Twelve years later, a batch of twenty five J27s were built at Darlington with Schmidt superheaters and piston valves.

Withdrawals began in March 1959, but in June 1966 thirty-six were still putting in hard work hauling coal in County Durham and South Northumberland.

The final J27s were withdrawn from the Blyth area where they operated the short trip workings between the nearby coalfield and shipping staithes.

Final restoration, including the fitting of vacuum brake and steam heating apparatus for working passenger trains, was by the group's volunteers at ICI Billingham.

The locomotive provided the mainstay of services in the period leading up to full re-opening of the line, when it piloted Lambton Collieries Tank No.

The engine is still owned by the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group, and is currently at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) having been transferred from the NELPG's Hopetown (Darlington) works for the final stages of its most recent overhaul, partly funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

completed and 65894, in BR black livery, re-entered service on the NYMR in May 2018, following a lengthy 12 year restoration period.