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Record: 10235 (26/09/2023)
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Numbers Carried
Company Number Date From
London and North Eastern Railway (1943) 4464 on 18/12/1937
London and North Eastern Railway (1946 1st) 603 on Not applied
London and North Eastern Railway (1946 2nd) 19   16/08/1946
British Railways 60019   14/10/1948

Names Carried
Date From Name
18/12/1937 BITTERN

Liveries Carried
Colour Lining Date From
LNER Garter blue Narrow red and white 18/12/1937
LNER Black Unlined 14/11/1941
LNER Black Unlined - NE on tender 22/05/1943
LNER Garter blue Narrow red and white 07/03/1947
BR Blue Black and White 28/07/1950
BR Green Orange and Black 12/02/1952

Locomotive Specifics
Designer N. Gresley
Class A4
Company History LNER
Wheels 4-6-2
Builder Doncaster Works
Order Number 341A
Works Number 1866
Fittings (as built)
Engine Brakes Vacuum
To Service Mon 18/12/1937 to Heaton (HTN)
Withdrawal Mon 05/09/1966 off Aberdeen Ferryhill (61B)
Service Life 28 yrs, 8 mths , 18 dys

Disposal

Tenders
Type Number From Company Water Coal
Streamlined Non-Corridor 5638 18/12/1937 LNER 5,000g 8t 0cwt

Notes
Notes Sold to C. L. Drury, 12/9/66 for preservation

Allocations
Code Subsequent Codes Name From Date
HTN   Heaton (New) on 18/12/1937
GHD   Gateshead on 28/03/1943
64A   St Margarets on 28/10/1963
61B   Aberdeen Ferryhill
(Primarily used on 3hr expresses from Aberdeen - Glasgow)
on 10/11/1963
     Withdrawn on 05/09/1966

SLS Allocations*
Type Code Name From Date
ALLOC 64A St Margarets 4w/e 09/11/1963
ALLOC 91X To Scottish Region 4w/e 09/11/1963
ALLOC 61B Aberdeen Ferryhill 4w/e 07/12/1963
WDN   on 05/09/1966

* Stephenson Locomotive Society data - raw and not yet cross-referenced
Modifications
Date Modified Modification
18/12/1937 Diagram 107 boiler fitted (number 9020)
23/01/1941 Diagram 107 boiler fitted (number 9025)
14/11/1941 Side skirting removed
22/05/1943 Diagram 107 boiler fitted (number 9018)
14/10/1948 Diagram 107 boiler fitted (number 8952)
28/07/1950 To 75% Cut-off
28/07/1950 Diagram 107 boiler fitted (number 8905)
12/02/1952 Diagram 107 boiler fitted (number 29317)
12/06/1953 Long guard irons removed
12/06/1953 Diagram 107 boiler fitted (number 29298)
30/11/1954 Diagram 107 boiler fitted (number 29279)
25/05/1956 Diagram boiler fitted (number 29320)
06/09/1957 Double Chimney fitted
06/09/1957 Diagram 107 boiler fitted (number 29315)
13/12/1958 BR Automatic Warning System (AWS) fitted
13/12/1958 Diagram 107 boiler fitted (number 29319)
16/03/1960 Speedometer fitted
16/03/1960 Diagram 107 boiler fitted (number 29335)
27/04/1962 Diagram 107 boiler fitted (number 27971)
24/03/1965 Diagram 107 boiler fitted (number 29332)

Preservation
Current Status Unknown
Status Date 17/09/2018


Works Visits
Works Stopped Entry Departure Duration Level of Work Actual Mileage
Doncaster Works 03/01/1938 04/01/1938 2 days Light Repair Collision damage
 
Doncaster Works 02/03/1939 21/04/1939 51 days General    
Doncaster Works 08/07/1939 19/08/1939 43 days General    
Doncaster Works 02/09/1939 15/09/1939 14 days Light Repair    
Darlington Works 24/08/1940 24/08/1940 1 day Weighing    
Doncaster Works 09/09/1940 21/10/1940 43 days General    
Doncaster Works 27/12/1940 23/01/1941 28 days General Boiler number 9025 (Diagram 107)
 
Doncaster Works 20/08/1941 06/09/1941 18 days Light Repair    
Doncaster Works 22/09/1941 14/11/1941 54 days General Side skirting removed
Painted Wartime unlined black
 
Doncaster Works 10/04/1943 22/05/1943 43 days General Boiler number 9018 (Diagram 107)
Painted Wartime unlined black with NE lettering on tender
 
Doncaster Works 05/06/1945 21/07/1945 47 days General    
Doncaster Works 21/01/1947 07/03/1947 46 days General Painted Garter blue with black frames, red wheel centres and narrow red and white lining.
 
