The hub of the GNR, LNER, and North Eastern/Eastern Region of British Railways
A rather grainy image of A4 60005 ‘Sir Charles Newton’ paasing non-stop through Doncaster station with an express for Kings Cross in 1961. An A1 is the up standby locomotive in the background.
A3 60108 ‘Gay Crusader’ arrives at Doncaster with a passenger service during 1960. Like so many ex-LNER pacifics, 60108 was named after a racehorse. Gay Crusader won the 2000 Guineas, Derby and the (alternative wartime) St Leger in 1917.
A Colin Major image of 60509 ‘Waverley’ at Doncaster shed on June 4th 1950. This was taken with a box Brownie, or equivalent; hence the lower quality of the photograph.
D1504 almost new at Doncaster, showing the 34G shedplate positioned below the headcode panel.
EE Type 4 (later, class 40) D206 passes with another named non-stop service in July 1959. Fish van and (most probably) a Lincoln bound DMU in the bays.
Deltic 55007 ‘Pinza’ moves away from the station towards Doncaster loco in November 1979. Like many of the pacifics, the Finsbury Park Deltics were also named after racehorses – Pinza being the 1953 Epsom Derby winner.
Haymarket based Deltics were adorned with regimental names. On a sunny spring day in 1979, 55021 ‘Argyll & Sutherland Highlander arrives with Mk2 coaches.
By contrast; on a grey and wet December day in 1982, brand new 58001 is seen within Doncaster works while undergoing tests.
20187 and its unidentified class 20 partner look as if they are soon to depart for Skegness on June 18th 1978. I’m not sure if any of the spotters have tickets to ride behind the EE Type 1s, but most of them seem more interested in 254006 approaching on the up through line.
Back to more mundane duties, from Colin Major’s trip to Doncaster in June 1950. Here is J55 68319 taking water on the 4th. This locomotive was withdrawn at the end of that year.
Because of occasional works visits, locomotives could be seen a long way from home, which was part of the draw for enthusists. You never knew what might turn up. This J39 no 64905 is a 32B Ipswich engine, seen on Doncaster shed in June 1950.
Thumbs can be a menace when they encroach towards the camera lens. If the date for this photo (1951) is correct, it is most likely that J3 64137 has been withdrawn from Boston shed; and is most likely awaiting its final trip to The Plant. The ‘L’ and ‘A’ of the BR lettering are all that can be seen on the tender.
More from Doncaster shed on June 4th 1950. Colin Major had an eye for rapidly dwindling classes, as this is O3 2-8-0 63488. A Doncaster loco at the time of this photo, a move to Retford came at the end of 1950. Withdrawal happened in February 1952.
The notes say this is at Doncaster, but I don’t recognise the actual location. D8215 and D5534 stand in the May sunshine during 1961.
With the adjacent works, the numbers of test trains through the decades were many and various. This is a 1990s version. ADB977783 and 977791 are part of a trial train behind 86425 in 1992.
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Trainspotting data from 1947 until 1980 