1306 Mayflower

Built by North British Locomotive Co. in Glasgow as one of 150 ordered in January 1946, the loco
entered service as 61306 with the “British Railway” logo on the tender in 1948.
The B1 class was introduced by Edward Thompson, a LNER engineer in 1942, to replace the many ageing
engines of similar type.(As Sir Nigel Gresley had only put the class B17 under the 4-6-0 heading, they were
not a mixed traffic locomotive.)
61306 was allocated to Hull Botanical Gardens until June 1959, transferred to Hull Dairycoates until June
1967 and finally moved to Low Moor ( just south of Bradford) until the 30th September 1967, when she was
Withdrawn from service. During her service with B.R she had a colour change going from the LNER apple
Green to B.R black which she stayed in until her withdrawal.
61306 was eventually sold to private buyers and started her days in preservation based at Steamtown,
Carnforth, Lancashire.After her arrival there, she was proudly repainted back to the LNER apple green
Livery, which she has worn ever since.