jazzer

Indeed. After Dunkirk their commanding officer 34058 Sir Frederick Pile issued a General Order to his men and women pointing out that they were the only British Troops ( as opposed to aircrew) still firing at the enemy. It was due to Pile’s far sighted ness that women started to be trained for role before the war started.

Sorry to be on obtuse , Gilbert but as they were all in original condition at one time, you mean Original/ Rebuilt condition at the time of withdrawal ?

So many great names. Probably the best class for choice anywhere. Almost any name would work for me but I’ll go for Clovelly.

Harrow for me for exactly the same reason.

I will go for Tintagel , as that is the one that does for me what Excalibur does for you. Fantastic choice of names to choose from. I think if we speak nicely to the Rules Committee, we might get another competition based on the names of the Standard Class 5 ‘s that took over the Arthur’s names, then get a second bite of the cherry. I can then go for Excalibur that time

Hi Bob. , Far from thinking “ what the heck is he doing ?” I am thinking “ I wish I could achieve results like that “ Dont be too self critical by looking or photographing in close up. The reality is that when it comes to actually playing trains the layout and the buildings are being viewed from at least 2-3 feet away and then against the distraction of the trains themselves. There comes a point where the finer details got overlooked against the bigger picture. I think the bigger picture is coming along fine.

45651 Shovell for me as well. Named after Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell , whose main claim to fame was that he could spell his name 23 different ways ( or was it 24?). Said to have been one of the most outstanding sailors of his era, sadly lost at sea in a violent storm.

I’ll go with North West Frontier as it reminds me of the classic Kenneth More / Lauren Bacall film of the same name, escaping from rebels by train across India’s North West Frontier, with I. S. Johal as the engine driver. One of the best train based films.

I agree . Scott’s novels have produced a number of names that superficially could be said to be among the most charismatic steam locomotive names in the country. However , a few years ago I decided that in order to be a “ proper “ LNER fan I ought read a few of Scott’s novel, to find out something about the characters behind the name. HUGE mistake ! Scotts novels are dull as ditchwater, boring beyond belief. So dull they even make Moby Dick seem interesting, And worse still , some of these characters , such as Guy Mannering only have small parts in the story. So now I tend to not look too closely behind the names.

Good morning my virtual friends. After almost three weeks of being overwhelmed with coronavirus and not knowing the time of day , let alone the day of the , this morning I feel I am moving back into the land of the living .The strange thing is though, through all this befuddled thinking , the one thing that had a a sense of reality to was these completely pointless competitions about favourite or unfavourite locomotive names, plus off course photos of some long withdrawn class clattering through PN almost a life time ago. So thank you , everyone that has made this thread what it is the last couple of weeks and helping to preserve my (in)sanity when I needed it most

Audley End. Brings back childhood memories of visits to Audley End House and being fascinated by the huge water wheel.

Of course , the most famous use of BCKs was on the Atlantic Coast Express, which on Summer Saturdays was often run in several sections and each section consisted of one of more through coaches to branching destinations. For example in Summer 1960 the main train, the 11.00 ex- Waterloo included through coaches for Ilfracombe, Torrington, Padstow, Bude , Plymouth , Exeter, Exmouth and Sidmouth . That meant it’s 12 coach formation had to include 8BCK’s and one BSK. At that time the Southerns Bullied Pacific’s were still whisking the ACE down to Exeter quicker the the Western Regions diesels so the first thing the Western’s jobsworths did when they got their hands on the route was to downgrade it. However SG’s query was specifically about Mk1 BCKs, and I have to confess I wonder why they were built. The Southern used Bulleid stock almost to the end as these were deemed to be more comfortable, better riding and had better capacity. The Eastern didn’t split that many trains apart from Hull / West Riding but had plenty of Gresley stock . The only line I can think that made serious use of them was probably the Western which regularly dropped three coaches on the Torbay branch and in Wales ie Cambrian Coast Express

