Steam in Scotland - Full

STEAM IN SCOTLAND THE GEORGE C BETT COLLECTION

BRIAN J DICKSON

STEAM IN SCOTLAND THE GEORGE C BETT COLLECTION BRIAN J DICKSON

© Images and design: Transport Treasury 2025 Text: Brian J Dickson ISBN 978-1-913893-60-6 First published in 2025 by Transport Treasury Publishing Limited. 16 Highworth Close, High Wycombe, HP13 7PJ. Totem Publishing an imprint of Transport Treasury Publishing.

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Front Cover: Saturday 26 February 1955. Class 2MT 2-6-0 No 46464, which had been a product of Crewe Works during 1950, is seen at Dundee Tay Bridge station. She would be transferred to Tay Bridge shed in 1957 and be withdrawn whilst based there during 1966. (GCB150) Frontispiece: 1959. With a maximum axle weight of just under 14 tons, two Class 16XX 0-6-0 pannier tanks were sent north in February 1957 to replace the ex-Highland Railway 0-4-4 tanks that worked the Dornoch branch. Constructed at Swindon Works during 1951, No 1646 is seen here standing at a deserted station platform at Dornoch. She would be withdrawn at the end of 1962 having given only eleven years of service. The branch from the junction at The Mound survived until May 1960 with only two passenger trains per day serving the three intermediate stations.

The massive bulk of Dornoch Cathedral is seen in the background. (GCB042) Rear Cover: With Magdalen Green in the background, former NBR Class S (LNER Class J37) 0-6-0 No 64600, looking to be in ex-works condition, is seen at the head of a goods train. Constructed by the North British Locomotive Company (NBL) at its Atlas Works and entering service during 1919 numbered 485 with the NBR, she would become No 9485 and later 4600 with the LNER. At the time of this photograph she would be allocated to Thornton Junction shed but be re-allocated to Dundee Tay Bridge shed in 1959 before withdrawal whilst based there during 1963. (GCB915)

Introduction

T

he George C. Bett collection in the hands of the Transport Treasury consists of approximately 1,400 negatives, the vast majority of which were taken in and around the City of Dundee. George’s interest in railways started in the early 1940s when his parents gave him an Ian Allan ABC of Southern Electrics and after the family moved to Dundee his interest grew after witnessing, whilst travelling to school by tram, the Garter Blue A4s that carried stainless steel lettering.

Acquiring his first camera in the late 1940s, a Kodak folding 620, and later during his National Service with the RAF in 1955 purchasing a Zeiss 120, he started carrying out his own developing and printing. Working in the insurance industry from the early 1950s gave scope for more travelling and the opportunity to photograph railways around Scotland. A move to a house near the Tay Bridge in 1960 allowed him to continue recording the transport scene and witness the demise of steam locomotive power around Dundee.

This volume contains a choice of photographs from the collection dating between 1954 and 1966, showing a variety of locomotives operating in and out of Dundee West station on the former LMS route to Perth, connecting there with the lines north to Inverness and south to Glasgow. British Railways Standard ‘Clan’ and ‘Britannia’ Class 4-6-2s are regularly seen along with Standard Class 5 4-6-0s, both the Walschaerts and Caprotti valve gear versions. Sir William Stanier designed Class 5P5F or ‘Black 5’ 4-6-0s are also seen working along with the occasional LNER class of locomotive.

The former LNER route between Edinburgh and Aberdeen through Tay Bridge station saw much passenger traffic between the two cities, with about ten expresses in each

direction pausing at Kirkcaldy, Tay Bridge and Arbroath all still steam hauled by Class A1, A2 and A3 locomotives. This continued until the late 1950s when diesel locomotives took over the workings. Goods traffic consisted of daily meat and fish trains from Aberdeen and the northern fishing ports to the south, which was normally in the hands of a ‘Pacific’ with locos being changed at Waverley station in Edinburgh. General goods traffic from Guild Street Goods in Aberdeen and Tay Bridge Yard in Dundee was often in the hands of either Class V2 2-6-2s or Class B1 4-6-0s with coal trains heading north from the Fife coalfields worked by one of the many ex-LNER Class J38 or J39 0-6-0s or occasionally a WD Class 8F 2-8-0.

Commuter services working around Dundee consisted of that from Tay Bridge to Tayport on the northern Fife coast opposite Broughty Ferry, with eighteen trains daily in each direction serving the residential areas around Newport-on-Tay (West), Newport-on-Tay (East) and Wormit stations. These were latterly in the hands of BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4 tanks with DMUs taking over some of the services in September 1958, with complete closure of the branch coming in 1969.

To the east of Dundee lay the fifteen miles of the former Dundee and Arbroath Joint Railway line that served the residential towns of Broughty Ferry, Monifieth and Carnoustie which saw large numbers of visitors throughout the summer season along with golfers visiting the many links and courses along the coast. The 1956 timetable shows a service of fifteen trains each way per day, taking about forty minutes to complete. Locomotives used were former NBR Class C16 4-42 tanks until Dundee East station closed in January 1959 with services being transferred to Tay Bridge station using DMUs.

