LMS 2P 4-4-0

And we have a grand total of fifteen examples out of 353 2MTs (of all four classes) built. Just under 4.25%. Pitiful.

 

Hammer, nail, head.

Mark

 

The ganger of Frimley Aqueduct PW gang in the 1970s had started as a fireman at Heaton Mersey. Said exactly the same about 4Fs / 3Fs.
Pat

 

I can’t argue with your other points but the Robinson locos were designed to the GCR loading gauge which is no more or less generous than any other loading gauge of the era. Yes the London Extension has wide-ish bridges compared to some lines but ‘continental loading gauge’ is a myth; no such loading gauge even existed back then. I defy anyone to take one of the Nene Valley’s continental coaches to Quorn and take it to Loughborough by rail without taking the roof off. Even the little NSB 2-6-0 which was at the GCR in the 70s couldn’t run until the platform edge stones at Quorn were moved inwards.


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I admit the GCR isn't my area of expertise and bow to superior knowledge.

My understanding though was that the London Extension was built in the expectation of the opening of a Channel Tunnel and the loading gauge designed to accommodate European vehicles, or is that another myth?

 

Something of a myth. See this page (https://www.devboats.co.uk/gwdrawings/loadinggauges.php). Hat tip to @Jimc.

Tom

 

which 2MTs specifically have you in mind of justifying greater priority over something else - and specifically what else?

 

Who's fault is that though? Not the preservationists, virtually everything that survived scrapping past 1970ish survives today does it not? And as @Jamessquared has helpfully demonstrated in the past, when it came to rescuing steam locomotives from Barry Scrapyard, the smallest ones went first, followed by medium, leaving the big ones 'til there was nothing else left.

 

Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good old rant though ...

Tom

 

The fact is that without one scrapyard in Wales and a hell of a lot of effort from the preservation movement there would be very little left of our steam heritage. We should cherish each and every steam locomotive that has made it to 2020 regardless of any supposed flaws. To suggest otherwise is, frankly, idiotic.

 

If all we had were 2MTs on heritage lines, it would be like the real railway where virtually every Loco you see is a 66.

 

You say that Andy but I’ve found a large body of evidence that suggests footplatemen can be entirely parochial...!

 

Another thing our Baltic friend fails to appreciate is that no matter how "useless" a loco was on the big railway, it will still be eminently suitable for working a heritage railway.

 

I am not so sure this is entirely so. 41313 hung around at Barry for a considerable time before the Ivatt Trust came looking for spares. The "story goes" they were persuaded to buy the whole machine by D. Woodham, rather than components thereof. Perhaps we can get back to the original topic.

 

And how boring would that be?

 

Rather less boring than Bulleids. Most of the paying customers would not care any
way.

 

Continental gauge is indeed a myth, but inches count in this game, and there was a lot of variation at the inch level. Amongst gauges I've been able to find dimensions for rail to platform horizontal measurement, for instance, varied from 2ft2¾ on the LNWR and NER, to 2ft5½ on the LSWR. The biggest variations of all were in eaves height, which is what's giving container traffic all those headaches now.

 

As much to the point, would our view of railway heritage be any less one-eyed?