North Eastern Railway designed Worsdell 'J72' class 0-6-0 tank No.69023. Built in Apr. 1951 at Darlington, withdrawn in Oct. 1964 and subsequently preserved. One of the most unlikely events in British locomotive history took place in 1951. Needing more small but capable tank locomotives, but without a suitable design prepared a quick and easy remedy was sought. Why not resurrect an 1898 North Eastern Railway design that had proved perfectly satisfactory for the last 53 years? And so it transpired that another twenty eight 'J72's' were built at Darlington. Wilson Worsdell must have looked down from above with the wryest of smiles! Pictured is the now preserved 69023 at Gateshead in 1962.

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