They were ideal on steep gradients and lines with tight curves - slightly smaller driving wheels also reliable for fast starts. They were prevelant on the Great Central Main Line from Sheffield Victoria to London Marylebone. Alongside the B1`s and A3`s they could sustain high speeds on the average 1/176 gradients and sweeping curves of the Great Central. When the LNER, then BR NE Region had control - the linbe boasted faster, more reliable services than the rival Midland main-line from St Pancras. The latter was [and still is] a collection of joined up old coal lines, with meandering lines, restricted capacity and inability to operate at consistent high speeds, to this day. The "Last Main Line" was the first to close under BR: the only one in the UK built to Continental Loading Gauge - with the intent to connect to a "Channel Tunnel", envisioned in 1898 by its owner - Edward Watkin!There’s nowt quite like a V2. Thornaby shed had a handful around 1959 - 61
Great Central herself at Grantham I reckonThey were ideal on steep gradients and lines with tight curves - slightly smaller driving wheels also reliable for fast starts. They were prevelant on the Great Central Main Line from Sheffield Victoria to London Marylebone. Alongside the B1`s and A3`s they could sustain high speeds on the average 1/176 gradients and sweeping curves of the Great Central. When the LNER, then BR NE Region had control - the linbe boasted faster, more reliable services than the rival Midland main-line from St Pancras. The latter was [and still is] a collection of joined up old coal lines, with meandering lines, restricted capacity and inability to operate at consistent high speeds, to this day. The "Last Main Line" was the first to close under BR: the only one in the UK built to Continental Loading Gauge - with the intent to connect to a "Channel Tunnel", envisioned in 1898 by its owner - Edward Watkin!
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The line was a major artery for NE / SW traffic - providing Services from York to South Wales / South Coast / West Country . The longest regular service was the Aberdeen - Penzance via Swindon / Banbury / Rugby / Leicester Central / Nottingham Victoria / Sheffield Victoria and York - up the East Coast Mainline: over a century before "Cross Country" PLC crawled through Birmingham and the Midland coal-line to Sheffield Midland.
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