D5051 is seen here in pretty much 'as delivered' condition, no electrification flashes, roof mounted water filler cover still intact and the paintwork still showing signs of its ex-works shine, therefore probably its early 1960 in this view. Although the photo came with no caption Michael Davies identifies the location as the junction at Westerfield where the Felixstowe - Ipswich line joins the Lowestoft - Ipswich, the junction being only a couple of miles from Ipswich.

1959
D5051 was delivered from Crewe during December to March (31B). This was one of a large batch of Type 2's (D5045 - D5082) initially delivered to March for dieselisation of the East Anglian services. However due to the continuing influx of the Brush Type 2's and E.E. Type 3's many of these Class 24's were quickly transferred away.

1961
D5051 stayed for about a year at Ipswich before moving to Finsbury Park (34G) in January.

1962
A visit to Stratford Works was made during May.

1963
Late in the year, during November a visit was made to Doncaster Works.

1965
Another visit was made to Doncaster, this time during April - May. During September D5051 was noted in Darlington Works yard.

1966
The lowlands of Eastern England and the suburbs of London gave way to the more rugged landscape of the Borders region after its transfer to Haymarket (64B), with the Waverley Route passenger services quickly seeing the use of these new arrivals.

1967 - 1968
Double headed Gateshead Type 2's worked the Saturday's only Newcastle - Ayr - Stranraer passenger in both directions. So noted on July 15th was D7611 & D5051, the ScR machines no doubt deputising for failures, especially on the eastbound runs. Visits to the Ayrshire coalfield were frequent, and it was on a Waterside coal working during November that D5051 caught fire, sustaining considerable damage, necessitating a visit to the workshops at Inverurie.

Repairs to this machine were not approved, thus leading to D5051 achieving two 'firsts', it would be the first BR/Sulzer Type 2 to be withdrawn and it would be the first and only BR/Sulzer Type 2 to be broken up at Inverurie Works (during August 1968). The final Type 2, D7677 had been delivered in April 1967, thus the entire fleet of 478 locomotives remained intact for only about seven months!

Page updated September 26th, 2003

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