The ‘Peaks’, Class 45 and Class 46 diesels, were relatively rare sights on the line over the years although a Class 46 was the first diesel to haul an iron ore train form Tyne Dock to Consett in 1962. Here we have three photos, from Craig Oliphant, of a 45 and a 46 on track lifting duties.
Thanks for the information and photographs.
From what I heard The peak that was tried on the ore trains could handle the train unaided, but had issues with the track at the ore gantry. the long bogies were not happy with the curvature.
Some great photos. I remember the train on track lifting duties that rolled away without a driver and it crashed at Tyne Yard. I remember a worker jumping out of the brakevan in a panic asking if we had seen the driver get in the train. Me and my friends hadn’t as we were sitting at the side of the tracks watching them get lifted. Late 1985 I think.
Thanks Stuart, I have a couple of photos of the aftermath of that accident as well as a copy of the BR accident report, I’ll have to get them uploaded…
Hi Stuart,
The senior Driver who was responsible for the runaway class 31 was one of my many mentors based at Tyne Yard in the mid 1980’s. SJ was a former Consett based engine man. I can even recall seeing him filling out paperwork following the collision in the weeks that followed.
A Peak appeared at Consett in the late seventies. I think it was bringing limestone to the works during a road drivers strike.
They certainly appeared now and then, I have a photo of a 46050 on oil tanks in the mid 70s.