Mystery 9F on Tyne Dock to Consett

[Beamish]

Without my old ABC's and locoshed books I'm lost, but through the mists of time I seem to recall that Tyne Dock had the services of an extra 9F sometime around 1961-3. All I can remember was that it was double chimney and, of course not able to act on the ore trains as it was not fitted with the Westinghouse pumps. I can say that it seemed to be on trial, 'cos it would appear at the head of coal trains loaded to 13 and 14, instead of the regular 12 hoppers for a class 9, and that made the sparks fly. Has anyone any idea which loco this was?

ps. It was not the mechanical stoker '167, that came later.

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

'167 would have been my guess.

[Postman Prat]

And mine!!

[Blink Bonny]

Oh God!

You know what they say about Great Minds, PP? What's our excuse!

[Beamish]

So there I was, minding my own business, surfing the internet when I blundered over a weathered Bachmann model of 92006, and Eureka! That was the 9F that appeared on the Tyne Dock - Consett line in the early 60s. And I couldn't believe that I'd forgotton it so easily, since the loco's become such a celebrity. I even remember thinking, when I first saw it, that its number was an anagram of 92060, another of 52H's ten 9Fs.
Fitted in 1960 with double chimney ( fabulous pic by Brian Stephenson on the net) it went on to York shed around 1963. It must have been loaned to 52H around that time. I'm surprised no-one else remembers it, strikingly different as it was with different tender, double chimney and no pumps. It would be great if someone out there has a pic of 92006 on a Consett bound coal train.

[Postman Prat]

Hi BB

I've no objection to 'Great minds think alike' but I don't want the 'Fools seldom differ'!!!

[Blink Bonny]

So there I was, minding my own business, surfing the internet when I blundered over a weathered Bachmann model of 92006, and Eureka! That was the 9F that appeared on the Tyne Dock - Consett line in the early 60s. And I couldn't believe that I'd forgotton it so easily, since the loco's become such a celebrity. I even remember thinking, when I first saw it, that its number was an anagram of 92060, another of 52H's ten 9Fs.
Fitted in 1960 with double chimney ( fabulous pic by Brian Stephenson on the net) it went on to York shed around 1963. It must have been loaned to 52H around that time. I'm surprised no-one else remembers it, strikingly different as it was with different tender, double chimney and no pumps. It would be great if someone out there has a pic of 92006 on a Consett bound coal train.

Did it have a 1G tender? I'll have a look at my 9F books for you.

[Postman Prat]

Yep, 92006 fitted with BR1G tender

[strang steel]

Removed to avoid senior moment

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up, PP!

Saved me a dig through me book pile!

[WOOTANG]

GOOD EVENING GENTS

i have a picture of the locomotive in question but its not haulin the tyne-dock wagons this picturse includes the loco chilcompton tunnel on a bradford - bournemouth trai in 1961 after the loco went from a single chimney to a double chimney i will try and upload a picture for you

[Beamish]

Thanks, Wootang; look forward to it.

Looking back now I can see that '06 was being tried out on the steep route to Consett, with its punishing grades - as bad as 1 in 35 in places. Class 37s ( or English Electric Type 3s as I remember them) had just started to appear. They had cumbersome brake tenders then. Developing 1750 hp, they were roughly a match for a 9F and were loaded with 12 hoppers when taking coal up the line to the iron works. These loadings are minute compared to work on the level, but the line was 13 miles of hellish climbing and locos had to be correctly loaded. I remember 9Fs could take 12 hoppers, Q6s 8, and K1s and WDs 7 or 8. The Q6s had the least tractive effort but were good old sloggers when it came to hard work. It was great to see them swaying from side to side ( 'hunting' ) as they climbed through Beamish.

Now to '06. When I first saw her I noticed at once that she had 13 coal hoppers, and she appeared to be making light work of it. I saw her on coal trains many occasions, and wonder now if she was there on trial or simply replacing one of 52H's regulars, away for repair. Sad she couldn't be around today. Sad they all couldn't!

[Blink Bonny]

GOOD EVENING GENTS

i have a picture of the locomotive in question but its not haulin the tyne-dock wagons this picturse includes the loco chilcompton tunnel on a bradford - bournemouth trai in 1961 after the loco went from a single chimney to a double chimney i will try and upload a picture for you

Ay up, Wootang!

I never knew 92006 worked the S & D! Look forward to this one.

As for the 9F on the Tyne Dock - there is a piccie on Page 56 of David Clarke's Locomotives in Detail No 7 - Riddles 9F 2-10-0 of a 1G 9F banking a rake. This engine now has been identified!