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| A1 & A3 Class Pacifics |
| A1:The original Gresley pacific class with 180psi boiler & built by the LNER's own works at Doncaster & by the North British Locomotive Company. 52 engines built to this original specification, all of this class upgraded to A3 spec by 1948. Loco No:4472 "Flying Scotsman" inaugurated the non-stop London to Edinburgh run in 1928 and also became the first loco to attain a fully authenticated 100 miles per hour in 1934. Photo shows 4472 fitted with a corridor tender dating it between April 1928 & October 1936 on an express, most likely a relief to the non-stop as it's not fitted with the Flying Scotsman headboard. |
| A3:The upgraded or Super Pacifics as they were known at the time. Boiler pressure incresed to 220 psi and a larger superheater fitted. 29 locos built new to this specification . no:2750 "Papyrus" most notable of the class for attaining 108 mph on a test train in 1936, I believe this is still a world speed record for a non-streamlined steam locomotive. The A3's were built new as left hand drive as apposed the the A1's right hand drive, all A1's being converted to the former by 1954. The A3's were continually modified throughout their lives to improve performance, No: 2751 "Humorist" was the first fitted with a Kylchap exhast system in 1937 all of the class being so fitted by 1959. |
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| Models |
| A3"Windsor Lad" & A1 "Great Northern" These two were both made using plastic Ready to run bodies on Comet Chassis'. Windsor Lad has the old Trix/Liliput body and tows a South Eatern Finecast Non-corridor tender while Great Northern has a Hornby body and tows an Alexander Models tender with Scratch built chassis.Both are powered by Mashima motors, Windsor lad has a Romford 40:1 Gearset while Great Northern has a nuch more sophisticated DJH Gearbox, driving wheels are Romford, Bogie & tender wheels are from Alan Gibson. As i had no airbrush at the time both are brush painted using Precision LNER green and lining & Lettering done using Modelmaster & HMRS Transfers. With the release of the new Hornby A1 & A3 models due very shortly these two will probably be consigned to the display cabinet. |
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| A3's "Humorist" & "St Simon" Two versions of Hornby's current A3 Model, Humorist is in its 1937 condition with double chimney while St Simon is in 1948 condition, still wearing apple green but with "British Railways" on the tender .Both are powered by the old tender drive but I've found them to be very reliable, I also have a 20 year old "Flying Scotsman" with a similar drive and it's still chugging after god knows how many miles. The valve gear & wheels on these later Hornby versions are really nice & much better looking than the Romfords on my kit built engines and they also have much better pick-ups with all driving & tender wheels collecting current. Both of my Hornby A3s have had the plastic coal load cut out and a real coal load installed, a simple upgrade that really improved the tenders appearance. Hornby's new Loco driven Super detailed A1/A3 models are due for release in September 2005 (in NZ) and I have two on order and I really can't wait to get my hands on them Ps: This photo is a little over exposed the green isn't quite that bright in person. |
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