A1's & A2's through Harrogate

[Sniffer]

Might be an odd question but at about what time would the last of either these classes have come through the town on a regular working ?

I was born in '62, and have a long held memory of one of these engines passing through Harrogate station.
Problem is I've never been sure it actually occurred.

Wishful thinking or perhaps I'm just old enough to have witnessed this ?

Any thoughts ?

[strang steel]

I think that the last A1 was withdrawn from York in mid 1966, so you could possibly remember it passing through Harrogate.

I remember being taken to our local station (at a similar age to you) by my father and there were lots of folk around, but we never caught a train - we just came back home again.

Many years later I asked him if he could suggest what my memory was, he said it was the last day of the M&GN services, Feb 28th 1959. I was made up, that despite it being a very sad occasion, at least I had a memory of it.

[DaveF]

Is this any help?

It's one of Dad's photos.

Harrogate Class A1 60131 Osprey up light engine Aug 65 J270

David

[Sniffer]

Thanks for that Dave.

I've got a pretty good memory, so if they were still around in 65/66 (which seemingly they were ) I probably did see one.

My dad was chief steward on the Yorkshire Pullman, but to be honest I don't remember anything but Deltics & 47's on his train.
But who knows ?

BTW Osprey is heading across the Stray near Tewitt Well in that picture.

[DaveF]

Thanks for that Dave.

I've got a pretty good memory, so if they were still around in 65/66 (which seemingly they were ) I probably did see one.

My dad was chief steward on the Yorkshire Pullman, but to be honest I don't remember anything but Deltics & 47's on his train.
But who knows ?

BTW Osprey is heading across the Stray near Tewitt Well in that picture.

Every time I saw the Yorkshire Pullman between Summer 65 and Summer 68 it was diesel hauled, but then I didn't often see it being at school. I think the down train in the evening at least was sometimes steam hauled, I remember being told the Harrogate portion sometimes had a 2-6-4T.

I lived very near to where the photo was taken, probably about 200 yards away with a view of the railway from the house.

David

[Sedgefield]

I remember going with my mother to Leeds shopping from Darlington in 1965. We changed at Northallerton southbound onto a DMU parked in the South Bay to travel through Ripon and Harrogate.
Coming back we caught a direct Liverpool to Newcastle train which by that time was a regular class 40 turn. Imagine my excitement when 60134 Foxhunter which had been stood waiting in Leeds City, coupled onto the back of the class 40 hauled train from Liverpool. (This train reversed there to traverse the Leeds Northern). It must have been late in the day as I can still remember the sparks in the night sky it emitted as we charged north through Ripon back to Darlington. What a disgrace that line was allowed to be closed. I understand Foxhunter was withdrawn from Leeds Neville Hill in October 1965. The last two A1s after that were stanby locos at Darlington 60124 and 60145 until March 1966.

[harvester]

Happy memories of 60134 Foxhunter in the late 1950's at Leeds Central. A very friendly driver giving all us "spotters" (about 6 or 7) a footplate ride the length of the station as the loco reversed back towards Copley Hill shed after bringing a London express in.