History Lesson - Ashington No.5

Today's history lesson - Ashington Coal Company No.5:

Today we look at one of our steam locomotives which was built in Bristol but spent its whole working life up in the North East Pits.

Ashington was once proudly proclaimed as the largest pit village in the world, to serve it and the surrounding collieries was the largest private system in Northumberland if not the North East. In 1939 Ashington Coal Company No.5 was delivered by Peckett and Sons as works No.1970, along with her sister No.6 (No.1971), both carrying the Peckett works green livery. They were taken under the wing of the National Coal Board on Vesting Day 1947, but remained on the Ashington system, receiving a repaint into NCB blue at around this time. 

Ashington No.5 with Ashington No.40, this locomotive is now based at the Weardale Railway, currently undergoing overhaul

The Coal Board began to dieselise its Northumberland systems in 1969, at this point No.5 was sold to the North Norfolk Railway. Being based here until 1991 and then returning to the North East. She steamed until 1996 before being withdrawn and then returning to steam in 2010 following an overhaul. She was a key part of our operating fleet for many years before being withdrawn again in early 2019 for a mechanical overhaul.

Ashington No.5 at the North Norfolk Railway, early 1990s. Sporting her mustard yellow livery

1997

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2018

2018

2018

Photo credits:
Joseph Mason
NTSRA Archives