Its March 19th 1960 at Cambridge as D5094 keeps company with Brush Type 2 D5535. The Class 24 is not too long out of Darlington Works, the paintwork still has that shiny freshness to it. The locomotive carries the smaller fuel tank, but retains the original water tank. For a larger view of the picture click here.

1959
Darlington would become the third BR Workshops alongside Derby & Crewe to produce a quantity of the Class 24 locomotives, once these were completed it would then turn out a batch of the slightly more powerful Class 25 locomotives.

During April 1959 Darlington completed a batch of Class 08 shunters ending with D3705, with this order out of the way resources were now allocated to the construction of twenty Type 2’s (D5094 - D5113), the first two would be destined for the Eastern Region (GE), the remainder going to Gateshead. These Type 2’s would be mired in a trade dispute, considerably delaying their construction.

1960
Darlington’s first main line diesel D5094 was ceremoniously driven out of the Works on January 12th. Trials, using empty coaching stock took place between Darlington & Newcastle, using both the main & coast line. Delivery to the Eastern Region was delayed until February 18th whilst minor adjustments were made. During February 1960 D5094 & D5095 were allocated to March (31B). D5094 was noted at Stratford during April 1960.

	A fascinating view of Darlington's first mainline diesel electric locomotive D5094 and the men who worked on the production line that produced D5094. The photographer was one of this team. Does anybody recognise any of these gentlemen? Photograph courtesy Robert Kelly.
	Another view of the almost complete D5094 as it is brought out into the yard for further inspection by the workers at Darlington Works. At this point in time the locomotive has no windscreen wipers. Photograph courtesy Gordon Dolby.

The SR Civil Engineer had recently permitted the use of the BR/Sulzer Type 2’s over Blackfriars Bridge & Coldharbour Lane Bridge, this would allow use of these machines on cross London freights from Finsbury Park, replacing the J50’s. D5094 had visited Hither Green & Feltham whilst on loan to Finsbury Park from March.

1961
D5094 was transferred to Stratford (30A) during March, then moved almost immediately to Finsbury Park (34G). It was noted at Stratford Works during December.

1962
On October 23rd the 4.55pm Newcastle - Kings Cross saw its locomotive, D279 encounter mechanical problems coming to a complete stop at Holme. Here D5059 & D5094 were removed from a freight and triple headed the train into Kings Cross, running some ninety minutes late.

1963
D5094 was noted at Doncaster Works during May.

1966
During July D5094 was noted at Derby Works. In this same month it was transferred to Haymarket along with many others from Finsbury Park.

1970
5094 visited Glasgow Works during May & June.

Photograph courtesy Ian Whalmsley An undated view of 5094 at Haymarket with Claytons 8586 & 8606 behind. The two Claytons were withdrawn in 1971 so presumably the photograph is from 1970/71. Although still in green the Class 24 has had the cab gangway doors sheeted over, and the center discs centered as a mark of its visit to Glasgow Works. Was this carried out during its visit to Glasgow Works during the spring of 1970?

1972
Light duty on August 27th for 5065 & 5094 was one BG on the Edinburgh – Carstairs portion of the Up West Coast Postal.

1975
24094 was stored during August at Haymarket, later being moved to Carstairs at least by October. It returned to Haymarket to be reinstated in December. The 17.10 Edinburgh – Berwick continued to run with a wide variety of power, December 29th 1975 featured 24121, 27109 on January 5th 1976, 27117 (6th), 27112 (10th), 24094 on January 12th, 55002 (13th), 47461 (14th), stored (?) 24069 (19th).

1976
24094 powered May 7th’s 17.10 Edinburgh – Berwick service.

24094 was stored a second time at Haymarket during September 1976.

1977
On June 18th 1977 24069/94, 24120/30 were moved as the Millerhill - Doncaster Works dead engine movement.

Yet another gloomy, overcast day greets our visit to Doncaster Works on August 7th 1977. 24094 must have recently been moved up from Doncaster depot, little has been done to the locomotive, although as usual the windscreen wipers are missing.

By September 1977 Doncaster Works had scrapped 24094.

Photograph courtesy Robert Kelly. The view above and a similar view towards the top of the page surfaced separately on Ebay during August & September 2007. Now I tend to monitor Ebay for items that may be of interest for the website. Usually this is pretty much run of the mill stuff but these two views were definately of great interest. The seller who was the son of the photographer advised the photos had been languishing unseen in an attic for many, many years. Considering the notoriously difficult lighting found in many railway workshops these two views show off the occasion very well

Unfortunately a scarcity of funds prevented successful bidding on the smaller picture. One wonders what other gems are tucked away in attics and garages, and how many have perhaps inadvertently gone to the rubbish heap.

Page added October 9th 2007
Last updated March 27th 2009

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