Manxman1831

I found the ex-works photo on Google at the start of the build, and bought a copy of it that appeared on EBay once I'd nearly finished the physical building.  The one at the top of the blog was a photo I found of 968 when stabled at Brunswick Shed, Liverpool, and I've seen the picture of her sat at Walton shed, still looking pretty clean and reckoned to be taken in August 1923.

Never understood why it was that 05 002 went for scrap, whilst 05 001 was kept.

It might have been that 002 was in a worse state than 001 at the time?  Or it might have been that with it being seen as the Nazi steam record holder it was deemed inappropriate to keep it?  But that wouldn't explain why the Olympics engine was kept...

Thank you both.  The lollipop sticks were the only way I could sensibly get the extra length I needed for the R-R, without compromising the strength of the chassis too much.  Not done a drop test on it yet, and don't intend to do so.