The LNER Encyclopedia

Can anyone explain the curious policy during the very last years of steam of removing a loco's front number plate, shed plate and name plate (if not transferred to a diesel loco), while it was still in active service.

I've seen quite a few photos of WC/BBs, MNs, 5s, 8Fs and Britannias mutilated in this way. I can't remember seeing any ex-LNER locos like this.

What was the purpose of it? Bastardry and humiliation?

Wasn't the removal of the shed plate becuase they were pretty much placed anywhere they were needed on a regular basis rather than being stabled at a specific shed most of the time.

Regards

Karl

I assume it may have been due to the high risk of theft from people trying to get momentoes of the steam age, several locos had their names painted onto smoke deflectors etc, A good example of this is Oliver Cromwell, the painted names were discovered just recently underneath the nameplates.

The first loco to lose its nameplate officially was 46112 Sherwood Forester, when that name was given to a new Peak, D100. Thereafter they were pinched by enthusiasts, or removed by shed staff and sold "under the counter", before BR realised that a little bit of money could be made by selling them officially. I think, in the early sixties you could get an A3 for a fiver!

Incidentally, I have a garage full of East German and Polish numberplates, "purchased" for a few Deutschmarks.