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Wednesday 17 March 1954. At Kilmarnock station ex-LMS Class 2P 4-4-0 No 40644 is at rest between duties. Bearing a 67B Hurlford shed code, she had been a product of Crewe Works during 1931 and numbered 644 with the LMS. She would be withdrawn in 1959. Introduced during 1928 this class were a development, under the guidance of Henry Fowler, of the earlier Samuel Johnson 4-4-0 designs for the Midland Railway. A total of one-hundred and thirty-eight examples were constructed between 1928 and 1932 by both Crewe and Derby works. (GCB048)

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February 1955. Approaching Dundee West station at the head of a Class 9 goods train is ex-LNER Class D49/2 4-4-0 No 62744 The Holderness.

Constructed at Darlington Works in 1932 as a part 2 version of the class, fitted with Lentz Rotary Cam valve gear instead of the earlier Lentz Oscillating Cam operated valve gear, and originally numbered 273, later becoming No 2744. She would be allocated to Dundee Tay Bridge shed during 1952 and be withdrawn in 1960 whilst based at Hawick shed. (GCB358)

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Sunday 20 February 1955. To the east of Ninewells Junction in Dundee, BR Standard ‘Britannia’ Class 7P6F 4-6-2 No 70053 Moray Firth is working a passenger train to Perth. Constructed at Crewe Works less than a year earlier, she had been allocated to Polmadie shed in Glasgow but would end her days working out of Carlisle Kingmoor shed, being withdrawn in 1967. The last batch of five examples of the class were all named after Scottish river ‘Firths’ and allocated to Polmadie. (GCB442)

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Sunday 10 April 1955. Bearing a 66A Polmadie shed code, BR Standard Class 5 4-6-0 No 73063 is passing Magdalen Green station in Dundee at the head of a working to Glasgow. Less than a year since entering service from Derby Works, she would spend her entire working life based at Polmadie, being withdrawn during 1966. Introduced in 1951 with construction extending to 1957, a total of one-hundred and seventy-two examples entered service, the vast majority coming from Derby Works with Doncaster Works contributing forty-two members of the class. (GCB464)

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Wednesday 27 July 1955. With the derelict St Enoch locomotive shed in the background, ex-LMS Class 7P ‘Royal Scot’ 4-6-0 No 46145 The Duke of Wellington’s Regt. (West Riding) is approaching St Enoch station at the head of the ‘Thames - Clyde Express’. Having departed from St Pancras in London at 10.00am, there would only be two stops en-route at Leeds and Carlisle with arrival in Glasgow almost eight hours later. A product of the NBL during 1927 as part of a batch of fifty examples delivered by them in that year, she would be rebuilt in the form seen here during 1944. She is carrying a 20A Leeds Holbeck shed code from where she would be withdrawn in 1962. (GCB139)

Tuesday 23 August 1955. With nine coaches behind her tender and both safety valves blowing, BR Standard ‘Clan’ 6P5F Class 4-6-2 No 72002 Clan Campbell is about to pass under the Riverside Approach bridge in Dundee with a working to Perth. Constructed at Crewe Works in 1952 and allocated to Polmadie shed, she would be withdrawn whilst based there during 1962. Envisaged originally for use on the ex-Highland main line, construction of the class was truncated after only ten examples were completed and allocated equally between Polmadie and Kingmoor sheds.

(GCB445)

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Sunday 4 September 1955. Seen at the same location as the previous photograph, BR Standard ‘Britannia’ Class 7P6F 4-6-2 No 70050 Firth of Clyde is seen at the head of another working to Perth. Constructed at Crewe Works less than one year earlier, she had been allocated new to Polmadie in Glasgow but ended her days based at Carlisle Kingmoor, being withdrawn in 1966. (GCB435)

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Friday 11 November 1955. Bearing a 62A Thornton Junction shed code, ex-LNER Class B1 4-6-0 No 61072 is seen departing from Tay Bridge station with the 2.50pm passenger working to Edinburgh. A product of the NBL in 1946, she would be allocated to Tay Bridge shed during 1964, being withdrawn whilst based there in 1967. (GCB306)

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Saturday 18 February 1956. Waiting to depart from Buchanan Street station in Glasgow with a working to Aberdeen is BR Standard Class 5 4-6-0 No 73120. A product of Doncaster Works a month earlier, she had been allocated to Perth Shed and would be transferred to Corkerhill shed during 1963 and be withdrawn in 1966 whilst allocated there. She is seen attached to a BR Type 1B tender with a capacity of 4,725 gallons of water and 7 tons of coal, weighing in at just over fifty-one tons in total. (GCB469)

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March 1956. In beautifully clean condition, a credit to the Haymarket staff whose 64B shed code she is carrying, Class A1 4-6-2 No 60152 Holyrood is seen coming off the Tay Bridge at Esplanade station in Dundee whilst working a passenger train to Aberdeen. Entering service from Darlington Works during 1949 and allocated new to Haymarket shed, she would finally be allocated to York shed in 1964 and be withdrawn the following year.

