Locomotive No. 75006 Austerity Class J94 0-6-0ST
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Builders: Hunslet Engine Company, Leeds (2855). Year 1943 Number of cylinders: 2 (18" x 29"(457mm x 737mm)). Boiler pressure: 170 psi.(11.9 Kg/cm2) Driving wheels diameter: 4' 3". (1295mm) Weight: 48 tons 4cwt. (48.9 tonnes) Brakes: Air/vacuum Original owner: Ministry of Supply (War Department) Current owner: Nene Valley Railway |
Background History
By 1942 it was realised that the success of the forthcoming military operations in Europe would rely upon efficient transport arrangements for many thousands of tons of supplies. At a Ministry of Supply conference it was suggested that for a shunting locomotive the LMS "Jinty" would be used, but Edgar Alcock, the Hunslet Chairman, convinced the Ministry that the Hunslet Class 50550 18in saddle tank, being of a more straight-forward design, would be more suitable. Thus the Hunslet Austerity tank locomotives where developed to meet the Ministry robust demands within the UK and overseas. As such, these locomotives were given a life expectancy of only two years! Eventually 377 WD & 2 Coal Industry Austerity Saddle Tanks were built by six manufacturers around Britain during WWII. With the cessation of hostilities in 1945 the Austerity saddle tanks were found scattered far and wide around Europe. The War Department made many of them surplus to requirements and put up for sale. Many of them were stored abroad, never returning to this country and whose fate may never be known! Generally they were sold to industrial or light railways in Britain, Holland, France and Tunisia, North Africa! Even “Mainline” Companies such as the 75 purchased by the LNER in 1946 designated class J94 which were numbered 8006 to 8080, and 27 for the Nederlandsche Spoorwegen (Dutch State Railway). The War Department retained ninety for their own use at depots in this country, renumbering them in the series 100 to 189 and surprisingly enough ordered a further fourteen new examples in 1952. Another 92 were built in peace time mainly for the Coal & Steel industries.
Locomotive History
Our Austerity was the seventh of first batch of fifty to be constructed by the Hunslet Engine Company, Leeds as works number 2855. This particular machine was in the initial livery of Khaki with 2in yellow figures numbered WD No. 5006 May 1943 delivered to the War Department depot at Burton Dassett, Warwickshire. Working on the Melbourne Military Railway moving to the famous Longmoor Military Railway in February 1944.later in November 1944 No.75006 was allocated to the Ministry of Fuel and Power at Talywain opencast colliery. In 1952 it was sold to Derek Crouch (Contractors) Ltd., who used it in various open-cast coal sites in Northumberland. In 1968 the locomotive was moved to Onllwyn, Glamorgan, also for open-cast coal site work, where it remained in regular use until 1973. It was then taken out of service, standing spare.
Preservation
In 1976 was presented to the Nene Valley Railway by Derek Crouch Ltd., on indefinite loan. and is the earliest example of this class to be preserved
In 1979 rebuilding of the locomotive commenced and was completed in 1984, fitting Vacuum & Air brakes plus steam heating abilities. NVR decided that as 75006 was similar to the LNER class J94 it should be re-numbered as BR No.68081 after the 68006 to 68080 series BR added 60000 to Eastern Region locomotives.
In 1995, after its ten year overhaul, the locomotive lost its BR identity, being repainted red and regained its original WD No. 75006 . It remained in regular use hauling NVR passenger trains until 2005, when its ten year boiler certificate expired once again. It has now taken its place in the 'rebuild queue' at Wansford.
By 1942 it was realised that the success of the forthcoming military operations in Europe would rely upon efficient transport arrangements for many thousands of tons of supplies. At a Ministry of Supply conference it was suggested that for a shunting locomotive the LMS "Jinty" would be used, but Edgar Alcock, the Hunslet Chairman, convinced the Ministry that the Hunslet Class 50550 18in saddle tank, being of a more straight-forward design, would be more suitable. Thus the Hunslet Austerity tank locomotives where developed to meet the Ministry robust demands within the UK and overseas. As such, these locomotives were given a life expectancy of only two years! Eventually 377 WD & 2 Coal Industry Austerity Saddle Tanks were built by six manufacturers around Britain during WWII. With the cessation of hostilities in 1945 the Austerity saddle tanks were found scattered far and wide around Europe. The War Department made many of them surplus to requirements and put up for sale. Many of them were stored abroad, never returning to this country and whose fate may never be known! Generally they were sold to industrial or light railways in Britain, Holland, France and Tunisia, North Africa! Even “Mainline” Companies such as the 75 purchased by the LNER in 1946 designated class J94 which were numbered 8006 to 8080, and 27 for the Nederlandsche Spoorwegen (Dutch State Railway). The War Department retained ninety for their own use at depots in this country, renumbering them in the series 100 to 189 and surprisingly enough ordered a further fourteen new examples in 1952. Another 92 were built in peace time mainly for the Coal & Steel industries.
Locomotive History
Our Austerity was the seventh of first batch of fifty to be constructed by the Hunslet Engine Company, Leeds as works number 2855. This particular machine was in the initial livery of Khaki with 2in yellow figures numbered WD No. 5006 May 1943 delivered to the War Department depot at Burton Dassett, Warwickshire. Working on the Melbourne Military Railway moving to the famous Longmoor Military Railway in February 1944.later in November 1944 No.75006 was allocated to the Ministry of Fuel and Power at Talywain opencast colliery. In 1952 it was sold to Derek Crouch (Contractors) Ltd., who used it in various open-cast coal sites in Northumberland. In 1968 the locomotive was moved to Onllwyn, Glamorgan, also for open-cast coal site work, where it remained in regular use until 1973. It was then taken out of service, standing spare.
Preservation
In 1976 was presented to the Nene Valley Railway by Derek Crouch Ltd., on indefinite loan. and is the earliest example of this class to be preserved
In 1979 rebuilding of the locomotive commenced and was completed in 1984, fitting Vacuum & Air brakes plus steam heating abilities. NVR decided that as 75006 was similar to the LNER class J94 it should be re-numbered as BR No.68081 after the 68006 to 68080 series BR added 60000 to Eastern Region locomotives.
In 1995, after its ten year overhaul, the locomotive lost its BR identity, being repainted red and regained its original WD No. 75006 . It remained in regular use hauling NVR passenger trains until 2005, when its ten year boiler certificate expired once again. It has now taken its place in the 'rebuild queue' at Wansford.