J21 at Whitburn colliery

[upney sidings]

I recently purchased a Richard Casserley negative featuring "NCB No. 5 at Whitburn colliery 29/4/52". I believe this to be a an NER 'C' class or LNER J21 and could do with having its story for the caption on my web site. Your help with this would be appreciated.
Mike M.

[52A]

4 locos sold to the Harton Coal Co. to run the passenger service of the South Shields Marsden and Whitburn Colliery Railway (The Marsden Rattler) between Westoe and Marsden. 1616 in Oct 1929, scrapped 1935, 869 in Jan 1941, scrapped post 1953, 776 in May 1935, scrapped 1939 and 1509 in Aug 1935, scrapped March 1951. From the Greeny.

[52A]

Strangely there are no locos numbered 5, 776 was number 7 until replaced by 1616. 869 became number 8 and 1509 number 6.

[upney sidings]

Strangely there are no locos numbered 5, 776 was number 7 until replaced by 1616. 869 became number 8 and 1509 number 6.

I thought I had better check the image because eBay sellers do occasionally transcribe data incorrectly but it is exactly as it says on the tin as shown below …….

[4812]

I believe that SSMWCR No 5 began life as a Fletcher loco in the NER's 398 Class, which collected a pseudo-Worsdell cab after it was sold by the LNER in 1925. The cab side-windows are a very odd shape, and funny things happened to ex-NER locos which passed into colliery service. The tender frames too look as though they started life at Stratford.

[upney sidings]

I believe that SSMWCR No 5 began life as a Fletcher loco in the NER's 398 Class, which collected a pseudo-Worsdell cab after it was sold by the LNER in 1925. The cab side-windows are a very odd shape, and funny things happened to ex-NER locos which passed into colliery service. The tender frames too look as though they started life at Stratford.

Thank you for the above response. The loco in question is, indeed, a Fletcher 398 example and was number 396 which was withdrawn in 1953.

Do you happen to know when it was built, please?

[4812]

Baxter Vol 5A says that No 396 was built at Gateshead in August 1881 and given a Worsdell boiler in 1900. It is shown as going to Whitburn in 1925 but I believe that it passed through the hands of the dealers, Robert Frazer & Sons of Hebburn after withdrawal by the LNER.