Cycling lion switch to ferret and dartboard

That must have been a bizarre sight once 29 MNs had been rebuilt. It must have received a cut-down tender at a previous shopping, which probably occurred once the second crest had gone into general circulation. Don't have the details to hand at the moment, though. However, my favourite unrebuilt Bulleids to have the later crest have to be the four that retained the original tender style until withdrawal. These included 34072 '257 Squadron' and 34078 '222 Squadron'. 34054 'Lord Beaverbrook' also had the original tender with late crest, but it was replaced sometime between 1960 and 1963 with the cut-down version, which was probably subsequently attached to one of the four.

 

Bizarrely, it was actually a full height original tender - it can be seen at the 'Lane in Night Ferry garb on the Clan Line website - you need to scroll down.

Being a complete spotter, I think that 35018 was the only rebuilt to carry the original crest when it emerged in 1956 - something I'd love to see when she returns to the big railway, along with the unique elements of the first conversion.

Tobbes

 

I believe 35008, 35009, 35010, 35012, 35013, 35014, 35016, 35017, 35018, 35020, 35022, 35023, 35025, 35026 and 35027 received early crested tenders when rebuilt. There is surprisingly little information on what crest was carried when, but I tend to believe that there is a general rule of thumb where those rebuilt before December 1957 were given the early crest, and those that emerged after were given the late crest.

 

Thanks BP, most grateful for that. In theory (and it is certainly not happening in actuality at the moment), I'd like to model the SW division in 1961-63 (using the summer 1962 timetable), and for at least some of that time some of the WCs were high sided tenders, full raves and large cycling lion - 34007 for example, which was presumably rare in this condition + speedo + AWS. However, as has been noted, the vast majority will have had cut down tenders and later crest.

 

Now I am able to consult my sources, it seems there were in fact five unrebuilt Bulleids retaining the original tender until the end. These were: 34069 'Hawkinge'; 34072 '257 Squadron'; 34074 '46 Squadron'; 34075 '264 Squadron' and 34078 '222 Squadron'. All were withdrawn in the period 1963-64, which tallies with the transfer of much of the Southern west of Salisbury to the Western Region of BR, as all were shedded at Exmouth Junction during this period. Interestingly, 34080 '74 Squadron' suffered damage to its cut-down tender, and the original tender fitted to 34075 was fitted in April 1964. AWS (at least the battery boxes, anyway) and speedometer was fitted to all of these locomotives, so I should think all can have the late crest, speedo and AWS in a post-1962 layout.

 

BP,

Excellent, very many thanks. What's the source here - all my books are packed away, but I'm not sure that I've got a source that would tell me this.

Kind regards,

Tobbes

 

There are two. D. L. Bradley's Locomotives of the Southern Railway, Part 2 (RCTS, 1976) and Paul Bolger's BR Steam Motive Power Depots: Southern Region (2nd Edition) (Book Law, 2009). Four of the five locomotives were at Exmouth Junction in 1959, with 34078 arriving sometime after a repair at Eastleigh Works in 1961. As for the AWS, just browse each locomotive under Google.

 

Very kind, many thanks. I'll look to add them to the collection as pennies allow.

Thanks again,

Tobbes