The LNER Encyclopedia

Well now,

Here's an idea I'd like to float with everyone. In an effort to lighten up things, why don't we have everyone tell us what their favourite LNER loco is, and why?

I know it's nostalgic (what's wrong with that), totally subjective (best way), but it's harmless fun and I think we all need to get a little less serious (me especially), and engage in a little lighthearted contest as who can give the best reasons ( and mainly because I'm sick of hearing about "Tornado").

RULES:
1). It can be any loco built, or designed by the LNER CMEs, or any of it's constituent, pre-grouping CMEs.
2). The reasons can be anything; technical specs, performance, nostalgia, you once fired one, you like the look,....any reason at all (but all reasons must be stated.......in full).
3). I suppose as it was an LNER design.....we would allow "Tornado".
4). Electric locos, units, and experimental locos (even diesels) can be included.
5). NO STANDARD CLASS LOCOS.
6). Anything from 1825 to......let's say 1950 (we could be flexible about this).
7). Nobody is to be slagged off, chastised, or otherwise made fun of because of their choice.
. It's not a debate.........just a chance for everyone to state their preference and why.
9). IT'S FUN.........THE WAY LIFE IS SUPPOSED TO BE.


How about it everyone?
I, for one, have my favourite,...........and I can give reasons.

Shall we? If noone is interested then I'll drop it. I'm just interested to hear what you all have to say.

Malcolm

Ok my favourite locomotive

Well What I can say is I have a group of favourite locos the A1s and A2s

I would have to say if forced, it's the Pepps A1s, I think they are magnificent, I have two on my layout

and I would have to say 60130 is my favourite, I have running often on top link work

I think Kestrel is such a nice name, but to behonest, with 50 locos to choose from, I could go with any.

So yeah favourite engine is A1 Class 60130 'Kestrel'

Well my car reg starts with V2, my e mail addresses - one has 940 the other has 964 included. There must be a clue there! Many happy memories going back too far for my own comfort, fully fitted freight in a howling gale and rain, expresses doing over 80 with Captain Blast. Soooooooooo boring, but I loved every minute.

V2 4771 Green Arrow, as on a Sunday morning visit to Kings Cross shed in 1948 with my dad and my uncle Jim, who was a fireman, we got a short ride on the footplate during a yard movement of some sort. If I can sneak in another one, then A1 60133 Pommern gets a mention as my mate and I managed to get a ride reversing out to the end of platform 6 at the Cross one afternoon. Happy days.

G5s any of them including the new build ooze class and charm. A close run thing between them and any Wordsell 2-4-2T.

My choice of engine is A3 60107 Royal Lancer.

An engine of a fine class; my choice in this engine was that I though the name and the type of locomotive fitted quite well.

Although in essence, I like every steam locomotive.

Sorry Dudes, I'm a bit biased toward the NER.
Even though I've never seen one (only photos and old newsreels) my favourite is:

Raven 'A2' pacific 2400 "City of Newcastle"

My Grandfather described them as "real beasts of machines". My father had a fondness for the D49, and I have great memories of J27s and Q6s, but I still like the big, steam breathing monsters. If this were a worldwide poll I'd go for the T1 "Duplex" locos of the Pennsylvania Railroad of the USA.

Raven pacifics had limited route availability, and were stretched C7s, but in my opinion were fine looking locomotives (they must have been a bitch to fire, though).

Malcolm

The Raven A2, Gresley A1, A4 and V2, all big fine, powerful and good looking, but the best of the lot must be P2 2001 Cock o' The North as originally built.
What a beauty, just wish I could have seen it!

Been thinking about this all day during a little trip over to the Isle of Wight - btw, my trains all on time today and well loaded, 159s, 450s, 2VECs, 158s and Voyagers so no sooo boring nostalgia there, except for the 1938 stock on the island, heroically maintained at St Johns Road (get a visit in soon as they can't last forever) - and my nomination has to be the V2, despite my fondness for other LNER locomotives. Reason?
Looks, versatility and being generally well thought of by the men who drove, fired, and maintained them to say nothing of the operators when they needed motive power.

On my shortlist I'd have the A4s, V2s, K3s, J72s, J15s and yes, the autocars... I just think they look nice and in the case of the first three, were powerful beasts too. I'd be hard put to give good reasons why them and not a dozen others, it's just there's something about those six that grab my attention. It's close, but I think my favourite class has to be the K3s. My favourite loco though is Green Arrow - I don't intend to even try to explain. And my favourite livery is LNER Green - Doncaster or Darlington - it just looks so right. And from a photographic point of view, so much easier to photograph than BR black or dark green.

I'm just taking their sounds into account here and from that point of view my clear favourite has to be the Gresley V2. In particular it would be on a summer's evening, listening to a 50A (York) V2 slogging up the 1 in 200 towards Greenwood box with the evening York Goods, a heavy train of 50 or more fitted vans and containers. We could hear it coming from the moment the train emerged from Oakleigh Park tunnel, which meant we would enjoy several minutes of that unforgettable 3-cylinder rhythm. To my ear that will always be the true V2 sound. The regular on the beat noise which 4771 Green Arrow produces now is too perfect. V2s just didn't sound that way in the 1950s.

If I can have a second choice it would be the moment when an A4 dives into a tunnel, say Hadley South or Potter's Bar, and the note from its chime whistle rises in pitch for a brief fleeting instant as the sound hits the roof of the tunnel and is reflected back again. Also unforgettable for those who were fortunate enough to hear and remember it.

Right you are, flamingo. I loved that difference in pitch from the chime of an A4 diving into Southgate Tunnel, down the road from your old patch.

Another favourite of mine were the NB Scotts, fond memories of them coming off the Kelso Branch into Tweedmouth before they were displaced by those horrible standards. (Showing my age again)!

Nothing wrong with that 52A.

Another two of my favourites (this time personal experience from the days of my youth) are the J72s chuffing around the Central station in Newcastle, and those wonderful A8s on the Whitby and Saltburn lines.

I see the V2s are rapidly becoming the most popular (good choice I must say), and I am really enjoying reading all your posts. Cheerful and happy memories. That's more like it.

Malcolm

Nothing wrong with a chuffing J72 either! Again more fond memories of Central pilots and blasting up onto Norwood staithes.