Class B1, locomotive, No.61198, of York North M.P.D., (Shed No.50A), having just departed Whitby Town Station, on a passenger service, storms past Whitby Town Gas Works, Bog Hall, on 25/06/1960.
Interestingly, Whitby was the first town in Great Britain to be supplied by Natural Gas, in 1960. The gas was originally discovered whilst looking for oil in the 1930's. However, the field was too small to interest Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, and so the North Eastern Gas Board decided to use the resource to supply Whitby with gas. However, as Great Britain did not use natural gas at this time, the gas was reformed into lower CV hydrogen rich Town Gas instead. This saved the town having to convert to natural gas.
Built by North British Locomotive Company Ltd, Glasgow, to Order No.L963, and Works No.26099, in 1947, as Class B1, and delivered new to the London, and North Eastern Railway Company’s, Tweedmouth M.P.D., (Shed Code TWD), as London and North Eastern Railway, No.1198, on 02/06/1947. This locomotive was transferred to Borough Gardens M.P.D., (Shed Code BOR), on 26/12/1948, and from there, it was transferred to Darlington M.P.D., (Shed Code DAR), on 06/02/1949, and from there, to Low Moor M.P.D., (Shed No.56F), on 14/06/1959. This locomotive was subsequently transferred, to York North M.P.D., (Shed No.50A), on 30/08/1959, where it was remain, until withdrawn from service, on 05/04/1965. The locomotive was to remain in-storage, and out of use, at York North M.P.D., (Shed No.50A), until it was despatched for disposal and it is next recorded as arriving at Dairycoates Sidings, Hull, on 05/06/1965, and is recorded as being scrapped, by Albert Draper and Son Ltd, Sculcoates, Hull, on 28/06/1965. The locomotive was renumbered, as British Railway’s, No.61198, on 06/10/1948.
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