LNER Class U1

The GCR had considered several options for banking these heavy trains, including one based on a design by Kitson and Company for a locomotive carrying out similar duties in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

[1] This idea had been discarded due to the restricted loading gauge, and thought had turned to an articulated Garratt locomotive based on two GCR 8K 2-8-0s (LNER Class O4) with a specially designed large boiler.

Beyer, Peacock and Company of Manchester tendered £21,000 for the construction of two such locomotives, although the order was subsequently amended to just a single loco[2] which was delivered in summer 1925 at a cost of £14,895.

[2] After this the loco itself settled down to working its regular beat up and down Worsborough Bank, despite continued steaming problems and a definite susceptibility to poor quality coal.

Initially it worked chimney-first, but after difficulty in buffering up to passenger trains, it was turned to run cab-first up the bank and an electric headlight was fitted.

It stayed at Gorton for three years while several different attempts were made to convert it to oil burning[1] and an improved electric headlight was also fitted.

It was officially withdrawn on 23 December 1955,[2] and was subsequently taken to Doncaster Works and cut up during early 1956, having travelled around 425,000 miles (684,000 km) during its 30 years.

No. 69999 on the Lickey Incline 1949