I’ve read up a little bit on W P Allen in Norman McKillops book The Lighted Flame , which is the history of ASLEF. Bill Allen as was known to everyone started as a cleaner on the GNR , working 12 hour shifts for 5years , earning 2s 6p per shift which even in those days was a pittance. He turned out to be a talented negotiator and rose through the ranks to become General Secretary of ASLEF by 1940. He seems to have been a bit of a Dynamo spending 49 Sunday’s a year visiting ASLEF branches all over the country , many of whom had not seen a top Union official for years. He seems to have been well thought of by both management and men and was awarded the CBE in the 1947 New Years Honours List , which in those days would not have been awarded if the Railway companies didn’t endorse it. Then because of his organisational talents he was promoted to the Railway Executive. So , it seems to me that as names go W P Allen is at least as deserving , if not more so than Lord Hurcomb or Sir Brian Robertson .

I know but I don’t think many racehorses, especially on the A3’s had much charisma.

He was indeed an ASLEF official and I believe he became a member of the Post War Railway Executive or some such body. An uninspiring name perhaps, but if the A4’s could be named after LNER senior managers it’s reasonable to have one from the metaphorical “shop floor” .

Bois Rousel . Pointless name. Doesn’t conjure anything up in the imagination.

Gay Crusader edges,it from Singapore and a couple of unpronounceable foreign sounding names more appropriate for a diesel shunter

Nooooo ! You have only got to look at some of the electric locos to get far worse than that. I mean, what about “East Anglian Daily Times, Suffolk and proud” , or “ Modern Railways Magazine “ is hardly going send shivers down the spines of the spotters . Worst A4 name, Great Snipe ( yuk ) which fortunately became the far more charismatic Golden Fleece at an early date.

“ If a man does not keep pace with his companions , perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears.” - Henry David Thoreau . So fear not , Sir Gibbo ,’tis they that are a few bogies short of a Quint-Art , not thyself .

Interesting point about the Ivatt 4,s Gilbert . I seem to remember them on specials to the Horse race meetings at Market Rasen. I don’t know what they were loaded to, probably 9/10 coaches but after dropping the punters they didn’t seem to turn round but went off in the direction of Grimsby and always seemed to have a struggle up the gradient . I suppose they were used because there were plenty spare after the closure of the M&GN . I always thought they came from the Midlands though but I suppose they were spread around to replace the ageing 4Fs which were still very occasionally being used on Bank Holiday excursions to Cleethorpes.

My skills are also limited , Bob. I have built a Dapol canopy but I found it flimsy and rather fiddly getting the roof struts right in the glass panels in the roof. The Wills one looks altogether stronger to me . I understand that you are are not bothered about gender specific but your layout to my mind has a very GWR “feel” to it and it would be good to continue in that vein if you can.

Strangely lez, the Metcalfe canopies look rather Great Eastern suburban area to me, but the net result is the same, we both feel they don’t look very Western . I am not familiar with the area Bob is modelling but I struggle to think of any GWR canopies like the Metcalfe ones. I not being critical Bob because I really enjoy this thread, just giving a gut feeling.

I thought he was the patron saint of French hats , hence he was known in East Anglia as Beret St Edmunds. Alright , I’ll get me coat..........

That really is a lovely picture that captures the appeal of the B1’s. Considering they were built under the strict financial constraints of the War and immediate post-war economy and designed with 100% utility in mind they were brilliant engines for the work they were designed to do and that picture, to my mind sums them up so well

Crikey Gibbo , you’ve made me stop and think now . When I think of all the trouble, the wars , the control of people that in different ways that symbolism and flags and such things have been contributed to I don’t know whether to answer in a way that is profound, or controversial , or serious, but the best I can do is to say whatever was on the side of the tender it’s the copper capped chimneys, brass safety valve covers and the Stephenson valve gear that work for me. That’s the escapism that railways provide for me , as an alternative to the real world . I did like your post though. It is said we should try to learn something every day, and I have learned something from your post .