Historic locos

What do you think is the most historically important loco outside the National Collection?

31874

gets my vote.
Runner up No2 Dolgoch

 

5322 comes to mind.

 

02 W24.

 

Billy, at North Tyneside, which may after recent research, be a rebuild of Stephenson's "My Lord" of 1814...

 

Just as a thought, do we mean historically significant as an individual loco, or as a representative of a historically significant class?

To take an example, consider Truro (handy too because not available for the category). As an individual loco, its significant because no matter what you think of the accuracy of the timing she was certainly the fastest recorded human carrying machine for many years. As a class - well the Cities were an uneasy amalgam of looking back and looking forward: I suggest nothing special.

To take the opposite extreme lets consider Didcot's Saint. As an historic loco it fails to even be let in the back door of the venue, but as a representative of a class, well, hard to argue with the Saints as being one of the most significant.

As another nomination of an individual loco, how about Pendennis Castle? Significant class, significant individual loco.

 

you'd proabably need to say why there....all the others suggested I see, this one I don't

 

Another nomination: [326]55 Stepney as the vanguard of preserved standard gauge lines.

 

In the same mould as Dolgoch....

 

If the class is already represented in the National Collection are other class members disqualified?

 

yes, but not if you can come up with a good case

 

Good grief. I'd love to know more about this.

 

Even 'Wylam Dilly'?

 

It is effectively part of the National Collection anyway (of Scotland...)

 

but to answer the question, If you can show that Wylam Dilly incorporated some item that is significant that Puffing Billy lacks or is less re-built perhaps than Puffing Billy, then it would qualify on those grounds , other than it's ownership. The same would apply to a loco of a class represented in the National Collection. Didn't expect to be having to make up rules!

 

here's a contender from 1847 that still exists

 

Dr Michael Bailey's new book on pre 1850 locos sheds new light on this. When preserved in 1881, it was referred to as the country's second oldest surviving loco behind Puffing Billy (Wylam Dilly was still with the Hedley family at Craghead at this time). A lot lies in the basic dimensions, and the archaeology of the loco, which have not been altered despite successive rebuilds. Michael gave a paper on this to the SLS last month. Fascinating and groundbreaking stuff - and very very significant.