61078

[crudshoveller]

In 1960-1961 this B1 was running with white/silver smokebox door hinge bars. I don't know of any other Woodford Halse engine thus treated, so was this a one off? At this late stage is it too late to ask how this unaccustomed (for Woodford) cosmetic touch came about?

[paulmblythe]

It was common for Boston and Immingham allocated locos to have painted lamp irons, door hinges etc in the later br period too. Im not sure if it was white or silver paint.

[crudshoveller]

Thanks Paul - yes, I have a few pics of them myself. On the other hand the practice seems to have not been generally adopted at Woodford Halse shed. 61078 had been a Woodford Halse engine for many years though, and so is unlikely to have acquired that painting elsewhere, though not impossible of course. Immingham engines were common visitors to Woodford (on the fish trains in particular, typically K3s or B1s before the Britannias arrived on scene), and I once I even rode behind 61078 itself from Boston to Rugby Central - so faint opportunities existed.
(NB. To me the smoke-box hinge-bars looked white, and I never questioned that impression until I saw mention of 'silver' hinge-bars (in BR days) somewhere.
The minutiae of history, both railway and otherwise, so soon slip through the cracks don't they?

[loco_1912]

Immingham locos were painted unofficially by the apprentice fitters but the bosses turned a blind eye to it
and it seemed to catch on at other sheds in the region.
1912

[60129 GUY MANNERING]

Thornaby also practiced this habit in late BR Steam days.