Brit 70025.

No not the original one unfortunately!
In the latest SR it is mentioned that 70000 is to take on the identity of former WR Brit 70025 Western Star.
The smoke deflectors are being replaced/modified to the later WR type with the brass rimmed hand hole cutouts type which were introduced following the 70026 accident at Milton near Didcot in 1955.
It is taking up the new guise at the MHR Autumn Gala in October.
The icing the cake would be for it to do a mainline run in this condition complete with a set of chocolate& cream Mk 1's & a Red Dragon headboard with either A35 or 720 reporting numbers on the smokebox.

 

As far as I'm concerned, the icing on the cake for me would be to drop this silly idea altogether. Keep 70000 as 70000. Period.

 

I assume it is only a temporary change so will revert to 70000. No harm in that, it's happened many times before.

 

I hope you're right, although Bittern spent the better part of a year bearing a fictitious identity.

 

What sense does this change ,make unless it was on a WR line?

 

Whats the problem with this? There was 55 engines in this class. Only two of which survive. We've already had 70013 renamed as "The Territorial Army". I know that was done for Help for heroes and the 100th anniversary of the TA.

Those of us of the age that never got the chance to see any of the other 53 brits have only photos and the possible renaming like 4464/60019/4492/2509, plus others. I welcome it.

No one batted an eye lid when JH let 5029 be renamed as 5026 last year or 7828 virtually permanently running as Norton Manor?

 

I have in front of me photos of 70000 (1964) and 70013 (1968). Neither have handrails on the smoke deflectors. Both have two Duchess type hand holes instead.
The only Brits to have handrails on the smoke deflectors until withdrawal were: -
70004, 14, 21, 32, 33, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, unless someone has a photo that says otherwise.

 

Just found another photo of 70000. This was taken at Carnforth in 1991, with The Duke for company. 70000 was fitted with smoke deflectors with two Duchess type hand holes. I presume that these were what it finished its BR service with.

 

Wouldn't it need a later BR logo on the tender though ?

 

std tank. That is correct, they were the deflectors it carried when purchased in 1970. A new pair were made up and fitted in the 1990's, these have handrails as per the original design.

 

ADB968008, Yes.

 

Agreed.

 

Well OK. I'm obviously not in a majority here, but my point is that we should be very grateful for the considerable number of steam engines that did survive rather than messing around with an engine trying to pretend that it's one that didn't. It may be numbered 70025, but the bottom line is that it's really Britannia.

Also, it may cost a fairly minimal amount to make new smoke deflectors and a new smokebox number (especially if you're Jeremy Hosking), but I'm sure that those groups trying to restore a Barry wreck would far rather see the money donated to find the fabrication of a few small pieces that would help return their engine to steam - a far better use of cash. However, I do agree that it's the owners's prerogative, and although running an engine with a fictitious number will always act as a deterrent for me, it looks like the MHR may not lose that much custom, judging by other comments on this thread.

I wouldn't say that it was the determining factor, but when I weighed the various plus and minus points about that particular WSR gala and thus whether to pay a visit, the renumbering of 5029 was definitely a minus.

 

Removed. Duplicate post

 

Agreed, hardly taking a new identity permanently like 92214 seems to be, someone mentioned Bittern running as Dominion of New Zealand, yet here it is again as Bittern once more, so what's the issue ?.

 

is this the APRIL edition

 

That's what I was thinking and as it is the latest, it does cover April 1st....

 

I think temporary changes of identity for galas and other special events are a good thing, 76084 running as it's Norwich based sister 76o34 at the recent NNR gala seemed quite appropriate. I have nothing against locomotives swapping identities for a short time.