Thornton Junction Station & Shed In The 1960's

                                                                                                                                    Photo © G H Hunt/Colour-Rail SC962

In this shot we see ex-North British Class D34 4-4-0 no 62492 "Glen Garvin" on pilot duties at Thornton Junction.  

Designed by Reid this class of locomotive was first introduced in 1913.  No. 62492 was built in June 1920 and was

withdrawn in June 1959 one month after this photograph was taken.  Class mate no. 62469 "Glen Douglas" was returned

to North British livery in the early 1960's and featured on many rail tours of the time before being officially withdrawn

 in December 1962.  "Glen Douglas" is now preserved as a static exhibit at the SRPS headquarters in Bo'ness.

                                                                                                                                    Photo © T.B. Owen/Colour-Rail SC1247

ex-LNER Class K4 2-6-0 no. 61994 "The Great Marquess" is pictured on shed at Thornton Junction in June 1962.  The

locomotives was built in July 1938 and was the last operating K4 when it was withdrawn in December 1961.  Fortunately

the locomotive was purchased for preservation by Viscount Garnock.  After purchase for preservation the locomotive

was based at Leeds until forced into retirement by the BR ban on mainline steam imposed in 1968.

                                                                                                                                    Photo ©HMR/Colour-Rail SC1341

May 1961and another view of K4 2-6-0 no. 61994 "The Great Marquess" at Thornton Shed.  The locomotive was stored

at the Severn Valley Railway from 1972 until it was overhauled in 1980.  The locomotive was purchased by Mr. John

Cameron, owner of ex-LNER Class A4 4-6-2 no. 60009 "Union of South Africa".  Both locomotives returned north

from the Severn Valley Railway in 2006 and are currently based at, where else, Thornton!

                                                                                                                                    Photo © M Chapman/Colour-Rail SC1198

April 1966 and with snow on the ground ex-North British Railways Class J38 approaches Thornton with a train of coal

empties.  Designed by Gresley and introduced in 1925, the J38's were the first LNER group standard type.  However

only one batch of thirty five were built due to the advent of the more versatile J39's.  The entire class were allocated

to Scottish sheds including Dunfermline, Thornton, St. Margaret's, Eastfield and Dundee.

                                                                                                                                    Photo © P Hutchinson/Colour-Rail DE2015

May 1967 and Class 17 D8560 with its distinctive central cab approaches Thornton Junction with a short goods

working.  An initial order for 88 locomotives, all for use north of the border, was placed with the Clayton Equipment

Company and the first locomotive was delivered in September 1962.  A second batch of 29 locos was constructed by

Beyer Peacock with delivery starting in March 1964.  Despite several attempts to overcome a range of technical

problems the design was never to prove reliable and the class was gradually phased out of service during

the late 1960s.  The final examples of the class were withdrawn in 1971.

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