A gorgeous and beautiful looking engine by far! Churchward would be immensely proud that his beloved Saint Class lives on in the 21st century! He’s no doubtlessly watching above with the train gods! It was just an utter shame that he died in the way that he did while examining a loose rail. He was hit by the Paddington to Fishguard Express which ironically was being pulled by the Berkeley Castle, a development of one of his own designs from memory. Every GWR engine preserved, preserves his memory and his enormous contribution to the GWR. Not to mention his successors who also made valuable contributions to the company. Long live God’s Wonderful Railway! Awesome video mate and thanks for sharing! Cheers Caleb
Its great to see a different type of GWR tenwheeler on the rails again, how Ironic that we were just at the Z new build open day! SHE'S ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!
How great to see the SOUTHERNER channel paying such a glowing tribute to a GREAT WESTERN engine! I have seen a Saint locomotive in action at last!! What a premier performance!
Me and my fiancée has been here last week its fantastic all day we're love it! Can't remember it when am age 11-12 at the Didcot Railway Centre but now am 34 and am deaf it's so amazing sound old steam trains unlike the diesel and electric trains... Definitely back again next time in future.
What an exceeding beautiful engine. With those lines it could only be a lady, and an Edwardian one at that. The one I've been waiting for is the Brighton Atlantic, but i have to admit, this one is even better looking. Huge shout out to everyone at Didcot!
What a wonderful sight of a SAINT once again on GWR metals. As a boy living near Paddington Station I was lucky enough on rare occasions to see a SAINT bringing in coaching stock for an express.
I fear this might be the only newbuilt steamer to be completed this year Others are still in either pieces being smelted, with boiler work beginning or original pieces being searched
@@theextremeanimator4721 TheExtremeGamer Not enough people wanting to keep it alive. The crews say it is not worth working on because it only runs from NRM to SAAM and back a distance of about 500m about twice a year. I personally think that she shoudl continued to be worked on as she is the only full size steamer in Adelaide!Once her 100th is over, she will almost certainly be put to bed one last time and neither her or the redhens will be running for the annual fun fair formerly Day out with thomas the train. We must help save her before she becomes another lost soul in the railway world!
Magnificent achievement and congratulations to all concerned! Wonderful to see such an iconic design back on the rails. Hope to see her and ride behind her on the mainline. I have a sneaking suspicion that Churchward locomotives have an edge in performance over their Collett successors.
Yay, the legend lives! Now all we need is to get 6880, 45555, 1014, and 2007 finished and we'll have an entire fleet of new builds! P.S. the valve timing on 2999 needs to be fixed.
@@AustNRail It's been constructed mainly from parts off donor engines, boiler and frames are all modified, I think the driving wheels and cab are new. Tender is an old underframe with new superstructure.
As Nigel says, it's sort of both a New-Build, and a conversion/rebuild. The Saint has been built using many existing parts from other locos, including large amounts (e.g. Frames) from 4942 "Maindy Hall".
@@astromotive6047 Yes, but the man who owned that 8F specifically said the engine was not going to be scrapped or pieced out.....Guess what happened, he scrapped the frames and donated the boiler to the County project.... Irony in it is that BECAUSE of that, the New-build County is going to end up being more Eastern than Western at the end of the day!
Thank you. We can rely on you for steady shots and meaningful editing. I saw some real shockers before I found this, some people shouldn't be allowed out with cameras.
My thoughts exactly, for such a prestigious project that’s a very shabby job :/ Sounds like it has been done in a hurry. ‘We’ve got four openings, good enough’ ..
I'm an LNER fan myself (though when I was very young I loved the GWR as well), and I have to say, it looked very convincing, didn't it? Shuttling up and down the Running Line like that; once it has its' number and lining, she'll look a treat. Though if she'd had only the single headlamp, then it would have been even more convincing to me; like she's fresh out of the works some time in the 1930's, and doing some semi-fasts and stopping trains to get 'run-in'.
