GWR Dukedog - a wild goose chase and a trip to the darkside

[Andy W]

The answer about the number of the second dukedog is that there was no second dukedog delivered to the Bluebell!

9017, after withdrawal was kept at Oswestry and, after repairs in late 1961 was sent, in February 1962, to the Bluebell. It arrived, solo, at Old Oak Common on 14/2/62 and after an overnight stay went via Brighton shed (where it was turned) and then onto Bluebell metals. There are pictures of it at Brighton and going LE through Three Bridges.

All the other late (1957-60) withdrawals are recorded as c/u at Swindon, the last two being 9014 (wdn 25/10/60) c/u 4 w/e 3/12/60 and 9015 (wdn 17/6/60) c/u 4 w/e 31/12/60.

[60800]

Thanks for the official info. I'll update if I find the video

[Andy W]

I just nailed the photos I first saw some months ago, in a very idle moment at work - meal break guv'nor, honest!

From the Bluebell Website, I went to the Bluebell Railway Museum part which has an archive section, containing the photos of J.J.Smith, copies of which you can purchase. In the GWR section there are several pictures of the 15th February LE move, taken at East Croydon, Montpelier, Brighton and Three Bridges. There is a nice one of it turning on the table at Brighton.

It went onto the Bluebell at Horstead Keynes so presumably they needed it a certain way round, hence the trip via Brighton. Funny old world, the Bluebell are now thinking of putting in a turning triangle at Horstead Keynes, thanks to all the capping material recovered from their recent digging activities near East Grinstead.

Hope this helps.

[sawdust]

This loco has always stuck in my mind as I had jigsaw with picture of it on when I was little!

Sawdust.

[Mickey]

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[60800]

I just want to see Lode Star in steam. It's often said that the castles are perfectly proportioned, I diagree. I say that Lode Star is perfectly proportioned.

Anyway, an update on the wild goose chase

I found the video, or rather DVD. There was only one dukedog, but there are two things that could have lead me to think there were two, considering I haven't watched it in years. The first is that in the second to last scene there is a line up of locos behind the Dukedog, and the other more plausible reason is that the snippet, which is called 'Operation Dukedog' is included on a DVD about City of Truro, which is starkingly similar.

[52D]

I wonder if said Dukedog would be in gauge for ex LNER lines. I know City of Truro was but Castles were not pre electrification.
EDIT- GWR Castles.

[60800]

I think Bluebell and West Somerset are the only places it can run, unfortunately.

[Mickey]

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[60800]

You mean like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs2NPFkR8Xw
It's good, but it still dosen't top the 3 cylinder beat of Green Arrow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq316odf_Sk

[Mickey]

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[60800]

I think I might change the topic subject to 'A wild goose chase and a trip to the darkside'

[Mickey]

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[52D]

Gresley Was Right = simples

[Mickey]

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