A2 60532 Blue Peter

I would love to think that the NYMR might be looking to stage a gathering (60007 and 60532 were NYMR-based after all and 60103 and 60163 are "locally" based) but sadly I do not think they have the interest in doing so - but what a gala it would be and with the added bonus of LNER coaches to boot! By that time the LNERCA might be able to scrape together two trains, especially if it can hire in one or two.

 

Good news.

 

Lets not...

 

Ian Riley did say last year he was open to 60103 working tours for Steam Dreams with LSL but it never came to anything. Judging by the comments Richard Corser of DB Cargo in the latest edition of Trackside Magazine there might at least be hope of a future collaboration between 60103 and 60163. However I don’t believe there is any chance that any future collaboration between 60103 and 60163 would also involve 60532 and 60007 although I’d love to be proven wrong. The previous collaboration between 60103 and 60163 was the best experience I have had with mainline steam and I would love for it to be repeated in the future possibly at Stockton Darlington 200 in 2025.

 

Interested to know what plans , if any are afoot for that. Guessing the new place at Darlington and maybe Shildon would be the 'Host'

 

Not more dreary BR liveries, please! Unless its blue.

 

If they want to be historically accurate on livery the A4 would have to be BR Green with later totem and the A2 either LNER Green with BRITISH RAILWAYS on the tender or BR Green, either totem.

 

LNER green would be infinitely better than BR.

 

The only problem with that is the uninitiated will confuse it with Tornado.

 

Without wanting to fuel the livery debate, 60532 and 60163 are 2 of the relatively few locos that I think really suit BR Green- alongside the Bulleid rebuilds.

I'm not quite sure why- maybe it's their more modern appearance just doesn't seem to suit apple green so well somehow.

Chris

 

On the subject of liveries, let's please agree to disagree. Some of us just like one colour: some prefer another. Some prefer different colours according to when and where each loco was built: some like BR black on almost anything. Some care whether a particular colour is historically correct for a particular combination of features (chimney, smoke deflectors, whatever) and some aren't fussed about that.

 

On the subject of a putative grand gathering of A1, A2, A3 and A4, let's hope something can be organised somewhere some time. If it can be a railtour with all four so much the better, but something like the York gathering of A4s would be much better than nothing.

 

If it is BR green they'll probably confuse it with 60103........

 

I'm sure if there was a will, a way could be found most likily by a dual venture with DBC, who has operated at least two of the engines before, and often DBC crews are hired by LSL, My personal wish list would be for NRM to host the gathering, as one of the engines is owned by it, the tour could be a multi day affair, with several distinct legs, London to york, York to Glasgow, Glasgow to Crewe via Aberdeen, Crewe to London,

 

I dread to think what the cost of a rail tour with all 4 might be.

 

Less than a Great Britain tour.

 

It depends on how you wish to sell it, either as 4 separate tours using the same stock, but each with a different engine, or as an complete tour, for instance day 1, London to York, , 60103 , Day 2 LNER gathering at NRM, Day 3, York to Glasgow, 60163 , Day 4, Glasgow to Crewe, via Aberdeen 60532 , Day 5 Crewe to London, 60007

 

While we're fantasising why not add in a B1/K1 trip up the West Highland ( Spec for a future GB ?? )

 

If Ms Osbourne gets ideas Scott we know where it was heard first! If we’re going all out livery wise I’m all for BR Green, I really like those sky blue backed nameplates though, if there’s any chance of those that would be lovely.
I’ve several tins of Humbrol No65 ready for that should the need arise.

 

Alas, only half as unlikely as a future B1/K4 combo on the West Highland, or anywhere else for that matter.

Peter