Pacific Working Areas

[Minoru]

Coming from a 1960's train-spotter's aspect - nothing technical - I was wondering whether all A1-A4 pacifics would have at some time appeared on the whole section of ECML? For example, all Deltics would turn up anywhere on the route, would all tender pacifics have likely done so also?

As a young boy during steam's demise; late 50's - 60's, I lived in view of the line at Alnmouth where local steam lingered on longer than most locations, unfortunately just far enough away to make reading numbers difficult. On regular visits to the station, I recall seeing 60001/4-7/9/15/16/19/26/60036-38/52/54/62/85/88/91/103/116/129/140/141/145/147/152/158, but often wonder how many more of the classes would have passed unidentified during my residence across the fields from 1958-1967. I'm aware some loco's such as 60068/79/93/95 were employed on the Waverley route, so presumably they wouldn't have appeared in my location at the time? But would for example 60095, whose home shed appears to have been Carlisle for its entire life have strayed east at some time prior?

Obviously no-one can say other than me what I saw, it's just a general opinion, if anyone has a view.

Also, in the case of these elite engines, whilst at a particular depot, would each generally have it's own regular driver, or is this just a myth?

Apologies if this is a little light & vague, but I really am just a boy train-spotter at heart!

[Hatfield Shed]

The LNER's wide firebox classes - so figure in the V2s as well - were operated as 'all-line' locos, so could be seen on any RA9 route on the system. In practise one saw the 'regulars' for the section location, with a seasoning of those not usually on a turn in the section. (I believe somebody worked out how many hours you would have to put in alongside the ECML KX-Doncaster to have a reasonable chance of spotting all the pacifics!) I was never a dedicated 'tick them off' spotter, but quite casually saw A3 60068 go through WGC on its way up to KX, and was regarded with some envy by those who would have loved to bag that one.

Single manning of the large expensive traction assets ended before the LNER I think, but I wasn't there to observe!

[giner]

Indeed, you lucky beggar. Without pulling out my Summer 1957 Ian Allan, there were a few notables that never graced Stevenage - well, maybe they did in the wee hours, unseen by most 13-year-olds. Sparrow Hawk, Auld Reekie, Sugar Palm, Bayardo - did she ever venture south of the border, to mention a few. By 1959 I'd discovered girls, so that was the end of that.

[harvester]

Girls Giner………………...do you mean the GWR Ladies ??????????????

[v3man]

Haymarket pacifics were each allocated to two drivers, one on early turn and the other on late turn.

[giner]

Girls Giner………………...do you mean the GWR Ladies ??????????????

Nah, all girls looked lovely.

GWR girls? Were they something special, then?

[harvester]

Giner , I think Churchward thought so

[JASd17]

2902 has been described as a 'moistened bint', but there are some even more dodgy characters amongst the Ladies, certainly not Saints.

John

[Dave S]

GWR girls? Were they something special, then?

Copper topped make up, but underneath they're all the same.