(GCB238)

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March 1956. Carrying the train reporting number 108, Class B1 4-6-0 No 61340 is departing from Dundee West station with a four coach working to Perth. One of only ten examples of the class constructed at the former GCR Works at Gorton in Manchester in 1948, she was allocated new to Eastfield shed, whose 65A shed code she is carrying, and be transferred to Dundee Tay Bridge shed during 1961, being withdrawn from service whilst based there in 1967. (GCB329)

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March 1956. With the coaling plant at Tay Bridge shed prominent in the background, BR Standard ‘Clan’ 6P5F Class 4-6-2 No 72004 Clan MacDonald is departing from Dundee West station with a four coach working to Perth. Constructed at Crewe Works in 1952 she was one of only ten examples of the class to enter service being allocated new to Carlisle Kingmoor, her days ending whilst based at Polmadie, being withdrawn in 1962. (GCB448)

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Monday 9 April 1956. With the Riverside Drive road bridge in the background, ex-LMS Class 4P ‘Compound’ 4-4-0 No 40938 is east of Ninewells Junction in Dundee with a three coach working from Perth. Constructed at Derby Works in 1932, she would be based at Perth for much of her working life, being withdrawn whilst based there four months after this photograph had been taken. Introduced during 1924, the LMS version of the earlier Midland Railway ‘Compound‘ design extended to one-hundred and ninety-five examples constructed by Derby and Horwich works, and both the NBL and the Vulcan Foundry, the last member entering service in 1932. (GCB054)

Sunday 15 July 1956. At the Esplanade station in Dundee, ex-LMS Class 4P 2-6-4 tank No 42693 is working ‘wrong line’ with a train off the Tayport branch. A product of Derby Works during 1945, she had been allocated new to Polmadie shed and would be transferred to Dundee Tay Bridge shed in 1954 but would end her days banking trains at Beattock, being withdrawn during 1966. (GCB073)

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Left: Wednesday 25 July 1956. At Perth station BR Standard Class 5 4-6-0 No 73005 is departing with a mail working. This locomotive was numerically the first BR Standard to be allocated to a Scottish shed, being sent to Perth in June 1951 from Derby Works, and followed very quickly by her sister locomotives, numbers 73006 to 73009. She would be transferred to Corkerhill shed during 1963 and be withdrawn whilst based there in 1966. (GCB456)

Above: Saturday 4 August 1956. Ex-LMS Class 5 4-6-0 No 45116 is approaching Dundee West station with a passenger working from Perth.

An example of the earlier members of the class that entered service from the Vulcan Foundry during 1935, she would by 1948 be allocated to St Rollox shed before moving to English sheds from 1957 onward, ending her days at Springs Branch Wigan and being withdrawn whilst based there in 1967. (GCB105)

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Monday 1 October 1956. Seen coming off the Tay Bridge and passing the Esplanade station is former LMS Class 5 4-6-0 No 45486 working light engine toward Dundee. Bearing a 62B Tay Bridge shed code, she had been constructed at Derby Works during 1943 and would spend her working life based at Scottish sheds, being withdrawn in 1965 whilst based at Ayr shed. (GCB121)

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November 1956. Designed specifically to handle the heavy coal traffic in Fife and the Lothians of Scotland, the thirty-five examples of Sir Nigel Gresley’s Class J38 0-6-0s were all delivered into service during 1926 from Darlington Works and allocated new to Eastfield in Glasgow, St Margarets in Edinburgh, Dundee Tay Bridge, Dunfermline, Stirling and Thornton Junction sheds. No 65913 is carrying a 62A Thornton shed code and is seen here at the Esplanade station working a goods train into Dundee. She would be withdrawn in 1964. (GCB916)

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January 1957. Approaching Ninewells Junction in the west of Dundee, ex-LNER Class A3 4-6-2 No 60035 Windsor Lad is seen working a passenger train to Perth. Constructed at Doncaster Works in 1934 and named after the racehorse that had won the Derby and St Leger races in that year, she was allocated new to Haymarket shed in Edinburgh; acquiring a double chimney during 1959, she would be withdrawn from service in 1961.

(GCB1281)

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February 1957. To the east of Ninewells Junction, Class 5 4-6-0 No 44707, fitted with a small snowplough, is working a Dundee to Perth passenger train. Constructed at Horwich Works post-nationalisation in 1948, she had initially been allocated to Polmadie shed but also spent time based at Oban, Eastfield and Carstairs sheds before being withdrawn in 1966, whilst based at the latter. (GCB1027)

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Left: Saturday 6 April 1957. Former LNER Class B1 4-6-0 No 61132, bearing a 62B Tay Bridge shed code, is seen departing from Tay Bridge station with a south- bound passenger working. Constructed by NBL during 1947 and initially numbered 1132 by the LNER, she would spend time based at Ferryhill shed in Aberdeen and in 1960 be transferred to Thornton Junction shed, from where she would be withdrawn in 1966. (GCB310A)

Right: Sunday 14 April 1957. Seen whilst passing through the Esplanade station at the northern end of the Tay Bridge, former LNER Class A2/1 4-6-2 No 60509 Waverley is heading northbound with a Class 5 express goods.

