De-streamlined A4's

BR green is not boring and it looks great on A4s. Plus BR green looks good on any express locomotive.

 

No. Bloody no!

There’s already a BR green A4. She’s off to static display.

Our working A4s absolutely MUST have an example in garter blue as intended. It’s the best livery and the most iconic.

To not have any working A4s in garter blue at any time is an obscene idea.

Personally speaking of course.

 

60007 will be blue, albeit the more attractive BR iteration, so it would provide variety if 19 returned to green.
Whilst I do recognise the A4 as an iconic design classic, I personally do not find it as handsome as the 'conventional' LNER design pacifics.

 

Gets my vote.

 

Purely based on photographic evidence, I don't think LNER lined green suited the A4s as well as blue or grey. I think the lining broke up the clean lines of the loco, especially the boiler bands.

In theory the same is true of the BR lined green and blue versions, but somehow it worked better than Apple Green.

 

I never said Bittern should be in BR green and I was just replying to a comment on BR green. That I like BR green on A4s and Bittern did wear both BR green and LNER Garter blue during her most recent ticket. I like A4s in LNER Garter and BR express blue too. Exactly Union Of South Africa won't be running after 2019 and then there no BR green A4 running. Some time ago I did hear a rumor Bittern might return in BR green and BR green, BR blue and LNER garter blue. Are equally beautiful on A4s and I would't say LNER garter blue is the most iconic. As it depends on what people grow up with LNER or BR. There is displayed A4s in LNER garter blue which show off the livery nicely and Dwight D Eisenhower is only other A4 in BR green.

 

As @S.A.C. Martin has said, there's already a B. R. Green one - 60009. I would rather one of the two to remain in traffic was turned out in black with N E on the tender than B. R. Green.

For far too long the livery choices have been dictated by those who wish to recapture memories of their childhood where steam is concerned. For those of us who have no such memories, other liveries should certainly be explored. And as yet, no A4 in preservation has worn LNER Green, so maybe its time has come? It might even appease the detractors of 60103's current livery (which I prefer to LNER Green!)

Or... given my admiration of the '1948' style as exemplified beautifully by 60163 and 34081 - how about one of the A4s returning in Garter Blue with BRITISH RAILWAYS on the tender and bearing E7/E19 on the cabside...?

 

Oh yes... I saw some of those b&c Mk. 2s on the Blue Peter they did a few months ago, when they visited 60532 at Crewe. They did look rather spiffing...

 

Interesting. A friend of mine shares a similar view in that he thinks the ultimate expression of Gresley's aesthetic design is the A1. I am very partial to the V2

 

I could never decide why I didn't quite like Mallard's look. Garter blue is stunning, and B&W photos with valences were a well balanced look, but there was something not quite right about Mallard. When Bittern was tuned out with valences she looked perfect, all that I'd thought an A4 should be. The difference? The "whitewall tyres" look that the NRM seems so fond of. Those shiny rim wheels just don't look right, and as I understand it, are not how the A4's were ever tuned out before the war.

BTW James, I meant kiwi as in kiwi. The worlds most un-aerodynamic flightless bird.

 

Get the valances back on 60007, a splash of paint and the NYMR teak set, amazing.

Simon

 

Its a curious thing but I think the only existing loco type unsuited to apple green would be the A4, its a universally smart loco livery otherwise. Perhaps emphasising the unique proportions of the A4? For me its the A3 with LNER tender in apple green, single chimney - 4472 as was! Partial to the Peppercorn pacifics too though.

 

NE wartime black. Or the LNER green. Why? Because its different and we have seen all the others already.

Failing that. Silver Link please. Or Silver Fox. Yes, the Fox would be better. Conjures up more immagination from those platform side of a hulking great silver streak.

 

If I could do an "ultra-like" to your post, I would.

Although I'd suggest Quicksilver.

 

Once 60009 is withdraw from service and then there would no BR green A4 running. Plus there is nothing wrong with locomotives with wearing multiple liverys during and a part of preservation will always be about recreating memories of steam days. As photo charter and steam galas. Have themes from specific eras and memories are a big part of what makes us human. Heritages railways do 40s and 60s events. Which allow visitors to step back in time and that is part of what makes preservation's. Some heritage lines have stations that recreate in different eras of the railway and BR express blue suits 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley very well. At the end of the day it is the owner that decides what the livery the locomotives wear and there a was a time in preservation when only Mallard only was in LNER garter blue. Bittern, Union Of South Africa, Dwight D Eisenhower and Dominion of Canada were all in BR green at the same time and then both Bittern Dominion of Canada got LNER garter blue. So I don't how now people complaining about liverys now when it was a lot worse before and with 60009 going out of traffic. Just make people happy have a new build A4 and so then people could paint it in any livery.

 

Oh, maybe it was the A1SLT? Someone was, I’m sure.

Simon

 

Yes it's the A1SLT that are planning on doing a rake of MK3s. Mr Hosking is acquiring Mk1s.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

Bear in mind, once Gresley and his team had been given the go ahead to design both the locomotives and train. After running a pair of test trains, the first using 4472 Flying Scotsman [at the behest of the publicity departmant] with 4 teaks on a Kings+, Leeds return [with the first authenticated 100mph], the second with 2750 Papyrus with 7 teaks on a Kings+,Newcastle return [breaking 4472s record], which was where the first streamlined journey was to run [the Silver Jubilee]. They set to designing the new locomotives, these new locomotive were streamlined both inside and out. They ironed out the kinks in the various steam passages to/from the boilers to cylinders and exhaust. This was one of the first times that a "windtunnel" was used to aid with the aerodinamics of how the loco/train moved through the air. Highlighting the resistance of the atmosphere and how to reduce said resistance.

 

Dion't forget the influence of Andre Chapelon especially with his support regarding the streamlining of the internal steam passages; rarely noted but extremely valuable contribution that owed much to the friendship between Chapelon and Gresley.

 

@Johnme101 kindly keep your distance from "Gladstone" Sir!