The LNER Encyclopedia

Hi,
A photo has been uploaded to one of my Yahoo railway groups with the following caption.

"A rather grubby 60012 Commonwealth of Australia has just passed Apperley Bridge and Rawdon going north from Leeds on 13/7/63. I have never been able to find out details of this train and don't recollect ever seeing a pic of an A4 working a service train over the S&C at this period. Can anyone provide details? "

Can anyone help the photographer?

Rgds
Ian

They were working trains over the Waverley so it may have strayed south of Carlisle.

In the post 1960-61 period there were several instances of ex LNER A4 Pacifics working service trains over the S&C .Usually, this was the result of diesel failures, with the steam locos having to work through on trains such as the 'Waverley' , or the Edinburgh -St Pancras sleepers, whereas in steam only days they would have come off their train at Carlisle. In early 1962 both 60011 and 60024 of 64B - to name only two - worked into Leeds City over the S & C.

Thanks to both of you for your replies.

stembok wrote:In the post 1960-61 period there were several instances of ex LNER A4 Pacifics working service trains over the S&C .Usually, this was the result of diesel failures, with the steam locos having to work through on trains such as the 'Waverley' , or the Edinburgh -St Pancras sleepers, whereas in steam only days they would have come off their train at Carlisle. In early 1962 both 60011 and 60024 of 64B - to name only two - worked into Leeds City over the S & C.

The first A4 I ever saw was on the S&C at Appleby, sometime in either late 1963 or even early '64.
I was only about 8 years old at the time, but it stuck in my mind because although I had spent considerable time spotting at Berwick at the time I had never seen one.
I'm afraid that my little notebook disappeared many many years ago, so I could not tell you which one it was.

Both EX Haymarket A3 and A4 made occasional visits to Leeds via the S&C substititing for failed "Peaks". My only sighting of 60011 Empire of India was after one such working being on shed at Holbeck on Saturday evening 3 March 1962

Spot on Harvester. 60011 worked back north taking the 11.00 am Liverpool -Newcastle from Leeds to Newcastle on 6/3/62.

The late Robin Barbour from Hawick photographed an A4 heading south from Carlisle Citadel on 30/6/63. His notes record the loco as 60002 and the train as the 09.20am Glasgow St. Enoch to London St. Pancras. There were two A4s over the S&C that day as 60023 brought in the RCTS "Three Summits Tour" from Leeds. Presumably he was in Carlisle to see the special.

Bill

I recall seeing 60012 Commonwealth of Australia next to the coaling tower at Leeds Holbeck. The loco was very dirty and neglected. The occasion was in the summer time and could not have been in 1963, or earlier, and so, with hindsight, must have been in 1964. I presume that it must have worked in over the Settle and Carlisle, and, as suggested earlier in this thread, possibly due to a diesel failure, the loco had worked through from Edinburgh to Leeds.

I remember spotting at Steeton & Silsden station sometime around the years 1963/64. i was stood on the footbridge. Can't put an exact time or date but i have a memory of 60012 Commonwealth Of Australia travelling at speed through the station, travelling towards Leeds. What a thrill to see a streak so unexpectedly turn up. The condition of the loco was lets say woeful. For many years i often wondered what brought such a rare beast through our neck of the woods. I stumbled onto this forum a few years ago and lo and behold i saw this question and possible explanation come up and because i was a 11/12 year old lad i was wondering whether i had dreamed the whole thing, until i saw the conversation on the Encyclopaedia.