What was longest running (in years) loco hauled service by same class of loco

[Bessie]

I'm aware of certain loco classes being associated with running certain mainline services for a long period of time but which ran for the longest continually? Please ignore HSTs and other multiple units. I'm thinking of Deltics up the ECML, Class 47s on Great Eastern services to Norwich, Class 33s on Weymouth services, maybe Class 86s on WCML. So which loco hauled service was around for the longest period of time?

 

[sluf]

class 45's on Midland Mainline must be in with a shout

 

[dk1]

Class 86s had roughly the same amount of time in charge of GEML main line services as the 47s. The 90s not quite so long.

 

[Cowley]

It’s got to be 86s on the WCML hasn’t it?

 

[Ash Bridge]

It’s got to be 86s on the WCML hasn’t it?

That’s what I’m thinking also.

would 47s on the cross country route also perhaps come close (mid 60s - end of 2002?)

 

[Dai Corner]

Castle class on the GWML 1923-1965?

 

[30907]

That’s what I’m thinking also.

would 47s on the cross country route also perhaps come close (mid 60s - end of 2002?)

Castle class on the GWML 1923-1965?

It depends what you mean by "service" I suppose.
Over such a long period a class that started on the best trains of the day would end up on much less important services, or from dominance to being a rarity (or even v.v.) For example Castles ended up working to Oxford and Worcester by 1965 not to Bristol etc, while 47s were rare on inter-regionals in the 60s
I'd say 1925-1960 for Castles which is still pretty impressive, and perhaps 1972-2002 for XC 47s (somebody will correct that, I hope).

 

[etr221]

My guess would be the LBSCR A1/A1X 'Terrier' 0-6-0Ts on the Hayling Island Branch service from the 1890s (or maybe a bit before) until closure of the line in 1963 - so about 70 years.

 

[martinsh]

Talyllyn prior to preservation ?

 

[30907]

My guess would be the LBSCR A1/A1X 'Terrier' 0-6-0Ts on the Hayling Island Branch service from the 1890s (or maybe a bit before) until closure of the line in 1963 - so about 70 years.

Closely followed by the 415s at Lyme Regis (60-odd years)....but at 85 years

Talyllyn prior to preservation ?

....is surely the winner.

 

[randyrippley]

The Isle of Man Railways Beyer Peacocks
built 1873-1926, some of them still in use

149 years

 

[Rescars]

When it comes to big trains, how about the GWR Iron Dukes and their Rover class upgrades introduced in 1847 and still heading broad gauge expresses until the end in 1892?

 

[Irascible]

Beattie tanks on on the Bodmin & Wadebridge 1895-1962 were another long lasting one but apparently not long enough! the OP did say main line though, which might need a definition of main line. LSWR T9s were working trains on the same route for their entire lives, but the LSWR line to Plymouth wasn't much of a main line.

 

[D6130]

A3 Pacifics, East Coast main Line 1923-1965?

 

[Irascible]

The three oldest RH&DR engines have been doing it almost 100 years at this point - bit of a wierd line to categorise though.

T9s lasted 1899-1963, but I can't guarantee they worked the WoE main line for the entire time until I find the T9 book I think is in a box somewhere.

 

[30907]

Beattie tanks on on the Bodmin & Wadebridge 1895-1962 were another long lasting one but apparently not long enough! the OP did say main line though, which might need a definition of main line. LSWR T9s were working trains on the same route for their entire lives, but the LSWR line to Plymouth wasn't much of a main line.

The LSW, SR and BR(S) regarded it as a main line, though by the late 50s a T9 would have been a rare sight on an express (even though they were short trains).

 

[Peter Mugridge]

May I enter the Hythe Pier railway?

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the introduction to it of the small electric locomotives which still operate daily...

 

[Bevan Price]

A3 Pacifics, East Coast main Line 1923-1965?

Apart from rail tours and substitute for failed diesels, there were no booked steam services into London Kings Cross after June 1963, and steam was getting scarce (but not unknown). on the rest of ECML .

And wasn't the first A1/A3 ("Great Northern") built in 1922**? (The original A1s were fitted with higher-pressure boilers to make the A3s)

** Great Northern was later rebuilt as Class A1/1.

However, for longevity on the same routes, freights worked by 0-6-0s must be amongst the claimants for longest continuous use.

 

[Harvester]

Apart from rail tours and substitute for failed diesels, there were no booked steam services into London Kings Cross after June 1963, and steam was getting scarce (but not unknown). on the rest of ECML .

And wasn't the first A1/A3 ("Great Northern") built in 1922**? (The original A1s were fitted with higher-pressure boilers to make the A3s)

** Great Northern was later rebuilt as Class A1/1.

However, for longevity on the same routes, freights worked by 0-6-0s must be amongst the claimants for longest continuous use.

Yes “Great Northern” was built in 1922, and lasted as a Gresley A1 until rebuilt by Thompson to A1/1 in 1945.

Some NER J27 0-6-0s achieved sixty years of service on light freights on stretches of the ECML, from Darlington to as far north as Berwick.

 

[Irascible]

The LSW, SR and BR(S) regarded it as a main line, though by the late 50s a T9 would have been a rare sight on an express (even though they were short trains).

Fairly common on the Exeter-Plymouth bit, no? for sure not all the way from Waterloo.

 

[30907]

Fairly common on the Exeter-Plymouth bit, no? for sure not all the way from Waterloo.

I looked at 1954 engine workings - not the easiest to follow but I could only find a couple of trains with T9s on the Plymouth route. I thought there were more myself ...

 

[Strathclyder]

However, for longevity on the same routes, freights worked by 0-6-0s must be amongst the claimants for longest continuous use.

Aye, the Caledonian 812s spring to mind in this respect. May 1899 (first example built) to November 1963 (last example withdrawn). Am sure there are longer-lived 0-6-0s out there, but the Caley 812s really do take some beating.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Aye, the Caledonian 812s spring to mind in this respect. May 1899 (first example built) to November 1963 (last example withdrawn). Am sure there are longer-lived 0-6-0s out there, but the Caley 812s really do take some beating.

*ahem*

May I enter the Hythe Pier railway?

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the introduction to it of the small electric locomotives which still operate daily...

 

[Strathclyder]

*ahem*

Indeed, but I meant as far as 0-6-0 steam locos were concerned. Probably should've worded my first post better lol

 

[randyrippley]

The Isle of Man Railways Beyer Peacocks
built 1873-1926, some of them still in use

149 years

nothing has beaten these yet

 

[Peter Mugridge]

nothing has beaten these yet

I concede the point!

 

[Richard Scott]

That’s what I’m thinking also.

would 47s on the cross country route also perhaps come close (mid 60s - end of 2002?)

47s were rare on Cross Country before 1980s. Mostly 46s in 1970s.

 

[randyrippley]

47s were rare on Cross Country before 1980s. Mostly 46s in 1970s.

Personal observation would suggest around 40% Brush, rest 45/46 West of Exeter on XC early 70s

 

[Richard Scott]

Personal observation would suggest around 40% Brush, rest 45/46 West of Exeter on XC early 70s

Surprised, I lived in Cheltenham and rarely saw anything other than peaks. As I didn't log anything back then no evidence to back it up mind.

 

[341o2]

re Talyylyn (quoted wrong post)

On that basis, it would be the Ffestiniog, because the first three George England locos were delivered in 1863. Princess has been cosmetically restored, Prince in service

*ahem*

The Hythe Pier locos were built in 1918 for a mustard gasworks and their centenary was celebrated four years ago. 2022 marks 100 years of the pier railway