Doncaster Works 25/08/1948 14/10/1948 51 days General Boiler number 8952 (Diagram 107)
Renumbered to BR 60019
 
Doncaster Works 15/06/1950 28/07/1950 44 days General Boiler number 8905 (Diagram 107)
To 75% Cut-off
Painted BR Blue for steam locomotives, with broad black, inlaid with thin white lining.
 
Doncaster Works 08/08/1950 11/08/1950 4 days Unclassified    
Doncaster Works 08/01/1952 12/02/1952 36 days General Boiler number 29317 (Diagram 107)
Painted Green with orange and black lining.
 
Doncaster Works 05/05/1953 12/06/1953 39 days General Boiler number 29298 (Diagram 107)
Long guard irons removed
 
Doncaster Works 25/10/1954 30/11/1954 37 days General Boiler number 29279 (Diagram 107)
 
Doncaster Works 14/04/1956 25/05/1956 42 days General Boiler number 29320 (Diagram )
 
Doncaster Works 31/07/1957 06/09/1957 38 days General Boiler number 29315 (Diagram 107)
Double Chimney fitted
 
Doncaster Works 16/05/1958 31/05/1958 16 days Unclassified    
Doncaster Works 30/10/1958 13/12/1958 45 days General Boiler number 29319 (Diagram 107)
BR Automatic Warning System (AWS) fitted
 
Doncaster Works 20/02/1959 25/02/1959 6 days Unclassified    
Doncaster Works 08/02/1960 16/03/1960 38 days General Boiler number 29335 (Diagram 107)
Speedometer fitted
 
Doncaster Works 12/03/1962 27/04/1962 47 days General Boiler number 27971 (Diagram 107)
 
Cowlairs Works 05/10/1964 05/10/1964 1 day Unclassified    
Darlington Works 01/02/1965 24/03/1965 52 days Heavy Intermediate Boiler number 29332 (Diagram 107)
 
Inverurie Works 07/05/1965 14/05/1965 8 days Unclassified    
Cowlairs Works 29/03/1966 07/04/1966 10 days Light Casual    

