No.1264/No.61264 is a preserved LNER Thompson Class B1 4-6-0 tender steam locomotive.
History[]
No.1264 was built in 1947 by the North British Locomotive company and operated under the LNER from 1946 until the next year when in 1948 British Railways was formed. It was withdrawn from service in 1965 and was used as departmental stock and numbered 29 under which it operated until 1967 when it was sold to Woodham brother's scrapyard on Barry Island in Wales.[1][2][3][4]
It managed to be rescued in 1973 but took a while to get restored becoming operational in 1997 being outshopped in BR Lined Black with the late crest. In 2008 it was withdrawn for it's 10 yearly overhaul returning to traffic in 2013 now outshopped in BR Lined Black but this time with the early emblem and made it's mainline debut in January 2014 double heading RTC's "Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express" with 45407 The Lancashire Fusilier. In late 2014 61264 was withdrawn from service for winter maintenance where work was focused on the bottom end and the axleboxes on the trailing wheelsets were found to be in poor condition. Upon further inspection cracks were found with the largest running around the wheelhub to the crankpin. The affected wheels were sent to Ian Riley’s workshop in Bury where non-destructive tests revealed cracks 30-40cm deep on the trailing wheelset which meant that a new crankpin was required. On checking the other wheelsets similar problems were identified. The problem has been identified as being due to the casting process in 1947.
In June 2016 the repaired wheelsets were returned to Grosmont and it was back in service in early August of that year and operating on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway but visited other preserved lines regularly.[2][3] During a period in the locomotives boiler ticket the engine was repainted from it's BR Lined Black livery to LNER Wartime Black. It's mainline career was cut short during it's ticket with the loco seeing little use on railtours and in March 2020 the locomotive was once again withdrawn from traffic when cracks were found in the firebox which would require a full replacement. In July 2022 it was announced that the locomotive would be moving to the Nottingham Heritage Railway (Formerly named Great Central Railway Nottingham) where it will be overhauled. The aim is to undertake the overhaul so as to keep the locomotive certified for main line running.
In November 2023 it was reported that the overhaul of the locomotive was due to begin soon at the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) and was to include a full overhaul to the boiler plus a new inner firebox, a new tender tank, and new tyres, amongst many jobs. By October 2024 it was announced that with the replacement tender tank that's being built for 61264 it will include modifications to the coal storage area to prevent coal from accumulating on a shelf, this being due to crews being forbidden from entering the coal space to rake forwards coal from the shelf when under overhead live wires. Provision is being made for 61264 to be fitted with ETCS (European Train Control System) which is now fitted to 60163 Tornado. The fitment of air brakes is yet to be confirmed but the water capacity is expected to remain at 4,200 Gallons.
61264 is owned by the Thompson B1 Locomotive Limited which was formed in 1982 and is a private company limited by shares.
Trivia[]
- It was the 83rd locomotive to be bought from Barry.
- Prior to it's rescue it was the last surviving none-preserved LNER locomotive.
Gallery[]
.jpg "LNER Class B1 steam locomotive No 61264 at Anglia Trains Crown Point depot Norwich (3).jpg (546 KB)")
Bibliography[]