The first of the class, No.5971, departs from Carlisle Citadel with a Glasgow to Leeds and St. Pancras express in early 1931. After its conversion in November 1930, No.5971 was allocated to Leeds Holbeck until May 1932 when it moved to Kentish Town. The first published account of its working was by C.J. Allen in the July 1931 Railway Magazine who wrote of No.5971 working the 4.3pm from Leeds to Carlisle. It “ran with great freedom” and “Uphill the engine exhaust was practically inaudible”.
Photo: F.R. Hebron/Rail Archive Stephenson