Golden Fleece 4495 built August 1937

[kimballthurlow]

Hi,
I am detailing two OO gauge models of this locomotive, one green and one blue, and am unclear about livery changes.
I have as reference David Clarke's book from 2005, Locomotives in Detail - A4 (Ian Allan).

The book has a b/w photo of 4495 in blue, with stainless steel tender lettering LNER, and engine number on the cabside.
It is unclear if the locomotive has the stainless steel strip at the lower valance edge.
Does any person know if the loco ever carried this strip?

When built, the locomotive was painted green, and the book says it was painted blue only one month later.
I assume this is a mis-print, and was likely re-painted one year later.
Does any person know if the stainless steel lettering and number was used when painted green?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

regards
Kimball Thurlow

[Danby Wiske]

4495 started life as 'Great Snipe', painted green, but was very soon repainted blue and renamed 'Golden Fleece' in order to haul the 'West Riding Limited' (the LNER's 3rd streamlined train). The stainless steel trim would have been applied at this time.
If you google 'LNER 4495', there are a couple of photos online which clearly show the stainless steel valance edge.
The name 'Great Snipe' was subsequently used for 4462, so the plates didn't go to waste!

[STAFFORDA4]

Sorry to say the book to which you refer seems to contain a few errors and I wouldnt rate it by any means. Try, if you can, to get hold of a copy of The Pacific Bible, in other words part 2A of the RCTS Locomotives of the LNER
Plus the Yeadons Register for the A4s. You can find reasonably priced copies of both at swap meets and such like. Invaluable info contained in both

[kimballthurlow]

Thank you both, Danby and Stafford.

I appreciate that information, and will modify my paint schedule accordingly.
The fact that Great Snipe was used, greatly complicates my ideas, but if I go ahead it will make a good talking point.
Particularly if I do GS in green, and the subsequent GF in blue, both having the same number!!!

Yes, I know about RCTS and Yeadons, but have never seen either in Australia. Though I think a UK auction house has a set at this moment.

regards
Kimball

[Mercator II]

Hey

As I also don't have the (or any) Yeadons volumes, far too many and money for my pockets currently and space to shelve them, I found these articles written by Mel Haugh very useful

http://www.sirnigelgresley.org.uk/a4name/a4names.shtml

Part 3 covers liveries

HTH

[kimballthurlow]

Hi Brian,
Thank you for the referral to the Gresley website.
It makes very interesting reading, and those particular articles were written by a true wordsmith.

I am indebted to you.
regards
Kimball Thurlow

[Mercator II]

Hi Brian,
Thank you for the referral to the Gresley website.
It makes very interesting reading, and those particular articles were written by a true wordsmith.

I am indebted to you.
regards
Kimball Thurlow

Your very welcome

[STAFFORDA4]

Golden Fleece was the only A4 I never copped. It seems that it eluded me whenever I was at the lineside at Darlington or Newcastle in the early 60s.
However having spoken to numerous old "gadgies" over the years I think No; 4 William Whitelaw was the most elusive. Is that really the case? And why?

[harvester]

If you are south of Newcastle to our 1950/60s young minds the rarest Haymarket A4's were the ones that were least favourites for the Elizabethan, 60004 certainly being one. As with the A1's and A3's you had to wait for them to have a "Plant" visit.

[kimballthurlow]

Golden Fleece was the only A4 I never copped. It seems that it eluded me whenever I was at the lineside at Darlington or Newcastle in the early 60s.
However having spoken to numerous old "gadgies" over the years I think No; 4 William Whitelaw was the most elusive. Is that really the case? And why?

Maybe both 60030 and 60004 were destined to be will-o-the-wisp (wraith-like) creatures, because both started life as Great Snipe (4495 and 4462), but had a name change.

It is said that of all the A4 machines, 60018 Sparrow Hawk was the least photographed.

Kimball