Station Name: KILLINGWORTH[Source: Alan Young]
old15.jpg) Southbound A3 No.60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’ approaches Killingworth level crossing on a special train in 1968 – the year in which steam haulage ceased on British Rail’s standard gauge lines. The date was possibly 1 May, when the 40th anniversary of the ‘Flying Scotsman’s non-stop run from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverley was celebrated; this would be the return run of the train. In 1968 there were still water troughs on the East Coast main line to allow non-stop runs by steam engines. This 4-6-2 was designed by Gresley and built in the GNR/LNER Doncaster works in February 1923. The loco was initially numbered 1472 by the GNR, under whose auspices its construction began, and it later carried the LNER number 4472. This was the first steam locomotive to be officially authenticated as reaching 100mph (on 30 November 1934). On 15 January 1963 it was withdrawn from 34A, Kings Cross shed, but was destined for preservation. ‘Flying Scotsman’ set a further record on 8 August 1989 in Australia, this time for the longest non-stop run (422 miles) by a steam locomotive. It is now one of the prized exhibits at the National Railway Museum in York. On this special occasion in 1968 the train is attracting attention. In the ‘United’ Bristol LS single-decker the conductor is standing next to the driver to watch the approaching train. Over 300 buses of this type were operated by ‘United’ from the
early 1950s into the 1970s. Photo by Chris Morgan
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