Locos not saved....

We'd be talking about Duchesses in the same way we talk about Bulleid Pacifics probably... double headed Duchesses doesnt have the same ring to it as Double Headed Bulleids though.

 

That's because it wouldn't be necessary..........

 

I can't imagine Leicester City Council being enamoured of that idea after 46252 arrived at London Road Station for the official naming ceremony and demolished part of the passenger over bridge and the platform edge.
And nowadays we wonder about Network Rail's gauging policiy.

 

6235 was actually the subject of a request to purchase it by Birmingham City Council back in the early fifties when they were bringing together the contents of the late lamented science museum. They were quoted a considerable amount of £'s by BR, apparently because they said that it wasn't fully written down on the books and that they would have to build a replacement loco as 6235 was still in front line service (pre1955 modernisation policy). BCC ultimately passed on the offer, but something of a "marker" was put down on this loco for Birmingham, and as it ultimately had a home to go to it appears to have become the nominated Stanier pacific in the BTC advisory panel's list.

I seem to remember local discussions in Lichfield suggesting the acquisition of 6250, but this probably came to nought even before they would have received the quote of £3000 from the supplies department at Derby, and it would have been an interesting task to find somewhere to put it in Lichfield.

It would have been nice though for a less bigoted and short sighted BR management to have included a restored 6245 placed in the rebuilt concourse at Euston, much as some German cities appear to have 01 pacifics outside their HBf.

 

Ah, fond memories of 46245. On the 9th of June 1963 I had a fast great run behind this loco from Kings X to Doncaster & return on a railtour. This included a tour of the works & shed. I still have some b&w photos I took at the time. Very exciting for a 14 year old schoolboy at the time brought up on GW locos. This loco should of been preserved.
http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/

 

She would be back on the mainline within a year, and be in better condition than when she was first built!!! Ahhh, one can but dream I suppose.

 

At the time of the withdrawal of 1026 County of Salop, the county council were just building their new Shirehall in Shrewsbury, and it was said that they had been offered 1026 to stand in front of the new building. They declined, of course. (It's difficult now to confirm if this was anything more than a strong rumour at the time). If you drive past today it's easy to imagine the loco standing on the grassed area to the right of the main entrance between the hall and Lord Hill's column. It would have looked rather good!!

 

Railway Magerzine's article (as I sure most have read) said that 92220 Evening Star was offered to Swindon when they were trying to figure out what to do with (being damaged and all). Should offered the Castle class 7037 Swindon!!!

I think the only other loco brought by a 'town' was when Sutton Council decided to purchuse the 'Terrier' number 32661 (formerly 61 Sutton. However when they asked BR, Sutton had just been cut up, so 32650 (i.e. Whitechapel) was brought instead to pretend to be Sutton, which is why this engine been known as since! It never was installed in the council's new civic centre though.

GWR 14xx 1442 was presented to the town of Tiverton, but only thanks to a private indervidal...

If only other councils or organisations had got interested:
WC 4-6-2 Exeter going to Exeter
Marsh ‘Atlantic’ Beachy Head going to Brighton
Patriot Llandudno…etc