1306 sold?

NEW CUSTODIAN FOR THOMPSON CLASS B1 NO. 61306 MAYFLOWER
Retired businessman and long-term London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) enthusiast David Buck has acquired LNER-designed Thompson class B1 No. 61306 Mayflower from the Boden family for an undisclosed sum. The locomotive will be managed on behalf of David Buck by The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, the builders, owners and operators of new main steam locomotive No. 60163 Tornado which is also currently building Britain’s most powerful steam locomotive No. 2007 Prince of Wales.
The Thompson class B1 two-cylinder mixed traffic 4-6-0s steam locomotives were designed for medium mixed traffic work by Edward Thompson. Introduced in 1942, 274 were built for the LNER and 136 were built for British Railways (BR) after nationalisation in 1948 with the class eventually totalling 410. The prototype for the new class B1 4-6-0 was built at Darlington and entered service in December 1942. With cost saving a wartime priority the LNER re-used existing patterns, jigs and tools to economise on materials and labour and extensive use was made of welding instead of steel castings. The LNER placed substantial orders with two outside builders: Vulcan Foundry and the North British Locomotive Company of Glasgow. The B1s operated throughout LNER territory, with the first normal withdrawal occurring in November 1961 with the remaining locomotives were withdrawn between 1962 and 1967. Two B1s have been preserved, these being No. 61264 and No. 61306.
No. 61306 was built in 1948 by the North British Locomotive Company. It was allocated to Hull Botanic Gardens Depot until June 1959, when it was transferred to nearby Hull Dairycoates Depot, where it remained until June 1967, when it was transferred to Low Moor Depot, Bradford. Withdrawn in September 1967, No. 61306 was privately purchased for preservation at Steamtown in Carnforth. There it was painted into LNER Apple Green Livery and given the number No. 1306 and the name Mayflower. In 1978, No. 1306 moved to the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire, where it remained until 1989, when it was taken out of service for a ten-year overhaul at Hull Dairycoates and subsequently the Nene Valley Railway. In 2006 a further overhaul was undertaken at Boden Rail Engineering Ltd, Washwood Heath and the locomotive returned to the main line in 2012 as No. 61306 in Apple Green livery with ‘British Railways’ on the tender. Since the time it has been under the care of Neil Boden and has always been an exemplary locomotive both in terms of the high quality of its turn out and its operational pedigree.
Having only completed around 2,000 miles since its last overhaul, No. 61306 will be available for private hire by heritage railways and for use on main line charter trains. It is anticipated that the locomotive will initially move to the North Norfolk Railway in Sheringham.
David Buck commented:
“I am delighted to become the new custodian of No. 61306 Mayflower. I have vivid memories of B1s working in and around Ipswich and this is the fulfilment of a childhood dream. The Boden family have always ensured that the locomotive was immaculately presented and this will continue as Mayflower seeks work on heritage railways and main line charters.”
Neil Boden added:
“The Boden family has had the pleasure of owning Mayflower for over 30 years and we are delighted that this wonderful locomotive is going to David Buck who will continue to maintain the same high standards of presentation and who really cares about the locomotive.”
Mark Allatt, chairman, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, concluded:
“ We are delighted to be working with David to operate this much-loved LNER designed locomotive and bring it to new audiences up and down the country. As a Darlington designed locomotive, No. 61306 Mayflower is a perfect complement to No. 60163 Tornado.”
Contact:
Mark Allatt, chairman, A1SLT, 07710 878979 and mark.allatt@a1steam.com
Mark Allatt
Chairman
The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust
Darlington Locomotive Works
Darlington
DL3 6RQ

 

Wow.....

 

Stop reading my mind!!!

 

Presumably that wouldn't be mainline work with WCR then, unless A1 Trust have patched up relations with them. Good to know 1306 will be kept to high standards anyway.

Dave

 

With this addition to the NNR's impressive large mainline loco fleet, I was wondering what happened to GWR Taffy 5619? Wasn't that based at the railway? There's no reference to it on the NNR's website.

Matt

 

Didnt see this one coming at all but as someone said to me last night Mr Bodens done a few things strange lately. At least now its in a position where it can be used regularly and be seen by more people rather than out of sight at Washwood Heath

 

5619 has failed with Cracked tubeplate and is now at Flour Mill according to latest Steam Railway.

 

Hope it stays at the NNR for more than a year, as a Norfolk heritage railway with a mainline connection I think it's the perfect place for a B1.

I knew 5619 had left the NNR for repairs of some sort, and assume with the influx of locomotives to the NNR it may not return.

 

I Dont know so much the problem over Tornado was to do with use of a non approoved contractor, but if 1306 is on WCRS books already, then the change of owner shouldn't effect the chances of work, if any thing, it could pave the way to the A1 Trust working with West Coast and that in turn allowing tornado back once her intermediate heavy is done

 

i think i can guess what is going to replace Tornado when she goes out for overhaul, and when she comes back , spoilt for choice, B1 vs A1 , 2 LNER engines in the sameish livery double heading

 

While we're on the A1 Trust, is anyone else getting a message next to their site when they google search them such as "This site may be hacked"? Or is it just google or my link scanner?

 

Should that not read 2 LNER designed engines?

 

I am jumping for joy about this addition at NNR.

 

The NNR does seem to be in a very acquisitive phase, engine-wise, at the moment but I wonder if there is enough work for them all, particularly once the J15 and B12 return to service. Keeping loco owners on board requires allocating them sensible annual mileages, but the railway will also want to keep costs down, and doesn't really need class 5 locos. I can see them having trouble holding on to some of them.

 

I was under the impression that 76084 and 44767 were on loan for a 2 year period, maybe it is the intention that these will move on once the WD and J15 return. Especially as 76084's owning group is based in the North. Would be nice to see the B1 stay at the NNR long term though, perfect shed mate for the B12 and J15.

 

As 61306 is mainline registered ,and the NNR is mainline conected have the A1 trust any plans to use her on the main line during her year long stay at the railway, what would be the most likilest destinations that could be with in easy reach of her base with turning facilities ,after all any tour can run electric or deisel hauled to a point where the B1 could take over

 

Wasn't that in relation to a particular contractor though, used on the A1? 61306 has already been operated by wcr so should be ok?

 

My understanding is their problem with 60163 is relating to suppliers/technical aspects of 60163, 61306 doesn't come under this.

 

Right then when can we have a nice little jaunt from Sheringham to Dereham? Could sort those pesky reverses out by going T&T with 76084 and if we could get degrodation for that lovely Gresley Buffet...

 

60163, 61306... any other surviving anagrams for the A1SLT to add to their collection? Maybe the P2 will be renumbered 60361 when it's repainted in BR blue? ;-) Potentially confusing for the dyslexic (or numerical equivalent) among us!