yellowbear

Thats a lovely bit of kit, Bill.

this was a streamlined locomotive Bill... and it's a beauty... i used to see trains like this in comic books when i was a kid....peter

I like the reflections on the side. Frank will like this...

Imagine polishing THAT, Bill

It looks like a smooth operator, Bill!

Let's forget the valve gear (they've even spelt a simple word like Walschaerts wrong on the video) let us remember Sir Keith Park, after whom this locomotive is named. Without him I doubt if you & I would be here today.

Promoted to the rank of air vice marshal, Park took command of No. 11 Group RAF, responsible for the fighter defence of London and southeast England, in April 1940. He organized fighter patrols over France during the Dunkirk evacuation and in the Battle of Britain his command took the brunt of the Luftwaffe's air attacks. Flying his personalised Hawker Hurricane around his fighter airfields during the battle, Park gained a reputation as a shrewd tactician with an astute grasp of strategic issues and as a popular "hands-on" commander. However, he became embroiled in an acrimonious dispute with ambitious Air Vice Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory, commander of 12 Group. Leigh Mallory, already envious of Park for leading the key 11 Group while No. 12 Group was left to defend airfields, repeatedly failed to support No. 11 Group. Leigh-Mallory and his Big Wing (led by Douglas Bader) often ran amok through No. 11 Group airspace confusing the UK's defences. Quintin Brand's No. 10 Group in the South West successfully supported No. 11 Group when required despite having far more arduous defensive duties in its own area than No. 12 Group.

Park's subsequent objection to Leigh-Mallory's behaviour during the Big Wing controversy may have contributed to his and Dowding's removal from command at the end of the battle, but neither Park nor Dowding had much time for internal politics and fell easy prey to their waiting critics. Richard Saul of 13 Group on the other hand, wrote to Park on learning of his pending departure from No. 11 Group, commenting on "the magnificent achievements of your group in the past six months; they have borne the brunt of the war, and undoubtedly saved England". Park was to remain indignant however over his and Dowding's treatment for the rest of his life. Park was posted immediately to Training Command before seeing later high ranking service in the Mediterranean and elsewhere, while Dowding was sent to America.

Park's No. 11 Group RAF were coordinated by fighter controllers in the No. 11 Group Operations Room in the underground bunker, now known as the Battle of Britain Bunker at RAF Uxbridge. Park himself was not based in the bunker but did visit to impart his wisdom at numerous key points during the battle, along with visits from the Royal Family and Winston Churchill. Among the many air battles fought over Britain, Park personally commanded RAF forces on several important dates; 13 August (Adlertag), 18 August (The Hardest Day) and the 15 September (Battle of Britain Day).

She looks like Wilhelmina the Lionheart!

A real monster.. Love it.
Love the YouTube... love the techie stuff.

Pretty impressive Bill.

Superb machine which seems to come out straight from the box Bill!

Good photograph Bill...yawn.

I hate it when engines are so squeaky clean (it looks as if you have just taken it out of the box). Engines should be oily sooty smokey dirty noisy steamy shuddering beasts.

Ahhhh.. good to see a Southern Region locomotive on GWR rails. The un-rebuilt "spam cans" did suffer with their chain driven valve gear but were greatly improved with the Walschaerts valve gear. If you think this is complicated, wait to you see Joy valve gear. The Battle of Britain locos used to pull the "Bournemouth Belle" - all Pullman coaches.

So very nostalgic, Bill.

Blimey reading this I thought you were the world authority on the subject !

thundering shot Bill, on several levels.

Having seen several of these rebuilts at the GCR I am impressed greatly by them as locos, this one looks very fine in B.& W. Why am I not surprised Astrid liked the video, at Cosford she wanted to take one of the stationary jet engines, or similar, to bits whilst we were chatting.

Lovely loco' ,Bill, I never saw one of these, but they are similar to the L.M.S. Brittania class I think.

I'll bet that model was an hour or two in the making! Lovely image, Bill.

You picked the perfect angle for this shot, Bill. Not only to you get a great view of this beauty but you get to see the tracks and the scene beyond.

A majestic locomotive engine Bill, nicely captured.

A great modern looking engine...