Tornado

Everything went well for the SVR Pacific Power weekend. Looked good on the teaks

 

Obviously not exhaustive but an indicator for you as to their origins.

These gentlemen built a brand new Peppercorn A1 from scratch, and are 2/3rds of the way to a Gresley P2. What more do they have to do to convince you naysayers that they mean serious business and are fully capable of realising their best laid plans?

Judging by the outrageously bad quality of journalism just coming out of Steam Railway Magazine regarding Flying Scotsman (again), I'd rather it was handled by someone much more reasonable!

I am sure this has been looked at behind the scenes as these ideas - like the P2 for example - were around for some time and a lot of research went into the A1 and P2 before announcements and metal was cut. So I have confidence this isn't based on a "would it be nice" there will be a lot of research and development already done behind the scenes.

An interesting question but since the British government intends to bring into law a lot of European practice pre-Brexit in any event it may well be this becomes a non issue.

You say "clearly aimed" but I have not seen anything the like from the press release or from the trust.

I don't know what successful individuals have to do to be taken seriously. It is really alarming that a group with a proven track record, and well on their way to building their second locomotive gets such negativity from elements of the enthusiast armchair population.

I say this from the comfort of my own armchair, of course...

 

Yes that's my understanding of it too from my research. There was no question as to the excellence of the design. However the design used a number of expensive materials (for the boiler, in particular, one of which had thermic siphons) and was at its heart an excellence little racehorse being built in an era for carthorses sadly.

I personally would have preferred to see a K3. However there is merit in doing V4 and V3 at the same time - driving wheels are the same size so a single casting can be utilised as per Tornado and Prince of Wales. There'll likely be a lot of commonality we won't see externally too. It is exciting to think that three Gresley classes could be recreated within a few decades.

 

I was seconds from posting to ask if something like this might be the case.

 

Agreed - but when the WSR can create the intended 2-6-0 that Swindon didn't build (in the guise of 9351) there seems no reason not to re-create the V4 which - at least - did have the distinction of being built and operated. I could also see this as being a suitable machine for the NYMR with its lengthy mileage and main line running to Whitby.

 

Hard to describe the V4 as 'not fully trialled' when they we're not only trialled on the GE but went into service ( in the back of beyond).
The V4 was probably the most capable 5MT produced in this country, and also the most overspec'd.
Cant see much scope for ' further development' with one of these other than the usual / electrics/ air brakes/ more water... etc
Very handsome little engines apart from the Cab, a V front would have really made them look the Biz.

 

Not for driving wheels surely. A small matter of 6.5 inches difference in diameter unless I'm mistaken.

 

Nope, both are 5ft 8in diameter driving wheels.

Leading pony truck set also match and for the V4 that is also the same for its cartazzi set ( 3ft 2in). On the V3 the rear wheels are 3ft 8in.

EDIT: I think we misunderstood each other. I am not saying using the casting of the driving wheels of the A1 and P2 but that like the A1 and P2 a single master can be used for all of the driving wheels.

The A1 and P2 both utilised sets where the balance weights were added rather than being part of the casting as per the originals, I recall.

Made easier for V3 and V4 by sharing the same 5ft 8in diameter wheels.

 

I think he meant the A1 drivers are 6ft 8" and the P2 wheels are 6ft 2"

 

Certainly some commonality, interesting to see if a 'comprise' could be made boiler wise to keep the tooling costs down.
This would be the trusts first experience of Gresley conjugated valve gear (unless...) It would be interesting to see if that cant be refined a little
with the computing power at their disposal ...

 

I know, I understood that on a second reading. Hence my edit above.

 

Interesting idea about the boiler. The V3 is a standard parallel boiler affair with a narrow firebox and the V4 has a wide firebox one similar in style to the Pacifics and V2s. So I would say that's unlikely, to be honest.

 

If enough LMS enthusiasts infiltrate the A1 trust they might then build a Rebuilt Patriot instead of limiting themselves to uninteresting LNER locos..

 

We've got two already, just stick a Jubilee cab on a Scot, no one will know the difference.

 

No, they'll run The Unknown Warrior to the end of its ticket and then rebuild it in the interests of historical authenticity.

 

One engineering update that surely needs to be considered is 3 separate cylinders rather than a monobloc casting. Reading about 3402. Could they learn from the Bulleids regarding the thermic syphons.

 

Perhaps the only worthwhile "further development" would be an improved exhaust system........

Cheers,

Alan

 

Good call - single lempor ?
If the P2 'Composite monoblock' is a success then I dont see why the same principle couldn't be
applied to V4, and then perhaps V3...

 

I don't think any of us can predict the future but you try and make things future proof. What's the alternative? Sit back and do naff all? If there's going to be a group that can make it work, it's the A1 trust.