Designed by Edward Thompson as a development of the earlier Sir Nigel Gresley Class V2 design, only four examples were constructed, all at Darlington Works in 1944/45. By the date of this photograph she would be allocated to Haymarket shed whose 64B shed code she is carrying, and be withdrawn from service during 1960.

(GCB242)

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Left: Friday 19 April 1957. Seen approaching Dundee with a passenger working from Perth is BR Standard Class 5 Caprotti fitted 4-6-0 No 73146. Constructed at Derby Works and entering service three months earlier, she had been allocated to St Rollox shed and by 1966 would be based at Motherwell shed, being withdrawn in 1967.

A total of thirty members of the class were constructed with British Caprotti valve gear with Nos 73145 to 73154 being allocated to St Rollox shed. In comparison to Walschaerts valve gear, the fitting of Caprotti valve gear was intended to increase available operational time between services. (GCB470)

Right: Tuesday 18 June 1957. Working hard on the climb from Tay Bridge station to reach the Tay Bridge, Class A2 4-6-2 No 60536 Trimbush is hauling a passenger train bound for Edinburgh. Constructed at Doncaster Works during 1948 and named after the racehorse that had won the 1947 Doncaster Cup, she would initially be allocated to sheds in England but spent time at both St Margarets and Haymarket sheds in Edinburgh between 1949 and 1962 before being allocated to York during 1962 and being withdrawn a year later. (GCB259)

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Left: Saturday 3 August 1957. With only four coaches behind her tender, ex-LMS 6P5F ‘Jubilee’ Class 4-6-0 No 45558 Manitoba is seen near Polmadie with a ‘down’ working. A product of the nearby North British Locomotive Works during 1934 as part of a batch of fifty locomotives, she would spend her life working from English sheds, at the date of this photograph being allocated to Patricroft 10C; she would be withdrawn in 1964. (GCB130)

Above: Saturday 3 August 1957. This busy scene at Bells Yard near Polmadie in Glasgow sees on the left ex-CR Class ‘711’ (LMS Class 2F) 0-6-0 No 57436 bearing a 66B Motherwell shed code and working a duty number S224 goods train. She had been constructed at St Rollox Works during 1896 and would be withdrawn in 1961 having given sixty-five years of service. On the right, former CR Class ‘294’ (LMS Class 2F) 0-6-0 No 57370 had also been a product of St Rollox Works but three years earlier in 1893. She would be withdrawn whilst based at Motherwell during 1962 after sixty-eight years of service. (GCB192)

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Left: Saturday 3 August 1957. Seen near Polmadie shed, BR Standard Class 5 4-6-0 No 73060 is at the head of a ‘down’ four coach passenger working. A product of Derby Works during 1954, she would be allocated new to Polmadie shed and be withdrawn whilst based there in 1967.

(GCB463) Above: Saturday 3 August 1957. Standing in the St Andrews branch platform at Leuchars Junction is Class 2MT 2-6-0 No 46464 which had been a product of Crewe Works during 1950, spending her entire

working life based at Scottish sheds, being transferred to Tay Bridge shed earlier in 1957 and withdrawn whilst based there during 1966.

Purchased privately for preservation immediately after withdrawal, she would be based at the Strathspey Railway in the late 1970s and by 2000 would become the property of the Carmyllie Pilot Co Ltd which had been set up specifically to raise funds to restore and operate the locomotive. They arranged for its move from the Caledonian Railway at Brechin, where she had been stored, back to the Strathspey Railway where she is currently operational. (GCB151)

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Saturday 3 August 1957. With Stirling shed seen in the background, BR Standard Class 5 Caprotti fitted 4-6-0 No 73153 is accelerating away from Stirling station with the Glasgow bound ‘Bon Accord’ working from Aberdeen. Having entered service from Derby Works only three months earlier and allocated to St Rollox shed, she would be withdrawn after only nine years of service in 1966 whilst based at Stirling shed. (GCB482)

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Saturday 3 August 1957. This busy scene is at Dundee Tay Bridge shed with ex-LNER Class V2 2-6-2 No 60972 standing adjacent to the coaling tower and over a pit road. A product of Darlington Works in 1943, she would spend time allocated to Eastfield in Glasgow, Haymarket in Edinburgh and Dundee Tay Bridge sheds before being allocated to Ferryhill in Aberdeen during 1956 and being withdrawn in 1963. (GCB299)

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Monday 5 August 1957. Former LNER Class J39 0-6-0 No 64786 is working a Class 9 goods train and is seen with Lochee station in the background, heading north on the line to Newtyle, to the north of Dundee. Constructed at Darlington Works in 1929 and initially allocated to Parkhead shed in Glasgow, she would be transferred to Tay Bridge shed during 1947 and be withdrawn whilst based there in 1962. One of the earliest railways in Scotland, the Dundee and Newtyle had been opened in 1831 utilising a gauge of 4’ 6” and incorporating many rope worked inclines; closed to passenger traffic in 1955, it was completely closed during 1967. (GCB398)

Saturday 17 August 1957. Caprotti fitted BR Standard Class 5 4-6-0 No 73152 is seen east of Ninewells Junction whilst working a passenger train from Perth into Dundee. Entering service only three months earlier from Derby Works and allocated to St Rollox shed, she has clearly not been cleaned since her arrival there. Spending her entire working life of only eight short years based at St Rollox, she would be withdrawn during 1965.

