Overseas Locomotives

Slight correction but 3157 was built by at the Vulcan foundry in 1911

Duncan

 

Are there any French locos left in the UK? (Steam, I'm referring to). There was a Pacific and a 4-6-0 at one time but I'm pretty certain the 4-6-0 at least has been repatriated.

 

The Pacific was repatriated after the closure of Steamtown, and the Nord compound went back to France a couple of years ago. A shame, I think, as it was the nearest thing we had to a GWR de Glehn Atlantic and as such an important part of the story of British locomotive development. The Science Museum should never have deaccessioned it in the first place.

 

I agree with that. The reasons why are only of academic interest, but the height of steam loco development was arguably reached in France and its a pity the Science Museum has no representative of that school of development.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Britains-World-locomotives-international-publication/dp/1900340143

 

With one of my favourite engines on the cover....699.01 Sir Drefaldwyn (County of Montgomeryshire, not a local dignitary). Dreadful ride really with its inside frames, but would never let you down. Interesting history being a Feldbahn design built by Franco Belge (At last a French connection) whilst under German occupation. FB afterwards denied having built the loco and its sisters. It ended up in Austria where it got the number 699.01, and where (confusingly) there is still a 699.01!

 

WD 2-10-0 at the Worth Valley since when? They have the only known surviving Riddles/WD 2-8-0, there's a 2-10-0 on the NYMR named Dame Vera Lynn, plus a second also Ex Greek 2-10-0 now based on the North Norfolk and of course not forgetting that big Blue 2-10-0 called Gordon on the SVR. The 2-8-0 came from Sweden and was one of a pair sold to the Swedish State Railway by the Dutch State Railways. The pair were modified by the Swedish with more enclosed cabs for use way up North in the Artic, both had their tenders cutdown from 8 wheelers to 6 wheelers. I heard tell that the Nene Valley had been trying to buy the other 2-8-0 when the Swedes' broke it up by accident/mistake whilst talks were taking place......

 

Indeed... the 'other' WD 2-8-0 (North British Works No.2542, built 1944) was what set NVR on the 'Continental' path. It was intended to convert it back to British guise as per 90733 at KWVR, with no thought at the time to using Continental outline stock - interestingly, it was originally intended to develop the NVR along similar lines to other preserved railways. Unfortunately it seems the engine got shunted into a scrapyard by mistake while en-route to Gothenburg for shipment to the UK, and a start was made on cutting up. Such a pity!

 

Thanks for pointing me in the direction of this book, Anthony. It makes for fascinating reading, although the information is a little on the thin side and there are a few howlers, such as the listing as present in the UK of the second Polish S160 which the NYMR was planning to buy but never did. Some nice pre-preservation photos of Collection X too.

A second edition is, I think, long overdue.