The LNER Encyclopedia

Prompted by BB's comment in another thread, where he bravely admits his first 'cab' was a Royal Scot class of the crimson persuasion, I thought it'd be a bit of fun and interest if others would tell us which was the first loco they'd 'cabbed'. Are you up for it boys and girls?

Just to start off, my first was Green Arrow herself on a sunny Sunday morning in 1948 at Top Shed. (Sorry, blackout, I can see you drooling from here ).

Blue Peter@NYMR.

giner wrote:my first was Green Arrow herself on a sunny Sunday morning in 1948 at Top Shed. (Sorry, blackout, I can see you drooling from here ).

60800 was my first 'cab' too, at Scarborough back in 2001

If we're also on about cab rides and not just going in a 'live' loco's cab, then my first was 61994 'The Great Marquess' (an equally powerful and beautiful loco) at Barrow Hill in a light drizzle last weekend (16/04/12)

A J11, circa 1950, on pilot work at Grimsby, uncle was the driver.

Only one i've been in whilst moving was an armoured 2 foot gauge Simplex Petrol Locomotive from WW1, the one that was on Salvage Squad years ago, great fun! Aside from that it's just been static, a Jinty and a 4MT 2-6-0 whilst in steam and the rest in museums - aside from the Simplex the only non-steam one is the ES1 a couple of weeks ago which I'm very happy about still

No:1 - January 1993 - for a small donation, I spent a morning in the cab of 4472 Flying Scotsman on the Great Central Railway;
No:2 - 14 November 1993 - same arrangement, same venue, but 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley that time;
No:3 - 7 October 2008 - 65mph testing on the GCR in the cab of 60163 Tornado.

If only Blue Peter could be put back in working order, I'd be able to complete my own personal "Fab Four"!

Cab rides at Carnforth in about 1974 on that engine having rather a lot of money spent on it currently.

Flying Scotsman.

Hmm.

1st engine I rode on: Probably 69023 Joem though could have been one of ex-Stewarts and Lloyd's "Ugly" 0-6-0STs. I was miffed at it being "only" a small tank engine!

Only engine I've driven - 45212. And yes, that is my sign in over the Dark Side. Yup, I'm "outed!"

The engine I have most "miles" on - 43924.

The one I regretted missing a cab ride in - 80002, though I did TTC a train hauled by it at a Worth Valley gala. I guess the ride in the North York Moor's 80135 will have to do.

Best one I've ridden on? 92220.

The one I'd most like to ride? An A4 I reckon.

68599, Lincoln Central pilot, 1959.

I've ridden an A4 in the cab (albeit, shortly at Barrow Hill)

Green Arrow is still my most travelled steam loco, from two Scarborough Spa Expresses. Second would be Bittern (Barrow hill and NYMR), third would be Sir Nigel Gresley (NYMR)

1st footplate ride Ivatt 4MT 2-6-0 no 43027 both ways on the Langham branch

2nd 35008 Orient Line from the depths of Eastleigh shed into the yard for photos and back again

In more recent times 34016 Bodmin, several times, 31874 (N class) and T9 30120 all on the Mid Hants, probably about 30 years ago. (Doesn't time fly???)

60103, Flying Scotsman, at the Llangollen Railway. I wish I could remember the driver's name, but alas, I was a mere 6 years old at the time. He was very kind and let me and my father on the footplate while she sat at the platform with the demonstration goods train.

Cabbed in inverted commas because it didn't really have one! L&MR "Lion" in 1975ish at Dinting.

Nice wide selection of locos there, gents. Boy, I'd love to ride the footplate of one of our big 'uns at some sort of speed like some of you fellows have.

The only moving rides I've ever managed were a couple of leisurely strolls down from the bufferstops to the end of the platform at Kings Cross as a pacific backed out after its train had been taken away. Two A1's come to mind, 60132 Marmion and 60133 Pommern.

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