Made my one off visit to Didcot Railway, Locomotive 2999 Lady of Legend in full steam up, blank coal tender without GWR-BR symbol, expensive trip from St Leonards on sea
Yeah, R I G H T !! Damn those ugly Connies, Pennsy K4s with their Belpair fire boxes, Big Boys, N&W y6bs, fancy, early Americans, Atlantics, mamouth FEFs, old Yardbirds, Shays, and the hansom NYC Hudson !! What WERE we ever thinking !! ? No ! You sir need to Utube US RR steam videos then have your American head examined !!
We decided that function came over appearance in most cases, and therefore we let our locomotives become ugly heaps of exposed pipework and frames. Sure, we had some of the most powerful steam engines in the world, but they sure didnt look good doing it
If I close my eyes I hear an H 0-4-4T chuffing up the gradients of the Oxted line in 1957. Obviously Tonbridge shed were not too fussy about that sort of thing if the loco did the job, which it did. Very unusual to hear a piston-valve GW loco so far out and I trust it'll be rectified.
Actually, the Railmotor is technically a 'New-Build' in the same respect of the 'Saint'. As the 'Saint' was converted from a 'Hall' class, the Railmotor was converted out of an Autocoach.
Apparently these are more reliable than the new crappy Euro locos they are producing! Put them in service! Cor shes blowing a bit heavy there 😮 lovely to see her rolling! Hope they get her sorted out for next years Cathedrals Express mainline excursions!
Still not a fan of the half-cab but she definitely looks beautiful. Is it too much to ask for her to run along the sea wall at Dawlish with the Torbay Express?
Beautiful. Once it's been completely finished (lined out). It needs to stretch its legs on the main line, or is it just for running on preserved lines.
Better off e-mailing the Great Western Society with that inquiry. Though its operation will obviously depend on members of the public digging into their pockets.
No, it can be moved. Just requires a bit of elbox grease because steam is still being admitted into the cylinders and you are trying to alter that flow
@@StaxRail Thanks. A bit of linkage to lift as well. Not easy to do in that sparse cab with no doors doing 70mph. Staggers me how they managed when there were no cabs, in driving sleet and hail!
Does anyone know why the chuffing is uneven? Like normally for a steam loco it’s 4 evenly spaced chuffs per driver rotation but in this case it’s an uneven 4 chuffs; almost sounds like a gallup.
And some support for a new build Raven /gresley A8 Tank pacific 9895 LNER No or earlier Number of 1551 one would come in very handy for tourist train on the north east
Simply stating that these things don't come cheap, so if people want to see it on the mainline, then those people will have to dig deep and donate. That's not confrontational. I also find it belittling to the hard work of all the people involved, when members of public forums start suggesting what they 'should' or 'had better' do with their own locomotive.
TheExtremeGamer they are not angry as it is not a race but it is about building something that can be admired by future generations please do not act like that and say it is a race as that is when people make mistakes they will take as much time as is need to complete the project to the standard that they feel is right. Look at the patriot that had a huge set back as parts of it were made incorrectly so they had to go back an make new ones they did not just carry on and say that it would do.
I don't doubt "Pre-Collett" GWR locomotives for their technical prowess, I've never liked the way they look. Their ridiculously small cabs just look way out of proportion to the size of the locomotive. Aside from the fact it offered pitiful crew comfort against the elements and a miserably small working space on the footplate.
You've got Dai Woodham to thank for that. 🙂 Besides, anything is better than that green LNER 'Flying Moneypit' thing that's been hogging the limelight for the last couple of years. At least 'Tornado' is back to provide some competition for it!
I preferred it in shiny black. Should've kept it in that. Nevertheless, can't wait to see it running somewhere with a decent length of line like the SVR or GWSR.
I'm sure it'll appear in some shade of Black at some point, after all the loco has got a long life ahead of it now. But ultimately, the decision rests with the owners.
Don't you think that there are more than enough locos in preservation painted black as it is? No way! 😡 The only livery for the Saint is the Edwardian, fully lined out style.
