We three kings (GWR Version)

To celebrate Lode Star returning "home" to Swindon, it's three bigger preserved sisters have come up with a festive ditty:

We three Kings of GWR
Bearings slick, we travel afar,
Slough and Farringdon, Moor Street and Paddington
Following Lode Star [4003]

O Stars of Swindon,
Stars called Knights [4011-4020]
Stars with Royal Headcode bright
Westward speeding, chimney gleaming
IKB was always right.​

[The things you come up with when you should be marking schoolwork!]

Richard

 

:clap2: :clap2:

Maybe this should be moved to General Railway Chat.......just to annoy those who support inferior railway companies.:lol:

 

They are definitely not inferior railway companies.... Just so happens that they didn't have the benefit of Brunel/Gooch/Armstrong/Dean/Churchward/Collet/Hawksworth/Cook......

Regards,
Ian.

 

But they did, in a roundabout way.... Stanier, Sturrock, Holden....

regards

Frank N.

 

Of course the only Swindon disciple who built anything half decent was Stanier, and he had to escape shackles of the ghost of Churchward in order to do so :flock:

 

If you can do a second verse with 6000, 6023, and 6024 in it, then I'll be truly impressed! And you will truly have 3 Kings

Neil.

 

Ah yes 'The Great Man'. Would the Castles and Kings with his modifications have gone on to be the best steam locos ever built?
YES.

 

Salty I doubt anyone would disagree with you there! . Certainly a Castle with Duchess-style valve gear and a decent cab layout would be the stuff of dreams. Not so sure about the King though - really a step too far. I'm pretty certain Stanier would have gone with a Pacific instead.

 

I was thinking more of a 4-8-0, 6ft wheels, king boiler. I'm not sure Swindon liked using a rear pony truck, or cartazzi, as it can allow the locomotive to 'sit up' when getting away. 3 cylinders? possibly....

Regards,
Ian.

 

A friend of mine with GWR leanings always refers to the Black 5s as 'Mark II Halls' and Princess Royals as 'Mark II Kings'!

 

.....

 

Alas.

 

Not a chance. And as for Stanier building anything half decent, I might go for half half decent. Maybe.