This shows a LMS, Stanier tank 2-6-4 locomotive number 42639, displaying express head code lamps hauling a lengthy train, with a mixture of BR MK1’s and LNER wooden bodied coaches, on the approach to Stockton Station from the south heading north, with Phoenix Sidings on the right and the CO-OP warehouse in the background. The date I am not sure but on research showed that the locomotive was built at Derby in 1938 and was allocated to 50A York 1960 and Darlington 51A 1963 and was scrapped in January 1965, so this photo may have taken during its time in the area.
Attached is a photo that I acquired from an exhibiton, unfortunately the photographer is unknown. Details courtesy of Bill Adams.
Could this train be an excursion returning to Newcastle from Redcar Races? Redcar still stages “The Zetland Gold Cup” on Spring Bank Holiday and in 1963 I photographed 60036 Colombo on an excursion returning from there. In the 1960’s Redcar also had a popular three day meeting in July with “The Vaux Gold Tankard” as the feature race. In 1966 I travelled to Redcar Races on an excursion to this meeting, the train was diesel hauled but Redcar still generated enough extra traffic for an excursion.
42639 was one of a batch of ex LMSR design tank engines sent to Darlington shed 51A in late 1961? Mainly for parcels and some passenger duties on the lines to Saltburn, Crook, Richmond etc. One such duty was the Saltburn through portion attached at Stockton of the morning [C 08.48] express from Sunderland and Stockton to King’s Cross. At peak times in the summer the Saltburn portion would be a heavier formation and would be run as an additional independent train. At Stockton the train would reverse and the main line engine would be attached for the onward journey. One possibility may be, therefore, that 42639 is approaching Stockton on one of the days that the Saltburn portion is running independently, given the number of carriages it is hauling in the picture. On 25/7/1960 the Saltburn portion came into Stockton hauled by an L1 tank locomotive and the engine taking the train on on this occasion was 60005 ‘Sir Charles Newton’, a Gresley streamlined A4 Pacific. The regular service train was hauled by A3 60078 ‘Night Hawk’ on this particular day.
Further information is that 42639 was allocated to Darlington shed 51A at the end of November,1961, staying there until June, 1964 before moving on, which may be of some help in dating the photograph.
Just as a foot note to the caption that 42369, is shown as being scrapped on the date shown at Cohens, Ickles, Rotherham, its last depot being Wakefield 56A from June 1964 till the December.