Star letter: ‘Pug’ replaced York’s last ‘Y8’
I read with interest the article in Steam Railway SR538 on the new‑build North Eastern Railway ‘K’, and well remember walking along Leeman Road, York, and ‘copping’ ‘Y8’ No. 8091 (later Departmental No. 55), stabled in the roundhouse adjacent to the road during the 1950s. This locomotive was withdrawn on October 17 1956, being noted in Darlington scrapyard on November 19 1956.
Its replacement, surprisingly, was Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway ‘Pug’ 0‑4‑0ST No. 51235, which was transferred on loan from Derby on October 21 1956, and this was made permanent on December 2 1956. It arrived at York MPD hauled by ‘J27’ No. 65845 on November 7 1956, and was employed on shed pilot duties the following day. In addition to these duties, I have a photograph of this locomotive in my collection, of it removing one or more steam locomotives from the old Queen Street museum (could this have been GWR 4‑4‑0 No. 3717 City of Truro for its Scottish railtour duties in 1959?). Unfortunately, there is no date shown on the rear!
No. 51235 was withdrawn on November 11 1958, being recorded in the December 1958 Railway Observer as awaiting works at Horwich. After the departure of No. 51235, presumably something larger, such as a ‘J71’ or ‘J72’, was used for this duty.
Thank you for publishing my letter in the previous edition, regarding the last booked passenger departure from Hawes in April 1954. The last eastbound departure of Saturday April 24 1954 behing ‘J21’ No. 65038 was the 6.40pm Garsdale (not Hawes) to Northallerton. Keep up the good work.
David Tyreman, Newcastle‑upon‑Tyne