@@TheSouthernerYTChannel So am I. And don't get me wrong, I think it looks great whatever livery it's wearing. I'd only take issue if they did something like paint it purple with yellow stripes
I still can't get behind British locos having no headlight, no pilot (cow catcher) and such stubby cabs.. I mean what was done in torrential rains, freezing weather and snow storms ? What if a bolder had fallen on the track in the dark or a bridge had collapsed ? Never say never...Sorry, but, just because most their trackage was fenced in, running at night with no illumination of what's ahead is plumb dangerous.. Non the less, this is a pretty engine and I do like to watch Brit rail vids... M, Los Angeles
Different practices for different sides of 'the pond'. 1) Headlights; In British practice, locomotives are given headlamps. However, typically their arrangement would indicate what route/service the locomotive would be working. 2) Cab protection; Admittedly, GWR cabs are noted for being very exposed. However, 'storm sheets' are stored within the storage cupboard in the tender, which can be fitted for running in poor weather. 3) Cow-Catcher; With so much of the UK Rail network fenced off, the likelihood of intrusion is significantly lower. However, a standard feature on nearly all British locomotives is the inclusion of 'Guard Irons' in-front of the leading wheels (3:17), which would remove small obstructions from the rail head before going under the wheels.
Perhaps some genius could explain the point of leaving the cylinder cocks open for more than one or two revolutions of the wheels, apart from wasting money and making the whole thing look like its being run by incompetent amateurs No GWR or BR driver would ever have wasted steam so stupidly and pointlessly and would not have lasted long if they insisted on being so foolish
The demonstration line at Didcot is roughly 1/3rd of a mile long, if that. On such short runs, with frequent stops, and a lot of time sat stationary, the amount of condensation building in the cylinders would be significantly higher than that of a loco on a consistent run. As such, to avoid any risk of allowing the condensation to build up, and subsequently risk damaging the loco, I suspect it would be easier to leave them open - rather than forgetting to open them, and blowing a cylinder. Also, with only 3 coaches on the back, it's hardly a strenuous load.
I saw Lady of Legend today, even to this day she is still a beautiful locomotive. Outstanding video mate!
What a great day in steam locomotive history and a credit to all involved. Thanks for posting! Cheers. Ken
A gorgeous and beautiful looking engine by far! Churchward would be immensely proud that his beloved Saint Class lives on in the 21st century! He’s no doubtlessly watching above with the train gods!
It was just an utter shame that he died in the way that he did while examining a loose rail. He was hit by the Paddington to Fishguard Express which ironically was being pulled by the Berkeley Castle, a development of one of his own designs from memory. Every GWR engine preserved, preserves his memory and his enormous contribution to the GWR. Not to mention his successors who also made valuable contributions to the company. Long live God’s Wonderful Railway!
Awesome video mate and thanks for sharing! Cheers Caleb
It is a shame the Churchward died. He would have loved to see lady of legend emerge after years of hard work.
Couldn’t agree more James! Hear, hear!
Its great to see a different type of GWR tenwheeler on the rails again, how Ironic that we were just at the Z new build open day! SHE'S ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!
How great to see the SOUTHERNER channel paying such a glowing tribute to a GREAT WESTERN engine! I have seen a Saint locomotive in action at last!! What a premier performance!
she looked absolutely beautiful with the Victorian stock at the end
What a joy to behold! I remember when this project began, it is so wonderful to see it come to fruition: thanks for posting!
And just like that, another new build locomotive is complete!
Me and my fiancée has been here last week its fantastic all day we're love it! Can't remember it when am age 11-12 at the Didcot Railway Centre but now am 34 and am deaf it's so amazing sound old steam trains unlike the diesel and electric trains... Definitely back again next time in future.
What an exceeding beautiful engine. With those lines it could only be a lady, and an Edwardian one at that.
The one I've been waiting for is the Brighton Atlantic, but i have to admit, this one is even better looking. Huge shout out to everyone at Didcot!
