J36 Class no. 65222 "Somme" at Polmont

Photo. Allan Curtis and reproduced by kind permission.
[He took this photo just outside Polmont shed, where the crew helpfully stopped the engine to allow this photo to be taken, for many more steam photos see Alan's site at http://www.trainweb.org/britishsteam/index.html]

Somme was built at Cowlairs in 1891 and numbered 646 by the North British Railway. It was rebuilt with a larger boiler and a fuller cab in 1913. In October 1917 it was transferred to the War Department and was sent to France. It was returned to the NBR in May 1919, at which time it was given its name.

After grouping a 9000 was added to its number and it became 9646. In June 1946, it was renumbered 5222 in the LNER renumbering scheme. After nationalisation, it became 65222 in April 1948 . It remained in service until November 1963. It thus had a lifetime in service of nearly 73 years and was the seventh longest lasting J36.

 

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