BR Standard class 6 No. 72010 'Hengist' and Clan Discussion Thread

Since the development of the double lempor that would also be a retrograde step...

 

STOP PRESS!​

The Hon. Sir William McAlpine, Bt. has agreed to become Patron of THE ‘CLAN’ PROJECT. Very appropriately, Sir William is Patron of the ‘Clan McAlpine’ Society. By giving his support for the Project by becoming its Patron, Sir William said "I am most happy to be associated with this very worthy project, which is well advanced, and I urge all enthusiasts of main line steam to become involved in this exciting project".

He continued ‘I’ve always been fascinated by railways. My earliest memories are of being taken to watch the trains and when Nanny wanted to take me back for lunch, I said, ‘Hold on, there’ll be another one along in a minute.’ There was a railway near the family home in Surrey and young William was regularly taken to see the trains. His interest deepened with his first model railway.

He was born in London at the family owned Dorchester Hotel and was raised at the family home in Surrey and, after being educated at Charterhouse School, he went on to join the family building firm. Post World War Two was a busy time for construction, with Sir William starting his career at Hayes Depot, Middlesex, a 30-acre site which housed the McAlpine’s railway locomotive and wagon fleet.

An acknowledged steam enthusiast, he returned to Hayes depot during the Beeching Axe era, to find that the company’s Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST Nº 31, was for sale as scrap for £100. So, Sir William said “...send it over to Fawley”. This marked the start, in 1965, of the Fawley Hill Railway, a private railway which now runs to over a mile long.

Entrance to the Fawley Hill Railway is by invitation only and on selected days which are usually during the summer months. This year THE ‘CLAN’ PROJECT has been invited to attend.

Sir William inherited the baronetcy in 1990 on the death of Sir Robert McAlpine, 5th Baronet. He served as High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire for 1999.

He is a governor of the educational charity Shiplake Court Limited. Shiplake College is an independent school in Shiplake, by the River Thames just outside Henley-on-Thames, England. The school, with just over 350 pupils, admits day boys from 11-18 and boarding boys from 13-18. Day and boarding girls join the College in the Sixth Form.

Sir William is the President of the Railway Benevolent Institution, known as the Railway Benefit Fund, a charity helping current and retired railway industry workers and presently chairs the Railway Heritage Trust.

Sir William is the great-grandson of Sir Robert McAlpine, who founded the contracting company that bears his name to this day. Sir William spent his working career, apart from National Service, in the company, starting as an apprentice fitter, and spending many years as a Director.

The company is famous for the construction of many famous landmark structures including: the Glasgow Subway, Mallaig Extension Railway, Emirates Stadium, Glenfinnan Viaduct - completed in 1901 - the original Wembley Stadium in 1923, the Dorchester Hotel, the Millennium Dome, the Millennium Bridge, London, the Bull Ring in Birmingham, the London Olympics Stadium and the Eden Project in St. Austell in Cornwall.

Sir William McAlpines name, however, will be forever synonymous with the rescue of the ‘FLYING SCOTSMAN’ in 1973 and the establishment of the Railway Heritage Trust and he is warmly welcomed to THE ‘CLAN’ PROJECT, where his wealth of knowledge and experience in the world of heritage railways and business will be put to very good use.

 

Better get some Clan McAlpine plates cast and 72025 on one side of the Cab then !
Anychance he can knock us up a Shed at the GCR ?

 

Dave

You don’t actually mention a date when you are there. Is it the Vintage Gala on Friday 16th, Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th May 2014? If so the Fawley Hill web site states “Because we are now a registered charity, we are asking you to make donations in exchange for tickets. BOOK NOW FOR EASE OF ENTRY ON THE DAY; BUT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DONATE AT THE GATE.” (their caps)

Can you clarify?
Best wishes
Robin

 

Hi Robin
It is the Vintage Gala on May 16th to 18th.

Kind regards

 

Thanks. Fawley Hill is on my to do list this year, now an extra reason to go.

 

Thanks Robin. We look forward to seeing you there!

 

Even more sycophantic than the suggestion of naming 45550 "Bradshaw".

 

Sense of humour bypass ?

 

More likely a SENSE bypass!!

Cheers

Alan

 

who is naming 45550 bradshaw??? 45551 COULD be named bradshaw during the time (if its complete of course) between completion date and 11.11.18. Because the engine WILL NOT be "The Unknown Warrior" untill that date. We have stated that between that time we are happy to have her in any name that original patriots carried. Bradshaw is my idea as it has the possibility of getting us on tv due to the book written by him which is currently getting good publicity. weather it happens or not i dont know, but surely any enthusiast should see the sense of getting as much publicity to help fund future overhauls and mainline running??

Well done to the Clan for getting such an excellent person on board. Another notch for this rapidly growing project!

 

Thanks Gav.
I agree with you, I don't see the harm in naming 45551 'Bradshaw'. If you can get Michael Portillo involved for his TV series even better.
As you say you can never have too much good publicity.

Dave

 

72010 - Youve been Framed (nice pic on website)

 

Thanks Sean.
The new frames with welded in horn guides have now been delivered to Ian Rileys. A big step for the project. The old frames will be recycled with all proceeds going to the frame appeal.
The appeal is still open for anyone wanting to make a donation. Every donation counts and will be spent on the frame assembly, the faster we raise the funds the quicker the loco is built!

 

as a "Clan" name, Clam MacAlpine would at least have a historical connection with the original class, unlike "Hengist" which is basically completely irrelevant.

 

Erm... "Hengist" is very historically relevant, seeing as that was the name allocated by BR to the 11th clan had it actually been built sixty-odd years ago!

Tom

 

Hengist was the name of the next 'Clan' that BR were going to build. The first 5 of the second batch were due to operate in Kent, hence the Kentish names Hengist and Horsa (72011).

 

Oh dear. We need to read up on the history of the class don't we young man.

 

May I refer those that doubt any connection read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hengist_and_Horsa and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canute

And http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_BR_'Clan'_Class_locomotives

Not too sure about Wildfire and Firebrand.

 

The Clan names chosen for 72010 - 72014 were from locomotives from the early history of the railways in southern England.

"Hengist" and "Horsa" were locos No. 1 and 2 from the "Joint Committee" engines (those shared between the South Eastern Railway, London and Brighton Railway and London and Croydon Railway). Both were Sharp Roberts & Co. 2-2-2s, built in December 1841 with 5'6" driving wheels and 13"x18" cylinders. When the Joint Committee disbanded, they became South Eastern Railway Nos. 9 and 10 and lasted to 1864 and 1868 respectively.

"Canute" was a similar Sharp Roberts single, delivered in April 1842 as Joint Committee No. 9. It became South Eastern Railway No. 17 and lasted until April 1862.

"Firebrand" was a Rothwell single built for the LSWR as their No. 74. Delivered December 1846, withdrawn January 1867, with 6'6" drivers, 14 1/4" x 21" cylinders.

"Wildfire" was also a Rothwell single, LSWR No. 77. Delivered May 1847, withdrawn March 1865. It was originally named "Hecla" but was renamed "Wildfire" in May 1852.

Tom