Favourite Preserved Locomotive

As you can tell - I'm rather new round here and also rather new to steam preservation. I'm trying to learn as much as I can as quickly as I can so I can understand more! As such I was wondering what everyone's favourite preserved locomotive is, and why? What makes it tug at your heartstrings and make you want to travel behind/photograph it etc again and again?

Be kind - I'm new!

 

For me it's 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, ex-GWR Castle Class and ex-Barry Scrapyard pile of junk.

I grew up on the GWR mainline and for me Castles and Kings are the way express steam loco's are "meant" to look. Nothing else compares. The revival of that loco by Vintage Trains has been nothing short of miraculous, given that she was rescued from Barry in the first place in 1973 just as a spare parts source for Clun Castle, with no plans to restore her! 2010 has been an especially successful year for The Earl, with extensive participation in GWR175 celebrations. Most notably, she ran the non-stop Bristolian in summer, about which tons has been written already, and The Pride of Swindon over the Settle and Carlisle in October. On both, she exceeded everyone's highest hopes, I believe. The Earl has always been superbly turned out by her support crew.

You can read more about this magnificent engine here: http://www.tyseleylocoworks.co.uk/tlw/5043.htm

And see several videos of her here: http://www.youtube.com/moiunmouton

PS 2nd favourite is 6024 King Edward I. But I do actually like all preserved steam locos !!

 

Welcome to the forum Learner! For me it is Lambton Hetton & Joicey Colleries No.5, a proper beast of a loco, hopefully she'll run again in the not too distant future and who knows she might be able to do Whitby runs one day.

 

Robert Heath No.6 for me, looks great, sounds immense. The loco which, along with a very willing crew, convinced me to start volunteering!

 

The next one that I ride behind!

 

K4 The Great Marquess , perfect for any preserved line and one of Sir Nigel,s finest .

 

46512 - many, many happy days spent firing her on the Strathspey in 2002.

 

Inspite of the Love for 71000 and 73129 and in the absence of a Fully Airsmoothed Merchant navy, it has to be the double chimney Jubilee 'Bahamas'. Everytime i see it in the Shed at Oxenhope i just think 'Wow' a perfect combination of Power and Elegance.

 

For me its got to be 5051 'Earl Bathurst' at Didcot, hopefully she will be steaming again in the not too distant future!

 

Welcome to the forum Learner. My favourite is BR Std 5 73096 closely followed by "Britannia" 70013 Oliver Cromwell.

 

Dear Mr. Cameron, Re: LNER mogul on a 1in19?

:lol:

 

6024 for me. Saw it being restored when I was very little at Bucks Railway Centre and it started my obsession with all things steam as it was by far bigger than anything else there and hugely impressive to a 4 or 5 year old! I've since had a few runs behind it on the mainline and a barnstorming after dark run behind it on the West Somerset one year reaffirmed my love for it, (alledgedly!) the 6024 representative wanted to demonstrate it's capabilities to the driver! It was very capable...
Other locos I have a soft spot for are 60007 and 6233, again year in year out solid mainline performers and fantastic to look at, just ooze power. But above all though, you can't beat a pannier for sheer guts and entertainment!

 

This may come as a bit of a shock to those who know me, but for me it isn't 4965 or 5043. It has to be Pannier Tank 9600.
She has real star quality. I've had the privilege of riding on the footplate and behind her during some of her exploits on the mainline and she really is a joy to work with.
Just looking at the videos on youtube of her banking Lizzie up the Lickey give you an impression of her personality (yes steam locos do have personalities) she seems to be saying 'never mind that big bu***r up front look at me I'm the one doing the work'.
It's a pity that todays high speed railway limits the opportunities she has of getting out and about more often.

 

Has to be M7 No.53 for me - rides like a coach, steams like a witch and you just know that given half the chance she'd absolutely romp away. For a 105 year old loco everything in the cab is in a convenient place, and the cab lockers are just perfect to lay a couple of planks between and get 40 winks!

 

Well, I wouldn't be myself if I didn't say it was a Bulleid. 34072 257 Squadron; a fantastic example that just kept on going... and going... and going for over 12 years, which is not bad for a locomotive that went from ex-Barry condition to gleaming throughbred in two years flat! It was my first experience of an unrebuilt, and I was bitten by the Bulleid bug from then on. A close second would be 70013 for the noise wherever it goes.

 

For me... 5690 as it holds memories of a couple of years ago when I started out as an enthusiast (spotting at the East Lancs) and it's recent gala return to the East Lancs was fantastic, second has to be 70013, although I have only ridden behind it on two occasions, both were very animated performances! I could go on... but won't as I'd slowly name all the engines I've seen in preservation

 

70000 Britannia. My Grandad built a 3 1/2" gauge version of it but never got to see the real thing. Saw the actual loco at Brighton 150 in 1991, Old Oak Common in 1994 and travelled behind it on the Mid-Hants Daylight in 1994. Very much looking forward to seeing it come down south once its current overhaul is completed.

Regards,

Dan