Janus Class, 0-6-0, 400 H.P., Diesel Electric Locomotive, ‘No.1’, or ‘Plant No.2444/16’, of United Coke and Chemicals Limited, (later British Steel Corporation, Chemicals Division), and built by the Yorkshire Engine Company Ltd, Meadowhall Works, Sheffield, in 1959, is seen here, standing at the throat of Orgreaves Colliery West Exchange Sidings, on 16/04/1966. Drivers, Hiram Wells (left) and Tommy Williamson (right) pose for the camera.
Immediately to the West of Rotherwood Exchange Sidings, and sandwiched between the two bridges, which carry Orgreave (Pit) Lane and Highfield Lane, there is a deep cutting, in which the Great Central Railway’s, short, but steeply graded Orgreave Colliery Branch connected with the main line.
Access to, and from the branch, which provided connection with both, the United Coke and Chemicals Ltd, Orgreave Coke Ovens and By-products Works, and the adjacent Orgreave Colliery, was controlled by Orgreaves Colliery Signal Box, along with two series of sidings, which were located to the East, and to the West of the junction. These sidings provided the principle exchange facilities for both, the United Coke and Chemicals Ltd, Orgreave Coke Ovens and By-products Works, and the nearby Orgreave Colliery. The West Sidings also provided the coal land-sale facilities for Orgreave Colliery.
Janus Class, 0-6-0, 400 H.P., Diesel Electric Locomotive No.1, or U.C.C. Plant No.2444/16, was built by the Yorkshire Engine Company Limited, Meadowhall Works, Sheffield, to Works No.2753, in 1959, and delivered, new to the United Coke and Chemicals Limited. Following the closure of the Orgreave Coke Ovens and By-Products Works, in 1990, this locomotive was moved to the British Steel Corporation, Shelton Iron and Steel Works, Stoke-on-Trent, where it was cannibalised for spare parts, until it was scrapped on-site there, in 1995.
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