VALOUR & the Great Central 4-6-0s

Time for a thread, for these almost forgotten locos. Like Raven's design, they had a bad press from the Gresley faction. But they took the 4 cylinder parallel boiler design into the modern era. I think keeping time and reliable running are proof of purpose. 19 bogie troop trains in WW2, and in 1923 a 54mph schedule London to Leeds. And that was before the Caprotti! Imagine my surprise finding VALOUR's tender is preserved by the nrm!Even done a FB page to re-appreciate. V2s and Robinson 4-6-0s- truly the engines that won the war. Over to you.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/186831175208314/

 

was the stolen "Valour" nameplate ever recovered ?

 

Sadly not yet. Apparently it was stolen from the relocated Gorton Works war memorial in the early 1970s, in a local church, causing much ill feeling. If it was worth nicking for scrap I doubt, more likely in some loser's collection. But when /if ever recovered, it would have to go home.

 

What "Gresley faction"? Gresley perpetuated those G.C.R. designs worthy enough.

PH

 

Is it? Presumably it's that behind Butler Henderson then? Or is this another stand alone tender?

 

Regarding Butler Henderson I'm puzzled as to why it was chosen as it was the only one not to receive modified cylinders and valve gear. Why this obsession with 'originality' when you can have a better and improved one?

 

Something to do with being the first of the class I believe. Also when saved for the collection it was intended only to be stuffed and mounted, so the cylinders and valvegear situation wouldn't have been a consideration as such.

 

That was the way of the national collection was drawn up as they wanted engines in the original condition where possible so engines like SR King Arthur was the first choice but when it was realised there wasn't non of the correct tenders left for when it was built it was scrapped and Sir Lamiel was preserved in stead. Rember they were going to be just in a museum building so how they were for performance wasn't important.

 

One of the best railway photos I've seen was of a Robinson 4.6.0 leaving a terminus ,Marylebone? Don't know. But a fantastic photo . It was blown Up big in a frame & in a store room under the bridge at Loughborough! Has anyone else seen it? Worth reproducing.
(Don't know now which of the 4.6.0s it was)