2999: Lady of Legend

Well it is 66 years since the last Saint was in steam, so I think all GWR fans will welcome 'Lady Of Legend' being in steam and running.

The debate about GWR footplate practices and equipment reminds me of W A Tuplin's highly critical opinion in one of his books, and the lack of 'ergonomics'. In truth, Swindon simply perpetuated what they had done from very early days - call it tradition or blindly following what had always been done.

In theory, the GWR water gauge column could be closed off via a lever, allowing the fireman to change a broken gauge glass.

I have a genuine GWR gauge glass (glass tube) somewhere, and it is surprising how thick the glass is.

Cheers,

Julian

 

You've got your maths completely wrong, I'm afraid. Assuming that failure rate of one gauge is independent of the failure rate of the other one (which strictly speaking might not quite be the case), the probability that both fail is not the sum of the probabilities (1/1000+1/1000=2/1000 which would be a higher failure rate!!!!!), but rather the product. So assuming one fails at a rate of 1/1000, for both gauges to fail, that's 1/1000*1/1000 = 1 in a million.

 

Congratulations GWS.
2999 looks wonderful.

 

Well, let's not get too carried away here, whilst we can all agree it's handsome, it's a credit to ALL the folk responsible............put a bigger tender on it and a decent cab and it would look...........FABULOUS. .
.
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Just a bit of banter.

 

Steam Heritage finest hour then ?

 

It's up there, but there's a few to pick from, I'm sure the teams from 71000, 1264, 60163 and good folks at Boston Lodge could make a case as could a few others I haven't mentioned. Maybe the finest hour is still to come?

 

It's a beautiful loco, well done to all at Didcot for a fantastic job.

 

My little effort from yesterday is at http://mellish.eu/Videos/Lady_of_Legend.mp4 (unless and until Brexit causes my .eu domain to disappear). The interruption of the clip of the arrival at the platform is because the woman in the red anorak stepped in front of me, totally blocking my view until I moved.

 

Valve timing seems slightly adrift.... and whats going on with the front vac hose? But well done to the team..

 

Pictures that Didcot have released on Facebook. Quite a contrast!



I know which I prefer to see! It’s fascinating just how recognisable the Hall origins of the Saint are. An irony given the Saint origins of the Hall, of course. Delightful!

 

Visually it just doesn't look balanced with that small tender. Good looking engine, cra p tender.
And the video clip from Didcot showing the fireman shovelling coal and getting soaked from the weather ?? Nah, I can't accept that GWR men were happy with that kind of protection.

 

Personally I think saints, stars and castles look far better with the 3500 gallon tenders.

 

Maybe not overrun, but...

http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=1442

 

Fantastic effort by Didcot for bringing back the saint Class from the pages of history. With the king, castle, hall and manor it will make an excellent photo outside the shed

Agreed with previous poster, victor, the tender doses look small compared to the loco. I supposed that is a personal opinion (that statement could be dangerous I know) but I preferred the look of Bradley Manor when she had the larger tender.

 

This is a re-creation of a Churchward design so I would not want to see it with other than a Churchward tender ― unless and until it goes main line, where greater water capacity might outweight the aesthetics.

 

It would have looked even more different if it had the full height safety valve and chimney, but I wouldn't want to complain because it would presumably then be even more restricted as to where apart from Didcot it could safely run.

 

I like it with the small tender personally, isn't it the same type as Manors used?

 

In order present the historically accurate appearance of a straight-framed Saint, 2999 could only be coupled to the small tender it is paired with (or a slightly later version with longer fenders).
It's just personal preference, but I think 68XX Granges with their smaller wheels, giving them a lower look, seemed better visually with the 3,500 gallon intermediate tender, like the one coupled to 2251 class loco. 3205.

 

Thanks - an interesting read.

Tom

 

[FX:SIGH]. The chances of ONE OF [the] TWO failing, not both failing.