Dan Hill Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 I have had the fun of riding behind Bittern on the Watercress line. I am a GWR man at heart but I have a certain soft spot for the streaks and it is certainly a lovely engine that I would love to see it on the mainline "stretching its wheels". Mind you, I did hear one driver on the Watercress line complaining that although they were the fastest steam engines in the world, they could run backwards uphill. Can anyone explain the renaming issue to me? Is DoNZ its original name or is it artistic license? According to the magazines the renaming and repaint is apparently the brainchild of Roland Kennington who's wanted this to happen for a while. He said he wanted a rename of members of the class built for the LNER's The Coronation service. These locos included 4488 Osprey which was renamed Union of South Africa (and is now preserved and at Crewe), 4489 Woodcock which was renamed Dominion of Canada (again preserved but in Canada), 4490 Empire of India, 4491 Commonwealth of Australia and finally 4492 Dominion of New Zealand. 4488 and 4489 are preserved so those were out and I think Roland said he wanted a Kings Cross based A4 of which I think 4492 was the only one of those based there or that wasn't preserved. The second tender is also being or has been repainted garter blue as well which I suspect Bittern will have on April 16th. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Simon Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Hi, Bittern (or Dominion of New Zealand, this could get confusing! ) will be moving into the National Railway Musuem's tomorrow (Saturday 16th April) ready to be displayed next week. It'll be displayed from the 18th to the 21st from 10:00 - 17:00, more infomation here: http://www.nrm.org.uk/PlanaVisit/Events/locomotivemoves.aspx Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PhilH Posted April 15, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 15, 2011 I did hear one driver on the Watercress line complaining That's not like us..... B) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Belgian Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 I think it's double headed A4s out of the X on the 16th. 36E Sadly, it's double-tenders, as "Bittern" has a water carrier which hasn't been disguised in any way, unlike the Tyseley one which just appears to be a BR GUV. The extra tender will spoil the appearance of an otherwise-splendid spectacle of a Garter Blue A4 with valances back on the main line. JE Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium phil-b259 Posted April 15, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 15, 2011 Sadly, it's double-tenders, as "Bittern" has a water carrier which hasn't been disguised in any way, unlike the Tyseley one which just appears to be a BR GUV. JE However the GUV solution is also longer than the 2nd tender solution, which could work in Bittern's favour and allow an extra coach to be added to the train. At the end of the day railtours are not run for the benifit of lineside photogrphers and the extra revenue generated by carrying more passengers could be important come overhaul time Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
97403_Ixion Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Hi Belgian, you say that the 'water carrier' tender hasn't been disguised - I'm not sure exactly what you mean? If you mean that they haven't disguised it as a coach or wagon, then maybe that's true. However, if you mean it will stand out like a sore thumb, then you may just need to wait until tomorrow to see B) I'm sure 4492 will impress - just wish I could see its first mainline railtour run!! Cheers, Ixion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Griffin Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 the timings for todays run to york are as follows:- 1Z20 kings cross to edunburgh. kings x dep 08:54 pottersbar pass 09:30 stevenage pass 09:49 huntingdon pass 10:25 peterborough pass 10:42 grantham 11:27 to 11:51 (water stop) newark pass 12:20 retford pass 12:37 doncaster pass 12:56 shaftholme junc pass 1310 sherburn junc pass 1335 york 1350 to 1402 loco swap. then with sir nigel (i think although according to tops sir nigel is currently running light to tyne yard) york dep 14:02 thirsk pass 14:28 northallerton pass 14:36 durham pass 15:12 tyne yard 15:29 to 16:03 water stop/loco change maybe? newcastle central pass 16:19 morpeth pass 16:42 alnmouth pass 17:32 berwick glp 18:08 to 18:51 water stop dunbar 19:28 portebello junc pass 19:53 edinburgh arrive 20:01 after a 400 mile trip. the empty coaches go to craigentiny as 5z24 edinburgh dep 20:27 millhill yard 20:43 to 20:48 craigentiny arr 2145 there is also a 'heritage diesel running light behind it all the way, either a 37 or 47 ill let you know which when it comes in on tops. luckily for me i have a lineside seat at peterborough, cameras ready!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Belgian Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 Hi Belgian, you say that the 'water carrier' tender hasn't been disguised - I'm not sure exactly what you mean? If you mean that they haven't disguised it as a coach or wagon, then maybe that's true. However, if you mean it will stand out like a sore thumb, then you may just need to wait until tomorrow to see B) I'm sure 4492 will impress - just wish I could see its first mainline railtour run!! Cheers, Ixion. Yes, that's what I meant, that it is a real tender rather than a vehicle "disguised" as an item of rolling stock. To me the double-tender look is so strange that it spoils the look of a locomotive, as happened when "Flying Scotsman" ran with a pair so many years back. It certainly looked strange on its first few outings behind "Bittern" and no amount of "disguising" it will stop it standing out like a sore thumb for me at least. But you seem to have inside knowledge so I will wait until later today to see what it looks like before scoring it on an awfulness scale! After all, the appeal of any "historic" locomotive is its appearance first and foremost. JE Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewartingram Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 I passed her on the way into KGX this morning, from the brief glimpse she looked magnificent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.A.C Martin Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 Just got home, have tons of pics and some video. Will post at earliest opportunity. She looked grand! