EddieB

Good point. Checking back, it's clear that the loco was supplied to Carlos Yensen (which sounds a mixture of Spanish and Scandinavian!) and identified as "OCEJA no. 1". You're right that Baker and Allen Civil have it as being sent to Spain in the list given in their monumental "Bagnalls of Stafford"; however the same authors in an earlier list ("Bagnalls of Stafford Locomotive Works List") published via the Industrial Locomotive Society have the destination as Finland. So you pays your money and takes your choice. Given that the book succeeds the list, I'm inclined to agree that the locomotive probably went to Spain instead of Finland.

Yes, it's classed as a BTH product (BTH 1002/1953), despite bodywork by Metro-Cammell* and a 400hp Davey-Paxman 12RPHL engine. BTH supplied the electrical and control equipent. *Which might explain why the NSWGR class 41 were rather less ugly than the WAGR Y class subsequently supplied by BTH.

Great photos, Petri. I understand there was another Bagnall sent to Finland. Bagnall 1515/1898, a 600mm gauge 0-4-0ST supplied to Carlos Yensen (contractors) for Finnish State Railway construction.

Yes, indeed. But why draw the line at steam? Let's not forget the 40-strong MetroVick/BP class 46 Bo-Bo electrics, or the ten class 41 Bo-Bo diesel-electrics built by Metro-Cammell/BTH.

All of these builders supplied extensively overseas and in almost every case I think the locomotives supplied to Finland were export models: A1 4-4-0 Canada Works A2 4-4-0 Canada Works A3 4-4-0 Dübs B1 0-4-2T Beyer Peacock B2 0-4-2T Beyer Peacock C1 0-6-0 Neilson C2 0-6-0 Avonside Sk1 2-6-0 Dübs Sk3 2-6-0 Dübs As an example, the BP 0-4-2Ts (classes B1 and B2, BP designation 2258) appear to have been a custom design, albeit originally supplied to various constituent companies that became VR. In addition, there was a failed order for 20 or 25 2-8-2s to be built to Finnish design (class Tv3) by Vulcan Foundry, for delivery in 1952. I haven't been able to find photographs of the Bagnall n.g. locos, but as these were essentially contractors' locomotives, expect these to have been of fairly standard design.

Probably the Tasmanian X class http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TGR_X_class - "the engines were usually driven with the cab-end leading. The cab was broad and flat, and made the class very odd-looking, with some commenting that they looked more like bricks than locomotives". There's some newreel footage of one being taken on a low loader for display at the Festival of Britain. The New Zealand De class and Midland/Western Australian Government Railway F and G classes also bear a resemblance to the class 20 body shape. Those were the twenty PKP EU06, of which the nearest BR equivalent were the AL3 (class 83). The first 3kV dc electric locomotives in Poland were EL.101/2 built by Metropolitan Vickers in 1936, although these appear not to have been based on a British prototype.

I don't think the enormity of this subject has even been scratched. Taking steam alone (and excluding miniature gauges, self-propelled cranes etc), British factories built around 112,000 locomotives, of which some 40,000 were exported. Most of these went to the outposts of Empire, but even mainland Europe (which wasn't without its own numerous locomotive builders) received around 8,000 locomotives (most supplied directly, but others second-hand from British railway companies or the military, though this figure excludes locomotives loaned to the ROD/WD by the major companies and subsequently returned without being taken into the capital stock of foreign companies). There were even a number of locomotives shipped across the Channel for various expos and exhibitions - I'm unaware of a definitive list having been compiled. The history of second-hand locomotives goes right back to the days of the Stephensons. There is some disagreement and conjecture around the locomotives (or parts of locomotives) first exported to France and whether the Stephenson, Marc Seguin or both subsequently came up with the invention of the multi-tubular boiler. Of course, the sale of second-hand locomotives comes right up to the present day, with diesel classes 03, 08, 14, 20, 37, 56 and 58 and electrics 77, 86 and 87 either sold or hired abroad. In between there are so many interesting examples. Take a look at the locomotives of the Malines & Terneuzen Railway - a motley collection of second-hand Beyer Peacocks and Crewe builds, reflecting the LNWR, its predecessors and absorbed companies. Or the British-owned Danube and Black Sea Railway - apparently the North London Railway minutes record the sale of an 0-6-0 in 1867, but the rest of its history is obscure (before and after the sale). The LBSCR has been mentioned already - life-expired locomotives sold for scrap value and exported - did they ever see service in their new homes? Or what about the four Vulcan Foundry 2-4-0s of 1866, which the Somerset & Dorset sold to Alsace-Lorraine in 1871? Then we have engines built for the South Eastern Railway by George England, rejected by the SER and exported to Italy. Or conversely, the Sharp Stewart 0-6-0s for the Ottoman Railway that ended up on the LTSR.

