Gresley A1 No 2551 'Prince Palatine'

[madgewildfire60135]

Hi all,
I recently purchased this fantastic glass plate negative for my collection and would like to know how I can find out when the engine was named? This plate came in a sleeve that was dated 1925 taken at Woolmer Green. We are trying to know if this is correct or if it was taken later but getting the naming would narrow it down.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/10257146@ ... otostream/

Thanks for any help....Simon

[Seagull]

Hello Simon,

The RCTS green books state that the decision to name the remainder of the A1 Pacifics was taken in early 1925.
Prior to this the only named engines were 4470 Great Northern, 4471 Sir Fredrick Banbury, 4472 Flying Scotsman (named Feb 1924)
2563 William Whitelaw (completed with name Aug 1924) & 2555 Centenary (completed with name Feb 1925 because it was the first engine [passenger locomotive?] built by Doncaster in 1925 the railway centenary year).

After the decision was made to name the rest the order is given as;-
4475 Flying Fox (named April 1925), 4479 Robert The Devil (named May 1925) 2562 Isinglas (completed with name Jul 1925)

Then the RCTS book states;-
'no more were dealt with until the following August (1925). Naming of the other forty-five engines then existing was spread over the next six months, the last to receive its name being No. 2566 Ladas in February 1926'

So 2551 was probably named sometime between August 1925 and February 1926.

That is a good picture. The vegitation on the cutting banks suggests mid-summer time to me as there are few flowers and it looks dry but not over cooked like it could be in late summer.

Alan

[giner]

Great photo! She's on the down main coming off the curve where four track running resumes after the Digswell bottleneck, and about to pass under the old Great North Road bridge. Photo taken from the east side embankment.

[JASd17]

I agree with Seagull, the date is more than likely to be later summer 1925.

I don't know when 2551 was named. From March 1925 it didn't go into the works until June 1926, according to Yeadon, by which time all were named.

There is a triplet set in the formation. At this date there were only 4 triplet Restaurant car sets on the LNER. 2 for the Flying Scotsman and 2 for the afternoon Scotsman.

Given the position of the sun, approx. 10.30am, 2551 is hauling the 10 am down. The fifth vehicle, without roofboards looks to be a GN carriage.

Leading is a Diagram 40 BTK, followed by 2 composites to Diagram 7.

The use of a Grantham loco is interesting, possibly a Grantham-KX-York-Grantham working for the loco? Was this normal for 1925, or covering for a KX loco?

John

[Colombo]

Simon,

According to Yeadon, 2551 was named in December 1925: owner T. Pilkington, winner of the 1911 St Leger.
Columbo

[LNER4479]

The use of a Grantham loco is interesting, possibly a Grantham-KX-York-Grantham working for the loco? Was this normal for 1925, or covering for a KX loco?
John

According to the Cawston book, Grantham did indeed have just such a diagram. Off shed at 4.50am to work last leg of Up sleeper service to KX. Thence the Flying Scotsman as far as York (crew change at Grantham), returning on the Up Flying Scotsman back to Grantham arr. 4.0pm. Obviously this was a pre-1928 diagram.