45699 and 46115 have set a tone

What a great way to start steam season 2014! The Scot performed fantastically on the wcmes and Galatea is really starting to shine out on the mainline. I really hope that this is an indication of how things shall pan out this year for all the mainline operators and tour organizers.

Cheers
Mike

 

The Scot is a magnificent machine, if they (WCR) could get a bit of long term reliability into it it would be even better. Oh, and the Jube is not too shabby,I do wish they'd do something about those cab side numbers.

 

Would be nice to see Scots guardsman do something in the south this year

 

I was weened on Scots and Jubilees in the late 40's/early 50's. They ran on the Liverpool--Newcastle expresses as far as Leeds over the Leeds "New Line". I think Mr Gresleys machines are wonderful but I'll take a Scot any day of the week.
We had a wonderful day behind 46115 about 3/4 years ago, White Rose, the scot from Wakefield to KX, management and myself, table for 2, 1st class.

 

I am still thrilled with the Scots performances on the wcme's. It is also nice that Galatea is in great condition as well. Keeping on top of 46115 must be more then just chore given what a rollercoaster the last few years have been.

 

46115 was as far South as Weymouth in July 2010 when it fronted the Dorset Coast Express - lovely day, lovely engine - a real treat to those of us who don't mind exotic (LMS) visitors to GWR rails

 

Has 46115 ever been to Holyhead in pres ?, been a while since a Scot wore an Irish Mail headboard I imagine.

 

1988

Vezi atașament 9222

 

That was to show you what Mr Stanier could really do after he shook off the Swindon shackles.

 

Funnily enough 46115 had an Irish Mail headboard on for the southbound leg of an out-and-back private charter over the S&C in June 2012. Would be good to see her on the NWC with that headboard though (and more Thames-Clyde Express headboards on the S&C for me please )

 

Much prefer the "Waverley" headboard on the S&C - has greater kudos than the "geographic" Thames - Clyde Express and replaced the original "Thames_Forth Express".

 

Stanier? Royal Scots? If you are inferring that the 'Scots are Mr Staniers work there may be a few people up in Glasgow who would like a wee word with you. LOL

Cheers

Alan

 

Fair enough if referring to the original design.
The rebuilds certainly were Stanier's work though...

 

The "Glasgow Folk" built the original 50 to the order of a Mr Fowler of Derby on behalf of the LMSR but Derby then built a further 20 to the same design. However Mr Stanier's rebuild of Jubilees 45735/36 was the forerunner of his plan to standardise boilers for Patriots, Jubilees and Royal Scots with Stanier authorising the first 10 Royal Scot rebuilds before resigning from the LMS to join the War Office - to assist with a local Europe-based skirmish colloquially referred to as "World War II". Thereafter subsequent batches of Royal Scot (and Patriot) conversions were approved by Fairburn and Ivatt with 46137 being the least Royal Scot conversion that was outshopped in 1955 (IIRC). Whilst Stanier may have initiated the conversion project it was Fairburn - but mainly Ivatt - who authorised the subsequent rebuilds and I doubt if much of the original NBL engineering was retained.

 

Amusing story about the 20 Derby built Scots - the LMS reckoned they could build them cheaper than the 'Glasgow Folk' - you've guessed it, they ended up costing more...

Dave

 

Thanks for that Fred, a fair summation of the "Scots" rebuilding. May I add the following. The "Scots" gestation is no less interesting and they were no shabby performers in original form. A lot of that performance can be attributed to the engine portion of the locomotive, specifically the cylinders and motion, these items were almost direct copies of the Fowler 2-6-4T locos that were being built at the same time and many parts - valves for instance - were interchangeable between the two, also, a lot of other parts were sourced from other LMS locos designs . Of course, the valves were long travel , which showed with the enhanced performance that theses gave over the short travel variety.
How much of the original engine parts were "designed-out" at rebuilding I can't say, but they were getting on for 20 years of age by this time, a long time for any front line loco, so they were ready for a comprehensive re-build. However, it is interesting that all of the original drawings for the "Scots" were by North British and their contribution to getting the LMS out of the mire can never be underestimated.

Regarding the re-boilering of the larger LMS 4-6-0 locos with a taper boiler, this all began with the rebuilding of 6170 Fury in 1935. This boiler - which was designed by T. F. Coleman and owed much internally to the original "Scots" - was the real forerunner of the 2A boiler, later used on the rebuilt "Scots".

It was also T. F. Coleman's idea for the rebuilding of 5735/36 with the larger 2A boiler. These two locos were also fitted with new cylinders derived from the same cylinder pattern used for the rebuilt 6170, which was in turn based on that of the original "Scots". Fairburn was acting CME when the rebuilding work was started in the drawing office for the "Scots", so the rebuild could, if you subscribe to that sort of thing, be attributed to him.

History shows us that this rebuilding of the "Scots" was very successful. We are indeed fortunate to have 46115 available today to display it's splendid performance - if I may temporarily revert to being a 12 year old trainspotter for a moment, I must say that this loco is my firm favourite to watch and hear out on the main line; I do hope that we get the chance to see 6100 working eventually as well.

You may notice no mention of Sir W A Stanier in any of the foregoing.

Cheers


Alan

 

I've a replica 'Waverley' headboard for sale, if you or anyone else is interested. Cost less than 1/10th of an original and has been used on steam over the S&C once or twice.

Vezi atașament 9263 PM me for details.