AlfaZagato

How about a steeple-cab DE shunter? With two of the AEC diesels that seemed to have been successful in the GWR railcars? Generators could be smaller, as you would be aggregating the work of two. Transverse mounting of the motors, with opposing transverse mounting of the generators akin to a modern FWD car maximizes the space. Axle-hung motor under the cab geared to the center axle. Or, twin motors very low mounted between the axles.

I think you just found the classic issue of modelers doing it wrong to the point of the doing it right doesn't look so. Like how the Caunter camo scheme is still shown in baby blue.

Looks like you could bring the boiler forward a few inches, and lower it at the same time. What sort of clearance does a plain axle need from the firebox? Superimposed drawing implies maybe an inch as-is. What benefit does the MN boiler bring to the table over the King's boiler? Some manner of alternative (possibly superior) performance?

...the nuclear option gives me a thought. I have seen discussion recently of Thorium salt reactors. They are safer & cleaner still than the more traditional Uranium solid-core reactors. Uranium is still in use due to its potential weaponization. Thorium's yield is lesser such that it makes poor bombs. A thorium reaction still produces not inconsiderate energy, plenty enough to run power grids. Sufficient lobbying & education may make replacing the power grid with Thorium salt power the truest green option. In relation to this thread, though. I wonder if a large-boilered steam loco could be turned nuclear? A small Thorium salt reactor inside the firebox, duly lined with lead, using the excess heat to boil water for direct-action steam? Skip the oft-tried and always-failed turbine step.

I was considering the same. Discussion with @Corbs has led me to consider his own path, which was motorizing the Ertl diecast Bill/Ben. Evidently, the Ertl tooling is much closer to 1/76.

I know here, in the US, that the UP has converted at least the Big Boy to fuel oil. Is there a comparable renewable oil that can be substituted?

I'm busy re-reading this thread.

Discussing boilers, was there any consideration or practicality to applying Doble designs to a conventional steam locomotive? I know there is an LMS Doble-Sentinel, but that's not entirely what I'm curious about.

There was one suggested. We don't speak of the outfit concerned anymore.

Still the same issue. You need to divert a ready supply of steam to the compressor. Maybe if there was a compressor tap at the central boiler

Apologies, I must have forgotten you posting it before. I might take you up on that offer. Give the thing a chance to languish in another stash.

Are you suggesting one must have a Friesian piloting a bus over every bridge on every layout?

Is the Kirtley the Jidenco kit? I know the topic was discussed not too distantly, but a shame such a loco isn't really available at the current moment. I'd like such a peculiar looking thing to go with the rest of my early LMS collection.

If there has been, I'd imagine it was either a brass loco (which seem to only loosely qualify as RTR) or from Marklin, for silly money either way.

I think, had we seen Hawksworth in charge of BR, we may have seen one fewer class of Pacific, replaced by at 4-6-0 of equivalent rating. A standard Class 6. I admittedly do not know much about Hawksworth. I only know the handful of classes attributed to him. If the mention of his having a hand in the Castle is accurate, though, I could see forgoing a trailing truck at lease one level higher.

Not entirely a need, but a desire. The top GWR brass were unhappy at not having the 'most powerful in the UK' after, I believe, the introduction of the Lord Nelson.

I would hate to see Stoke Courtenay shuttered over yet another discussion of CooperCraft. We should stop now. @checkrail Do you have any more scenic plans?

With all due respect, 'strong centralized management' is not a historical feature of English industry.

If we assume a 20-year jump on Nationalization, and we assume the same heavy influence from the effective-LMS, yet with the possibility of Maunsell in overall charge, how would that go? I see the Woolwich Mogul being the largest locomotive for a decade. At 4P5F in BR terms, the N class was right at what the Midland seemed to allow into the early days of the LMS. I could see stagnation without the competition stemming from Grouping. I could also Dieselization either happening earlier, or being better implemented. I've posed before that Midland/LMS 'small engine' policy better fit diesels & electric than steam. Single-unit diesels capable of matching BR class 5 seemed to be well within late 40's capabilities.

I don't think the issue is with actually fixing, is it? If you have a spare cab, maybe trace the apertures onto acetate from the inside. I'd think, if you cut on the outside of your markings, you'd have acetate glass that fit near enough to flush.

Any new coaches of late? Did you finish your toplights?

I was curious if you had picked up one of the SLW models. I think of you every time I see an ad.

I wasn't aware of that at all. Puts greater paid to some of the fantasy Standards posted here before.

A blessing, that. I went all cartoon when I saw the bill for the Loksound for my V188.

You say scrap, but I'd wager that little battery job you posted last would grind away with some water in the cells & a charge. Plenty of videos on YT of people reviving old diesels like those cranes and the face shovel with a few hour's fussing with the motor.