No.45562 Alberta is about to take forward the 1N63 (SO) 10.38am Bournemouth West - Bradford Exchange in the early summer of 1964. We believed this was almost certainly August 1st when the train had been brought in by GWR 'Hall' No.7910. However Mike Sheridan reports that on that date it was 45643 Rodney. Alberta did not become a regular at the Vic until 1965 but the Railway Observer reported it working the train from late June 1964. In 1966 it was also a regular at Nottingham Midland when the service was transfered there. Note that the cleaners hadn't quite made it to the tender and this is another good clue to the date as other photos dated 27th July show it in an identical condition at New Basford (but with smokebox door handles in different positions making that date less likely). The date must therefore be in early July (11 or 18th are the only two possible dates), or August. Earlier photos dated 20 June 1964 show loco had not yet been cleaned.

Mike Sheridan adds that on August 1st 1964 Banbury allocated Hall No 6906 worked 1N63 into Nottingham Vic and 45643 Rodney most certainly worked it forward to Bradford. He was there and has pics of both locos. Alberta did appear at least once though in 1964, taking over from 7922 on the Bradford service. However we are now almost certain this info is incorrect (see below)

David Bradbury adds "The appearance of Farnley Junction (55C) 'Jubilees' at Nottingham Victoria on their regular Summer Saturday work was not likely to have continued into 1965. The normal situation in 1965 was they were sent only as far as Sheffield, but resumed running to Nottingham (Midland, though) in 1966. 45643 Rodney worked many of the 1965 turns and was serviced at Canklow (41D) before returning on the Bournemouth - Bradford train.
There is no yellow stripe on the cabside of 45562 in this photograph, so that such narrow down the date it was taken."

Furthermore Simon Lathlane says "I was most interested in seeing your shot of Jubilee Class No 45562 'Alberta' at Nottm Vic station in 1964. The Jubilee did work into Nottm Victoria during that year and in my collection of original transparencies I have one taken by the late A.J.Clarke. He dated the mount 11th August 1964 which was a Tuesday and shows a very dirty 45562. (I think this was actually 11th July). The Jubilee is at the north end of the station with a lot of spotters looking on."

I asked Vic Smith to review all the know information and very helpfully he summarised it as follows:
"Having reviewed all the known details, I am convinced it is a very soon after 25 July 1964, so most likely to be 1st August 1964, unless the loco revisited Nottingham Vic. mid- week after 25 July.
The 1st August 1964, fits with Syd Hancocks record of 45562 working the train on that date.
Image https://www.flickr.com/photos/159171115@N08/43440159855/in/photolist-K1sXTP-29bEb6n shows 45562 taking over from 7922, only date 7922 recorded on 1N63 was 25 July 1964.
This photo here is viewed from Platform 1, loco facing north, as is ( https://tinyurl.com/yygt4zme ) but it is not 25 July, as the smoke box door handles are in a different position and the tender is not fully coaled.
The only noticeable difference in loco condition is a small patch under the tender logo has been cleaned revealing the tender lining, which dates it after 25 July.

1N63 Bournemouth – Bradford to Nottm Vic. 1964 (Railway Observer, personal records and details obtained from Loughborough Railway Society members).
4 July 6906 45643 - Syd Hancock
11 July 6998 45562 - Syd Hancock
18 July 6911 ???? 45643 Leicester Cen on 1N72 0855 Bournemouth-Leeds
25 July 7922 45562 Flickr photo
1 Aug 7910 45562 - Syd Hancock
8 Aug 6911 (derail Vic.) ????
15 Aug 6858 6858 to Huddersfield (45581 Nottm Vic on 1N41 ?? - ebay photo )
22 Aug 6906 45581 - Syd Hancock
29 Aug ???? 45562 - Syd Hancock.

To clear up a comment:- “However the site info from where he adds that “on August 1st 1964 Banbury allocated Hall No 6906 worked 1N63 into Nottingham Vic and 45643 Rodney most certainly worked it forward to Bradford. He was there and has pics of both locos”. Must be incorrect (for 45643 at least).”
Mike Sheridan’s Aug 1 is definitely an incorrect date as 7910 worked 1N63, photographed at Lobo’ https://www.flickr.com/photos/sydhank/6382531391 and “45562 worked the train on 20th June, 11 July, 1st August and 29th August.”- Syd Hancock

Mike Sheridan’s details fit with July 4, - seeing his images would be most helpful.
1N83 1964
Locos working 1O42 and 1N83 back to Sheffield Victoria on summer Saturdays in 1964.
20/06/64 D5847, 27/06/64 73069,
04/07/64 D5687, 11/07/64 D5692, 18/07/64 D5682, 25/07/64 D6813,
01/08/64 D5860, 08/08/64 D6798, 15/08/64 D6742, 22/08/64 D6806,
29/08/64 92154, 05/09/64 not known"

Further evidence is provided by a RAS image of GWR Hall 7910 with 45562 which shows this image must have been taken after 1964-08-01, as there are signs of cleaning under the tender logo and at the rear corner of the tender.


Thanks Vic.

Just to complicate matters further the Railway Observer August 1964 issue states 45562 working 1N63 on 20/06/64 then in the September issue has 45562 working 1N63 on all 4 Saturdays 10/07 to 01/08.

Tony Saville says "I’m not sure Mike is right. I am in contact with Mr C whose primary interests is in constructing a detailed analysis of Summer workings through Nottingham Victoria in 1964. He records 45562 as working 1O41/1N63 on 1/8/64 but also on that date 45643 worked 1N72 (Bournemouth- Leeds) possibly from Oxford. D5860 worked 1O42/1N83. Details are recorded in Railway Observer of 9/64 which has 45562 on 1O41/1N63 on 11/7, 18/7 and 25/7. On 1/8 45562 is captured on a Transport Treasury picture (RNN1v1). She worked the train again on 29/8. On 8/8 45562 worked 1N72.