GCR Class 8K No. 102

No.102 is a preserved 2-8-0 tender steam locomotive.
==History==
No.102 was built in January 1912 at Gorton Locomotive Works of the Great Central Railway 8K class being numbered 102. In 1923 the GCR was merged with several other railway companies to create the London and North Eastern Railway becoming it's #5102, later was renumbered #3509 in 1946 and then again as #3601 in 1947.https://www.lner.info/locos/O/o4o5.phphttps://preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/63601-gcr-102-lner-5102-lner-3509-lner-3601-br-63601/https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/the-railway/locomotives/63601-2/http://www.elmrc.org.uk/64a/o4.pdfhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVkICgR6SoU
In 1948, the big four railway companies merged to create British Railways and the locomotive was renumbered to #63601, and it continued to operate hauling mineral trains on the Pennine line of the former GCR until June 1963 when it was withdrawn from revenue service at Frodingham shed after a 51 year career. No.63601 had already been put on British Railway's preservation list in 1960. After being transferred several times in storage awaiting the construction of the National Railway Museum.
It was eventually planned for display at GCR sheds and preservation centre, Dinting in 1976. However staff inspected the locomotive finding restoration to operation a plausible and viable option. And thus it was loaned permanently to the GCR heritage railway where it was restored to operation in December 2000. It visited several other heritage lines since and was withdrawn in June, 2012. The overhaul is still underway as of 2023.
==Trivia==
*It is the last Robinson 8K existing in the United Kingdom.
*It is one of only 2 (3 if you count the new build of GCR Class 2 No. 567) preserved locomotives of the Great Central Railway. The other being No.506 'Butler-Henderson'.
== Gallery ==
File:GCR O4 63601 at Doncaster Works.JPG
File:63601 Great Central Railway (13).jpg
File:63601 Great Central Railway (18).jpg
==Biography==
Category:Locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:2-8-0 locomotives
Category:2-8-0 steam locomotives
Category:Preserved locomotives
Category:Built in 1912
Category:United Kingdom
Category:4 foot 8 1⁄2 inch gauge
Category:Standard gauge locomotives
Category:Eight-coupled locomotives
Category:Gorton Works locomotives
Category:Great Central Railway (original)
Category:LNER locomotives
Category:British Rail locomotives
Category:Sole survivor
Category:Gorton Works locomotives
Category:Standard gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain
Category:Sole survivor
Category:Great Central locomotives
Category:Great Central (heritage) locomotives