(GCB481)

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Thursday 22 August 1957. At Pitlochry station ex-LMS Class 5 4-6-0 No 45476, bearing a 60A Inverness shed code, is working a passenger train to Glasgow. Constructed at Derby Works during 1943 and allocated new to Inverness, she would end her working days based at Dalry Road shed in Edinburgh and be withdrawn in 1964. Designed by Sir William Stanier and introduced during 1934, a total of 842 examples of the class were constructed between 1934 and 1951, entering service from Crewe, Derby and Horwich works together with two outside manufacturers, the Vulcan Foundry and Armstrong Whitworth & Co. (GCB119A)

August 1957. BR Standard Class 5 4-6-0 No 73007 is carrying a 63A Perth shed code and is seen east of Ninewells Junction working a passenger train from Glasgow to Dundee. A product of Derby Works during 1951 and allocated initially to Perth shed, she would by 1965 be based at Stirling shed and be withdrawn whilst there in 1966. (GCB459)

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Left: August 1957. With Dundee East station seen in the background, Class A2 4-6-2 No 60527 Sun Chariot is passing Camperdown Junction at the head of a passenger working to Aberdeen. Constructed at Doncaster Works post-nationalisation in 1948, she would be allocated to Tay Bridge shed in 1949 and spend time based at Ferryhill in Aberdeen, Perth and finally Polmadie shed, being withdrawn during 1965. She had been named after a very successful racehorse that had won the St Leger, the Oaks and the 1,000 Guineas races in 1942.

(GCB913)

Right: August 1957. BR Standard Class 5 4-6-0 No 73107 is seen east of Ninewells Junction whilst working a passenger train from Dundee to Perth. A product of Doncaster Works during 1955, she had initially been allocated to Eastfield in Glasgow but by the date of this photograph was based at Perth. She would be withdrawn in 1966 whilst based at Motherwell shed. (GCB466)

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September 1957. Standing in Camperdown Street, adjacent to the Camperdown Dock Warehouse with the Dundee Corporation Gas Works gas holder in the background, ex-NBR Class B (LNER Class J37) 0-6-0 No 64545 is moving goods wagons within the harbour lines. Constructed at Cowlairs Works during 1915, she would be withdrawn from service in 1962 whilst based at Dunfermline Upper shed. (GCB362)

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September 1957. Standing at Dundee Tay Bridge shed is ex-NBR Class A (LNER Class N15/1) 0-6-2 tank No 69136 which had been a product of the NBL during 1910. She would be withdrawn from service in 1961 whilst based at Thornton shed. Introduced during 1910, the William Reid Class A tanks continued construction until 1920 by which time sixty-nine examples had entered service, all coming from the NBL Works in Glasgow. A further thirty examples were delivered post-grouping, twenty from the former NBR Works at Cowlairs and ten from Robert Stephenson & Co. (GCB1257)

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Monday 14 April 1958. This elevated view shows the close proximity of Wormit station to the end of the Tay Bridge. BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4 tank No 80123, a Tay Bridge shed resident at the time, is entering the station with a branch working to Tayport. A product of Brighton Works in 1955, she would only give eleven years of service before being withdrawn during 1966. This section of the branch to Tayport was opened in May 1879 but the connection to Dundee was lost with the collapse of the Tay Bridge during December 1879 and not re-opened until July 1887 when the replacement bridge was opened. The branch was closed to all traffic during May 1969. The station building at Wormit was saved and re-erected at the Bo‘ness site of the SRPS. (GCB501)

Monday 14 April 1958. Seen just south of Tay Bridge Junction, ex-LNER Class A3 4-6-2 No 60087 Blenheim is working a southbound express.

Constructed at Doncaster Works during 1930 and originally numbered 2598, she had been given the name of the racehorse that had won the Derby in 1930 and would be allocated new to Gateshead shed but by 1941 would be based at Haymarket in Edinburgh, whose 64B shed code she is carrying. She would be fitted with a double chimney four months later and trough style smoke deflectors during 1962, only to be withdrawn in 1963. (GCB227)

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April 1958. Also seen just south of Tay Bridge Junction working a Class 3 goods train comprising entirely of containers (it is most likely meat traffic from Aberdeen to London), former LNER Class A3 4-6-2 No 60090 Grand Parade had been named after the racehorse that had won the 1919 Derby.

