[spongebob]

I've just bought the Northumbrian set and was wondering if the loco is correct in having a single chimney for the period represented (ie early BR crest). The few photo's of this engine show it with a double chimney but are from the late crest era. Anyone know if it is correct especially as the wartime black one and my old tender drive mallard both have double chimneys too.

 

[Dan Hamblin]

Most likely tht it would have been a single chimney as only 4 or 5 of the last built A4's were fitted with the double chimney Kylchap exhaust prior to BR equipping the whole fleet with them in the late 1950's.

Regards,

Dan

 

[spongebob]

Thanks for that Dan. I've just looked on hornby's product list and the other early crest ones seem to be single chimneyed as well. It was just one of those things that didn't quite seem right at first glance.

 

[Dan Hamblin]

Yes, it does look better somehow with the double chimney fitted.

Can't beat 4468 in garter blue with full valences I reckon

Regards,

Dan

 

[54a Sunderland]

Hello. A4 double chimneys: 4 A4s were built from new (1938) with double chimneys - 4468 (60022), 4901 (60005), 4902 (60033), and 4903 (60034). The remainder were built with single chimneys and were not converted until 1957/58 by British Railways. The loco in the Northumbrian set is I suspect 60003 Andrew K. McCosh which was converted in July 1957. However; you can't simply convert the chimney and add the later 1956 BR logo to the tender as 60003 had a number of tender changes. June 1952 was fitted with a streamline non-corridor tender, January 1954 fitted with a corridor tender, September 1955 fitted with a streamlined non-corridor tender. There were also 2-types of corridor tender coulped to the A4s; the original 1928 corridor tenders fitted to the A1s and A3s and the 1938 corridor tenders designed specifically for the A4s. 60003 was coupled to a 1938 corridor tender in the period of the Northumbrian set which I suspect you have. So 60003 in the set is correct for January 1954 to September 1955. If you want to convert it to double chimney you also will have to change the tender to a 1938 corridor one. Hope this helps.

 

[54a Sunderland]

Hello again. I have had a look at a Northumbrian set. 60003 in the set you have already is coupled to a 1938 corridor tender so you can run it with single chimney for the periods I stated when it was coupled to a 1938 corridor tender. You could effectively add a double chimney conversion and a 1956 BR logo and it would also be correct. Just avoid the period where it was fitted with a streamlined non-corridor tender.