44767 George Stephenson

They certainly couldn't spell, at least in the early days. They had 'Goliah' (so did the L&MR, but there you go!) and 'Lagoon' instead of 'Laocoon', and 'Sampson'. According to Tom Rolt in 'Red for Danger', anyway!

 

Just to give the hornets nest a bloody good kick.....

If Stanier's comments regarding the comparison between Swindon and Crewe and their ability to complete engineering projects to high tolerances are to be believed, counting seems to have been more of an LMS issue

 

And to generate fares from people traipsing all over the network to write things in pocket books!

A similar reason as to why the idea of Pacifics never caught on - head office was worried the shed staff would run out of fingers whilst checking to see if the correct number of wheels were attached.

 

Stanier found many things on the LMS inferior to GWR practice, conversely he found many things superior. He was surprised, for example, that Crewe could drill boiler plate prior to rolling, which wasn't done at Swindon.

 

“Goliah” was almost certainly an illiterate error, but “Sampson” may have been intended, as an archaic version of “Samson”. There were several ships named HMS Sampson, the most recent launched in 1844, so the spelling was still presumably in use as an alternative spelling at the time of those early GWR locos.

Tom

 

That can’t be right - they were from Wiltshire, so a fair number of the works staff had twelve fingers anyway ...

Tom

 

Shrugborough Hall too.

Or even an alternative spelling.

 

Oops ...

Tom

 

There were also ships called Goliah although cannot find where it came from? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golia...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goliah_(steam_tug_1849)

 

On the contrary, some of us are getting larger (round the middle). I think you meant our number is getting smaller.

 

I believe that it wasn't Ian who bought the loco direct from BR service - not sure who did, but Dr Peter Beet was involved in the 'mass purchase' of locos which were then sold on to individual funders (something he and I discussed the one time I spoke to him in the 'phone). Ian may have provided the funding at that point but my understanding has always been that it was into the 1970s that he actually bought the loco, and started returning it to steam straight away.

Doesn't change the length of time the name has been carried or @Steve's totally accurate point that 'George' is how the loco has been referred to for many years by many people - and, I have no doubt, will continue to be so even if the name is now removed (I am thinking of how 69023 is generally referred to!)

Steven

 

44767 was bought from BR by Brian Hollingsworth, Ian Storey acquired it in 1973.

 

I think towards the end the inspiration for naming locos was running out, the BR Standard 5s had to make do with recycled King Arthur names and the jumble of names for Britannias, after the initial member of the class had been pinched from a Jubilee lead to the rumour that the names had been pulled from a hat. Presumably they miscounted the number of names required so the 70047 didn't get one although it could have been called six and seven eighths. The planned total of Clans outstripped the number of Scottish Clans available so went on to more obscure names. I would still like the new one to be called Clandestine.

 

Clannad?

 

Thanks Roger - I think I knew that now that your post reminds me! I believe Brian Hollingsworth was one of the other parties which whom Peter Beet worked to secure locos at the end steam.

Steven

 

With regards to nameplates- it's not as though they are difficult to fit or remove?!

Names appeal to the general public, but post preservation names don't appeal to enthusiasts- surely it's not hard to remove nameplates for gala events or photo shoots, and refit for the other 85% of the time?

Is this not the case with 62005- carrying the 'Lord of the Isles' plates when on Jacobite duties but not the rest of the year?

Anyway- I digress. I really hope that 44767 has a positive future, part of me thinks it would be great to see her join the Riley fleet given his reputation with these machines. Regardless of who/where it ends up I wish whoever takes it on the best of luck in returning her to operation.

I have never had the opportunity to ride behind her but have seen her both at the NYMR and at the GCR previously.


Chris

 

I haven't seen 62005 with the nameplates for a few years now.

 

'Clandemonium'...'Clandy Pandy , 'DeClan Donelly'... come on the list is endless....
Although a fair number of Clans we're planned I don't think running out of Clan names was an issue. They were not 'Clans' at Marylebone, they we're 6MT's and giving the southern 6MT's some southern related names was fairly pragmatic.
If I m ever able to help build the missing Black 5 ( ie the Ivatt/ Caprotti One) should that be given a name ? 'Arturo Caprotti '? or perhaps 'Rotary Poppet'

 

Or if its one of the final two 'the Ugly Bugger'

Looks like someone is already on the case....