The Fellsman Wed 2 June

I agree about the downer. The LNER fanatics rave about the K4 with emphasis on its hill-climbing capability due to the smaller driving wheels compared to the "rated" main line traction yet the LMS 8F equivalent is more often denigrated. It is to Dave Smith's credit that he supports it - even fighting the recent attempts to de-register it under the driving wheel diameter / speed restriction regulations - as it has proved its worth on the hillier lines found up here in t'north. I would think that not only is it a passenger friendly locomotive but has the added bonus that by working hard to maintain times it can be heards on the train whereas I am convinced that on many tours the traction is not even heard for most of the tour and thus denies the customer any sound experience whatsoever.
I believe that many years ago it worked a steam charter over the Salisbury - Exeter route and gave a good report of itself to both travellers and linesiders - but then no-one could call this route flat !

 

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