LNER Class A4 and Bragado: Difference between pages

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Revision as of 21:33, 22 July 2007

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[[image:60034_Lord_Farringdon_at_Aberdeen_Ferryhill,_1965.jpg|thumb|60034 ''Lord Farringdon'' at Aberdeen Ferryhill, [[1965]].]]

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[[image:60027_3_Dundee_Tay_Bridge_1965.jpg|thumb|right|60027 ''Merlin'' at Dundee Tay Bridge, [[1965]], showing the corridor connection through the tender <!-- fitted to some? or all?--> that allowed crews to be changed on Scotch expresses without stopping.]]

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[[image:60027_2_Dundee_Tay_Bridge_1965.jpg|thumb|right|Another view of 60027 ''Merlin'' at Dundee Tay Bridge, [[1965]]. The yellow cabside stripe indicates that she is prohibited from electrified [[West Coast Main Line]] south of [[Crewe]], where she is [[loading gauge|out-of-gauge]].]]

{{city-poli-ar-ba|[[Bragado Partido|Bragado]]}}

The [[London and North Eastern Railway]] '''Class A4''' is a class of streamlined [[4-6-2]] [[steam locomotive]], designed by [[Sir Nigel Gresley]] in [[1935]]. One of the class, [[LNER A4 class 4468 Mallard|4468 ''Mallard'']], holds the record as the fastest steam locomotive in the world.

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{{city-authority|Orlando A. Costa|[[Radical Civic Union|UCR]]}}

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'''Bragado''' is a city in the center-northwest [[provinces of Argentina|province]] of [[Buenos Aires Province|Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]], and the head town of [[Bragado Partido]]. The city is 210 km west-southwest from [[Buenos Aires|Buenos Aires City]], not far from the [[Salado River (Buenos Aires)|Salado River]].

==Reference and external links==

== Overview ==

* [http://www.bragado.gov.ar Municipality of Bragado] - Official website.

* {{ar-mi-muni|BUE016}}

* [http://www.bragado-virtual.com ''Bragado Virtual''] - Bragado Online newspaper.

{{argentina-geo-stub}}

[[Sir Nigel Gresley]] introduced the [[LNER]] '''Class A4''' [[locomotive]]s in [[1935]] to haul a new [[train]] called the [[Silver Jubilee]] between [[Kings Cross station|London King's Cross]] and [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]]. The new service was named in celebration of [[George V of the United Kingdom|King George V]]'s 25th year of reign.

[[Category:Cities in Buenos Aires Province]]

During a visit to Germany in 1933, Gresley had been inspired by the high-speed, streamlined "[[Flying Hamburger]]" diesel multiple unit trains, and indeed the LNER had considered purchasing similar trains for use from London to Newcastle. However, the diesel units of the time did not have the desired passenger carrying capacity and the capital investment in the new technology was prohibitive.

[[es:Bragado]]

Gresley was sure that steam could do the job equally well and with a decent fare-paying load behind the locomotive and so, following trials in 1935 with one of Gresley's [[LNER Class A1/A3|A3 Pacifics]] No.2750 ''Papyrus'', which recorded a new maximum of 108mph and completed the journey in under four hours, the LNER gave the green light to Gresley to produce a streamlined development of the A3. Initially four locomotives were built, all with the word 'silver' as part of their names, the first being [[LNER Class A4 2509 Silver Link|2509 ''Silver Link'']]; the others being 2510 Quicksilver, 2511 Silver King and 2512 Silver Fox. During a press run to publicise the service, Silver Link achieved a speed of 112.5 mph, breaking the British speed record.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

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==Design==

The A4 pacifics (with the [[4-6-2]] [[Whyte notation|wheel arrangement]]) were designed for high-speed passenger services. The application of internal streamlining to the steam circuit, higher boiler pressure and the extension of the firebox to form a combustion chamber all contributed to a more efficient locomotive than the A3, consumption of [[coal]] and [[water]] being reduced. A further improvement to the design was the double-exhaust [[Kylchap]] [[blastpipe]] first introduced on 4468 Mallard, built in March 1938. This device improved the free-steaming capabilities of the locomotives further, and the final three locomotives of the class (4901 Capercaillie, 4902 Seagull and 4903 Peregrine) were also fitted with the Kylchap exhaust from new, and eventually the rest of the class were fitted with it (by BR) in the late 1950s.