A product of Doncaster Works in 1928, she was almost completely destroyed in the accident at Castlecary near Glasgow on 10 December 1937. She would be withdrawn in 1963. (GCB228)

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April 1958. With Magdalen Green Park and the nearby bowling greens in the background, BR Standard Class 5 Caprotti fitted 4-6-0 No 73146 is seen again, on this occasion approaching Dundee with another passenger working from Perth. Constructed at Derby Works during 1957 and allocated new to St Rollox shed, she would be withdrawn in 1967 whilst based at Motherwell shed. (GCB1026)

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Friday 16 May 1958. With a lone young enthusiast witnessing her departure, yet another Caprotti fitted BR Standard Class 5 4-6-0, No 73151, is heading a passenger working to Perth. A product of Derby Works during 1957, she would be allocated new to St Rollox and be withdrawn only nine years later in 1966. (GCB477)

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Friday 30 May 1959. Bearing a 64A St Margarets shed code, ex-LNER Class V2 2-6-2 No 60957 is moving slowly through Tay Bridge station at the head of a southbound Class 3 goods train. Constructed at Darlington Works in 1942, she had initially been allocated to Gateshead shed but by 1956 had been transferred to St Margarets in Edinburgh, from where she would be withdrawn during 1964. (GCB294)

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Left: June 1959. With a single lamp on the buffer beam, Class 5 4-6-0 No 44671 appears to be shunting stock at Perth station. A product of Horwich Works postnationalisation in 1950, she is seen wearing a 12A Carlisle Kingmoor shed code and would be withdrawn from service during 1967. Of the 842 examples of Sir William Stanier’s Class 5s, only one-hundred and twenty examples were constructed at Horwich Works; it had the distinction of constructing the final two members of the class that were fitted with Caprotti valve gear and double chimneys, entering service in 1951. (GCB080)

Right: June 1959. Entering Perth station from the south at the head of a passenger train is BR Standard ‘Clan’ Class 6P5F 4-6-2 No 72005 Clan MacGregor. A product of Crewe Works during 1952 and allocated new to Carlisle Kingmoor, she would be withdrawn whilst based there in 1965. The ten members of the class were allocated equally between Carlisle Kingmoor and Polmadie sheds and saw much work on the traffic between Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool and on the ‘Port Road‘ to Stranraer. (GCB451)

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Left: Wednesday 27 July 1960. Seen between West Ferry and Dundee, Class A2 4-6-2 No 60529 Pearl Diver is working, what the lamps tell us, a Class 3 express goods train. Entering service post-nationalisation during 1948 and named after the racehorse that had won the Derby in 1947, she would be allocated new to Haymarket shed in Edinburgh and is seen carrying the correct 64B shed code. (GCB249)

Right: March 1961. With Dock Street in Dundee behind the fence on the left, ex-LNER Class J39 0-6-0 No 64822, bearing a 62B Tay Bridge shed code, is heading westbound light engine. She had been a product of Darlington Works in 1930, would be transferred to Tay Bridge shed during 1943 and be withdrawn whilst allocated there during 1962. (GCB401)

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March 1961. BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4 tank No 80123 is seen here again on this occasion passing the Esplanade station at the head of a branch working from Tayport. In the background can be seen the Dundee West to Perth line with Magdalen Green station and footbridge adjoining Magdalen Green Park. The first branch into Tayport had arrived from Leuchars at what became known as the ’Old’ station during 1848 to provide a connection to the ferries plying the River Tay to Broughty Ferry on the north shore. Closed to passenger traffic during 1956, it was completely closed in 1966. (GCB497)

Saturday 20 May 1961. This day saw the running of the Stephenson Locomotive Society, Dundee Centre, organised ‘Angus Rail Tour’ which would commence at Glasgow Buchanan Street station and take in Dundee West, Auchterhouse, Newtyle, Kingsmuir, Broughty Ferry and Dundee Tay Bridge, returning to Glasgow. Motive power included ex-CR Class ‘72’ (LMS Class 3P) 4-4-0 No 54486 in beautifully clean condition; she is seen here at Auchterhouse where she took over working the train from classmate No 54500. Constructed at St Rollox Works during 1920, she had originally been numbered 81 with the Caley and later 14486 with the LMS. Allocated to Perth shed in 1958, she would be withdrawn in 1962. (GCB170)

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Both Pages: Saturday 20 May 1961. This spread of two photographs shows former CR Class ‘72’ (LMS Class 3P) 4-4-0 No 54500 waiting to depart from Dundee West station with the ‘Angus Rail Tour’. She would work the section from Dundee West to Auchterhouse with class-mate No 54486 taking the train over there. The product of the NBL Hyde Park Works during 1922 and numbered 69 with the Caley, she would later become No 14500 with the LMS and would be withdrawn forty years later in 1962. (GCB169/GCB174)

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Thursday 29 June 1961. At St Enoch station ex-LMS Class 6P5F ‘Jubilee’ 4-6-0 No 45711 Courageous is waiting to reverse on to her train stock.

Constructed at Crewe Works during 1936, she would spend time allocated to Polmadie and Corkerhill sheds in Glasgow, ending her days based at the latter and being withdrawn in 1962. Sir William Stanier‘s design of three cylinder 4-6-0 would be constructed initially at Crewe Works with fifty-three examples entering service in 1934 and 1935. These were followed with ten examples from Derby Works during 1934 and a further fifty from both the NBL Queens Park and Hyde Park Works, also in 1934 and in 1935. The final batch of seventy-eight locomotives would enter service during 1935 and 1936 from Crewe Works. (GCB135)

Thursday 29 June 1961. Also seen at St Enoch station is former LMS Class 4F 0-6-0 No 44330 that appears to be carrying out station pilot duties. A product of St Rollox Works in 1928, she would be withdrawn from service during 1962 whilst based at Corkerhill shed. (GCB078)

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Thursday 29 June 1961. At Glasgow Central station BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4 tank No 80129 is waiting to depart with a passenger working.

