Favourite LNER Locomotive

[52D]

With regard to my posting above one of may favourite railway pics shows a Wordsell 2-4-2T standing at Tweedmouth in the 1920s before heading for Kelso. Its a bit of an echo of 52As posting.

[geoffshumba]

This is a difficult one. Fond memories of North Blyth Q6s, Newcastle pilot J72 as well, and my favourite regular from the past, J27. A4 always a thrill to see, however, for their sheer graceful looks, the most beautiful locomotive ever built, V2.

[berwickspotter]

any A4 or V2 for me

[billdonald]

As a life-long NE electric lad, it has to be the ES1 locomotives. As a kid in early fifties Newcastle watching the constant procession of steam and electric trains from the dock platform at Trafalgar South yard in the company of my equally enthusiastic grandad, the sudden and silent appearance of the ES1 from the tunnel always caught my breath. They looked so completely different from anything else on the railway, they way they moved so quickly, purposely and quietely - like a black cat hunting down a bird - I was captivated for life. A discrete word from grandad to driver, lifted and plonked on to a rickety stool in the cab, and an engine-length of a journey and the rest was history...

As a spiritual favoutite, the ill-fated No.13 electric locomotive pips the Gresley Cock O' the North in to second place. It is to my eternal regret that I missed this magnificent piece of railway history, being born in the year she was scrapped.

Bill Donald
Dublin, Ireland

[CHRIS LNER]

I have always liked Ivatt`s C1 atlantics,a very elegant design, also the Gresleys K3 were well proportioned locomotives.

regards Chris

[williamfj2]

Hello
I have always liked the V2's and the B1's due to their impressive mixed traffic credentials and the A8's as they were local engines to me unfortunatly none have survived and I am too young to have being around when they were

[Ultimo Tiger]

I always thought the A2/2 rebuilds of the P2 were magnificant even if in service they weren't as distinguished as some of their smaller brothers and sisters. They look big and powerful which is what you expect from the LNER. I'm glad they didn't add smoke deflectors to them as I think this would have taken away from the size perception.

The LNER U1 Garrat is quite nifty too even though that wasn't a storming success by any means.

[VIC HALOM]

Silver King.
I think, '62 or '63.

Bank Top, platform 4, in she came on a parcels.

I seem to remember she sounded ok but was absolutely grafted! Even filthier than a W.D., which was hard to beat for dirt.
We cabbed her, then watched it head north. We got the next train, (as we were going for a look to see what came into Newcastle from Edinburgh, I never, ever, saw Willie Whitelaw), passed her and cabbed her again in Newcastle.

The last, fond memory of North Eastern steam before I joined the Navy.

[Tom F]

Silver King.
I think, '62 or '63.

Bank Top, platform 4, in she came on a parcels.

I seem to remember she sounded ok but was absolutely grafted! Even filthier than a W.D., which was hard to beat for dirt.
We cabbed her, then watched it head north. We got the next train, (as we were going for a look to see what came into Newcastle from Edinburgh, I never, ever, saw Willie Whitelaw), passed her and cabbed her again in Newcastle.

The last, fond memory of North Eastern steam before I joined the Navy.

what a wonderful story Vic, from someone who never saw steam on main lines, it's lovely to hear tales like this

[hyperion]

I've just read through here with great delight. But I see the last post was just a week ago - but I must have a little say here.

Look at my user name ! - the only one I never ever saw. Reading through these posts, I must admit, has made my allegiance waver a bit - but no, the A3 was and always will be the best and greatest for me. In general, well, just look at one ! Mechanical Grace and Elegance personified ! I have a picture of 111, much enlarged, on which this laptop stands; at Grantham with a full head, waiting to take over a down express - always inspiring when I can't think of the next word ! But my first recollection of a steam engine at all was in about 1948, on Darlington Bank (Vic Halom note), going home from the annual holiday in Trimdon where me mam was from, Darlo's up platform is concave and on this day was pretty packed, the engine appeared at the north end, then disappeared in the 'dip', hidden by the crowd until with hiss of valves and safeties, the Gresley rodclank, that stink of hot oil and metal, fireman leaning nonchalantly at his cab window, she swept so close by me - 'Sceptre' - 60069 - before my bewitched eyes - and I've been hooked ever since.

I was born a Potters Barbarian, up the road, top of the bank from 'Flamingo' and 'Giner', and also remember that Gresley beat which was often audible from home when the wind was right, as they burst out of Potters Bar tunnel and blasted through the station and on to the wonderful NORTHLANDS. My regular beat in those far off days was between Potters Bar and Brookmans Park, along the linepath, where the rails were right alongside and I walked daily as all those wonderful LNER (well, BR(E)) locos worked by - and always the A3s were best. I seem to have run mesel' outa room unless there's a way of continuing I don't know about ????

[Bullhead]

Truly poetic stuff there, Hyperion - I really enjoyed reading that!

Your description of watching Sceptre reminds me of that wonderful scene in "Empire of the Sun", when the young protagonist (whose name I forget) has that rooftop epiphany as the P51s flash past. I recall standing on Settle station with Dame Bullhead some years ago as 60532 charged through with a northbound special, and - somewhat emotionally, I confess - turning to her and saying, "...and that is why I'm a railwayman". I think she understood.

[hyperion]

Thanks Bullhead, but they can get you that way can't they ! Clambering up that bank from Grosmont is one of my favourites nowadays - or standing openmouthed on Goathland station when they come into the platform full-regulator - and haveto stop! Like coming into platform 16 at the Cross many, many years ago - but not with an A4 !

My latest pleasure is to have got a Hyperion junior interested. He videoed 163 coming away from Potters Bar on the Pullman that coupla weeks ago and although I spoiled it, I think, by breathing 'Oh Boy' into the mike - I didn't realise I'd said it - he can't wait for Bittern on 4th July, thoroughly enjoyed it. But Mrs Hyperion - no chance - but I lives in hope !

[chainsaw18648]

I've got to go with the gresley experimental engine's, the Hush Hush and the P2 class, Cock of the North, Mons Meg et al, simply because of the forward thinking that went into them as well as their looks which were stunning, its not often even today to see something that good as a prototype. I also love tornado to death

[wild swan]

I like all the LNER Pacifics also the Frieght locos but my most favorite is A3 pacific Flying Scotsman...

[Deltic18]

For me, it would have to be a Q6. Just the sound of one pounding up a bank brings the hairs on the back of my neck up.

Keith