This class of locomotive was also noted for its [[streamliner|streamlined]] design, which not only improved its aerodynamics, thus increasing its speed capabilities, but also created an updraught to lift smoke away from the driver's vision, a problem inherent in the earlier A3 design.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} The distinctive design made it a particularly attractive subject for artists, photographers and film-makers. The A4 Class locomotives were known affectionately by [[train spotting|train spotters]] as "streaks".

The streamlining side skirts (valances) of all the A4 locomotives were removed during the Second World War to improve access to the valve gear for maintenance and were not replaced.

==World Record==

[[Image:Mallard_Record_Plate.jpg|thumb|140px|Plaque on ''Mallard'' in commemoration of breaking the world speed record of 125 mph.]]

On [[July 3]] [[1938]] [[LNER A4 class 4468 Mallard|4468 ''Mallard'']]; the first of the class to enter service with the Kylchap exhaust, set a world speed record of 126 mph (201.2 km/h), pulling six coaches and a [[dynamometer car]].

Although the dynamometer car indicated a top speed of 126 mph (202.8 km/h), Sir Nigel Gresley never accepted this as the record-breaking maximum. He claimed this speed could only have been attained over a few yards (metres), though he was comfortable that the German speed record of 124.5 mph (200.4 km/h) had been surpassed.

At the end of the record attempt, the middle big end (part of the motion for the inside cylinder) was found to have run hot, the bearing metal having melted, which meant that the locomotive had to stop at [[Peterborough]] rather than continue on to London. Deficiencies in the setup of the [[Gresley Conjugated Valve Gear|Gresley-Holcroft derived motion]] meant that the inside cylinder of the A4 did more work at high speed than the two outside cylinders, and this overloading was mostly responsible for the failure. However, given that the driving wheels went through 500 revolutions per minute at its full speed, this is perhaps forgivable.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

Improved methods of aligning the Gresley conjugated valve gear in the 1950s led to tighter tolerances for the bearings used within it and consequently to almost total eradication of the overloading of the middle cylinder.

NAMES

2509 (60014) Silver Link to traffic 07/09/1935 - withdrawn 29/12/1962

2510 (60015) Quicksilver to traffic 21/09/1935 - withdrawn 25/04/1963

2511 (60016) Silver King to traffic 05/11/1935 - withdrawn 19/03/1965

2512 (60017) Silver Fox to traffic 18/12/1935 - withdrawn 20/10/1963

4462 (60004) William Whitelaw to traffic 10/12/1937 - withdrawn 17/07/1966

4463 (60018) Sparrow Hawk to traffic 27/11/1937 - withdrawn 19/06/1963

[[LNER_Class_A4_4464_Bittern|4464 (60019) Bittern]] to traffic 18/12/1937 - withdrawn 05/09/1966

4465 (60020) Guillemot to traffic 08/01/1938 - withdrawn 20/03/1964

4466 (60006) Sir Ralph Wedgewood II to traffic 26/01/1938 - withdrawn 03/09/1965

4467 (60021) Wild Swan to traffic 19/02/1938 - withdrawn 20/10/1963

[[LNER_Class_A4_4468_Mallard|4468 (60022) Mallard]] to traffic 03/03/1938 - withdrawn 25/04/1963

4469 Sir Ralph Wedgewood to traffic 30/08/1938 - withdrawn 06/06/1942

4482 (60023) Golden Eagle to traffic 22/12/1936 - withdrawn 30/10/1964

4483 (60024) Kingfisher to traffic 26/12/1936 - withdrawn 05/09/1966

4484 (60025) Falcon to traffic 23/01/1937 - withdrawn 20/10/1963

4485 (60026) Miles Beevor to traffic 20/03/1937 - withdrawn 21/12/1965

4486 (60027) Merlin to traffic 13/03/1937 - withdrawn 03/09/1965

4487 (60028) Sea Eagle (Walter K. Whigham) to traffic 20/03/1937 - withdrawn 29/12/1962

[[LNER_Class_A4_4488_Union_of_South_Africa|4488 (60009) Osprey (Union Of South Africa]]) to traffic 29/06/1937 - withdrawn 01/06/1966

[[LNER_Class_A4_4489_Dominion_of_Canada|4489 (60010) Woodcock (Dominion Of Canada)]] to traffic 04/05/1937 - withdrawn 29/05/1965

4490 (60011) Empire Of India to traffic 25/06/1937 - withdrawn 11/05/1964

4491 (60012)Commonwealth Of Australia to traffic 22/06/1937 - withdrawn 20/08/1964

