Was D2206 scrapped at Blyth or elsewhere?

D2206 was withdrawn in July 1969 whilst based at Darlington.  Disposal listings generally give its disposal as Hughes Bolckow, Blyth, Northumberland.  This is likely because they have used ‘The Railway Observer’ of March 1977 (p.86) which stated that “2206 , withdrawn July 1969 from Darlington was sold to Hartword Finance Co, Barnsley and was consigned to Hughes Bolckow, Blyth during December 1969.”  However, ‘Pronounced Life Extinct’ which was compiled before ‘The Railway Observer’ reference was published does not record a disposal.

No observations at Blyth have been traced, neither have any at Thornaby after withdrawal. Any observations of this locomotive in July 1969 or later would be thus of great interest.

‘The Railway Observer’ reference bears all the hallmarks of a ‘Zulu’ fabrication. It appears sometime after an appeal for details of a locomotives disposal when none had otherwise been forthcoming.  It is hard to see any connection between the two companies mentioned.

Hartwood  Finance  Company had offices in the centre of Barnsley and  had no direct involvement with scrap other than the fact that some of their clients where in that line of business.  Their  previous  purchases  D2200/D2201/D2219/D2235  were  all  consigned  to  the Barnsley  Coking  Plant, Worsbrough Bridge, Barnsley,  for  scrapping  by  Allan  Finlay who was one of their clients. The scrapping took place on sidings close to the Coking Plant.  These being adjacent to the yard of Allan Finlay who was mainly associated with bus disposals, the majority of recovered engines being exported.  Hartwood Finance are presumed to be the ones who did the paperwork.  D2219 wasn’t scrapped, instead seeing further  use at the Coking Plant.  It is suspected the scrapping of the three locomotives was  to see if this was an avenue worth pursuing.  Probably not as no other locomotives were recorded as going to Worsbrough Bridge for scrap.

Hughes  Bolckow  were  for  many  years  primarily  a  shipbreaker  cutting  up  ex-Navy  warships,  oceanliners  and  fishing  vessels.  However, they were incorporated in Six Hundred Metal Holdings along with George Cohen Sons & Company, Cox & Danks and Pollock & Brown.   Whilst George Cohen Sons & Company are associated with the scrapping of a large number of BR locomotives, primarily at their Cransley, Kettering yard but also a small number at thier other yards, the other mentioned companies also scrapped small numbers.  It would therefore seem likely that the locomotives would be bought centrally and then consigned to one of the yards.  Thus, doubtful they would have had any involvement with Hartwood Finance.

Whilst it is possible that D2206 was scrapped at Hughes Bolkow, Blyth it is considered unproven.

D2318, D2339, D3144, D3146 & D3151 were also recorded as disposals to Hughes Bolckow in the ‘The Railway Observer’ and are unproven disposals.

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