Mentions ...
Report Date Title Report Source
01/10/1948 Doncaster Works Locomotives under repair here on 1/10 included Nos. 8, 37, 87, 98, 516/19, 1092, 1107/09/12/24, 60007/18/19/20/60, 60635 an 61120. SLS/194811
08/10/1948 Doncaster Works Locomotives noted ready to leave Works were Nos. 60007, painted garter blue; 60516, green; 61120, black and lined, while 60877, 60961, 61804 an 63479 were plain black. Locomotives awaiting Works included:-Nos. 48, 1121 an 1902 while those under heavy repair included Nos. 8, 18, 19. 37, 78, 98, 513/19, 932/62, 1092, 1107/24, 1869, 2116, 7350 an 9999. Condemned locomotives on the dump were:-Nos. 2126/98 an 4107. Withdrawn 'C.1' Class Nos. 3274 an 3285, fitted with tall chimneys, extra- coal space, etc., were noted supplying steam to the Crimpsall Erecting Shop; it also appeared that Nos. 2821 (3293) and 4419 might also be similarly fitted and soon put to a similar use where required. It is understood that sixteen of the new 'A.1's' are to be built at Doncaster and twenty-three at Darlington. SLS/194812
17/09/1956 The Talisman Over the early part of September 1956, thoughts of many people who are interested in the East Coast Route have been returning to that unforgettable day 21 years ago-27/9/1935. On this day the 'Silver Jubilee' express train, then a startling innovation in rail travel, made its public. debut. A few days earlier many of us had risen early in the morning to go and look at the brand new streamlined A4 Pacific ' Silver Link,' which had come up from Doncaster to Kings Cross and was running in on an early morning Cambridge train. Our reactions to the new style outline and the silver grey colouring were mixed and although we had unbounded confidence in Sir Nigel Gresley, the events of that epoch-making day exceeded our wildest dreams.
There is no need to recount in detail the trial trip. Suffice to say that 'Silver Link' in the capable hands of Driver Arthur Taylor achieved a record for steam traction that has never been approached before or since and Great Western invincibility was shattered for all time. No less than 43 miles were covered at an average speed of 100 m.p.h. and a maximum of 112½ m.p.h. was twice attained between Hitchin and St. Neots.
Ingrained in one's memory is the triumphant return of the train to Kings Cross in the early evening, where hosts of newspaper reporters were assembled. As the great engine came to a stand in platform 4, Sir Nigel Gresley descended from the footplate, waving his famous chronograph 'of vast dimensions,' as it has been described, crying '112 miles an hour, 112 miles an hour!'
Since that day, of course, the A4 Pacifics have achieved many things which will live in history.
Now, after less fortunate days in railway history, the Eastern Region of British Railways has introduced a new express between London and Edinburgh and named it 'The Talisman.' This new service leaves each capital city at 4-0 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays, reaching the end of its 393 mile journey, after one stop at Newcastle, in 6 hours 40 minutes. The train consists of eight coaches, including one of the fine first class twins formerly used on the 'Coronation,' all painted in the recently adopted dark red shade. The tare weight of this train is 274 tons.
In the weeks preceding the inaugural runs, on 17th September, there had been much speculation as to what engines would be employed. Few genuinely interested observers doubted that A4's would be selected, and so it proved. The arrangements are that Kings Cross takes the 4-0, p.m. down to Newcastle and hands over there to Haymarket off the 4-0 p.m. ex Edinburgh, the up train being worked from Newcastle to London by Gateshead engines and men.
Present day operating troubles had aroused doubts as to whether the new service could be run to time, so the outcome of the first day's runs are interesting to relate. On the down run, Kings Cross provided 60025 'Falcon,' with driver P. Heavens and notwithstanding eight signal checks they made a gross time of 271¼ minutes to Newcastle. Here 60031 'Golden Plover' took over for the final 124½ miles to Edinburgh, which were covered in 123¼ minutes with two relaying and two signal checks. Coming southwards the inital run was made by 60019 'Bittern' and several checks resulted in a 5 minute late arrival after a very fast finish.
The second up run on 18th September was fully covered by recorders who had gone down the first day and they were not disappointed; 60031 having run them to Newcastle in slightly over 126 minutes, after delays amounting to 7 minutes, they were then treated to a truly great performance by driver Kipling of Gateshead on 60018 'Sparrow Hawk.' Three dead stands, three signal checks and four relaying checks were encountered and still the train was 4 minutes early into Kings Cross, giving a nett time of only 236 minutes for the 268¼ miles or only 1 minutes longer than allowed in pre-war days on the 'Coronation.' Allowing for the fact that driver Kipling is a stranger to the section Grantham-London, which was run in darkness, we may truly say to him 'Tis a far, far better thing you have done than you have ever done before.'
SLS/195611
05/01/1966 The A4s in Scotland A4s ceased to work the Glasgow-Aberdeen three-hour trains with effect from the 1730 Glasgow to Aberdeen on Wednesday, 5th January. On this date en route back to Aberdeen 60019 worked the 1700 Glasgow-Dundee while D6101 worked the 1730. The only A4 booked job remaining is the 1330 Aberdeen-Glasgow returning with the 2300 Glasgow-Aberdeen. This is expected to cease, just as soon as another re-engined NB Loco Type 2 Diesel is made available. SLS/196602

Summary
Date Event Details Source See Also
18/12/1937 To Service To service as London and North Eastern Railway Number 4464, name: BITTERN
Built at Doncaster Works, Works Number 1866
Allocated to Heaton (HTN)
Livery applied: Garter blue with black frames, red wheel centres and narrow red and white lining.
Tender fitted: Streamlined Non-Corridor
Diagram 107 boiler fitted
   
03/01/1938 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (Light Repair) - Arr: 03/01/1938. Dep: 04/01/1938.
Work undertaken:
Collision damage
   
02/03/1939 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (General) - Arr: 02/03/1939. Dep: 21/04/1939.    
08/07/1939 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (General) - Arr: 08/07/1939. Dep: 19/08/1939.    
02/09/1939 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (Light Repair) - Arr: 02/09/1939. Dep: 15/09/1939.    
24/08/1940 Works Visit Works Visit - Darlington Works (Weighing) - Arr: 24/08/1940. Dep: 24/08/1940.    
09/09/1940 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (General) - Arr: 09/09/1940. Dep: 21/10/1940.    
27/12/1940 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (General) - Arr: 27/12/1940. Dep: 23/01/1941.
Work undertaken:
Boiler number 9025 (Diagram 107)
   
