Thompson Class A2/3 on the Great Central

[Helmdon]

Morning all,

I'm modelling the GC mainline in the 50s and early 60s (username is a clue but I'm not basing it *quite* on that location) and have been rather inspired by the new A2/3 model from Hornby.

I know all about rule 1, and I could just buy one and run it anyway, but everything else I've got is right for the route and period (J11, O4, D11/1, WD2-8-0, B17, K3, A3, B1, Hall, L1, Ivatt 4MT etc). I've stretched point already by having a D11/1 that far south that late on but I couldn't not have one!

So, aside from the prototype, which did its publicity shots at Marylebone, did A2/3s ever venture onto the GC mainline in service? Preferably south of Annesley and In BR days...

Not asking for much am I? But if anyone knows I'd be very grateful, as would Mr Hornby in due course....

[Mike Parkes]

Unlikely I would think apart from 500 at Marylebone for naming . As an alternative a couple of Peppercorn A1s crop up in The Last Years of the GC Mainline Robert Robotham Ian Allen 1986 ISBN 0 7110 1613 5;
60123 HA Ivatt with 3 coaches captioned as being the 1753 Sheffield Victoria-Leicester Central on 1 June 1962 and
60114 WP Allen stated as being a return excursion from Beaconsfield to Mexborough on 12 June 1964

[glencairn]

Hi Helmdon. I have been looking through the few pictures of Thompson A2/3s I have. Unfortunately none show them on the Great Central.

Maybe one or two did make it to the GC via a diversion (or whatever), but wasn't recorded.

Glencairn

[LC&DR]

http://www.lner-pacifics.me.uk/

This website may be worth a look.

[Helmdon]

Thanks all,

thought it might be a bit of a needle in a haystack job - that last site looks potentially promising though (even in terms of just ruling it out). As I say, I might just buy one anyway!