A4s valences

[Hornby Dublo]

If the silvers didnt run without valences when were the valences removed on the other A4s and why not the silvers.

[mick b]

All A4 valances were removed during WW2 to assist in maintenace, long after any were in Silver livery.

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

All A4s were painted blue after 1937 when it was decided that they looked best on Garter Blue. Silver Link had her original, square cornered, chrome pated nameplates (removed before she entered service) fitted at this point and the other "Silver" engines had them made but in brass with round corners.

Valences were removed during the War.

[60800]

If you are wishing to model Silver Link 'as built' then it covers the period of '35 till early '37.
Silver Link as modified in silver is therefore only accurate from early '37 till '38

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up, Blackout!

Are you referring here to the recessed front coupler?

If you are then certainly 2512 was built without it and the earlier locos brought into line as a matter of urgency over a period of a few weeks rather than months.

[60800]

Sure am BB, that and the water filler's streamlined casing

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

In which case, the water filler cowling mods came later. The couplers were modified during 1935. The mods were needed after a man was crushed between the front of an A4 and the coach of the train and were ordered by HM Railway Inspectorate.

You didn't argue with them back then, nor did you look for excuses....

[60800]

When I got my Hornby Silver Link I read up on the exact period that it was suitable for, and it turned out that it was only accurate for the majority of 1937 and early 1938, due to the cowling removal and then, evidently the livery change in 38

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

We're at cross purposes here, Blackout.

Check this out:

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=2509+s ... 9,r:0,s:10

You can see the coupler is deeply recessed at the front. This was altered after a man was trapped at Kings Cross in 1935 and it was a campaign change. The water filler cowl originally had "slots" either side which were filled in to stop them becoming a repository for spilled and unreachable coal.

[60800]

My bad, Silver Link as built is only appropriate for '35. Past that the current Hornby version is only accurate for '37 and a small tender modification would make it appropriate for '36 and early '37

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

No worries, Blackout - seriously Railway History is a complex subject and nobody knows everything. We all learn off each other!

[Hornby Dublo]

Ay up me duck Very interesting read,I dont want to alter the origanality of my HD A4 to much but i got it rough so ididnt feel guilty about repainting it and unless i put in the valences it will have to run unauthentic

[sirbrian]

I was interested to note that Blink Bonny pointed out above that Silver Fox 2512 when built did not have the original recessed front coupling. The photograph taken by my grandfather of this locomotive at Kings Cross when almost new and published with my posting under 'Gresley A4 photos' dated Jan. 31, 2009 showed the later front coupling, as now confirmed to be correct. Somebody had posted subsequent to my posting that the date of this photograph must be incorrect because this photograph did not show a recessed front coupling. My grandfather was a meticulous man and I am sure that he put the correct date on the back of the print that he gave me to keep when I was a boy. One more mystery has been solved! Thank you, Blink Bonny!!

Sir Brian

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up, Sir Brian.

2512 Quicksilver was the one built, I believe, without the recessed coupler. 2509 Silver Link, 2510 Silver Fox and 2511 Silver King were built with it and quickly altered.

[60800]

2512 Quicksilver, 2510 Silver Fox

Oh dear..... pull yourself together BB