DNZ QUICK BITTERN RETURN?

Well, you certainly learn some new facts from this forum. A bit late in responding to the above post, but I never realised any A4s were painted apple green in LNER days. I guess that is because most photos you see from that period were in black & white and the only preserved A4s to wear LNER livery have either been painted blue or silver.

 

The apple green livery was short lived, very short lived on some, so fewer pictures of these locos were taken in that livery. In b&w the give away is the black and white lining on tender, cab and the "boiler" bands.

 

I see this forum got a mention in the latest issue of Heritage Railway (out yesterday) in another article about DNZ becoming Bittern again!

 

Just dragging you all away from the historical livery debate for a moment, does anyone know if "Bittern" is actually attending the SVR Spring Gala? There is comment on the SVR forum that Bittern might not make it, and 70000 lined up as a replacement.
Presumably Bittern is at Southall? Or not....

 

David Randles stated in the WSR Gala thread that 70000 would attend the second weekend of the WSR Gala, if it was not required as a replacement for Bittern at the Severn Valley Gala

 

Let me rephrase the question to avoid ambiguity; Does anyone know if any current work being undertaken on "Bittern"--presumably at Southall--will be completed in time for the engine to make its booked appearance at the Severn Valley Gala in a weeks time? Or not, as the case may be?

Thanks.

 

Update to SVR Gala page :
Special Events at the Severn Valley Railway

 

Thanks. The official website is clearly ahead of the SVR forum discussion. The last question asked on there was "How is Caley 828 coming along?"

Edit: Now reported as off the jacks and back on her wheels at Bridgnorth.

Now...."Bittern" ? Any news please?

 

I'm not sure the SVR site necessarily answers the question; the "We can now confirm..." wording has been up for quite a few days now, and the list given included 828 at a time when there was certainly doubt about that loco's appearance. The impression I get is that the "confirmation" refers to agreement having been reached with loco owners, and the go-ahead being given to make things public -- not necessarily whether such-and-such a loco will actually be ready on time.

It would be an almighty disappointment to me if I weren't able to see Bittern in this livery on the SVR's teaks -- all the more so since the NYMR isn't a realistic proposition for me -- but much as I would love to be reassured by the SVR site's wording, I think it's a long way from being a final confirmation.

 

And lets be very grateful for that as for years there has been moans at how poor the level of (official) communication has been from the SVR. The latest efforts should be congratulated. If the latest news is to be read correctly it would appear both 828 and Bittern are confirmed as well as the jinty and Joem already at the railway. Should be an excellent gala and I for one am definitely looking forward to it.

 

Must also state that the response from Heritage Railway in this month's mag, quoting this thread, is extremely petty and somewhat childish and unprofessional. It was very much a 'we were right, you were wrong' jibe at those who were (rightly in my opinion) questioning whether they should have been not only printing, but headlining what was very much a rumour at the point they went to press. The fact they feel the need to 'big themselves up' about the fact they got a story half right speaks far more of the declining standard of journalism in that magazine. To date we still don't know how Bittern will appear, but i suspect it will be purely a straight nameplate and number change rather than the dramatic changes they were implying.

 

From SVRA forum

Regards

Patrick

 

When I passed Southall earlier the A4 was just visible inside the shed. Certainly appeared to have yellow letters on the tender, not stainless steel, but that could be down to the lighting inside the shed.

 

Certain writers @ HR would like to find an story in anything!

From personal experience, even when you give HR a fully detailed press release they often twist it to try to make a story where there is none.

It is the most scurrilous railway magazine by some way (and with SR out there that takes some doing!) and why the Mods on here let Robin Jones keep coming on here and starting new threads on a subject when others exist just to publicize some story he is trying to claim as an exclusive I shall never understand.

 

Seconded

 

It is a shame as the current issue of Heritage Railway is overall excellent with some very good content. Back on topic i will be very interested to see how the A4 actually appears.

 

Lets just hope it appears at some point next week at Kidderminster, whatever the livery or lettering!!

 

Tend to agree about Heritage Railway - there is one "news" item based purely on speculation lifted from the railway concerned's Unofficial Forum, which clearly is not backed up by asking for any comment or explanation for those in the know!

I also find the 2 page advert for Festiniog Travel's new Benelux holiday pretending to be an article both imappropriate and very much inaccurate. Festiniog Travel may not have run a Benelux holiday before but I know of at least 2 long established railway holiday companies that have been running holidays to Belgium, Luxenbourg and the Netherlands for years - I have visited all 3 countries with one of them more than once, and going back several years!

I think the reason why 4464 gets special attention from HR is pretty obvious - no journalist likes it when the person in the know won't tell him something, so the pen always becomes mightier than the sword. I was once told by one of the now oldest hands in Rauilway journalism game "tell me "No comment" Steve and I start looking for the story - tell me the basics, and I might well decide there isn't one!"

Steven