2999: Lady of Legend

I think at the time it was a statutory requirement for all railways to have express locos named after Walter Scott characters.

 

.... even the Isle of Man Rly obeyed this mandate, with their loco No.6 being named "Peveril"

 

The 57xx Class of pannier tanks were commonly known, as the 57xx class, which were the originals with low cab roof, and round front cab windows. And the 8750 with the higher cab roof and the larger windows.

My understanding is that with GWR loco classes, the class was named after the first loco of the class. So if the first loco of the 0-6-2 clas was numbered 5600, then the whole class was called 56XX, despite numbers running up to 6699

 

that may have been the Official line but I'd bet the men on the ground never used it.

 

Not too hard to imagine there were always as many nick-names for classes as there were engine sheds, and individual nick-names for individual engines.

 

I still bet on 2999 being completed and steaming by next year.

 

By the END of next year, possibly!

 

That's what I always understood too. But is not what I've seen in *some* official documents. Unfortunately I'm away from home right now and haven't got examples handy. They were never really consistent about naming in documents, you see some using xx class some using 00 class and so on.

 

Overhauled and steam tested boiler back in frames today.

https://www.facebook.com/DidcotRailwayCentre/posts/2072010586159152

 

Awesome! Now what all's left to do?

 

When the loco is complete will it ever be able to leave didcot due to the width of the cylanders

 

I am sure it will. The cylinders are the same as the donor hall and hall classes have gone in and out of Didcot. If necessary it could even leave by road.

 

www.thesaintproject.co.uk/Pages/LatestNews.html
Dare we hope for 1 April 2018? The photo shown in the link shows progress at least.

 

Also progress on the 47xx in this link
http://www.4709.org.uk/pages/LatestNews.html

 

Are the lagging sheets made already or have they got to make them? Lot of work in lagging a boiler mind!
Incidentally I personally think names from Walter Scott novels were some of the best & evocative for Locos!

 

If I recall correctly they have a spare boiler that was on the frames for the purpose of making the cladding sheets.

 

The railways also liked to name their locos after establishment figures. 'Wandering Willie' would kill two birds with one stone.

 

Correct, the boiler from ex-Barry 10 No 2861.

 

Some Diesel fans might indeed think "Reverend Gabriel Kettledrummle" an appropriate name for a steam loco.