The Flagships of Railways

A Black 5 in the Highlands is the essence of Scottish steam IMO.

 

As far as I was concerned growing up in the area in the 80s, the GCR's flagship was always 1306 'Mayflower'. It even made it onto the front of the local phone book one year. OK, it's been gone a while and time has moved on, but I don't think any loco since has been quite as iconic for the GCR. Not even the 8K.

Phil

 

A noticeable trend developing on this thread is that people tend to highlight a locomotive that they remember as the first loco they saw on a line, more or less, or was usual on the line when they were regularly visiting.

 

I would agree with Jamie that 80135 is the NYMR flag-ship - for the very reason he has just said! When I started working up there is was about 1/3 of the workable fleet and tended to see most use - 18,000 miles in one 12 month period in the late 1980s!

These days, I think 60007 would have to be tyhe flagship but I know those who became involved a little after me might say 3672 Dame Vera Lynn.

Steven

 

FTFY

Your absloutely right. The blacks 5s were a breath of fresh air and were so good they stuck around till the end of Highland steam. But 5025 herself didn't stick around long. I do see why shes considered flagship but for me 828 is more classic Scottish steam.

Has anyone mentioned 419 and Maude for SRPS?

 

Correct, owned by the council and on a 99 year lease to the railway that started in the late 70's i believe.

With regards to the NYMR, I don't think that SNG has been there long enough. For sheer mileage i would have to say 80135 was the favoured engine there which is why they are so desperate to overhaul it.

The KWVR I'm not so sure about. But 43924 has stirred up a lot of memories for locals since it came back into service. The first engine out of Barry and resident at Haworth ever since. There is also a certain GWR Pannier tank in Oxenhope shed that a lot of people associate with the KWVR, but thats more down to a favoured film than mileage I think. Any if your going to bring that film up you can't not mention 'Ironclad' 957 (The Green Dragon) can you?

 

NYMR would have to be either 63395/2392 or Lambton no.29 for me. But that's maybe because I'm 40-something.

Makes you wonder why a particular loco becomes the "flagship". The first/biggest operational loco? The one that ran in the early days? Or just the one that gets onto all the posters and postcards?

Richard

 

I believe the most common reason of choice for flagships on most railways, is a particular loco that portrays the essence/spirit/image of their line, their goal of what place and time they would like to recreate.

For instance, for the Bluebell Railway they want to recreate a classic southern branch line, and Stepney, Fenchurch or any of the P tanks would be just the sort of locos you would have found on a typical southern branch line back in the day (although that can be said for most of their locos.)

As another example, pmh_74 mentioned of 1306 'Mayflower' as the GCR's flagship, again, the B1s were a common sight on the GCR, although the same can be said for O4 No. 63601.

And finally we come to my first example for this thread, No. 7822 'Foxcote Manor', it represents a typical engine that would have been seen on the during the British Railway's days. A typical GWR branch line engine, for a typical GWR branch line, one of the great matches.

All these engines, represent a well known type of engine that was used on these respective lines, portray perfectly what each railway strives to recreate.

 

I think it is more than just wanting to recreate a southern branchline - depending on period, any of 55/672; B473 or 80151 would be good for that, or indeed any other Terrier or Standard tank. The significance of 55 and 323 are that they were the first two locos on the first ever preserved part of mainline railway in the country. Indeed, for the first season, those two were the Bluebell Railway. Had the first two engines been, for example, the Dukedog and the North London Tank, I'd imagine they would now be seen as the "flagships" despite neither having much to do in their former existence with the railways of Southern England.

To me, flagships are those engines that are inextricably linked to a line (such that you can't imagine their being based elsewhere); and ideally have played some heroic part in a bigger struggle (for example, by keeping a service running during a line's most precarious moments). Those sorts of things inevitably add extra status; (and, dare I say it, an extra fondness / indulgence such that they keep bouncing back when maybe other projects might be more practical in the cold light of operational and financial realities). Dolgoch on the Talyllyn fits that description to a tee; Calbourne on the IoWSR.

Of course, in the case of Stepney (and Dolgoch!) it helps if you have been immortalised in a well known series of children's stories!

Tom

 

Lewisham at Foxfield.

 

At Swanage it would seem to me M7 number 53 would derseve the title of 'flagship', but in the past I would have said 34072 257 Squadron has been considered the flagship as it apeared on most of the publicity blub during the 1990's. I surpose 34070 Manston might taken that role for the moment (if it wasn't brokern). Maybe when 34053 Sir Keith Park will take the role once restoration has been compleated.

 

I'm sure I can remember reading in Bluebell News a while ago that didn't the owners of the "Thomas" brand actually wright to the Bluebell saying that one of our locos was "masquerading" as Stepney from their books and as a result they wanted copyright recompence? We just simply replied back that no.55 wasn't "masquerading" but actually IS the real Stepney and we own it!:smile:

 

That story even made the pages of Steam Railway!

 

Can't be true, then!

 

34016 BODMIN was considered to be the flagship of the Mid Hants. Not any more I expect.

 

73096 has long been, to me, the flagship of the MHR, but the long static N Class probably has the most right to the title, as the first large loco there.