1994 Blue Peter incident

The reverser on “Beachy Head” does operate the wrong way (anti-clockwise for forwards). But at least the indicator moves in a logical direction!

Tom

 

How odd. You'd have thought that handing the thread to give the right movement would be the logical way to go, easier than eliminating to rocking lever on 2968 which causes its strange movement.

 

From memory (how soon I've forgotten) Gresley locos are anti-clockwise for forward and this was the same on the LNER pacifics with the vertical reverser screw. Thompson & Peppercorn used the more conventional arrangement on the B1 & K1.

 

I've only once been on an LNER Pacific, in 1973 when 4472 came back from the States and was lit up at Edge Hill, where I'd just booked on duty. I only got as far as the doorway. Never before or after had I seen so many people on Edge Hill shed! It drew crowds even among professional railwaymen.

 

And if that was Doncaster practice, Marsh did of course take it pretty much wholesale to Brighton - so quite likely that is where it comes from. Though he did add the Stroudley air-assistance to the reverser which you don't get on Doncaster locos; you have to remember that that only assists when you are going to towards back gear.

Tom