Constructed at Brighton Works in 1955 and allocated new to Polmadie shed, she was withdrawn less than nine years later during 1964. (GCB506)

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Wednesday 27 March 1963. BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4 tank No 80090 is seen passing the Esplanade station at the head of the 7.27am branch working to Tayport. Constructed at Brighton Works during 1954 and initially allocated to English sheds, she would be transferred to Dundee Tay Bridge shed in 1960 and be withdrawn whilst based there during 1965. (GCB494)

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May 1963. With Dundee tenement blocks and Magdalen Green Park in the background, ex-LMS Class 5 4-6-0 No 44993 is departing from the city with a passenger working to Perth. The product of Horwich Works during 1947, she would be allocated to Carlisle Kingmoor shed for her entire working life, being withdrawn after only twenty years of service in 1967. (GCB1028)

60

Thursday 30 May 1963. This passenger train, bound for Glasgow, is seen departing from Dundee on the former LMS route with, in the background, the former LNER route on the rising viaduct leading to the Tay Bridge. Ex-LNER Class V2 2-6-2 No 60813, which had been constructed at Darlington Works during 1937, had the distinctive smoke deflector fitted in 1946. She would at the date of this photograph be allocated to St Margarets shed in Edinburgh but ended her days based at Tay Bridge shed in Dundee and would be withdrawn during 1966. (GCB263)

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Left: February 1964. Attached to a single brake van, former NBR Class B (LNER Class J37) 0-6-0 No 64577 is waiting to proceed into Dundee. A product of the NBL during 1918, she would be withdrawn in 1966. With the remains of a snow fall covering the bowling greens in the immediate background, the building in the distance with the spire on the roof is the Royal Dundee Institute for the Blind which had been opened in 1885 and is now sheltered housing. (GCB373)

Right: Saturday 7 March 1964. Bearing a 64A St Margarets shed code, Class B1 4-6-0 No 61349 is about to pass through Portobello station working light engine.

She had the distinction of being the very last steam locomotive to be constructed at the former GCR locomotive works at Gorton in Manchester during 1949.

Allocated new to Kittybrewster in Aberdeen, she would end her days after only seventeen years of service based at Thornton Junction shed, before being withdrawn in 1966. (GCB333)

63

Tuesday 6 April 1965. Former NBR Class S (LNER Class J37) 0-6-0 No 64608 is seen inside Dundee West station picking up three parcel vans from platform 2. A product of the NBL in 1919, she would by the date of this photograph be allocated to Tay Bridge shed and be withdrawn during 1966.

(GCB699)

64

Tuesday 6 April 1965. No 64608 is seen in the centre road at Dundee West station waiting to depart with the three parcel vans it has picked up.

Opened by the Dundee and Perth Railway in 1847, the final station building would be completed in the grand Scots Baronial style in 1890. It would be closed in the month following this photograph, May, and would be demolished during the following year to make way for a road bypass. (GCB381)

65

Saturday 10 April 1965. With steam to spare, ex-LNER Class A4 4-6-2 No 60031 Golden Plover is seen accelerating away from Dundee with a passenger working to Glasgow. Constructed at Doncaster Works during 1937 and allocated new to Haymarket shed in Edinburgh, she would migrate to St Rollox in 1962 and be withdrawn from service six months after the date of this photograph. (GCB214)

66

Saturday 10 April 1965. Also seen departing from Dundee at the head of a passenger working to Glasgow is BR Standard ‘Clan’ 6P5F Class 4-6-2 No 72006 Clan Mackenzie. A product of Crewe Works during 1952, she would be allocated new to Carlisle Kingmoor shed, whose 12A shed code she is carrying, and spend the bulk of her working life based there, being withdrawn in 1966. (GCB452)

67

Saturday 3 July 1965. Caprotti fitted BR Standard Class 5 4-6-0 No 73154 is approaching Dundee at the head of a passenger working from Glasgow.

A product of Derby Works in 1957, she had been allocated new to St Rollox shed but would end her days based at Motherwell, being withdrawn after a short ten years of service during 1966. (GCB486)

68

Tuesday 6 July 1965. With lamps indicating a Class 7 goods train, Ministry of Supply Austerity Class 8F 2-8-0 No 90727, having come off the Tay Bridge, is passing through the Esplanade station. Constructed by the Vulcan Foundry in 1945 and numbered WD79306, she would be purchased by British Railways in 1948 and spend time allocated to Dundee Tay Bridge and Thornton Junction sheds before being withdrawn during the month after this photograph, August 1965. (GCB515)

69

Thursday 8 July 1965. Also seen passing Esplanade station but attached to a single brake van is former LNER Class B1 4-6-0 No 61262 bearing a 62B Dundee Tay Bridge shed code. A product of the NBL in 1947, she had been allocated new to Thornton Junction shed and by 1960 would be based at Tay Bridge shed, being withdrawn whilst based there in 1967. (GCB316)

