2859

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2859 left Llangollen today for it's Owner's engineering workshop in Congleton

 

Enquiry: Watching a programme on the evolution of the preservation movement, I noticed 2859 carried a white "x" above the numberplate, where GW colour coded restriction idents normally live. Can anyone please enlighten me as to the meaning of the "x"?

 

I might be wrong but I think it is something to do with the driving wheel balancing.

 

"Certain two-cylinder engines, including Counties, Halls, Granges and ROD 2-8-0's, have been permitted to take loads above those laid down in the working books, and this is indicated on the engines by a white 'X' painted above the number plate. This was introduced early in the recent war and is still in force at the time of writing." (RCTS - Locomotives of the GWR Part 1)

 

Cheers Nick. No surprise then that the guy who rescued it said he soon knew why BR had scrapped it and described it's pre-restoration condition as being "like a bag of bolts"........ months was spent tracking down a replacement left hand cylinder (successfully). Options like a new casting still lay years in the future. If I owned the thing, I'm not 100% sure that's anything I'd want to commemorate!

...... and I always thought it was the North Western who thrashed their locos into the ground! I wonder how other 'x' designated locos fared?

 

I thought that it was 2857 that had the cracked cylinder casting when it was first restored and a replacement acquired from Briton Ferry steelworks - or am I misunderstanding your post?
Ray.

 

Frankly Ray, it's more likely I just got the number wrong .... my back was giving me gyp and I was up watching a recording at 03:30 and I'm astounded I remembered watching it at all!

 

Boilers were swapped between classes randomly and those with higher superheat ie later or modified versions were allowed higher loadings, signified by the X on the cabside, common on Halls and Granges.