Loco Proposal: Lbscr Class B1 0-4-2 ('gladstone')

Discussion in 'Loco Suggestions & Proposals' started by sem34090, Apr 11, 2018.

  1. sem34090

    sem34090 Member

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    Although suggested in my route proposal, I thought I'd post this loco separately as I felt it has a place outside of my suggested route as well as inside.

    The subject of this proposal is the 36-Strong London Brighton & South Coast Railway (LBSCR) Class B1, more commonly referred to as the 'Gladstone' class after the first (and preserved) member.
    [​IMG]
    (Source: http://www.nrm.org.uk)

    The first member of this class of express passenger locomotive (The preserved No. 214 'Gladstone') emerged from the LBSCR's Brighton Works on December 31st 1882, and underwent a year of service before the following three members of the class (Nos.215/6/7 - Salisbury, Granville & Northcote) emerged in December 1883. A further pair (Nos.218/9 - Beaconsfield & Cleveland) followed in October 1885, with the remainder arriving between 1887 and 1891. The complete list of class members can be found here: http://www.semgonline.com/steam/gladstone_dat.html.
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    (Source: https://farm5.static.flickr.com)

    Although used on front-line express passenger duties through the 1880s and 1890s, the class proved to have much higher maintenance costs than express passenger locomotives (In the main 4-4-0's) from the LBSCR's neighbouring companies (The LSWR and SECR). This was mainly attributed to high amounts of wear on the flanges of the leading set of driving wheels, (lessened on a 4-4-0 or even a 2-4-0 design) despite Stroudley's attempts to avoid this at the design stage. The class, like many other LBSCR designs at that time, also proved to be more expensive to construct that the neighbouring company's machines.
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    (Source: https://kelise72.files.wordpress.com)

    These flaws were well realised, but this did not stop more locomotives from being ordered and Stroudley himself satisfied with his design. In 1889 Stroudley died in Paris where he had been with the LBSCR exhibiting one of the Gladstone's (No.189 'Edward Blount') at that years exhibition, where it received a gold medal award. Had he not passed, a further 12 locomotives of the class were planned, but this was cut back to 6 by Stroudley's successor Robert Billinton.
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    (Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons)

    Billinton was not an advocate of express locomotives which lacked a guiding bogie at the front, but it would be another five years before he drew up a 4-4-0 design to supplement, and inevitably replace, the B1's on front-line duties. This came in the form of the B2, but these proved to be little of an improvement over the B1's, so the class lingered on express services until Billinton's B4 design of 4-4-0 emerged in 1899. The introduction of this class served to push the B1's off of their express duties and onto secondary services, and during this time the class received various modifications.
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    (Source:https://photos.smugmug.com)

    The first of the class to be withdrawn was second-built No.215 'Salisbury' in April 1910, with a further nine withdrawn over the following two years. The parts from these locomotives were salvaged and used as a supply of spares to keep the remaining fleet running. The remaining 26 members received a stay of execution due to the First World War, and all remaining members would enter Southern Railway stock in 1923, after which the class was gradually displaced by the new company's electrification schemes, with the last example of the class (Last-Built No.172 - by now 2172, formerly 'Littlehampton') disappearing from service in September 1933.
    [​IMG]
    (Source: https://photos.smugmug.com)

    Despite this, however, one example of the class remains with us to this day, in the form of class pioneer 'Gladstone'. Upon withdrawal in 1927, No.214 (By then numbered 618) was purchased by the Stephenson Locomotive Society from the Southern Railway for £140 (Still remarkably cheap at £8,273 when inflation is accounted for) with plans for it to be displayed at the Science Museum in London. This was not to be, and the locomotive was instead moved to the LNER's museum at York. The locomotive remains inside what has now become the National Railway Museum. Following a large renovation in 1959, the locomotive passed to the British Transport Commission before becoming subsumed into the national collection along with other BTC relics. It moved into the new railway museum at York in 1975.
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    (Source: http://www.docbrown.info)

    I propose that this locomotive class be produced for Train Simulator in the following liveries:
    • LBSCR Stroudley Improved Engine Green (As preserved)
    • LBSCR Marsh Umber (With varying insignia)
    • SR Lined Green (Both numbered with a 'B' situated above the number and with a '2' added as a prefix)
    I would also suggest that the locomotive be offered with a rake of 54ft Bogie Stock, offered as a 5-Compartment Brake Third, 8-Compartment Composite, 9-Compartment All Third and 48ft 6-Compartment All First. I propose these coaches to be offered in the following liveries:
    • LBSCR Stroudley Lined 'Mahogany'.
    • LBSCR Marsh Umber and White.
    • SR Maunsell Lined Green
    Thus concludes my proposal! Please leave feedback and reasons why/why not 'Gladstone' and her (his?) classmates should/shouldn't be produced for Train Simulator!
     
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  2. 05jstone

    05jstone Member

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    I'm all for the idea, bub!
     
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  3. sem34090

    sem34090 Member

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    According to Kris Wilson of Digital Traction this will now become a (virtual) reality within TS!

    We can both be happy!
     
  4. 05jstone

    05jstone Member

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    Can he make it available on Dovetail Store?
     
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  5. sem34090

    sem34090 Member

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    No, it will be available via Digital Traction, along with his superb existing Caledonian Railway Locos.
     
  6. 05jstone

    05jstone Member

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    I get my add-ons from Dovetail Store, because it's got a secure connection and entering the product code onto Steam is easier.
     
  7. mdavis41

    mdavis41 New Member

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    I tried to contact Kris at CW to see if he is working on the Gladstone. I have not heard back yet but I hope to get a reply. Does anyone else have an update? I do think this is a great idea and a well structured proposal.
     

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