The Gresley-designed J50 Class was eventually made up of 102 locomotives, with design variations in the brakes, driving positions, boilers and bunker sizes resulting in four class parts. These locomotives served across the LNER from Eastfield in Scotland to Cambridge. If there was hard work to be done, a J50 was invariably on hand to do it.
Built new in 1922 and 1924, 20 locomotives of the LNER J50 Class used a stock of second-hand standard 4’ 5” boilers, becoming J50/2. By 1926, they were the company’s group standard type. Fifty-two more locomotives were built; 38 at Doncaster Works as J50/3 and 14 at Gorton, as J50/4, between 1926 and 1939. The 30 GNR J23 locomotives from 1914-1919 were eventually re-classified by the LNER as J50/1s.
In 1946, the class received their LNER renumbering from 8890 to 8991, all surviving to nationalisation to receive their British Rail numbering in the 60000 range. Withdrawals started in September 1958 and were completed by 1963, with six transferred to departmental use afterwards. These locomotives survived until around May 1965, No. 68961 Departmental No. 14 being the last to go in September 1965.
No. 2793 was one of several locomotives that were built at Doncaster Works. It was part of an order of six J50 locomotives to the order number 318 and its works number was 1739. The locomotive entered service in April 1930 to start its duties as a reliable tank engine. As part of the LNER re-numbering scheme in 1946, 2793 became 8976. At the advent of BR nationalisation in January 1948, the locomotive was allocated to Annesley shed (ANN). A year later, in April 1949, BR renumbered the locomotive to 68976. Throughout its working life, several shed reallocations took place where the locomotive was moved to Hornsey (34B), New England (34E) and finally Doncaster (36A) on 9th June 1962. After its withdrawal from service in September 1962, the locomotive became Departmental No. 16 for use as a steam shunter. After 32 years of service, the locomotive was scrapped on 30th May 1965.