60019 to become 4464 by April

In the bin................

 

Contradictory statements!

I don't know how much truth there is to the rumour, but I am sure all LNER afficionados would love to see a garter blue A4 with valances grace the mainline once more.

Mr Hosking has as far as I know, never said "absolutely not" publicly, so although it may not happen this year, you just never know...

 

I'm flying out of Heathrow again this friday, so I'll try for a High Speed picture on my way past on the HEX again.
Engine is currently facing smokebox towards paddington.
If anyone else beats me to it.. it's in the small works shed at the back of the main shed and the Pullman coach is outside.

 

Has Mr Hosking ever said stuff about his locos publicly?

 

A fair point, well made!

 

This story has now appeared in the latest edition of Heritage Railway

Bittern to be painted in garter blue, with side valancies, stainless steel lettering and cabside numbering, chromed nameplates, wheels painted in coronation red and renamed 'Dominion of New Zealand'

If this is true, WOW!!!!!!!

 

With bell?..............

 

Perhaps, but don't forget April 1st is not far away. Maybe it's a combined April Fools effort between the magazines this year? Whether the rumours are true or not, someone, somewhere, is having great fun playing with us and seeing our reactions!

 

So its becoming 4492 then according to HR? Didn't Steam Railway say it would be 4464?. So we are looking at either 4464, 4492 or 60019 (as it is currently i.e Brunswick Green)

 

This really does smack of last years story about a certain museum in Birmingham doing some streamlining!

 

Given it's in the April issue of Heritage Railway, I sincerely doubt it...!

 

Up to now, I'd believed it. But the change of identity as well? Why would you do that, and when would you undo it? Given that everyone knew it was Bittern. Having doubts now........

 

Given its base, I would have considered 4490 as being more appropriate.

 

The choice of loco, according to roland kennington who was quoted in the latest heratige railway article,

was down to wanting to do one of the 5 Empire A4s

Then he also wanted a Kings Cross Top Shed loco which rules out 4490 and 4491, being Edinburgh Haymarket locos.

And of the 3 that are left, 2 are preserved, leaving 4492.

All signs anyway point to an april fool, rather interested to see Roland Kennington in on the joke if it is though. Heratige Railway wouldnt risk running fake quotes from him without his co-operation.

 

With or without the skirts though?

 

According to HR in an interview with Roland Kennington he states, stainless lettering, numbers, skirt, garter blue red, wheels. It wo,nt be that authentic as it did'nt have a double chimney originally. He expects it to stay in this guise until it's next o/haul in three years time. If this is a wind up it sure is a good one............

 

All I can say, if it is true, is Hats of to Mr Hoskins and well done.

Three years of a garter blue A4 on the mainline & elsewhere will give everyone the chance to see her.

Lets see what April brings............

 

All I will say is the article claims she was in undercoat at the start of this month and she has been spotted a matter of days ago in green.

That said, that could be the magazine getting the details wrong etc or she simply could have been rubbed down so far and as such would still look decidely green.