60024 last journey

[kingfisher24]

I am trying to put together the last journey for 60024, from Ferryhill to Hughes Bolckow scrapyard near Blyth, which I think must have taken place late Sept/early Oct 1966.

60024 was last used in mid Sept 1966 (after official withdrawal) on an Aberdeen/Glasgow return working (Ferryhill must have been very short of power!), and there is a picture of her on the turntable at 61B shorn of rods, tender emptied, etc, being turned to face south for her last trip under haulage. (see "The book of the A4 Pacifics Photographic Accompaniment Part 1, Irwell Press 2006, Page 46.)

Questions:

1. Anyone any ideas as to when she departed 61B for the south, route, haulage, date, times, etc?
2. Did she go direct to Blyth, or was she stabled en route?
3. Any delays due to running hot, etc?
4. When did she enter Hughes Bolckow?
5. Date of final cutting?

Any photos of any of the above??

Regards,

Mike

[Tranby1]

Hi

According to my researches " On the 14th September 1966, Kingfisher worked the 08:24 Glasgow Aberdeen which heralded the final revenue earning service for an A4"

[Tranby1]

Bit more - the book Steam for Scrap (Atlantic Publsihing, isbn 9 780906 899519) pages 108/109 show 60024 in pics.

Pic 1 - Aug 66 at Perth, 60024 minus tender - she was about to recieve tender from Lord Farigndon (presumably as she was earmarked for preservation only to be rapced by Bittern when problems found with fer firebox)

Pic 2 - 26th Nov 66 "surrounded by sombre enthusiasts, she is slowly propelled into the yard (HB) by D2312/2014. Sister 60034 also present, newly arrived from perth via Heatin and arrivi9ng with Q6 63379 and J27 65819"

Hope this helps

[Sedgefield]

Here with my old trainspotting mates Ronnie and Teeth in late 1966.

[strang steel]

I have looked through a few Railway Observers, but have found nothing so far, except the withdrawal.

John

[harvester]

Interesting view from Sedgefield I see 60024 still carries plaque on boiler side. Did that survive the scrapmans torch?

[Sedgefield]

Here is a another view of the scrapline that day with 60034 Lord Farington leading a K1 62006, A J27 65796, a Q6 63379, and finally 60024. I notice my mate Ronny sat pretending to drive Lord Faringdon!

[manna]

G'Day Gents

You lucky so and so's, I don't think I ever cabbed a A4, but to see the like that is a shame

I've seen the picture of Lord F, the middle driver missing, so to now see Lord F with it back on again was a bit of a surprise!! Amazing how complete these engines are ??

manna

[STAFFORDA4]

an update to 60024's assumed movement south appears in the letters column of the latest Heritage Railways issue in response to an earlier letter of mine to that magazine. Eric

[silverfox]

A very good friend of mine ended up with the chimney outer casing

[1H was 2E]

The tender swapping has also been mentioned on the thread "A4 Tenders" and I thought I attached a photo then but didn't.
So here's 60034 with an NBL shunter where the tender should be - and it looks like they swapped Stanier tenders there, too.

[The extension bmp has been deactivated and can no longer be displayed.]

Edit; Hope that works; don't know why it came out as a link not as ;part of the post.

[STAFFORDA4]

just a thought on this after coming across a picture of 4468 Mallard being towed south after initial restoration in 1964, the late Colin Walker has captured her TENDER FIRST en route through Leicester Central to Clapham Museum.
What would be the preferred official method of towing a dead A4? Nose or tender first? Did it matter?
as usual your help would be greatly appreciated. Eric

[52A]

Makes no difference, unless there was a problem with the tender vacuum brakes.

[Paul_sterling]

(snip)

Pic 1 - Aug 66 at Perth, 60024 minus tender - she was about to recieve tender from Lord Farigndon (presumably as she was earmarked for preservation only to be rapced by Bittern when problems found with fer firebox)

I did read once before that 60024 had been a contender for preservation, but the firebox vetoed it, but I had not realised that it had been going to be at the expense of bittern, it must have been ironic for Geoff Drury that he changed his mind (?) only for Bittern to ultimately have Frame trouble which put her out of potential use for many years.

Paul.

[STAFFORDA4]

I knew Geoff Drury for a short while in the late 60s and he stated he’d always wanted an A4 and the choice was 19 or 24, obviously as they were the last 2 in service. It seems that Kingfisher was well knackered by the end and thus it was arranged for Bittern to take the SWRS Granite City tour from Edinburgh to York on Sunday 4th September 1966 to her new home at York MPD 50A.
Geoff told me he watched her come off the Royal Border Bridge at Tweedmouth that day before driving home himself to York.

Next day the A4 hauled a goods from York to Healey Mills for him to check his purchase and he apparently then signed the cheque for payment upon return to York before her fire was dropped. (Monday 5th September 1966, official withdrawal date of both 19* and 24

(*he always referred to Bittern as “Nineteen”)