I have been studying the J94's for some time now and have noticed that 68013 seemed to have aquired a Hudswell Clarke
saddletank sometime before 1960. 68013 was built by Hunslet and would have standard shaped handrail knobs on the tank
but the phototographs i have seen of this loco after 1960 show it to have handrail pillars made of plain round bar. These
were not fitted to Hunslet built locos but were fitted to Austerities built by Bagnalls, Barclays, Hudswell Clarke, Robert Stephenson
and Hawthorns, and Vulcan Foundry. Hudswell Clarke built Austerities were also fiitted with two triangular shaped lifting lugs on
the tops of the tank.
Would it have been possible that 68013 swapped tanks with a Hudswell clarke built J94? 68063 would seem the most likely
candidate as it was in Gorton Works at the same time as 68013 in 1953 (according to Yeadons) and a photo taken of 68063
in 1952 shows it had not been fitted with the extra step and angled handrail on the tank which 68013 also lacked.
Has anyone got a photograph of 68063 taken after March 1953 which would shed light on this matter?
J94 68013 Saddletank swapped?
Moderators: 52D, Tom F, Rlangham, Atlantic 3279, Blink Bonny, Saint Johnstoun, richard
Re: J94 68013 Saddletank swapped?
It's taken me a while but I think I have solved my own question. 68013 went into Darlington Works for a general repair on the 12th of October 1959 and it left the works after overhaul on 11th of November. 68065 had arrived at the works on the 1st of October also for a General repair, however she didn't leave until after 68013, on the 14th November.
Yeadons shows 68065 going to Gorton for the overhaul but I am convinced it was Darlington for two reasons: 1, the loco received the boiler from 68080 which was repaired at Darlington and 2, 68065 was photographed at Bidston in 1961 with the number on the saddletank (Gorton always put the number on the bunker).
Today I received a photograph of 68013 taken in 1956 at Middleton Top and the saddletank has the normal shaped handrail stanchions as fitted to all Hunslet Austerities; as all the photos of 68013 taken in the 1960's show her to have plain bar handrail stanchions and Hudswell Clarke lifting lugs on the saddletank I conclude that Darlington Works switched the tanks on the two locos.
Yeadons shows 68065 going to Gorton for the overhaul but I am convinced it was Darlington for two reasons: 1, the loco received the boiler from 68080 which was repaired at Darlington and 2, 68065 was photographed at Bidston in 1961 with the number on the saddletank (Gorton always put the number on the bunker).
Today I received a photograph of 68013 taken in 1956 at Middleton Top and the saddletank has the normal shaped handrail stanchions as fitted to all Hunslet Austerities; as all the photos of 68013 taken in the 1960's show her to have plain bar handrail stanchions and Hudswell Clarke lifting lugs on the saddletank I conclude that Darlington Works switched the tanks on the two locos.