The sole Thompson class A1 Great Northern – originally No. 4470 then subsequently renumbered 113 and finally 60113 by BR – was withdrawn in November 1962 and scrapped at Doncaster Works.
Final cab view from No. 60128 Bongrace at Draper’s Yard, Hull, March 1965
Of the Peppercorn class A1s, No. 60123 H.A. Ivatt was the first to go after it was involved in an accident near Offord in September 1962. Its classmates all followed between 1964 and 1966, the last to be withdrawn was No. 60145 Saint Mungo, from York in June 1966. It was sold to Draper’s of Hull in August for breaking up – something that tragically took place after the failure of a bid by Geoff Drury (who saved Peppercorn A2 No. 60532 Blue Peter) to preserve the engine.
The fact that none survived was enough of a clarion call to those who believed that a new one should be built, but in addition, a line of preserved East Coast Main Line traction from the 1890s until the end of steam, was broken by the absence of a Peppercorn class A1 from 1966 until now.
We have an extensive archive of historical photographs of A1s in service (such as those by Peter Townend used in the individual locomotive histories) as well as a great many other LNER subjects, many of which have never been published. Contact photos@a1steam.com for details.
No. 60157 Great Eastern meets its fate at Draper's scrapyard in Hull, March 1965 - Revd. J. David Benson