4492 (60013) Dominion Of New Zealand to traffic 27/06/1937 - withdrawn 18/04/1963

4493 (60029) Woodcock to traffic 26/07/1937 - withdrawn 20/10/1963

4494 (60003) Andrew K. McCosh to traffic 12/08/1937 - withdrawn 29/12/1962

4495 (60030) Golden Fleece to traffic 30/08/1937 - withdrawn 29/12/1962

[[LNER_Class_A4_4496_Dwight_D_Eisenhower|4496 (60008) Golden Shuttle (Dwight D. Eisenhower)]] to traffic 04/09/1937 - withdrawn 20/07/1963

4497 (60031) Golden Plover to traffic 02/10/1937 - withdrawn 29/10/1965

[[LNER_Class_A4_4498_Sir_Nigel_Gresley|4498 (60007) Sir Nigel Gresley]] to traffic 30/10/1937 - withdrawn 01/02/1966

4499 (60002) Pochard (Sir Murrough Wilson) to traffic 12/04/1938 - 04/05/1964

4500 (60001) Garganey (Sir Ronald Matthews) to traffic 26/04/1938 - withdrawn 12/10/1964)

4900 (60032) Gannet to traffic 17/05/1938 - withdrawn 20/10/1963

4901 (60005) Capercaillie (Charles H. Newton - Sir Charles Newton) to traffic 08/06/1938) withdrawn 12/03/1964

4902 (60033) Seagull to traffic 28/06/1938 - withdrawn 29/12/1963

4903 (60034) Peregrine (Lord Faringdon) to traffic 01/07/1938 - withdrawn 24/08/1966

Although One Was Suddenly Withdrawn After A German Raid Bomb in York, in 1942 During World War II The Second World War & That Was 4469 Sir Ralph Wedgewood, which at the time, had been overhauled, and was based at Gateshed, and was running local trains to run her in, and was stabled in York North Shed (now the [[National_Railway_Museum|NRM]]. But Although Its Tender Survived & Was Later Used For A Designed Thompson [[LNER_Thompson_Class_A2|A2/1]].

The first four Nos 2509 (60014) Silver Link, 4487 (60028) Sea Eagle, 4494 (60003) Andrew, K, McCosh & 4495 (60030) Golden Fleece where withdrawn & also the first since 1942 when 4469 was suddenley withdrawn during an air raid bomb at york at the time, so all the rest of the class where withdrawn between 1962 & 1966 & the last five where withdrawn the same year 4462 (60004) William Whitelaw, 4464 (60019) Bittern, 4483 (60024) Kingfisher, 4488 (60009) Union Of South Africa & 4498 (60007) Sir Nigel Gresley

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== Preservation ==

[[Image:Union-of-South-Africa.jpg|thumb|60009 ''Union of South Africa''.]]

A total of six A4s have survived to preservation, making them more numerous in preservation than any other LNER class. Two of these are in North America; [[LNER Class A4 4489 Dominion of Canada|60010 ''Dominion of Canada'']] in the [[Canadian Railway Museum]] and [[LNER Class A4 4496 Dwight D Eisenhower|60008 ''Dwight D Eisenhower'']] in the [[USA|American]] [[National Railroad Museum]].

{|class="wikitable"

!colspan="3"|Numbers

!rowspan="2"|Name

!rowspan="2"|Current Location

!rowspan="2"|Condition

|-

!Original

!LNER 1946

!BR

|-

|[[LNER Class A4 4464 Bittern|4464]]

|[[LNER Class A4 4464 Bittern|19]]

|[[LNER Class A4 4464 Bittern|60019]]

|''[[LNER Class A4 4464 Bittern|Bittern]]''

|[[Mid Hants Watercress Railway]]

|Undergoing refurbishment to mainline condition

|-

|[[LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard|4468]]

|[[LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard|22]]

|[[LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard|60022]]

|''[[LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard|Mallard]]''

|[[National Railway Museum]], [[York]]

|Static display (operational)

|-

|[[LNER Class A4 4488 Union of South Africa|4488]]

|[[LNER Class A4 4488 Union of South Africa|9]]

|[[LNER Class A4 4488 Union of South Africa|60009]]

|''[[LNER Class A4 4488 Union of South Africa|Union of South Africa]]''

|[[Severn Valley Railway]]

|Currently approved for mainline use

|-

|[[LNER Class A4 4489 Dominion of Canada|4489]]

