THE Tanfield Railway (TR) has achieved something of a master stroke in securing ‘local’ National Coal Board ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST No. 60 (Hunslet 3686/1948) for its Legends of Industry gala on June 16-17.
The locomotive went new to the well-known Lambton shed at Philadelphia, County Durham, in 1949, and only returned to operation at the Aln Valley Railway (AVR) over Easter following a major overhaul at Ian Storey’s works.
The AVR has an agreement with owner Stephen Wood for the use of the loco for the first six months after its return to traffic, so its appearance at the Tanfield event is quite a coup.
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Claim to fame
The gala will mark No. 60’s first return to its former area of employment in 40 years, having spent its preservation career on the Strathspey Railway.
It holds a significant claim to fame in the county, having been the first steam locomotive acquired by the NCB’s No. 2 (Mid-East Durham) Area following the nationalisation of the coal industry.
Read more in the June issue of The RM – on sale now!
