The LNER Encyclopedia

The LNER Class A1/1 consisted of a single 4-6-2 "Pacific" express passenger locomotive rebuilt in 1945 from an A1 class locomotive, by Edward Thompson. It was intended as the prototype of a new design of pacific locomotives improving the A4 design of Thompson’s predecessor Sir Nigel Gresley. No further examples were built due to Thompson’s retirement in 1946.
No. 4470 Great Northern (the very first Gresley Pacific) was chosen for this rebuilding, rather than being retained for future preservation. There has been much debate on the reason for this choice. Some state it as bad luck, whilst others clearly blame Thompson for letting his personal feelings towards Gresley cloud his judgement. O. S. Nock describes it as ‘the most disappointing and tactless act in his short and stormy career as CME,’and Allen stated ‘he turned it into a machine of such hideous appearance as might well have made its designer turn in his grave.’ It is known that the Chief Draughtsman and a number of high up officials within the LNER unsuccessfully tried to deter Thompson from rebuilding this particular engine. The rebuilt locomotive appeared in traffic in September 1945 and was classified A1 and the remaining sixteen locomotives of Gresley’s A1 class were re-classified A10. Originally, the plan was to rebuild all of these to the new design but this never occurred. There were also plans for streamlining all the members of the new A1 class, but these were never acted upon

New photos added to this collection

4470 Great Northern Finsbury Park c1946
https://railway-photography.smugmug.com ... /i-7zPPP23
4470 Great Northern in blue livery
https://railway-photography.smugmug.com ... /i-kZz2dbF
60113 Great Northern after emerging Wood Green Tunnel with the 1.15pm Kings Cross Leeds service 20th August 1962
https://railway-photography.smugmug.com ... /i-9kQvfbL
60113 Great Northern unknown location
https://railway-photography.smugmug.com ... /i-j9ckbpF
60113 Great Northern Peterborough North c1958
https://railway-photography.smugmug.com ... /i-fbfjLgL
60113 Great Northern Doncaster shed
https://railway-photography.smugmug.com ... /i-rZwmpLc
60113 nameplate and crest
https://railway-photography.smugmug.com ... /i-hfLnG8Q
60113 Great Northern Newcastle
https://railway-photography.smugmug.com ... /i-Z5LcXzL

Neil

The location for the third photo - 'emerging Wood Green tunnel' - isn't.
Tracks too straight, and/or cutting sides too high/long for either end of WG tunnel.
The location almost certainly is 'emerging from Barnet tunnel' (i.e. approaching Oakleigh Park) - The gallows-style signal for the Slow road at the tunnel mouth is exactly as Oakleigh Park Box's lever 5 Down Slow Distant was.

Absolutely right, StevieG. I spent enough time on the footbridge from which the shot was taken.

This link confirms StevieG and giner's comments:

http://www.railpictorial.com/piwigo/pic ... ategory/13

John

Thanks everyone

Neil

22/22 is the same location as 10/22 Doncaster Shed.

John