What a wonderful sight of a SAINT once again on GWR metals. As a boy living near Paddington Station I was lucky enough on rare occasions to see a SAINT bringing in coaching stock for an express.
Of course the Halls came and beat them up.
But I imagine a meeting with this lady and any of the hall classes
Brilliant! Wonderful and the coaches are glorious too.
Spectacular video. Nice to see her completed.
Thanks very much! Hoping to see much more of her over the coming years.
@@TheSouthernerYTChannel Same. Hopefully, depending on Didcot's intentions, she can travel around. But, that's up to them, they built her after all.
A credit to all involved. Hopefully 2019 is shaping up to be a big year for new build steam
I fear this might be the only newbuilt steamer to be completed this year
Others are still in either pieces being smelted, with boiler work beginning or original pieces being searched
The Nrm's Perrone only has one driver caring for it once hes gone Perrone will go static so 2019 is not all good sadly!
@@VT29steamtrain why would they static it again?
@@theextremeanimator4721 TheExtremeGamer Not enough people wanting to keep it alive. The crews say it is not worth working on because it only runs from NRM to SAAM and back a distance of about 500m about twice a year. I personally think that she shoudl continued to be worked on as she is the only full size steamer in Adelaide!Once her 100th is over, she will almost certainly be put to bed one last time and neither her or the redhens will be running for the annual fun fair formerly Day out with thomas the train. We must help save her before she becomes another lost soul in the railway world!
@@VT29steamtrain that's cruel....
The coaching stock behind 2999 is a joy to behold.
Because it's actually from it's time when the originals were still around
They did this the Great Western way instead of the wrong way.
There is something about a GWR steam locomotive that makes your heart sing and make you smile.
Magnificent achievement and congratulations to all concerned! Wonderful to see such an iconic design back on the rails. Hope to see her and ride behind her on the mainline. I have a sneaking suspicion that Churchward locomotives have an edge in performance over their Collett successors.
Well done you GW guys. What a fine loco!
Very good, it's great to see another locomotive class on the line.
Thanks. Certainly looks like a cracking loco.
I've literally fell in love with life!!!!! Out if all GWR 4-6-0 Locos the saint is my favourite, closely followed by the County.
Looks like you'll be a satisfied customer in the not-too-distant future.
God bless these engines.... !!!
Greetings from East Germany...
Fantastic. I didn't even know it was close to completion.
Thanks.
Just need the old GWR Crest, and she will look shiny.
All in good time
Yay, the legend lives!
Now all we need is to get 6880, 45555, 1014, and 2007 finished and we'll have an entire fleet of new builds!
P.S. the valve timing on 2999 needs to be fixed.
They are aware of the Valve timing. Lack of time leading up to the launch led to it not being rectified.
So its not just me that noticed the valve timing then. It sounds really sick.
New builds? Is this a restoration or a brand new engine?
@@AustNRail It's been constructed mainly from parts off donor engines, boiler and frames are all modified, I think the driving wheels and cab are new. Tender is an old underframe with new superstructure.
As Nigel says, it's sort of both a New-Build, and a conversion/rebuild.
The Saint has been built using many existing parts from other locos, including large amounts (e.g. Frames) from 4942 "Maindy Hall".
Absolutely Beautiful. Thanks so much.
The camera doesn't do it justice. I'm glad you like the video.
My Grandfather was a GWR engineman before the Great War so it is possible he worked on her earlier sisters, such a graceful locomotive.
I was wondering about the valve timing, I thought maybe it was an oddity of the Saint class. Anyway they've done a cracking job.
Hope she gets a mainline turn one day, one of those thumping between exeter and penzance again would be incredible
That was awesome! Mr. B.
Superb photography ☺
Thank you :)
It's alive!
Just waiting for the Hawksworth county now. Joking, this is great
As well as the new GWR 6800 being built, and then we'd have all Great Western ten wheelers preserved.
Yes, the new build County that makes use of the last surviving LNER-built 8F boiler..... LOTS of controversy with that one...
