Locomotive #401 'Vulcan'

Remarquable et excellente prise de vue superbement rendue.
Bonne et agréable fin de semaine apaisante.

Hi Malik ,
Thank you so much for your very kind visit.
I'm happy that you had a good look!!
Best Wishes, and keep safe,
Peter

A beautiful image taken from the best perspective and at the best moment. Kind regards, Anton.

Hi Anton ,
Thank you for visiting!
I am pleased you found it interesting.
We do try to investigate these photos in great detail before hand!
Best Wishes, and keep safe,
Peter

Excelente y bonita toma.

Hi Marije ,
Thank you very much!
I'm pleased that you have enjoyed it!
Best Wishes, and keep safe,
Peter

beautiful
Wish you a peaceful weekend!

Hi Annemarie ,
Your visit is much appreciated. Thank you!
I am so happy that you like the scene.
Best Wishes, and keep safe,
Peter

Wow quel panache c'est une image exquise, bravo !
Bon WE Peter reste en sécurité

Hi Jocelyne ,
Thank you so much for your very kind visit.
I am pleased you found it interesting.
Best Wishes, and keep safe,
Peter

My dear Peter,

As Anton said ,a wonderful picture of this beautiful locomotive at the best perspective and at the best moment!

Love Füsun
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My dear Füsun
Your visit is most welcome. Thank you.
I'm pleased that you have enjoyed it!
One of many from that little crossing! A worthwhile place to visit!
Best Wishes, and keep safe,
Love Peter
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A fine looking train Peter ~ Hanwe

Hi Nick,
Thank you very much!
I am so happy that you like the scene.
Best Wishes, and keep safe,
Peter

excellent image, great locomotive!

Hi Berny,
Your visit is much appreciated. Thank you!
Glad you like it.
Best Wishes, and keep safe,
Peter

Looks great, Peter !

Hi Ulrich ,
Thank you for visiting!
I'm pleased that you have enjoyed it!
Best Wishes, and keep safe,
Peter

Beautiful old steam train; well captured Peter

Hi Jaap ,
Your visit is most welcome. Thank you.
I am so happy that you like the scene.
Best Wishes, and keep safe,
Peter

From stephensonsteamrailway.org.uk/collection/our-collections

This locomotive was one of three built in 1951 at Stafford by W.G. Bagnall Ltd for the Steel Company of Wales to see if steam engines could be as effective as diesels. Steam engines were less expensive to buy, and coal was cheaper than oil fuel, but diesel locomotives could operate for much longer periods without major servicing.

Many advanced features were included in the design to reduce servicing time and increase reliability. The locomotives were able to work continuously for up to three weeks, with breaks only for loading coal and filling the water tank.

Also known as Vulcan, No. 401 worked at the Margam steel plant in South Wales until late in 1957. Although the design was working very well, the falling cost of oil relative to good quality coal meant that diesel locomotives had become much cheaper to use.

Still nearly as good as new, No. 401 left Wales for Birmingham to work for a few years at the Austin car factory at Longbridge, where there was an internal railway system. After a period of running at the West Somerset heritage railway, the engine was acquired by TWAM for Stephenson Steam Railway in 1986, where it remained in regular use until December 2008. Problems with its firebox led to the locomotive being placed on static display within the museum. A six year restoration project saw No. 401 return to service, hauling passenger carriages, during Easter 2019.

This locomotive is named after Thomas Burt, a miners’ leader from Northumberland who in 1874 became the first working man to be elected as an MP.

Hi Graham,
Thank you very much for the info
Glad you like it.
You can also see the writing on the locomotive "The Steel Company of Wales Ltd". Unusually for Welsh organisations, the same words are in English on both sides. I would have expected "Cwmni Dur Cymru Cyf" on the opposite side!
Best Wishes, and keep safe,
Peter

Superbe partage... J'aime beaucoup...

Hi Josiane ,
Your visit is much appreciated. Thank you!
I'm happy that you had a good look!!
Best Wishes, and keep safe,
Peter

Excellent capture Peter, I remember this loco and her mate Victor from her days on the West Somerset !