Locomotive Performance

Review: LNER Locomotives

Then from 1979 onwards there was main line steam, though so far as LNER locomotives were concerned, it usually meant two A4's (4498 and 60009) an A3 (4472) and a K1 2-6-0 (2005).

But it was a different matter on several of the Heritage lines, where there was an increasing variety of ex LNER medium, small sized, and freight  locomotives, which had to work hard on such lines as the North Yorkshire Moors, the East Lancashire, and Great Central lines. So on this page you will also find details and logs of many journeys on the less glamorous, but in my view, equally interesting, locomotives from the lower divisions. And of course, I have my own favourite, the N7 0-6-2T no 69621, which visited several Heritage lines in the early 1990's, always performing well, and always "quick off the mark".

31st March 1984: 60009 Union of South Africa : Carlisle to Hellifield on the Southbound Cumbrian Mountain Express [view log of 60009]

28th April 1984: 60009 Union of South Africa : Hellifield to Appleby on the Northbound Cumbrian Mountain Express, The steam locomotive was replaced at Appleby by diesel power in view of fire risk problems. [view log of 60009]

11th July 1959: 60918 Milford Junction to York and Scarborough on the 8.20am Kings Norton to Scarborough Saturday service, taking over from a Black 5 at Milford Junction  [view log of 60918]

14th November 1981: Class K1 no 2005 Leeds to Carnforth on the return Trans Pennine Pullman [view log of 2005]

22nd January 1983: Class K1 no 2005 Middlesborough to Newcastle and Carlisle on the N.E.L.P.G "Northumbrian Pullman", which continued with the K1 southwards over the Settle and Carlisle line [view log of 2005]

Then in the Main Line Steam era from 1979 onwards (1) A splendid run on A4 pacific 60009 from Edinburgh to Dundee in 1980 (2) 60009 again, this time in 1984, northbound on the Settle & Carlisle in 1984 (3) A number of journeys with K1 2-6-0 no 2005, which was always pleasant to travel behind, even though it was often overloaded (4) The Easter 1981 "Fair Maid" tour of the Scottish Lowlands with D49 Morayshire, possibly my most enjoyable railtour ever.

And on the Heritage lines (1) Q7 class 0-8-0 no 901 climbing to Goathland on the North York Moors line (2) the inaugural run of K4 2-6-0 The Great Marquess, on the Severn Valley Railway (3) the N2 0-6-2T no 69523 working 7 to 9 coach trains on Great Central line (4) the swift accelerations of N7 0-6-2T on all the lines upon which the loco worked. 

Disappointments. Well yes, one or two. (1) The consistently poor, though noisy, running of 4472 Flying Scotsman throughout the period 1979 to the mid 1980's (2) The A4 4-6-2 no 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley, though always totally reliable and on top of the job, was rarely, if ever, extended (3) The fact that I have never travelled behind either the K1 or the  B1 on the West Highland line.