LNER Thompson Class B1

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61306 at Leeds City 1966/7.

61337 derailed at Stanningley, 1966/7.

One of the named B1s, 61028 Umseke with nameplate visible on its smokebox, at Nottingham Victoria in 1958 with an express for London Marylebone.

61306 under the coaler at Low Moor shed.

61306 (yet again) at Bradford Exchange.

The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Thompson Class B1 is a class of steam locomotive designed for medium mixed traffic work. It was designed by Edward Thompson.

[edit] Overview

It was the LNER's equivalent to the highly successful GWR Hall Class and the LMS Stanier Black Five, a two-cylinder mixed traffic 4-6-0. Introduced in 1942, the first 8301, was named Springbok in honour of a visit by Jan Smuts. Some more were named after antelopes and the like, and they became known as bongos after 8306 Bongo. 274 were built by the LNER. 136 were built by British Railways after nationalisation in 1948. The total number in stock at any one time however was only 409 as 61057 crashed in 1950 and was scrapped.

Apart from 61057, the rest were withdrawn between 1961 and 1967.

[edit] Names

Note this does not include all engines

[edit] Preservation

Preserved in inauthentic LNER Apple Green livery 1306 Mayflower was actually one of those locomotives built by British Railways after nationalisation in 1948, numbered 61306 and never named.

The other preserved B1 is 61264, seen here in BR black livery at Christmas 2000.

A year earlier 1264 in LNER Apple Green livery.

Two have been preserved, (6)1264 and 61306 though the latter is in inauthentic apple green livery and named Mayflower, a name it never carried in service, though scrapped sister engine 61379 was so named.

[edit] References

• Yeadon's Register of LNER Locomotives. Volume 6 Thompson B1 Class

[edit] External links

• LNER encyclopedia
• Thompson B1 Locomotive Trust (owners of (6)1264)
• 1306 Mayflower (owners of (6)1306)