GCR locmotives at York circa 1950

[Tom F]

Evening all

I'm interested in what ex GCR locos could be found at York around 1950....I'm thinking O4s and the like stabled at Doncaster.....would that be it, or would there be any from further afield?

Cheers

Tom

[50C]

At Selby,throughout the 50's,we daily saw O1 and O4's from Immingham,Frodingham,Colwick,Doncaster Langworth Junction and Mexboro heading to York where they were quickly turned round and headed back south with a balancing working.In 1950 Hull Dairycoates had a batch on its books so I assume some would have found their way to York.
I am sure the Sheffield Directors would have appeared as well as J11's.In the early 50's Hull Botanic Gardens had some A5 tanks which were used on the Hull/Withernsea routes,along with A8's,but which may also have been used on Hull-York locals.

50c

[Tom F]

Ah very helpful 50C

So that gives a wide variety of possibilities for Ex GCR locos in York, a rare place really where you could get exNER, GNR and GCR all in one place, plus interloppers from the LMR

Ta

Tom

[Boris]

Sheffield directors used to work into York regularly but mostly the bulk was our B1s
Directors seemd to beNottingham Lincoln and Cleethorpes

[50C]

Tom,a bit more info-

The small Directors(D10,62650 to 62659) all spent some time at Trafford Park in the early 50's before withdrawal so may well have found their way over the Pennines to York.Also there were 26 D9's around in 1950 again over at Trafford Park/Brunswick so would they have made an appearance?
What about the 4 B4's based at Ardsley in 1949/50-a possibility but I suspect by then they were in store awaiting the torch.

50c

[Tom F]

Very helpful there.....very interesting....any random oddities of GCR heritage...or GNR....or even GER heritage....now thats interesting......GER locos at York....B17's appeared occasionally didn't they?

Tom

[69999]

The majority of ex Great Central locos reaching York in the 1950’s came from the direction of Mexborough. They came off the GC proper then north on the S&K toYork. The main class was the O4 2-8-0 in all its variants. In the late 1950’s the Thompson rebuilt O4’s as O1 began to appear after their transfer to Staveley.

There are many published photographs by Peter Cookson of O4’s on the S&K at Pontefract en route to/from York. The Bellcode series also feature several O4’s at York.

The main sheds providing these locos were Mexborough (36B/41F); Staveley (38D/41H); Frodingham (36C) and Darnall (39B/41A). There were also a few O4’s allocated to the North Eastern Region at Ardsley and Wakefield. I have seen photographs of one or two of these in the yard at 50A.

The last examples of the GC 4-6-0 types had all been withdrawn by the end of 1950.

The D11 Directors occasionally worked local passenger trains between York and Sheffield via the S&K during the late 1950’s when most of the class was concentrated at Darnall prior to withdrawal.

One interesting working through York on Summer Saturdays during the 1950’s was the 1000 Manchester London Road to Scarborough train, reporting number 200. This was hauled by a GC J11 from Barnsley shed (36D/41G). The J11 took over from an electric loco at Penistone then worked the train through Barnsley to Wath Jct then around the curve at Manvers to Dearne Jct and north on the S&K to York and Scarborough – arriving at 1450. Barnsley used both types of J11 on this train – slide and piston valve.

I never found out how this loco returned. The paired train was 187 the 1000 Scarborough Londesboro Road to Manchester London Road (!). This train came through Barnsley in the early afternoon hauled by a York 4-6-0 piloted by a Barnsley C13, N5 or J11 from Stairfoot to Penistone.

There would also have been occasional melancholy visits by GC locos en route to Darlington Works for scrapping. Several N5 tanks took this route in the mid/late 1950’s although they would have been towed of course.

Regards
69999

[Tom F]

69999 thats very helpful, means i can certainly have an 04 variant

Now would an Annesley O1 have reached York in 1950?

Cheers

Tom

[Tom F]

Another question from me

Colwick....could Colwick locos reach York.....thinking of K2s inparticular

Tom

[rob237]

Quite confident that both Colwick and Annesley freight locos reached York, if only on an irregular basis...
Less sure about Colwick K2's...ostensibly a passenger loco...perhaps with a Scarborough special?

Have seen a pic of a Colwick B1 hauling the Burton-Dringhouses beer train...instead of the usual York B16.

Cheers
Robt P.

[69999]

It is always possible that an Annesley O1 reached York in 1950 but not I suspect on a regular basis. It would be necessary to have access to the contemporary locomotive rosters for Annesley. The rosters would not tell the whole story, however, as engines had a habit of turning up in the most unexpected places – whether on special workings or being ‘borrowed’ by or loaned to another shed. The replacement of a failure en route was also possible. There were many goods workings from fully fitted downwards between York and the GC line. Many of these called at Annesley Yard. The main O1 workings from Annesley were southwards on the accelerated ‘Runners’ to Woodford. You need a dated photograph to answer your question.

The O1 class was shopped at Gorton. The five North Eastern locos at Tyne Dock would travel through York en route to and from Manchester.

Regarding Colwick K2’s at York. Post War with few exceptions all members of the K2 class received their main shoppings at Cowlairs Works and thus would be regular sights travelling to and from Scotland. Regular rostered workings would again require access to 38A rosters.

Regards
69999

[Dixie]

It is very likely the B4/2 No 1482, IMMINGHAM would have made visits to York prior to withdrawal in November1950. It had earlier been transferred to Ardsley shed and I recall seeing it at Driffield, hauling a coast bound excursion in the summer of that year, resplendent in green livery. J11 also were to be seen on similar excursions. Dixie

[9E]

50C wrote:

The small Directors(D10,62650 to 62659) all spent some time at Trafford Park in the early 50's before withdrawal so may well have found their way over the Pennines to York.Also there were 26 D9's around in 1950 again over at Trafford Park/Brunswick so would they have made an appearance?

Sadly the D9s were well and truly on their last legs post-war and so York wouldn't have been an option. The last 2 went in 1950 and they didn't get off the Cheshire Lines except for trips to Gorton. Any D9s that made it to York would have been towed and on their way to Darlington for scrapping as already mentioned.

The D10s at Trafford Park, Northwich etc would similarly not have ventured far from the CLC with Gorton and Guide Bridge being their eastern limit unless Boris knows any stories.

1950 seems to have been a real year of change for GC locos with: the end of the GC 4-6-0s, the D9s and the last Atlantic; the D11s starting their move to the CLC sheds from Immingham etc in May 1950; and Annesley and Gorton had a major swap of O1s for O4s over the course of the year.

Simon

[50C]

Saw the odd Colwick K2 at Selby heading for York on goods but when a K2 did appear it was usually from Immingham.

50c

[bricam5]

I cannot ever remember an ex GCR A5 tank running from Hull to York during my time at Botanic.
The York run was then via Beverley & Arram junction.
Apart from Hull Hornsea/Withernsea as mentioned earlier, they were used on Hull to Goole and on the 4-20 a.m. Hull to Stainforth Empty stock up when no A8 was available.