A3 smokebox door

[manna]

G'day Gents

I recently bought a Hornby A3 body Prince Palatine,(in black plastic) and noticed it had a split handrail on the smokebox door, I know some of the Peppercorn A1's had this feature, but not the A3's, was this only confined to the last few survivors, or was it fairly common. I'm intrigued.

manna

[60800]

Is it a Hornby moulding or an adapted bacchy A2 (or similar) smoke box door?

[Saint Johnstoun]

Only the late survivors received this modification and of course 60052 was the last of all The top lamp iron was lowered in deference to the electrification risks which were spreading rapidly at the time. 60100 also received this modification. as did 60041, 60066 and some of the other late survivors.

[CVR1865]

Is this possibly a late Hornby chinese moulding for the 5 Pole tender drive?

[69999]

The split handrail was introduced in January 1962 on 60084 as a consequence of lowering the top lamp iron for safety reasons. A total of 26 A3 locomotives were altered in this way. A list can be found in the RCTS Locos of the LNER Part 2A – page 63.
It is certainly NOT appropriate for any loco fitted with a single chimney!
DG
69999

[manna]

G'Day Gents

Thank you for your replies, I thought it a little strange, as 60052 was in early blue, so late 40's early 50's, my assumption that it was confined to surviving A3 was correct. And probably in Scotland and the North East.

The body in question, again I am assuming is one of the later Chinese built A3's, I have yet to find out which one, The single chimney is a big no no for that period, surely Hornby didn't get it that wrong.

manna

[Manxman1831]

Considering the mix-and-matching that has been going on for years to produce alternative models it is a possibility, on the other hand there is probably a photo to support it in a collection belonging to one of the designers. A lot of tram models suffer the same, both kit and RTR.

[Horsetan]

....and of course 60103 herself