60019 Bittern

Another unusual combination would be Valances off the driving wheels, but left on over that ugly hole in front of the cylinders.... Garter blue, British railways on the tender....

 

It's worth remembering that LU has had ATP since forever (trainstops) which, combined with overlaps calculated according to the gradient, speed and braking capabilities of the train, should mean that a collision between two trains is pretty much impossible. (Yes, LU does damage a train now and again, but it's usually only low-speed bumps in depots.)
NR with TPWS has caught up a bit, but it isn't everywhere and you'd be a brave person to sign to say you were satisfied there was virtually zero chance of a train on NR being rear-ended. Higher speeds / heavier other trains too.
So, a different level of risk, which might be tolerable on NR given crashworthiness of modern stock, but unlikely to be if the vehicle under consideration has a timber frame. Whereas on LU, the risk is clearly lower, and thus acceptable.

One other thing though... do any of the Belmond pullman carriages still have wooden body framing?

 

As I understand it, 4489 Dominion of Canada was initially released to traffic in workshop grey, but with Apple Green wheels. This was only for a few weeks before the Garter Blue was decided on for the ‘Coronation’ A4s. So was never fully green.

4496 (60008) went close to being Apple Green. It and 4495 Golden Fleece were built (or at least chosen) for the West Riding service. I believe that 4495 initially entered traffic in Apple Green before being repainted blue.
4496 was blue from the start.

I’m sure that none of the A4s that wore Apple Green have survived.

Having said that, I would be thrilled to see Bittern painted that colour.


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Well the Camden Town runaway...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-10964766
FTAOD, I am entirely happy to travel on LU metals and have done so in a wooden-framed coach.

 

Did 60009 not enter traffic in Apple green?

 

The late Mel Haigh researched and wrote a wonderful series of articles on the A4s for the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Society.

The link below leads to part 4 which covers the “Coronation” locos.

https://www.sirnigelgresley.org.uk/chime-archive/mob-a4name4.shtml


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Interesting pictures posted today on the LSL Fb page showing, boilerless frames, being lifted from her wheelsets.
Was under the impression this was a overhaul that was taking place by SNGLPS, unless the strip is down to LSL.
Either way, great to see another A4 on the way back.

 

duplicate

 

I thought the SNG Group were just doing part of the overhaul.

EDIT -

A post on WNXX last year suggests the boiler was to be lifted off at Crewe, and the rest sent on to SNG.

 

The photos on FB certainly look like the LSL facility at Crewe, for what that's worth.

 

Think LSL are well equipped to do the heavy lifting and dismantling
SNG group well placed to assess the work required to overhaul and suggest/ contribute to that remedial work would be my guess

 

Update 24 January 2026:

Following a joint review of priorities by LSL and SNGLT, it has been decided to move the location of the planned overhaul of Bittern from the North East to LSL's workshop at Crewe. The decision was taken because of a number of interconnected issues but the most significant was the need to maintain the condition and performance of 60007, against a backdrop of LSL having an increasing number of assets to look after. SNGLT still expects to make a contribution to the overhaul of Bittern but LSL will now lead the work allowing our team to focus on maintaining 60007 for a busy programme in the coming years. Since we moved our locomotive to Crewe, we have built an excellent relationship with the LSL team and, as part of these changes, we are deepening that relationship which we believe is of mutual benefit. As part of an on-going dialogue we are discussing further steps to ensure our business plan, taking us to the next overhaul, is unaffected by the change of plan concerning Bittern.

 

Apologies if I've missed along the way but wasn't the "spare" A4 Boiler already at LSL Crewe?

Edit : just checked my photos from June 2019 where a new copper firebox for Bittern was on display at the open day

 

Interesting - what does that mean for the workship they set up somewhere in Yorkshire (does anyone know where?!)?

 

Sounds to me that just having Bittern at the same place SNG is helps all c0ncerned... bit of a bugger if you live in Yorks.

 

With 6024 returning to steam at Crewe, would it be right to say that 60019 and 45321 are the two locos in the workshop now?

The two Merchants are still untouched and the Scot is at Margate.

 

That sounds about right. Think it was said by LSL the Scot would come out of Margate fairly quickly, being the flagship. Maybe in exchange for Braunton later in the year? 45231 wanted ready for when the B1 expires?

'LSL steam fleet' possibly worthy of a thread?

 

The Hall and 4270 are still at Margate too, for the minute.

 

From what I heard from someone at LSL ages ago that Braunton may be at Margate for awhile. There's apparently not a rush to overhaul it as there's other locos they'd rather have out first. But time will tell if this is true.

 

I wonder if LSL has made any overtures towards the owner of 34027 currently being overhauled at Bridgnorth with a view to it returning to mainline use in a similar arrangement to 60007 and 71000? Already has air brake apparatus and presumably still got the electronic 'gubbins'?