What did I just see - steam locomotive
Discussion
Leaving London in the direction of Reading at around 12.30, and saw something interesting in a siding outside a shed near Ealing. I literally only saw it for a second, but it was in steam, and the very distinctive LNER blue.
I have only personally seen that colour on a4 pacific class engines before, to my very limited knowledge the only two wearing it currently are Mallard and Sir Nigel Gresley. As far as I am aware the boiler cert on the former is long expired?
So was it SNG? Or is there another option?
I have only personally seen that colour on a4 pacific class engines before, to my very limited knowledge the only two wearing it currently are Mallard and Sir Nigel Gresley. As far as I am aware the boiler cert on the former is long expired?
So was it SNG? Or is there another option?
Edited by Vocal Minority on Wednesday 3rd December 12:48
Edited by Vocal Minority on Wednesday 3rd December 16:23
This is Bittern's schedule tomorrow: http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t14/t1204b.htm
Last year it did Newcastle to York and set a new record for the run, peaking at 94.6 mph. Next year it is due a major overhaul, so who knows, it may even be able of cracking the ton! As part of the 75th anniversary celebrations of Mallard's record run last year, it regularly did the London-York run at a sustained 90 mph.
Last year it did Newcastle to York and set a new record for the run, peaking at 94.6 mph. Next year it is due a major overhaul, so who knows, it may even be able of cracking the ton! As part of the 75th anniversary celebrations of Mallard's record run last year, it regularly did the London-York run at a sustained 90 mph.
Just to enhance your A4 knowledge, there are 6 surviving A4's. They are:
Number Currently Worn | Name | Current Colour | Home / Location | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
4464 | Bittern | LNER Blue | Southall | Operable |
4468 | Mallard | LNER Blue | National Railway Musuem, York | Static |
4489 | Dominion of Canada | LNER Blue | Canadian Railway Musuem, Qubec, Canada | Static |
60007 | Sir Nigel Gresley | BR Blue | North Yorkshire Moors Railway | Operable |
60008 | Dwight D. Eisenhower | BR Green | National Railway Musuem, Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA | Static |
60009 | Union of South Africa | BR Green | Thornton | Operable |
Edited by Boatbuoy on Wednesday 3rd December 22:45
Zad said:
The should be done with all the surviving Bulleid pacifics - that would make an impressive sight.Boatbuoy said:
Just to enhance your A4 knowledge, there are 6 surviving A4's. They are:
My cousin is an avid trainspotter and happened to be on a visit to York, he had no idea that this re-union was planned, and was absolutely gobsmacked when he walked into the shed to be greeted by this. Totally blown away. They really are stunning machines.Number Currently Worn | Name | Current Colour | Home / Location | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
4464 | Bittern | LNER Blue | Southall | Operable |
4468 | Mallard | LNER Blue | National Railway Musuem, York | Static |
4489 | Dominion of Canada | LNER Blue | Canadian Railway Musuem, Qubec, Canada | Static |
60007 | Sir Nigel Gresley | BR Blue | North Yorkshire Moors Railway | Operable |
60008 | Dwight D. Eisenhower | BR Green | National Railway Musuem, Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA | Static |
60009 | Union of South Africa | BR Green | Thornton | Operable |
Edited by Boatbuoy on Wednesday 3rd December 22:45
Boatbuoy said:
Just to enhance your A4 knowledge, there are 6 surviving A4's. They are:
Bittern's ticket runs out at the end of the year iirc, so that would have been one of the last chances to see her on the main line for a while.Number Currently Worn | Name | Current Colour | Home / Location | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
4464 | Bittern | LNER Blue | Southall | Operable |
4468 | Mallard | LNER Blue | National Railway Musuem, York | Static |
4489 | Dominion of Canada | LNER Blue | Canadian Railway Musuem, Qubec, Canada | Static |
60007 | Sir Nigel Gresley | BR Blue | North Yorkshire Moors Railway | Operable |
60008 | Dwight D. Eisenhower | BR Green | National Railway Musuem, Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA | Static |
60009 | Union of South Africa | BR Green | Thornton | Operable |
Edited by Boatbuoy on Wednesday 3rd December 22:45
I don't think she's going back to Ropley for overhaul, so I wonder where she'll be going.
RichB said:
The old boy went to see these at York. I regret not finding the time. My favourite loco from when I was a youngster. Captured my imagination like nothing else quite could. I still have my Hornby 00 of Silver Link I got at Christmas when I was 9 or 10.
Silver Link will always be my favourite because of that.
Thanks so much for everyone contributions. It has been educational, and made me smile.
DaveGoddard said:
As we have a thread about A4s this seems the best place to ask - is Mallard currently on public display at the NRM? I'm going there on Saturday all being well and it'd be great to take a close look at her.
It should be, the great hall at York is where it "lives". It is a static exhibit now, but occasionally it does get trundled to places like Shildon and Doncaster for special events. Sister loco 60009 Union of South Africa was extensively overhauled 2 years ago and runs regularly on various mainline tours. It came through one of my local stations last year:
IMG_4861-Union-of-South-Africa by Zad, on Flickr
This is a good short montage of clips from YouTube of Bittern on it's 90mph runs last year. Not bad when you consider she's 75 years old. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ez5og1iFU8
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