ECML 60's Coal Train

[CarltonA]

The 1970 steam thread prompted me to ask this: I remember one day in the latish 1960's seeing a tank engine hauling coal wagons north of Darlington. It may have been a Jinty type or 4MT. When did the last of these run?

 

[142094]

Was it definitely on the ECML? A lot of the NCB collieries and other private railways in the NE used steam right up until the late 60s and early 70s.

 

[CarltonA]

It was near Aycliffe heading north on the main line. Ferryhill would have been the nearest colliery in that direction. It was in BR lined black livery, I'm fairly sure. We were quite surprised when it came along as we all thought steam had finished by then. It could have been an empty wagon move, it was 45 years ago so I can't remember the detail. The steam ban came into force in August '68 so must have been sometime before that.

 

[steam3788]

BR steam finished on 30th September 1967 in North East England. Any steam seen after that date in that area would have been industrial or coal board owned. These would all have been tank locos and my well have been visable at various locations from BR lines.

 

[CarltonA]

Thanks, you seem to have cleared up the date question. It probably was the summer of 1967 I saw the train near Brafferton. There was no coal board or industrial line near there, the Aycliffe quarry system having already closed.