70

Friday 9 July 1965. BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4 tank No 80028 is seen working as station pilot at Perth. A product of Brighton Works during 1952 and allocated to Perth shed in 1963, she would be withdrawn from service in 1966. Brighton Works had been chosen as the main design and construction facility for these tank locomotives with one-hundred and thirty being delivered between 1951 and 1957. A further fifteen examples entered service from Derby Works and ten from Doncaster Works. (GCB493)

71

Left: Friday 9 July 1965. Standing in Perth station and waiting to depart light engine is ex-LMS Class 5 4-6-0 No 44997 bearing a 63A Perth shed code. Constructed at Horwich Works during 1947, she would be allocated to Perth in 1948 and spend the rest of her working life based there being withdrawn twenty years later in 1967.

(GCB101)

Right: Thursday 15 July 1965. With the houses in Angle Park Terrace in Edinburgh in the background, Class 4P 2-6-4 tank No 42058 has just passed Dalry Road shed whilst working a three coach passenger train to Carstairs. A product of Derby Works in 1950, she would initially be allocated to Polmadie in Glasgow and be transferred to Carstairs during 1964, being withdrawn in 1966. (GCB063)

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Left: Thursday 15 July 1965. Technically withdrawn from service a week earlier, ex-LNER Class B1 4-6-0 No 61245 Murray of Elibank is parked, without coal in the tender, awaiting disposal at Dalry Road shed. Constructed by the NBL during 1947 and named after the First Baron Murray of Elibank, a Scottish politician, she had spent the bulk of her working life based at Haymarket shed.

(GCB315)

Right: Saturday 17 July 1965. With the cavernous interior of Princes Street station in Edinburgh in the background, Class 4P 2-6-4 tank No 42058 is captured, on this occasion departing with the 11.30am working to Carstairs. Opened in 1890, this station replaced a much smaller building in the Lothian Road and by 1893 saw the grand Caledonian Hotel which fronted the station opened. The station was closed to all traffic in September 1965 and swept away soon after, leaving the hotel in its prime position. (GCB062)

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Left: Saturday 17 July 1965. Passing through Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh, ex-LMS Class 5 4-6-0 No 44921 is working an express to Perth. A product of Crewe Works during 1946, she would spend time allocated to sheds in England before being transferred to Perth in 1954, being withdrawn later in 1965. (GCB096)

Right: Monday 26 July 1965. Seen passing the Magdalen Green Park in Dundee, ex-LNER Class B1 4-6-0 No 61102 is working light engine into the city. Constructed by NBL during 1946 and numbered 1102 by the LNER, she would spend her entire working life based at Tay Bridge shed and be withdrawn in 1967. (GCB308)

77

Saturday 13 November 1965. Former LNER Class A3 4-6-2 No 60052 Prince Palatine, bearing a 64A St Margarets shed code, is working a southbound Class 5 goods train whilst seen passing the Esplanade station in Dundee. Constructed at Doncaster Works in 1924 and named after the racehorse that won the 1911 St Leger, she would spend the bulk of her life based at sheds in England, being allocated to St Margarets during 1963 and withdrawn in 1966. (GCB224)

78

Saturday 26 March 1966. Also seen working through Esplanade station is ex-LNER Class V2 2-6-2 No 60818 which is carrying a 62B Dundee Tay Bridge shed code. A product of Darlington Works during 1937, she is carrying the lamps indicating that she is working a Class 4 express goods. She had been transferred to Tay Bridge shed in 1963 and would be withdrawn from service five months after this photograph in August 1966. (GCB266)

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Tuesday 29 March 1966. Also seen passing the Esplanade station with a Class 3 Goods train is a very leaky Class A2. No 60530 Sayajirao had been the product of Doncaster Works early in 1948 and allocated initially to Kings Cross shed migrating to Haymarket in Edinburgh during 1950 and ending her days, from 1964 at Dundee Tay Bridge until her withdrawal in November 1966. She had been named after the racehorse that had won the St Leger race in 1947. (GCB253)

The George C. Bett collection in the hands of the Transport Treasury consists of approximately 1,400 negatives, the vast majority of which were taken in and around the City of Dundee. George’s interest in railways started in the early 1940s when his parents gave him an Ian Allan ABC of Southern Electrics and after the family moved to Dundee his interest grew after witnessing, whilst travelling to school by tram, the Garter Blue A4s that carried stainless steel lettering.

This volume contains a choice of photographs from the collection dating between 1954 and 1966, showing a variety of locomotives operating in and out of Dundee West station on the former LMS route to Perth, connecting there with the lines north to Inverness and south to Glasgow. British Railways Standard ‘Clan’ and ‘Britannia’ Class 4-6-2s are regularly seen along with Standard Class 5 4-6-0s, both the Walschaerts and Caprotti valve gear versions. Sir William Stanier designed Class 5P5F or ‘Black 5’ 4-6-0s are also seen working along with the occasional LNER class of locomotive.

ISBN 978-1-913893-60-6

£13.50