The LNER Encyclopedia

Dont know if there's anothe post about this, but i spotted that Great Northern Steam at Darlington, who were producing a 15 inch gauge Flying Scotsman for export to Australia are now offering another one on ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15-Gauge-Flyi ... 3f1325d91b
Nice price tag!

I'm gobsmacked, to put it mildly. What a cracker. Not only that, but I note the address is in Works Road, Letchworth. I worked for International Computers Ltd. in Works Road, Letchworth many moons ago. Whoda thunk it.

What a let down. With all that work and its comensurate cost, the nondescript livery on the tender has to be seen to be believed!

Also ex ICL!

It looks amazing, and no doubt is a phenomenal piece of miniature engineering, but why has it got the BR dark green livery combined with LNER on the tender?

I wonder if there's any chance of the RH&DR buying it?

sorry blackout60800 , i recon it would struggle , deff no good on La'al Rattys grade with 8 on ?


mr B

I have to say I'm not familiar with the gradients on the RH&DR as I've never had a chance to visit....yet
The worst 'miniature' gradient I've experienced is that heading south out of the central station on the CCLR

The RH&DR locos while having something of a relationship to this more recent production in that they too were based on Doncaster wide firebox types, were built to one third scale, on one quarter gauge (OO on a larger scale?) ; which means they have the potential for significantly greater steam raising potential and cylinder horsepower, all other factors being equal. The occasions I have been on the RH&DR, the locos were worked pretty near flat out much of the time; full regulator, cut off rarely below 50%. When I asked a driver he said that for the trainloads required to be worked that was the only way to get enough tractive force. So a 'smaller' loco really wouldn't do, unless some compensating factor was applied, such as working at significantly higher pressure (higher maintenance cost)...

The RH&DR's Green Goddess, Southern Maid, Northern Chief and Hurricane are all based off the Gresley A1, the latter two of the four have peppercorn A1 style smoke deflectors. I have noticed that the front frames on all four are incredibly short too, but it does give them quite a powerful look.

No gradients to speak of on the RH&DR. Much is on marsh land or shingle beach.

No problem with availability of ballast then Mr Fox

Id be more excited IF she had 3 clyinders and Conjugated valve gear, then id like to see how she performed at RH&DR!

The RH&DR had two three cylinder locomotives with conjugated valve gear, but they were converted to two cylinder for ease of maintenance years ago.

I belive the middle clyinder was worked by Henry Greenly's own design of valve gear, which is where the problems lay, if he'd stuck to pure Gresley i think the locos would of run far better!