Which railway is closest to completing the set...?

This is a bit nerdy, but bear with me...

Looking at photos from the SVR ASG this weekend made me think about how well they do at collecting visiting engines, and the variety they’ve had over the years. And that got me thinking.

Suppose for a minute that all the motive power superintendents at preserved lines across the country had been drinking one night, and decided on a bet for which line could complete the set first - to have every working class of loco run on their line at some point. Which line would have got closest so far? (I’m thinking locos that work or have worked in preservation, not Invicta and Agenoria here!)

Now my guess is that SVR would be pretty high on the list, but my SVR knowledge isn’t all that great, so I’ve had a bash at Bluebell (will post below)... Anybody care to add another line and see how it stacks up?

(By my count there’s 124 classes of main line locos that’ve worked in preservation...)


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(By my count - classes that have worked on the Bluebell in preservation...)

Southern
U
T9
V
A1x
E4
M7
C
01
USA
H
P
BoB/WC
MN
Q
Q1
N15
B4
0415
S15

LMS
2MT tank
4MT (Fairburn)
Black 5
Jub
2MT tender
Jinty
7F
439 (Caley tank)
123
North London tank
Coal tank
FR20
8F

LNER
A4
A3
V2
A1
B12
K4
J36
J52

GWR
Port Talbot tank
1400
2251
Dukedog
City
4500
5101
5600
5700

BR
5MT
4MT tender
4MT tank
2MT tender
7 Brit
9F

Met 1

56/124...

How do other lines shape up in the theoretical competition?


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You can add the Q to your list as well!

Steve B

 

How did I miss that! Good spot - edited...


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Hasn't 70013 been in on a rwiltour at some point?

Chris

 

I think you’re right... Will edit!


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Late night so probably several missing, but a quick count from the SVR Wiki suggests:
(Edited to include L&Y and Q6)

GWR (25):
PTR tank
TVR tank
1366
1400
1500
1600
2251
2800
2884
3440
4200
4300
4500
4575
4900
5101
5600
5700
6400
6959
7800
9400
Dukedog
Castle
King

SR (10):
A1x
BoB/WC
E4
M7
N15
P
T9
U
USA
V

LMS (19):
FR20
7F
8F
Black 5
Coal tank
CR 812
Crab
Fowler 4F
Ivatt 2MT
Ivatt 2 Mogul
Ivatt 4 Mogul
Jinty
Jubilee
L&Y 2F
Princess Coronation
Princess Royal
Scot
Stanier Mogul
Super D

LNER (11):
A1
A3
A4
B12
N7
J72
K4
N2
Q6
V2
Y14

BR (8):
2MT
4MT 2-6-0
4MT 4-6-0
4MT tank
5MT
7MT
8P
9F

Total 73. Not included but could be classed as main line?

Austerity 2-8-0
Austerity 2-10-0
Met 1

 

Don't forget the T9 as well...

 

You can add Metropolitan Railway E class to that list, as well as various industrials (Fletcher Jennings, Manning Wardle, etc)

Tom

 

Fair point - I didn’t bother with industrials as I wouldn’t have a clue on classes!


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That’s a pretty decent showing - good work! Wonder if anywhere else has had more variety?


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Well... T9 was only ever static... The real question is whether it counts as working on the Bluebell in ‘63 when it came in on a rail tour with one of the Scottish engines. As it only went to Horsted - which belonged to BR at the time, I’m not sure if it counts or not... (But does add two classes if it does) #toomuchtimeonmyhands


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The T9 was on Bluebell metals, so it must count static or not, it was there.

 

That be 123 & 120

 

Alright - we’ll add those two as well then... Will edit


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52044 has hauled a passenger train at the SVR after completion of its overhaul. Wantage Tramway Co. No.5 'Shannon' has also visited for filming purposes (A bit tenuous, but it was absorbed into GWR stock). Also, the Q6 appears to be missing from the list.

 

I think the Bluebell has gauging problems for the larger outside cylinder GWR classes, which would make it difficult to compete, although they have got a 5101 through with restrictions, so it may not be insuperable.
The safety aspects would presumably discourage them from increasing clearances, although at least they haven't got automatic sliding door stock which seems to be the biggest issue.

 

GCR must be up there- I don't think this is an exhaustive list (I'm not entirely sure on which flavour of Prairies and Panniers have visited over the years) Numbers from the southern region are quite low?

Other
S160
WD 2-8-0
WD 2-10-0

Standards- 8
2mt
4mt tank
4mt 2-6-0
4mt 4-6-0
5mt
9f
7mt
8p

LMS - 15
Jinty
1F
Fairburn Tank
Crab
Ivatt 2 Tank
Ivatt 2 tender
Black 5
Jubilee
Stanier mogul
S&D 7f
4f
Super D
8F
8P
FR20

LNER (or constituents) - 20
A1
A2
A3
A4
B1
O4
Y7
D49
K4
Q6
V2
Director
Stirling Single
N2
N7
J15
B12
J94(ish)
J72
J52

Southern- 10
Q
S15
N15
West Country/Battle of Britain
Merchant Navy
Schools
U
M7
0298
A1x

GWR -18
Manor
4900
6959
Castle
King
City
1400
4500
5600
4575
5101
4200
1500
2800
2884
5700
5205
6100

Any more to add?

Chris

 

You need to add a Merchant Navy to the list as 35005 was based there for a while. She also returned as a visitor in more recent times, running as 35030.

 

Out of interest, do BoB and WC technically count as separate classes or one?


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