scotland; K2s transferred to Scotland, primarily for the West Highland line. In England there was was a certain amount of swapping locos between ex GN, GC and GE areas, particularly in the East Midlands and the West Riding of Yorkshire, but I'm not sure whether these would fit your definition. In early LNER days, B3s and D11s were tried out for a few years on expresses out of King's Cross. Ivatt Atlantics were also allocated to Sheffield Neepsend I believe.

Those all sound fine; my planned layout, "Trenholme Junction", is supposed to be a sort of "Anywhere and Anywhen, Britain" layout, so pretty much anything would be fine to work on it; I just have this odd and overwhelming desire for a specific class of engine to appear on it- an ex-NER B16/1, either on a parcels train or a semi-fast working through the station.

You are good with the B16 (all class parts) visiting any main line location as an 'all-line' loco pretty much to withdrawal, even though they were (always?) allocated to the former NER patch. (As an example the last sighting of a B16 in the KX area was late 1962, within a year of the official withdrawal of steam in the area.)

Plenty more pre-group classes permanently allocated outside their 'origin' area by the LNER.

The GER's N7 was very handy for the Hatfield branch workings, and from shortly after grouping a small group were on Hatfield shed as a result, and remained on the strength until steam was withdrawn.
GER J15s were apt to wander, some were on the GN section under BR.

The GCR O4 was effectively the LNER's standard freight heavy, thanks to the ROD build which became cheaply available after WWI; these were allocated across all four English constituents.
A batch of lightly modified GCR A5s went to the NER area, and the J11s wandered off the home patch too.

And then of course the GNR designs adopted for group standard construction which were allocated 'wherever applicable': A1, J50, K3, O2, and the N2 already mentioned.

Did once hear a J36 was shedded at Malton.

Armoured trains brought F4 to North Berwick branch?

F7’s also got into Scotland on St Combs branch?

D1 also used but not popular?

I think ex-ROD O4s were also allocated to the Fife area in Scotland at one time.

A quick squiz at my 1950 Locoshed Book reveals J21s at Doncaster and Retford and G5s at Stratford.

Just thought of another one - J72s were allocated to Bidston for many years, well into BR days. Also J67/9s at Wrexham.

Hi,J69's @Hitchin&far North Scotland(with tenders affixed)&on the CLC/N2's@ Stratford&Parkeston,Eastfield,Bradford went back to the N1's (some members) running in around the "x" area &lined out before their blk tar paint period after Stratford Works overall,( loved to see those 56X code shed plates smokebox affixed like the B1's that came up on excursions to the "X" ) after an N2 period. N2's banking wartime on Worsborough Bank with the Garrett or O1's pre- sparks, they seem unloved anywhere else, being scrapped with indecent haste,apart from the Met.gang who loved them even more then N1's /J15's@ Princes Risborough&Aylesbury will try to think of more for the model makers.

G'day Gents


J26's allocated to Peterborough and Norwich, pre WW2

manna

Hi a batch of the N7's were built purely&simply for the GNR southern area as witnessed by Hatfield(34C)allocation,some staying post war for the branches radiating from there, weight restrictions possibly?reaching the "X"on surburban trains when N2's not available or failed, quite often it would appear.

rockinjohn wrote: ↑Thu Dec 10, 2020 3:33 am A batch of the N7's were built purely & simply for the GNR southern area as witnessed by Hatfield(34C) allocation,some staying post war for the branches radiating from there, weight restrictions possibly? reaching the "X" on suburban trains when N2's not available or failed, quite often it would appear.

To expand a little on this. The working practise that evolved at Hatfield Shed, was that the N7s were assigned the passenger turns on the three branches for which Hatfield was the main line junction. Because the Hatfield, Luton and Dunstable had through services direct to Kings Cross throughout the LNER period and to the end of steam working in 1960, Hatfield's N7s necessarily daily worked up to KX.

The N2's were a little heavy and apt to roll on some of the branch curvature at passenger speed, and were at 'some date' in the LNER period restricted to freight turns only on the branches; in theory, deviations occurred! The allocation at Hatfield Shed - subsequently BR 34C - was a mix of N2's and N7's to the end of steam, ultimately the N7's outnumbering the N2's. Freight traffic on the Luton and Dunstable was worked by both Hatfield and Hornsey locos, the latter accounting for pictures of non-condensing N2s on the branch.

And finally. For a brief period in summer 1959, 34C had N5 69266 allocated, for examples of a trio of pre- group 0-6-2T designs at one location. I have a colour photograph of this loco standing on the Hertford branch at WGC, adjacent Dawnays steel stockyard, photographer unknown, that I have never seen published. Unfortunately the Herts Archive won't take it because it is 'source unknown'; it came to me in the most freakish way imaginable, blown off the top of a passing paper waste truck in about 1990, landing image side up on the verge as I cycled past - and quickly retrieved.

A5s on ex NER routes (already mentioned)

G5s in GER territory ( also already mentioned)

Didn't some J25s go up to Scotland too?

We have confined ourselves to LNER territory. Some J25s were allocated to the Great Western during WWII, and some B12/3 - so not wholly of pre-group design - went off to the South Coast to work ambulance trains after D-Day. And later yet the ex MR Settle and Carlisle route received a few A3s: in external general form recognisable as the GNR A1.

Just before and during WW1, 14 Stirling 2-4-0s were on loan to the SE&CR. They were repainted with SE&CR on their tenders but seem to have retained their GNR numbers. The loan period was between 1913 and 1915.

While we're darn sarf, it's probably worth remembering that the Marsh Atlantics for the LBSCR weren't exactly Brighton engines!

Vernon