Even though we both come from Essex (in case you couldn't tell...) FTAOD, I'm not the eBay seller linked above (not a bad idea, though), having missed Part 1. As someone notes on the LNER forum, a streamlined B17/5 conversion would make an interesting project.

Found in Sainsbury's earlier today, the second edition of a new partwork which comes complete with 1:76 ("OO scale", sic) static model of streamlined "Coronation" 6220 in LMS red. I thought it was the same partwork described in another thread, but instead it appears to be the latest from the company that brought out a similar "world" series of N gauge locomotives several years ago. The Duchess looks a lot of model for £5.99, and could make a good base for renumbering and naming for my daughter. Next issue will be priced at £8.99 and has (yawn) "Flying Scotsman". (Don't they have any imagination?)

Two more volumes? Be still my, beatring credit card!

Just read your post, David and sorry to read of John Dunn's departure. I had never appeciated the extent his Christian ministry. I wonder whether his excellent history of Comeng (I have the three volumes published so far) will be completed?

Oh sorry, train spotters in Bristol - not the other sort! (That's aeroplanes, before anyone gets carried away...)

From what I understand, Spain no longer issues permits for photography from public places and (apparently) photography is more tolerated. I doubt this to be the case, and certainly having a permit was often needed to gain access and I have been "challenged" several times over the years while carrying a permit. Asking permission sometimes gives additional access - on one occasion I was even lent a hi-viz to go lineside at Irun - sometimes a refusal. As has been said, Portugal has traditionally been pretty open as far as railway photography goes and I don't think I've ever been hassled there.

So how is the R4522A different from the earlier R4522? Push-pull variety? Oh, please!

That's more than the "prototype" would be worth!

Having cancelled my Amazon pre-order during the dates fiasco, my subsequent über-cheap order from the Book Depository arrived yesterday. Not helped by calling in at Ian Allan, Waterloo (small expense) and the remainder bookshop nearby (rather more) on the same day. Let me start by saying that it's an excellent book and worth the wait. The photographer's eye for composition and the people bringing life are excellent. Here is the railway depicted as it really was - dirty, dismal, almost depressing. So many of the pictures don't merely illustrate, they communicate the "feel" of the subject. My favourite - spoiler alert - has to be the boy in shorts scratching his "bottle and glass" while watching an A3 Pacific at Darlington. However, as this is a new book, rather than just a re-printing, I'd say that - if anything - there are perhaps too many images. I know it's Colin Gifford's trademark, but so many unrelieved low-contrast scenes (pushed Tri-X?) make me wish for a few more pictures in good weather with a wider tonal range. (It doesn't help to be looking through the book on a typical November day - come sharp, bright days in January and snow on the ground, it'll all be different...). Oh well, that's me labelled as a heretic. I see from the preface that a colour album is planned. I'll look forward to it.

Don't forget that, in addition to the Sentinels, the LNER also ran Clayton steam railcars - though I think all were scrapped in the mid-thirties. There's a book available which gives their history (and scale drawings) and includes some O gauge models. Rather than pay silly prices secondhand or on flea-bay, the publisher still has a stock of new copies http://www.ruddocksoflincoln.co.uk/store/product/71842/Clayton-Wagons-Ltd-by-J-G-Ruddock-%26-R-E-Pearson/.

My message yesterday from Amazon was that delivery now expected between 15th December and 14th December. However, the Book Depository (Amazon by a different name) is listing on the Amazon site at £15.33 + standard postage (£2.80) (more on their own website). Not sure about availability, nothing said there.

Just received a press release from Modelzone of their latest limited edition http://www.modelzone.co.uk/rtc-modelzone-exclusive-railbus-laboratory-20-limited-edition.html?utm_campaign=HELJAN2& Rather expensive IMHO, if you take into account that it's W&M instead of Wickham and therefor bears only a passing resemblance to the prototype.

Well, I see that the new book has already been "reviewed" and given five stars by three "reviewers" on Amazon. Obviously fans of Gifford's style, but wouldn't it be better to check the contents and standard of reproduction before submitting a review?

Yes you're absolutely right, when it wasn't obscured by the weather, I watched an El18 pass through the tunnel and out the other end . Blue sky today, and the platform puddles have almost dried up!

Yes, two bidders one with a feedback score of seven, the other with no feedback history. The sweet aroma of rodents? OTOH, all the sellers other auctions look pretty normal.

I think it is a tunnel, entered through an avalanche shelter - but never having been to Finse, I may be wrong!

So far only an El18 on passenger and a Robel tractor.

Checking every now and then with the sound off - only to find the disappearing end of a Freightliner. Rattus norvegicus! Anyway, here is the standing weather forecast for Finse: Wet. Rain or snow expected later. Outlook wet.