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timara Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 Storming nicely through Welwyn North this morning in the gorgeous sunshine. Brings back memories for me of Mallard when I was a youngster. Definitely a nicer shade of garter blue! Cheers! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Griffin Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 simply stunning. i got some good shots and personnally i think the second tender in blue looked ok. there was a helicopter following it through peterborough so maybe on the news later?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.A.C Martin Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 Lovely pic there Tim Here's a few of mine at KX this morning: EDIT: And now we have a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF_qMCsNz04 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bon Accord Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 What a fantastic sight! She looks stunning! All credit to Roland Kennington for having the foresight to paint her garter blue - the result is magnficient. Now this is the first valanced garter blue A4 out of Kings Cross for how long? I suspect almost 70 years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PhilH Posted April 16, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 16, 2011 Was it getting a shove out of KX? Didn't seem to be doing a lot. Bye the bye, Chris Yates, recently passed out Mid Hants driver, firing the thing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.A.C Martin Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 Was it getting a shove out of KX? Didn't seem to be doing a lot. No shove - myself and Sean thought the same thing - but the 47 followed on, a section behind. 4492 seemed to breeze it! Bye the bye, Chris Yates, recently passed out Mid Hants driver, firing the thing. Congrats are in order - what a trip to be a fireman Hard work, no doubt, but all made up for by the engine on the front! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PhilH Posted April 16, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 16, 2011 Congrats are in order - what a trip to be a fireman Hard work, no doubt, but all made up for by the engine on the front! They're not overly hard work, even on the main. Get a big back in there then little and often through the flap using the LNER teaspoon It's all in the wrist as they say.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.A.C Martin Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 They're not overly hard work, even on the main. Get a big back in there then little and often through the flap using the LNER teaspoon It's all in the wrist as they say.... Fair enough Phil I've been lucky enough to see Bittern on her first operating day in two liveries now - BR green at the MHR, Garter Blue at King's Cross - perhaps as Silver Link on the down run from Edinburgh next! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PhilH Posted April 16, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 16, 2011 Looking at the photos do you not think that they should have painted the 2nd tender maroon or something - I think that the eye would then be fooled into looking at just the loco and 1st tender. Any photoshop experts around, just to see if that would work? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
micklner Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 Looking at the photos do you not think that they should have painted the 2nd tender maroon or something - I think that the eye would then be fooled into looking at just the loco and 1st tender. Good idea Hopefully this will prompt Hornby into creating a model of this version , long overdue . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markeg Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 Where is it/she running in the next few weeks? Will it be visiting the NYMR in May? A colonial visiting the old Dart. Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PhilH Posted April 16, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 16, 2011 Thanks Larry - that looks a whole lot better IMHO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bon Accord Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 I wonder if black might be a bit better for the second tender rather than maroon. Painting the tender a different (more muted) colour than the loco does help, but I can't help but think say maroon is fine really only as long as it's next to a maroon coach, i.e. similar to when Scotsman's 2nd tender was painted blue/grey in the 70s. As it is, it's always going to look a bit odd, still it's much better than the container flat that KEI hauled around for a while. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PhilH Posted April 16, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 16, 2011 I think the point is that your eye just concentrates on the loco and 1st tender with the 2nd tender painted a different colour - the 2nd tender sort of becomes part of the train. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bon Accord Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 Is the umber and cream Mk1 behind the 2nd tender her support coach? If so why not just paint the tender the same colour? Granted the SC isn't always behind the loco, but it generally is most of the time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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