NER ‘T1’ 0-8-0

Before the war: Wilson Worsdell built the North Eastern Railway’s first ten 0-8-0s in 1901, classifying them ‘T’. A further 80 machines followed but they were divided into two classes: the 40 ‘Ts’ had piston valves and the 50 ‘T1s’ had slide valves.

Call-up: Being a simpler design, the NER loaned all 50 ‘T1s’ to the ROD in 1917. These comprised Nos. 130, 527, 1002, 1320, 1700/04/08/09/17/29, 578, 660, 939, 1031/32/54/62, 1177/78, 1215, 644-648/52-56/42/43/57-59/61/69, 764/67/69-72/74/ 81/83/89/93/94.

Theatre of operations: The power of the ‘T1s’ was utilised on stone trains from Marquise quarry and at least one was used on a troop train. They were sometimes used to test newly laid lines near Poperinge.

Demobilisation: All 50 ‘T1s’ returned safely from France in 1919 and were overhauled before they settled down to normal NER service again. Both ‘T’ and ‘T1’ were classified ‘Q5’ by the LNER after Grouping. Withdrawals started in 1946. BR No. 63326, an ex-ROD locomotive, was the last to be condemned in 1951.

Survivors: None.

T.G. HEPBURN/RAIL ARCHIVE STEPHENSON NER ‘T1’ 0-8-0 No. 653 sporting its grenade and chevrons badges on the cabside, commemorating its service with the ROD (see also pages 42-46).