The LNER Encyclopedia

Managed to squeeze both in today - only had a quick look around both as I was mostly at the York Search Engine to complete some research, but captured most of the relevant things;



The most recent 'Rocket' replica in the South Yard



Beamish's 'Puffing Billy' replica



Nice little 1932 Hunslet 'Courage' diesel mechanical in the 'Depot'



With the Static Hall closed, access to the South Yard and Depot is through what is normally the staff car park, which meant there were no cars in front of the North Eastern Railway 1907 steam crane and you could get to it easily



1928 Steam Roller 'Duke of York No 3', first time back in York for many years since it's working life



Jubilee class 45596 'Bahamas' taking Mallard's place in the Great Hall



'Green Arrow' as part of the Flying Scotsman exhibition











'Flying Scotsman' and 'Mallard' in the workshop





Over at Shildon, some moving of stock (not sure what exactly had gone) meant the very early Great Northern Railway crane was fully viewable - I have more images of it if anyone's interested in them, every time i've been it's hidden away behind a line of stock and it's a fascinating exhibit, presumably one of the oldest railway cranes in existence



Firebox door cover on the North Eastern Railway M class / D17 1621 - never noticed it before and haven't seen it on any other locomotive before, what's the purpose of it?



1621 and NER Snowplough



And to finish off, the obligatory ES1 shot!

Snowplough 12 seems to have moved over as well.

Been on that far road for as long as I remember, the image may be deceptive though - has the North Staffordshire Railway No 2 0-6-2T hitched up behind it

It has been central and also alongside the shop area in the last year.

Ay up!

Re the firebox shield on the "M" class. I did hear that it was a WW1 Blackout precaution. During WW2 and on the GN, I believe tarpaulins were used, making the cab claustrophobic.

Some of the D49 Shires and Hunts had those covers. Others had a vertically hinged sideways opening cover held back with a chain.

It was the practice, in the NE region, to keep the firehole flap door open at all times and at night time running, the cover kept the driver free of the white hot glare from the fire door.
In the days before colour lights became the norm, many semaphore signals were difficult to see at night. A good fireman that knew the road would make sure that the cover was down especially at junctions with a gantry.

I've been lucky as as far as I know I've only ever seen the Snowplough on prime display at the front. The shop is selling a very nice large postcard of it with the P3 (J27) 2392 hooked up to it too