Rare rail 'survivor' of coalmines to return

A steam train that once served coalmines in north-east England will return to the region five decades after it was removed from service.

National Coal Board No. 54, built in 1952 to help cope with the post-war demand for County Durham coal, transported coal from East Hetton colliery for most of its service.

When the switch was made to diesel locomotives in 1976, No. 54 was saved from being scrapped by preservationists at the Yorkshire Dales Railway.

No. 54 is coming back to County Durham in June to take part in the Tanfield Railway line's 300th anniversary.

The small engine was bought from the Kilmarnock locomotive builder Andrew Barclay to work at East Hetton colliery.

Apart from short spells on loan at nearby Trimdon Grange colliery during the 1960s, No. 54 spent two decades pulling coal trains from East Hetton.

It arrived at Fishburn Coke Works in May 1974, but when the works switched to using hired-in diesel trains in 1976 it was removed from service.

Yorkshire Dales Railways, near Skipton, saved the train and volunteers restored it to the condition it was in when delivered to East Hetton in 1952.

It is currently housed with the Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society in Scunthorpe, but is returning to County Durham to take part in the Legends of Industry weekend at Tanfield.

David Watchman, Tanfield Railway's general manager, said No. 54 was a "rare survivor from the East Durham coalfield".

"It's a sobering thought that for most of the pit villages where No. 54 worked it will now be the largest surviving artefact from their industrial past.

"I'm really pleased that we've got the chance to bring it home for a little while."

No. 54 will be pulling enger and demonstration freight trains between Stanley, in County Durham, and Sunniside, in Gateshead, between 20 and 22 June.

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