Green Arrow - Bits & Pieces...

Sep 06, 2003 4 Replies
D

Hi Everyone...



I am looking for some authentic 'OO' Coaches and Goods Wagons, to add to the display of my Bachmann Branch Line Ltd. Edition 'Green Arrow' Model, which is painted in the original LNER (4771) Apple Green Livery.



As I don't want to make any obvious mistakes, matching it up with the correct coaches for that period (c.1937) could someone advise me where I can find any of these items? - and how to describe exactly what I want!



I also wanted to publicise that the Green Arrow will be visiting the Bluebell Railway Center, near Crawley, for a "Giants of Steam" weekend, October 25-26th. I hope to get there myself, with a little help from my partner's Family (I live near Colchester).



It should be a really good chance to see this unique Engine in action. I have not managed to catch up with my "Grandad's Train" for many years - the last time that I actually touched it was in London, at the age of 5 !



See you there?



Many Thanks,



David.


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J

"David F." wrote

I believe the Bachmann model of *Green Arrow* depicts the locomotive as preserved rather than being a strict reproduction of it as running in 1937.

*Green Arrow* was allocated to Kings Cross for much of its working life and did not have a dedicated crew. This Gresley V2 2-6-2 class of loco was *primarily* designed for use on fast freight workings and would be diagrammed for use by any loco crew from Top Shed who knew the loco type and route to be operated.

John.

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F

I'm not sure this is worth worrying about. There are in-built problems which mean it looks neither like it did in 1937 nor as it is now. The Bachmann boiler is continuously tapered, whereas the prototype's has a parallel front section.

I can't think of any modifications carried out to Green Arrow itself which would manifest themeselves in a RTR 00 model, (AWS perhaps?) though the tender would have had modifications to the coal space and the brake reservoirs.

Cheers, Francis K.

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D

Many thanks for the comments John.

My Grandfather was assigned to the main Crew on the 'Fast Fish' run, from late 1936 through the War years, up to 1946 - nationalisation. I had many conversations with him about his exploits. My Mother is 80, and has told me many stories of the War, when she stayed behind in London to look after her Father while the rest of the Family evacuated to Saffron Walden to get away from the Bombing!

He used to be off to work at 6am. and, if he was lucky, he returned home around

22.30 after finishing his duties on Green Arrow and then taking a Goods Train down to Dover loaded with Troops and Supplies! He once transported King George 6th. back to Kings Cross, and was rewarded with a handshake and a royal Cigarette too. They both joked about getting the King's Gloves dirty! The king was a heavy smoker and, as you know, died in 1952 of Lung Cancer.

I have a Photograph, taken in 1936 for my Grandfather, showing him driving the Engine, taken from the tunnel near Potters Bar. I also have his Engineman's Handbook and the Silver Watch-Chain (my Uncle has the Watch).

His name was Edward 'Ted' Nevols, and (so far) I have not been able to find any official LNER documents to include on my Website. If anything turns up, It will be added to the Website when uploaded later this year.

David.

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D

One quick addition to the information I have...

The first Driver in 1936, when my Grandfather first 'rode' the Green Arrow as Fireman, was called Mr Mold.

David.

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