@@eddierools yeah, I have mixed feelings, but I would rather see it put to use instead of languishing on its rusting frames
@@astromotive6047 Yes, but the man who owned that 8F specifically said the engine was not going to be scrapped or pieced out.....Guess what happened, he scrapped the frames and donated the boiler to the County project.... Irony in it is that BECAUSE of that, the New-build County is going to end up being more Eastern than Western at the end of the day!
Thank you. We can rely on you for steady shots and meaningful editing. I saw some real shockers before I found this, some people shouldn't be allowed out with cameras.
Once they've got the valves set properly, anyway.
All in good time, I'm sure.
@@TheSouthernerYTChannel It that why it is going ONE, two three four!
Yes.
Almost sounds like a Bullied Pacific!
My thoughts exactly, for such a prestigious project that’s a very shabby job :/ Sounds like it has been done in a hurry. ‘We’ve got four openings, good enough’ ..
I'm an LNER fan myself (though when I was very young I loved the GWR as well), and I have to say, it looked very convincing, didn't it? Shuttling up and down the Running Line like that; once it has its' number and lining, she'll look a treat. Though if she'd had only the single headlamp, then it would have been even more convincing to me; like she's fresh out of the works some time in the 1930's, and doing some semi-fasts and stopping trains to get 'run-in'.
I.....can't believe this....happened just yesterday......
YYYEEEEEESSSS!!!
Made my one off visit to Didcot Railway, Locomotive 2999 Lady of Legend in full steam up, blank coal tender without GWR-BR symbol, expensive trip from St Leonards on sea
A prime example as to why your British steam will always be superior to my American steam. They did a beautiful job with her.
Yeah, R I G H T !! Damn those ugly Connies, Pennsy K4s with their Belpair fire boxes, Big Boys, N&W y6bs, fancy, early Americans, Atlantics, mamouth FEFs, old Yardbirds, Shays, and the hansom NYC Hudson !! What WERE we ever thinking !! ?
No ! You sir need to Utube US RR steam videos then have your American head examined !!
We decided that function came over appearance in most cases, and therefore we let our locomotives become ugly heaps of exposed pipework and frames. Sure, we had some of the most powerful steam engines in the world, but they sure didnt look good doing it
@@MarkInLA think you need to chill your American head out.
So disappointed i couldn't see it this weekend. She looks amazing 😍
I suspect you'll get numerous chances in the future.
Brilliant. She has a very uneven beat though.
*had. Was fixed very quickly.
Wonderful video, big thumbs up :)
Thank you very much
wow the legend saint locomotive returns after all of them withdrawn by 1953 but this one lady of legend is back
They'll get her some tweaks to start her heritage railway career
But some changes need to be made to her for her mainline career
True. And they will also convert her as a 4-4-2 and as number 191 with one of the two names, Churchward or Atlantic.
Looks stunning, minor nit pick but who forgot the transfer on the tender sides :)
An unfortunate circumstance of over-running work, and a lack of time building up to the event.
I like the sound of the offbeat valve timing, kinda like a syncopated rumba
Close your eyes, and think of Bulleids...
If I close my eyes I hear an H 0-4-4T chuffing up the gradients of the Oxted line in 1957. Obviously Tonbridge shed were not too fussy about that sort of thing if the loco did the job, which it did. Very unusual to hear a piston-valve GW loco so far out and I trust it'll be rectified.
Hi Great compilation ..Dave
Thank you very much
Hi,Your welcome , Thanks for reply..@@TheSouthernerYTChannel
Does look Very nice.
The GWR is a proud parent once again! As they used to say, there are only two ways of doing things: the Great Western way, and the wrong way.
Please don't mention that
Goes Wrong Regularly is one of my favourites in this area...
The second steam engine of the second Millennium is HERE!!!!!!!
The Young Rail Enthusiast, there’s been more than two builds completed since the start of the millennium...
@@callumgilchrist9488 give me an example of standard gauge new builds before this one.