20/08/1941 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (Light Repair) - Arr: 20/08/1941. Dep: 06/09/1941.    
22/09/1941 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (General) - Arr: 22/09/1941. Dep: 14/11/1941.
Work undertaken:
Side skirting removed
Painted Wartime unlined black
   
14/11/1941 Livery Change of livery to Wartime unlined black    
28/03/1943 Allocation Reallocated to Gateshead (GHD)    
10/04/1943 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (General) - Arr: 10/04/1943. Dep: 22/05/1943.
Work undertaken:
Boiler number 9018 (Diagram 107)
Painted Wartime unlined black with NE lettering on tender
   
22/05/1943 Livery Change of livery to Wartime unlined black with NE lettering on tender    
05/06/1945 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (General) - Arr: 05/06/1945. Dep: 21/07/1945.    
1946 Number Allocated Allocated number 603 but not taken up    
16/08/1946 Renumbered Renumbered to 19    
21/01/1947 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (General) - Arr: 21/01/1947. Dep: 07/03/1947.
Work undertaken:
Painted Garter blue with black frames, red wheel centres and narrow red and white lining.
   
07/03/1947 Livery Change of livery to Garter blue with black frames, red wheel centres and narrow red and white lining.    
25/08/1948 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (General) - Arr: 25/08/1948. Dep: 14/10/1948.
Work undertaken:
Boiler number 8952 (Diagram 107)
Renumbered to BR 60019
   
15/06/1950 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (General) - Arr: 15/06/1950. Dep: 28/07/1950.
Work undertaken:
Boiler number 8905 (Diagram 107)
To 75% Cut-off
Painted BR Blue for steam locomotives, with broad black, inlaid with thin white lining.
   
08/08/1950 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (Unclassified) - Arr: 08/08/1950. Dep: 11/08/1950.    
08/01/1952 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (General) - Arr: 08/01/1952. Dep: 12/02/1952.
Work undertaken:
Boiler number 29317 (Diagram 107)
Painted Green with orange and black lining.
   
12/02/1952 Livery Change of livery to Green with orange and black lining.    
05/05/1953 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (General) - Arr: 05/05/1953. Dep: 12/06/1953.
Work undertaken:
Boiler number 29298 (Diagram 107)
Long guard irons removed
   
25/10/1954 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (General) - Arr: 25/10/1954. Dep: 30/11/1954.
Work undertaken:
Boiler number 29279 (Diagram 107)
   
14/04/1956 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (General) - Arr: 14/04/1956. Dep: 25/05/1956.
Work undertaken:
Boiler number 29320 (Diagram )
   
31/07/1957 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (General) - Arr: 31/07/1957. Dep: 06/09/1957.
Work undertaken:
Boiler number 29315 (Diagram 107)
Double Chimney fitted
   
16/05/1958 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (Unclassified) - Arr: 16/05/1958. Dep: 31/05/1958.    
30/10/1958 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (General) - Arr: 30/10/1958. Dep: 13/12/1958.
Work undertaken:
Boiler number 29319 (Diagram 107)
BR Automatic Warning System (AWS) fitted
   
20/02/1959 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (Unclassified) - Arr: 20/02/1959. Dep: 25/02/1959.    
08/02/1960 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (General) - Arr: 08/02/1960. Dep: 16/03/1960.
Work undertaken:
Boiler number 29335 (Diagram 107)
Speedometer fitted
   
12/03/1962 Works Visit Works Visit - Doncaster Works (General) - Arr: 12/03/1962. Dep: 27/04/1962.
Work undertaken:
Boiler number 27971 (Diagram 107)
   
28/10/1963 Allocation Reallocated to St Margarets (64A)    
10/11/1963 Allocation Reallocated to Aberdeen Ferryhill (61B) (Primarily used on 3hr expresses from Aberdeen - Glasgow)    
05/10/1964 Works Visit Works Visit - Cowlairs Works (Unclassified) - Arr: 05/10/1964. Dep: 05/10/1964.    
01/02/1965 Works Visit Works Visit - Darlington Works (Heavy Intermediate) - Arr: 01/02/1965. Dep: 24/03/1965.
Work undertaken:
Boiler number 29332 (Diagram 107)
   
07/05/1965 Works Visit Works Visit - Inverurie Works (Unclassified) - Arr: 07/05/1965. Dep: 14/05/1965.    
29/03/1966 Works Visit Works Visit - Cowlairs Works (Light Casual) - Arr: 29/03/1966. Dep: 07/04/1966.    
05/09/1966 Withdrawn Condemned as 60019 from Aberdeen Ferryhill (61B)    

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