|[[LNER Class A4 4489 Dominion of Canada|10]]

|[[LNER Class A4 4489 Dominion of Canada|60010]]

|''[[LNER Class A4 4489 Dominion of Canada|Dominion of Canada]]''

|[[Canadian Railway Museum]]

|Static display

|-

|[[LNER Class A4 4496 Dwight D Eisenhower|4496]]

|[[LNER Class A4 4496 Dwight D Eisenhower|8]]

|[[LNER Class A4 4496 Dwight D Eisenhower|60008]]

|''[[LNER Class A4 4496 Dwight D Eisenhower|Dwight D Eisenhower]]''

|[[National Railroad Museum]], [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]], [[Wisconsin]]

|Static display

|-

|[[LNER Class A4 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley|4498]]

|[[LNER Class A4 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley|7]]

|[[LNER Class A4 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley|60007]]

|''[[LNER Class A4 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley|Sir Nigel Gresley]]''

|[[North Yorkshire Moors Railway]]

|Operational on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

|}

== In popular culture ==

A4s have appeared numerous times in popular culture:

*The 1954 British Transport Film ''[[Elizabethan Express]]'' follows the post-war revival of non-stop London to Edinburgh runs. It stars A4 No.60017 ''Silver Fox'', and features interesting footage of the water trough and corridor tender in use.

*The 1959 version of ''[[The 39 Steps (1959 film)|The Thirty-Nine Steps]]'' features some wonderful colour photography of A4 No.60010 ''[[LNER Class A4 4489 Dominion of Canada|Dominion of Canada]]'' in the [[brunswick green]] livery.

* ''[[Carry on Regardless]]'' of 1961 parodied this scene, briefly featuring another A4.

* More recently, a stylised animated A4 is seen in the opening titles of the early [[David Suchet]] ''[[Agatha Christie's Poirot|Poirot]]'' adaptations. This is undoubtedly based on the original [[art deco]] posters for the Silver Jubilee service.

* A similar animated A4 was seen in the opening credits of the [[ITV]] programme ''The [[South Bank]] Show'', in which it is seen at the head of a [[sleeping car|Pullman]] train racing beneath [[Marilyn Monroe]]'s skirts. This appears to be inspired by an [[art deco]] poster for the [[Coronation Scot]].

* Two steam engines of this type, [[LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard|Mallard]] and [[Spencer (Thomas the Tank Engine)|Spencer]], have appeared in the ''[[Thomas the Tank Engine]]'' books and TV Series, originated by the [[Wilbert Vere Awdry|Rev. W. Awdry]].

* The locomotive [[LNER Class A4 2509 Silver Link|2509 ''Silver Link'']] appears in an early scene in the [[Will Hay]] film, ''[[Oh! Mr Porter|Oh! Mr. Porter]]'', in which Hay accidentally ruins its naming ceremony.

* A painting of [[LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard|22 ''Mallard'']] by Paul Gribble appears on the [[album cover|cover]] of the [[1993]] [[Blur (band)|Blur]] album [[Modern Life is Rubbish]].

* The locomotive appears in the various versions of the computer game, [[Transport Tycoon]] and its sequel [[Chris Sawyer's Locomotion]].

*The A4 Class has also appeared in all the computer games in the [[Railroad Tycoon]] series, apart from the Deluxe edition.

== Other notable A4s ==

* [[LNER Class A4 4469 Sir Ralph Wedgwood|LNER 4469 Sir Ralph Wedgwood]]

* [[LNER Class A4 2509 Silver Link|LNER 2509 Silver Link]]

== External links ==

{{commonscat|Preserved LNER Class A4 steam locomotives}}

* [http://www.lner.info/locos/A/a4.shtml LNER Encyclopedia Page covering the history and development of the LNER A4 Pacifics]

* [http://www.bath.ac.uk/~hssmrg/a4.html Detailed list of the names, numbers and production dates of LNER A4 locomotives]

* [http://www.railuk.co.uk/steam/getsteamclass.php?item=A4 Railuk database]

* [http://www.britishtransportfilms.co.uk/productions/films/BT0144/BT144.html Screenshots from ''Elizabethan Express'']

{{LNER Locomotives}}

[[Category:London and North Eastern Railway locomotives|A4]]

[[Category:4-6-2 locomotives]]

[[Category:Streamlined steam locomotives]]

[[Category:1935 introductions]]

[[de:LNER Klasse A4]]