@@TheOnlyTYRE GWR Steam railmotor (Standard gauge), GWR Firefly (Broad gauge), Lyn and Lyd for the L&BR and FRCo respectively (both narrow gauge)
@@callumgilchrist9488 GWR steam Rail motor is a restored one and the others aren't standard gauge
Actually, the Railmotor is technically a 'New-Build' in the same respect of the 'Saint'.
As the 'Saint' was converted from a 'Hall' class, the Railmotor was converted out of an Autocoach.
It's a New Old Era
Apparently these are more reliable than the new crappy Euro locos they are producing! Put them in service! Cor shes blowing a bit heavy there 😮 lovely to see her rolling! Hope they get her sorted out for next years Cathedrals Express mainline excursions!
There are already mainline steamers
Still not a fan of the half-cab but she definitely looks beautiful. Is it too much to ask for her to run along the sea wall at Dawlish with the Torbay Express?
Speed to the West! Good heavens, a real piece of history!
I love uk steam and diesel locos
It's smokin hot man!
Not got a long life expectancy. It smokes too much...
Wonderful
It was
Beautiful. Once it's been completely finished (lined out). It needs to stretch its legs on the main line, or is it just for running on preserved lines.
Better off e-mailing the Great Western Society with that inquiry. Though its operation will obviously depend on members of the public digging into their pockets.
Magnificent. There's always someone with a dog at these events.
It's a requirement for every event.
1) Steam
2) Pastries
3) Someone with a dog
SHES ALIVE!!!!!
A real phenix
Hats off!
I always wondered 'Does the regulator have to be closed before a pole reverser (lever reverse/ Johnson Bar) is repositioned?'
No, it can be moved. Just requires a bit of elbox grease because steam is still being admitted into the cylinders and you are trying to alter that flow
@@StaxRail Thanks. A bit of linkage to lift as well. Not easy to do in that sparse cab with no doors doing 70mph. Staggers me how they managed when there were no cabs, in driving sleet and hail!
Does anyone know why the chuffing is uneven? Like normally for a steam loco it’s 4 evenly spaced chuffs per driver rotation but in this case it’s an uneven 4 chuffs; almost sounds like a gallup.
Unrefined valve timings owing to a lack of time building up to the event for the owners to rectify it. It will be sorted in due course, I'm sure.
Exelente video 🎥😍 !!! Saludos desde argentina !!!
Thank you very much!
Great vid.............is that the normal "chuffing" rhythm (is anyone alive to remember), sounds like a Fowler 0-6-0 ?
Thanks.
Valves were out of time during this event.
@@TheSouthernerYTChannel Cheers for that info......I hope it won't damage the pistons, is it just minor adjustments ?
Minor, but time consuming, adjustments.
And some support for a new build Raven /gresley A8 Tank pacific 9895 LNER No or earlier Number of 1551 one would come in very handy for tourist train on the north east
More proposed steamers than under construction are on the way
You could start one or anyone will at any moment, or either re-take paralysed ones
Will it be mainline registered so it can run rail tours?
Better off e-mailing the Great Western Society.
SHE LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVES!!!!!!!!!!
The rebirth is a-way!!!
👀👀 she’s a beautiful loco the unique high cab is something different to see also
Valve settings not timings.
So will Lady be mainline certified?
Better off e-mailing the Great Western Society
They better!
Are you paying?
It will depend on how deep members of the public are willing to dig into their pockets and donate.
@@TheSouthernerYTChannel Are you always this confrontational?
Simply stating that these things don't come cheap, so if people want to see it on the mainline, then those people will have to dig deep and donate. That's not confrontational.
I also find it belittling to the hard work of all the people involved, when members of public forums start suggesting what they 'should' or 'had better' do with their own locomotive.
So, the Saint beat the Grange to steaming
King Orry of the Peel Godred Branch of course it did it was started before the grange wasn’t it the grange should be completed this year.
