The LNER Encyclopedia

I'm curious about what trains (expresses I presume) 4489/Woodcock worked in the 2 week period in 1937 before she was (re)named Dominion of Canada. Also any background to why 4489 wasn't named Dominion of Canada right at the start of service, and having this very brief period as Woodstock (in Works/Workshop Grey) especially as Woodcock was used again (as 4493) only 1 month after the original was changed to Dominion of Canada

I may regret asking this as it could possibly result in me trying to replicate yet again another express connected with a specific loco.

Graeme Leary
New Zealand

The initial plan was to call this locomotive, "Buzzard," but, in the event, it received the name "Woodcock". This name was carried during trials [the only "Coronation" train loco to undertake these], with the loco painted in works grey, lined in white, with apple green coupled wheels. The nameplates were removed, following the trials and before final painting. This loco never carrying the name "Woodcock" during revenue earning service.

Graeme Leary wrote: ↑Fri Jun 28, 2019 5:58 am ...Also any background to why 4489 wasn't named Dominion of Canada right at the start of service, and having this very brief period as Woodstock (in Works/Workshop Grey) especially as Woodcock was used again (as 4493) only 1 month after the original was changed to Dominion of Canada...

I would suggest this is of a piece with the very speedy introduction of the Coronation service. The bright idea of using the major territories of empire as loco names possibly occurred relatively late in the process of development?

Many thanks Ecclesweb and Hatfield Shed.

'Buzzard' certainly would have had a ring to it and a very good member of 'the birds of prey' family. If I was a Canadian I could be a little miffed that the renaming of 'Dominion of Canada' from 'Woodcock' could have been an afterthought even though it occurred in the same month as the other Empire (or were we a Commonwealth by June 1937?) named locos.

At least I don't have to consider replicating an express for 'Woodcock' to work (unless perhaps I can get a set of Coronation carriages and call these my Coronation 'trials' formation).

Graeme