A4 60012 "Commonwealth of Australia" puzzle.

I've found a photo of this loco taken in 1963 showing a hole in the lower part of the front panel between the left and middle lamp irons. The hole is about 3" diameter with smaller ones above and below it giving the impression that something like a flange had been fitted. This hole does not appear on 1958 photos, so why and for what purpose was it made? It appears to be the only A4 so modified as far as I'm aware.

 

As it is post 1958, may I suggest that it could be something to do with ATC gear.

 

I see what you mean!
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3d/ec/aa/3decaa1c647e493b0cc3c2356b380e38.jpg

Rather odd and has also piqued my interest!

 

It's the F-duct for big end cooling. An idea later stolen by F1 teams...

 

Piqued mine to......

Cheerz,

Alan

 

It's where you put the key ...

Tom

 

The picture is taken at North Queensferry and the shed code appears to be 61B, Aberdeen Ferryhill which would date the picture between January and August 1964 when it was withdrawn. Was this it’s last trip to the scrapyard?
Zooming in the hole doesn’t appear to be completely circular and the image seems to be from a scanned slide. Is it just a spot on the original slide that hasn’t been cleaned up? There are quite often small black dust spots on my own slides no matter how carefully I clean them before scanning

 

I would tend to agree with the slide spot suggestion, (unless a relative of Robert Louis Stevenson had been at work administering the "black spot" of Treasure Island fame?

 

From the different photo I have seen it is definitely a hole.

 

Also visible here, in full Haymarket finery.

 

Where about on an A4 is the hole that the winder goes in to open the front end I can remember on Gresley having to wind open the front end before undoing the smokebox door

 

I think it was above the front bogie wheel, in front of the cylinders.

 

Surely it's the hole for the charging cable - 3mm jack or mini-USB?

 

Was it ever used on the Royal Train? Class 40's used on the Royal train had a 3 inch hole used for a phone link between the loco and train 40012 has this rather noticeable feature on its ends as did several 40's

 

But is it is likely that it hauled the Royal Train tender first?

 

Can confirm it had the hole on 13th July 1963 when I photographed her heading north through Bingley on a relief TCE. Acting on a hunch I traveled to Skipton the following day to see if it returned from Scotland, probably Glasgow, on a southbound relief. It duly turned up in deplorable condition and we traveled to Leeds on it. On arrival I photographed it carrying ECS headcode, so must have taken the stock up to Neville Hill. By 5th October 1963 she had been bulled up considerably and we travelled from Aberdeen to Perth behind her.

My very first picture of her was at Doncaster on 3rd September 1958 when she failed on the up Elizabethan and was replaced by Doncaster standby V2 60817. No hole visible in 1958.

Notice the non standard whistle carried by 60012.

 

I wouldn't have thought so either, when was it there were 3 Royal trains to York for a wedding in the late 50's early 60's (it's late and I can't be bothered to search the net at the mo)

 

Question :

Answer :

 

June 1961? Wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Kent.