Plucky pit loco returns to North East tracks
Survivor makes it back to familiar mining territory. Tony Henderson reports
A steam locomotive described as a “plucky survivor” from the days when collieries covered the North East is to return to the region.
National Coal Board No. 54 was once a familiar sight for County Durham pit villagers but will now return nearly 50 years after it was ousted by diesel engines.
It was built in 1952 to help cope with the massive post-war demand for Durham coal.
After 25 years of dedicated service, it left the North East for a new life in Yorkshire. But now the 73-year-old locomotive is set to return as a star guest for a major event at the Tanfield Railway in Gateshead.
No. 54 began work at East Hetton Colliery, near Kelloe. East Hetton was one of the oldest collieries in East Durham, being sunk in 1836. Heavy coal trains had to be hauled from the colliery to a connection with British Railways near Ferryhill, three and a half miles away.
Apart from a couple of short spells on loan at nearby Trimdon Grange Colliery during the 1960s, No. 54 spent two decades pulling coal trains from East Hetton. During that time, the National Coal Board cut its locomotive fleet drastically and No. 54 was renumbered to become No. 22.
Despite the contracting coal industry, No. 22 spent the rest of its career in East Durham. In November 1972, the locomotive moved to the Durham coast and Blackhall Colliery, before switching to Thornley coal washery. The following March, it went back to East Hetton Colliery.
Finally, it arrived at Fishburn Coke Works in May 1974. But when the works started using hired-in diesel locomotives in 1976, No. 22 was left without work.
It would have been cut up for scrap were it not for preservationists from the Yorkshire Dales Railway, near Skipton. Instead, volunteers restored No. 22 to work trains for tourists.
During a recently completed overhaul, No. 22 became No. 54 again – its smart red livery reinstated and back in the condition it was when delivered to East Hetton Colliery in 1952, for the first time since it was saved for preservation.
It currently lives with the Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society in Scunthorpe.
But during June, No. 54 will be taking part in the Tanfield Railway’s Legends of Industry gala weekend. The event is part of the 300th anniversary of the Tanfield line – the oldest working railway in the world.
Tanfield Railway general manager David Watchman said: “Plucky little No. 54 is a rare survivor from the East Durham coalfield. But back in its heyday it was one of scores of small locomotives that kept this vital industry going.
“It wasn’t glamorous express trains that made the North East work during the 1950s. It was locomotives like No. 54 beavering away in collieries, shipyards and steel works. That’s the real story of our railways, and it’s important that we remember that.
“It’s a sobering thought that for most of the pit villages where No. 54 worked, it will now be the largest surviving artefact from their industrial past. I’m really pleased that we’ve got the chance to bring it ‘home’ for a little while.”
Alongside six locomotives from the Tanfield Railway’s own fleet, No. 54 will be in action pulling passenger and demonstration freight trains between Stanley and Sunniside from June 20–22. Tickets can be booked on the Tanfield Railway website, or bought on the day.