Spa Valley Railway

Spa Valley Railway, West Station, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5QY
Telephone: 01892 537715
Email enquiries@spavalleyrailway.co.uk

(Photo ©M. Dives)

LNER J94 No. 68077

Works No. 2215
LNER J94 0-6-0ST Built 1947,
Andrew Barclay, Kilmarnock, Scotland
Wheel Diameter - 4ft 3in
Length -
Cylinders - 18in x 26in
Inside Stephenson valve gear
Tractive Effort - 23,870lbs
Weight in working order - 48 tons 5cwts
Boiler Pressure - PSI

There are a large number of Industrial and War Department 0-6-0 saddle tanks in preservation, but 68077 is one of only two genuine ex-BR J94 class locomotives to survive, and remains in almost original condition.

The engine was built by Andrew Barclay of Kilmarnock in 1947, and sold to the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) almost immediately. No. 8077 went into service at Immingham Docks and had an extended bunker added to increase its coal capacity. The locomotive was re-numbered 68077 under the nationalisation of the railway networks in 1948, and it moved around the Eastern region until it was withdrawn from service by British Railways in 1962. The engine was then purchased by the South Yorkshire Area of the National Coal Board (NCB), where it was sent to work in the coal pits around Rotherham. Here it was re-numbered No.14 and the extended bunker was removed to make coaling easier.

The engine was purchased by the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (KWVR) and arrived in September 1971, where it was steamed soon after. The engine was then withdrawn awaiting mechanical attention and the fitting of train braking to be able to haul passenger trains. The engine has remained awaiting attention at Haworth until 2005, when an agreement was formed between the Spa Valley and the Keighley and Worth Valley to allowit to leave the KWVR and be restored at the Spa Valley, after which a spell of running will be carried out. The engine left the KWVR on 23rd December 2005 and arrived at Tunbridge Wells West the following day.

Livery - Unlined BR Black

Current Status - Undergoing Overhaul

Above:- 3 pictures of 68077 during its time in NCB use at Maltby Main Colliery, in South Yorkshire - Photo Cliff Shepherd

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