TT3026M WSL Hornby J50 Class 0-6-0T Steam Loco 68965 BR Black

The Gresley designed J50 Class eventually comprised 102 locomotives, with design variations such as brakes, driving positions, boilers and bunker sizes resulting in four class parts. Serving across the LNER from Eastfield in Scotland, to Cambridge, where there was hard work to be done, a J50 was invariably on hand to do it.

Built new in 1922 and 1924, twenty locomotives of the LNER J50 Class utilised a stock of second hand standard 4’ 5” boilers, becoming J50/2 and by 1926 had become the company’s Group Standard type. Fifty two more locomotives were built, thirty eight at Doncaster Works as J50/3 and fourteen at Gorton, as J50/4, between 1926 and 1939. The thirty GNR J23 locomotives from 1914-1919 were eventually re-classified by the LNER as J50/1s.

In 1946, the class received their LNER re-numbering from 8890 to 8991, all surviving to Nationalisation to receive their British Rail numbering in the 60000 range. Withdrawals started in September 1958 and was completed by 1963, with six being transferred to Departmental use afterwards. These locomotives survived until around May 1965, No. 68961 Departmental No. 14 being the last to go in September 1965.

No. 68965 was one of several locomotives that were built at Doncaster Works. It was part of an order of ten J50 locomotives to the order number 308 and its works number was 1662. The locomotive entered service in December 1926 as No. 1069. Due to the LNER renumbering scheme, the engine’s number was changed to 8965 in January 1946. At the start of BR nationalisation in January 1948, the locomotive was allocated to Stratford (STR) shed. A renumbering change to 68965 occurred in August 1949. Various shed reallocations followed throughout including Immingham (40B), Frodingham (36C), Doncaster (36A), Mirfield (56D) and finally, Ardsley (56B) in May 1962. After 36 years, 68965 was withdrawn from service on 23 September 1963.

The Hornby J50 model sports an imposing BR Black livery with a BR late crest emblazoned on the bodysides. Featuring all wheel pickups and an ABS cab area, this model is also DCC Ready with a 6-pin socket and includes a 3-pole motor.