Historic Durham locomotive to return after 49-years away

A steam locomotive that was once a familiar sight in a string of County Durham pit villages is set to return to the county nearly five-decades after it was ousted by diesel engines.

National Coal Board No. 54 was built in 1952 to help cope with the massive post-war demand for Durham coal to fuel industry and heat homes. After 25-years of dedicated service it left the North East for a new life in Yorkshire. But now the 73-year-old locomotive is set to return to the region as a star guest for a major event at the Tanfield Railway this summer.

The small but strong No. 54 was bought from the Scottish locomotive builder Andrew Barclay in Kilmarnock to work at East Hetton colliery, near Kelloe. East Hetton colliery was one of the oldest in East Durham, being sunk in 1836. Heavy coal trains had to be hauled from the colliery to a connection with British Railways near Ferryhill some three and a half miles away.   

Apart from a couple of short spells on loan at nearby Trimdon Grange colliery during the 1960s, No. 54 spent two decades pulling coal trains from East Hetton. During that time the National Coal Board cut its locomotive fleet drastically and No. 54 was renumbered to become No. 22. 

Despite the contracting coal industry, No. 22 spent the rest of its career in East Durham. During November 1972 the locomotive moved over to the Durham coast and Blackhall Colliery for a few weeks, before moving again to Thornley coal washery that December. The following March it went back to East Hetton Colliery. 

Finally, it arrived at Fishburn Coke Works in May 1974. But when the works switched to using hired-in diesel locomotives in 1976, No. 22 was left without work. It would have been cut up for scrap were it not for preservationists from the Yorkshire Dales Railway, near Skipton. Instead, the volunteers restored No. 22 to work trains for tourists. During a recently completed overhaul, No. 22 became No. 54 again – its smart red livery reinstated and back in the condition it was when delivered to East Hetton Colliery in 1952 for the first time since it was saved for preservation. 

It currently lives with the Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society in Scunthorpe. But during June No. 54 will be taking part in the Tanfield Railway’s ‘Legends of Industry’ gala weekend. The event is part of the 300th anniversary of the Tanfield line; the oldest working railway in the world.

Tanfield Railway General Manager, David Watchman, said: “Plucky little No. 54 is a rare survivor from the East Durham coalfield. But back in its heyday it was one of scores of small locomotives that kept this vital industry going. 

“It wasn’t glamorous express trains that made the North East work during the 1950s. It was locomotives like No. 54 beavering away in collieries, shipyards and steel works. That’s the real story of our railways, and it’s important that we remember that.

“It’s a sobering thought that for most of the pit villages where No. 54 worked, it will now be the largest surviving artefact from their industrial past. I’m really pleased that we’ve got the chance to bring it ‘home’ for a little while.” 

Alongside six locomotives from the Tanfield Railway’s own fleet, No. 54 will be in action pulling passenger and demonstration freight trains between Stanley and Sunniside on June 20-22. Tickets can be booked now on the Tanfield Railway website, or bought on the day.