French "Pacific" on the GCR

Apparently there is a new locomotive on the GCR....It is a French looking 4-6-2 that seems to be there for a filming contract. It is however an expensive, quite well made "Faux loco".
On twitter it is said " From an unknown source “Three smoke generators, electric generator and a steam boiler in the “boiler” all driven from a scania engine in the tender”
Needless to say there must be all sorts of confidentiality clauses hence the lack of information.

 

Thought that had gone somewhere in Cumbria?

 

Has a rake of stock been strategically positioned on 10A?

 

Not quite......
https://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/18134095.orient-express-train-become-cafe/
I saw it mentioned on a US based rail forum of all places!

 

I am sure this replica has featured on NP before. Anyway I know I read about its film rather than railway career.

 

Correct, it was at the old Bassenthwaite station as a cafe.

James

 

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/bassenthwaite_lake/index8.html has a few pictures of that 'mock up' loco...

 

I believe the replica loco is only here for testing and snagging, and will departing to parts overseas for actual filming

Colin

 

This "locomotive" was propelled down to Quorn today as part of its trials/running in. Unfortunately it was stopped up near the yard headshunt and there was no access.
Rothley has been part cleared to accept the 2 DMU sets and a diesel to be based there, whilst bridge 341 is out.

 

There was a report that it had gone on a Roll-on-Roll off Ferry to a port in Norway

 

Have just read the article. It seems the engine is actually based on a "Britannia" with a few cosmetic details to make it look French. It makes you wonder why the film-makers didn't jut pick a French prototype, since they presumably had a clean slate to create pretty much anything, but there we are.

That said, it is a surprisingly convincing replica and the French elements could probably be changed fairly easily. So, if the film-makers would be prepared to part with it after the filming (assuming it doesn't get written off in some crash scene), just think of the possibilities! Three "Brits" round the turntable at Barrow Hill, anyone?

 

Has the picture been taken down?

 

There are a couple in this months SR.

 

Having seen the photos it does indeed look very British / Britannia ish. A few details added to make it look more French but not terribly convincing.

As Muztrem says, not sure why it wasn’t modelled on a French prototype. Unless a further use is envisaged for it in a British film.

 

Pix here of the mock-up loco and three Wagons-Lits at Bassenthwaite Dec 2019:

https://andrewstransport.smugmug.co...-at-Bassenthwaite-Lake-station-2019/i-ChgvfP5

Andrew N

 

Slightly dodgy video footage here of the carriages hurtling through Norway with many on top of the roofs including Mr Tom Cruise: https://www.reddit.com/r/Norway/comments/j502f3/tom_cruise_enjoying_norwegian_nature/

 

Report and pic in Oct Rly Mag p9. No connection with the Orient Express train which is still at Bassenthwaite. Andrew N

 

An update......According to the TV tonight, a quarry in Stoney Middleton, Derbyshire is having rail track laid which ends in mid-air. A lake is being made and filled with water, into which a locomotive/train is due to be launched for Mission Impossible 7. Tom Cruise is believed to be in the area already. So a watery end for our Brit look-alike locomotive?