@@laurenssmith9534 Betton Grange is gonna be so angry to see Lady of Legend
TheExtremeGamer they are not angry as it is not a race but it is about building something that can be admired by future generations please do not act like that and say it is a race as that is when people make mistakes they will take as much time as is need to complete the project to the standard that they feel is right. Look at the patriot that had a huge set back as parts of it were made incorrectly so they had to go back an make new ones they did not just carry on and say that it would do.
@@laurenssmith9534 I know that
Though, I tend to think that locomotives have personalities
Sorry
I don't doubt "Pre-Collett" GWR locomotives for their technical prowess, I've never liked the way they look. Their ridiculously small cabs just look way out of proportion to the size of the locomotive. Aside from the fact it offered pitiful crew comfort against the elements and a miserably small working space on the footplate.
Oh, great! Another GWR 4-6-0!
*What was that? There already are so many of them?*
Don't worry, more are on the way too.
I agree! We need more 4-4-0s.
Better dig deep into your pockets then ;)
Heya!
You've got Dai Woodham to thank for that. 🙂 Besides, anything is better than that green LNER 'Flying Moneypit' thing that's been hogging the limelight for the last couple of years. At least 'Tornado' is back to provide some competition for it!
I preferred it in shiny black. Should've kept it in that. Nevertheless, can't wait to see it running somewhere with a decent length of line like the SVR or GWSR.
I'm sure it'll appear in some shade of Black at some point, after all the loco has got a long life ahead of it now. But ultimately, the decision rests with the owners.
Great video, she sounds "off beat" though.
Cheers. The owners are aware.
Personally I think this locomotive would look stunning in early emblem unlined BR black
I think that was the livery in which it was painted before it was repainted into the current green.
Don't you think that there are more than enough locos in preservation painted black as it is? No way! 😡 The only livery for the Saint is the Edwardian, fully lined out style.
More worried about the fact it's running, than what colour it's painted...
@@TheSouthernerYTChannel So am I. And don't get me wrong, I think it looks great whatever livery it's wearing. I'd only take issue if they did something like paint it purple with yellow stripes
ohm myyyyy.
I still can't get behind British locos having no headlight, no pilot (cow catcher) and such stubby cabs.. I mean what was done in torrential rains, freezing weather and snow storms ? What if a bolder had fallen on the track in the dark or a bridge had collapsed ? Never say never...Sorry, but, just because most their trackage was fenced in, running at night with no illumination of what's ahead is plumb dangerous..
Non the less, this is a pretty engine and I do like to watch Brit rail vids... M, Los Angeles
Different practices for different sides of 'the pond'.
1) Headlights; In British practice, locomotives are given headlamps. However, typically their arrangement would indicate what route/service the locomotive would be working.
2) Cab protection; Admittedly, GWR cabs are noted for being very exposed. However, 'storm sheets' are stored within the storage cupboard in the tender, which can be fitted for running in poor weather.
3) Cow-Catcher; With so much of the UK Rail network fenced off, the likelihood of intrusion is significantly lower. However, a standard feature on nearly all British locomotives is the inclusion of 'Guard Irons' in-front of the leading wheels (3:17), which would remove small obstructions from the rail head before going under the wheels.
That's a really weird chuffing rythm, doesn't sound like the Britannia class at all despite both having 2 cylinder.s
The valve timing was out during this event, due to a lack of time leading up to the event to rectify the timings. It has since been done.
Perhaps some genius could explain the point of leaving the cylinder cocks open for more than one or two revolutions of the wheels, apart from wasting money and making the whole thing look like its being run by incompetent amateurs
No GWR or BR driver would ever have wasted steam so stupidly and pointlessly and would not have lasted long if they insisted on being so foolish
The demonstration line at Didcot is roughly 1/3rd of a mile long, if that. On such short runs, with frequent stops, and a lot of time sat stationary, the amount of condensation building in the cylinders would be significantly higher than that of a loco on a consistent run. As such, to avoid any risk of allowing the condensation to build up, and subsequently risk damaging the loco, I suspect it would be easier to leave them open - rather than forgetting to open them, and blowing a cylinder.
Also, with only 3 coaches on the back, it's hardly a strenuous load.