A1 Pacific W P Allen

[stringbob1]

Hi, Can anyone out there give advise me, I weather model trains and am in possesion of a A1 pacific W P Allen which i want to weather but cannot find any colour pictures of her in her final days, does anyone remember if she got dirty at all.
Any response would be gratefully received.
Regards, Chris

[Flamingo]

Not in colour but this is 60114 in July 1964, still presentable I would say. It was withdrawn in December of that same year.

[stringbob1]

Hi, Thanx for that, at least i will have some sort of idea.
Regards, Chris

[redtoon1892]

Was this locomotive in B.R. experimental blue at one time ?. I seem to remember a colour plate in the Newnes Pictorial Knowlege encyclopedia volumes.

[Flamingo]

Blue livery was carried by all the A1s from about 1949 to 1952, but it wasn't the BR experimental shade of blue. It was the darker blue livery lined out in black and white used for the largest passenger engines on all regions at that time, even ex-GWR Kings and Bulleid Merchant Navies. A1s looked very impressive in that colour scheme.

[chaz harrison]

Well stringbob1, as I eventually weather all the models I buy or make I have faced similar problems. I think it goes something like this....

1 ideally you start with a colour picture of the particular engine.
2 failing that a colour picture of any engine of the same class in the right period
3 or any similar loco, in your case a green pacific (even a Duchess or a Castle is likely to get dirty in much the same way)
4 if you have to work from B & W photos, they are at least a help in where and how much dirt.

But bare in mind - dirt is not a fixed quantity - it built up, sometimes it was cleaned off. Depending on period the loco might be under the sort of regime that the A4s were at 34A - especially if they were to haul something prestigous (Pullman train etc) or they might be shedded at Gateshead.

I've just had a look through some colour albums with the hope of finding a colour snap of 60114 and what struck me is the variety of finishes that the pacifics had in use, everything from the sparkling ex-works to the downright disgusting, towards the end. I found one picture dated 1961 (in On Great Northern Lines by Derek Huntriss) - it's actually a picture of 60082, but the front end of 60114 is showing well, if rather grimy!

My advice? Find a picture of an A1 (or an A2 - the dirt would be much the same) in the condition that appeals and base your efforts on that.

Chaz

[stringbob1]

Hi Chaz, Really appreciate your positive comments, just hope i can find some coloured pics of other pacifics.
Regards, Chris

[52D]

I think W P Allen was one loco that would not be allowed to be dirty for long. As this loco was named after a railwayman and i hope cleaners would recognise this i dont think she would be allowed to get too dirty.

[61070]

There are plenty of A1 photos here, some colour:

http://a1slt.fotopic.net/c1411227.html

It's part of the A1 Steam Loco Trust website but not very clearly linked.

[stembok]

From memory Doncaster A1s were, - there would be some exceptions - often reasonably clean, even in steam's final days.I remember 60119/139 &149 on the shed withdrawn in mid-1964 and they were still fairly presentable, if not exactly pristine, compared ,say, with the grimy New England A3s at the time.