LNER Class A4 4489 Dominion of Canada
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 The "Dominion of Canada" at the Canadian Railway Museum in 2003 |
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| Power type | Steam |
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| Build date | May 24th 1937 |
| Gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) |
| Career | London and North Eastern Railway |
| Class | A4 |
| Number | 4489, renum 10, renum 60010 |
| Official name | Dominion of Canada |
| Current owner | Canadian Railway Museum |
| Disposition | Static display |
60010 Dominion of Canada is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. She is a 4-6-2 locomotive built to the same design by Sir Nigel Gresley as the more famous Mallard. There were 35 A4 locomotives built in total. Originally numbered 4489, she was renumbered 10 on May 10, 1946, under the LNER 1946 renumbering scheme of Edward Thompson and, after nationalisation in 1948, British Railways added 60000 to its number so it became 60010 on October 27, 1948.
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[edit] Liveries
Dominion of Canada has worn many liveries throughout her career. When released into traffic, 4489 wore garter blue livery. The coat of arms of Canada was on the side of the cab and a CPR-type bell mounted ahead of the single chimney. As a livery variation, a stainless steel strip ran along the bottom of the valances and tender and the numbers and letters of the locomotive and tender were also stainless steel. This was due to the use of this locomotive and the other A4s named after countries, on the Coronation service in order to match with the rolling stock. The bell was removed when the chimney was replaced with a Kylchap double blastpipe and chimney on December 27, 1957. the stainless steel strip was removed along with the valances, but was left on the tender and simply painted over. Due to the position of the cabside coat of arms, the works plates were relocated inside the cab. The coat of arms of Canada worn on the side of the cabs were removed on April 8, 1949, but the works plates were not moved back.
The next livery worn was wartime black with LNER on the tender on February 21, 1942. The livery was modified to read just NE on the tender to confuse wartime spies, this was done on November 27, 1943. Dominion of Canada regained her LNER garter blue with extra red/white lining on November 20, 1947. British Railways dark blue with black and white lining was applied on September 29, 1950. The final change to British Railways brunswick green was on May 8, 1952.
[edit] Technical details
Dominion of Canada had a CPR-type bell (see above) and a Canadian Pacific Railway whistle, but this was removed in 1949 and replaced with a standard chime whistle. The removed whistle was supposed to be used in a whistles trial at Stratford for the new proposed British Railways 'Standard' Class locomotives.
Dominion of Canada had eleven boilers through her career: 8952 (from new); 8908 (from 2510 Quicksilver), February 21, 1942; 9126 (from 4482 Golden Eagle), May 10, 1946; 9018 (from 19 Bittern), April 8, 1949; 29273 (from 60014 Silver Link), September 29, 1950; 29321 (New build), August 27, 1953; 29323 (from 60014 Silver Link), February 17, 1955; 29312 (from 60018 Sparrow Hawk), June 1, 1956; 29272 (from 60002 Sir Murrough Wilson), December 27, 1957; 29307 (from 60028 Walter K. Whigham), July 10, 1959; and finally 27970 (from 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley), December 5, 1962.
Dominion of Canada had six tenders through her career: 5326 from new, 5328 from December 6, 1937, 5647 from June 29, 1953, 5639 from July 9, 1953, 5328 from August 27, 1953 and lastly 5326 from October 15, 1960.
Dominion of Canada had her side valances removed on February 21, 1943. A Smith-Stone speed indicator was added October 15, 1960.
[edit] Career
Dominion of Canada was built in Doncaster works in May 1937 as Works Number 1854. She was originally to be named Buzzard but received Woodcock instead and was renamed Dominion of Canada in June 1937. Locomotive 4489 underwent trials, the only one of the 'Coronation' A4s so treated, and left in works grey lined in white. She had apple green painted coupled wheels. At this point she wore the name Woodcock, but this was removed before final painting and release to traffic.
The Canadian Pacific Railway issue whistle was fitted 15 July 1937 for the unveiling and naming. The CPR-type bell fitted was steam operated and was actually used, as a photograph from August 19, 1939, illustrates. Locomotive 4489 achieved 109.5 m.p.h. down Stoke Bank in 1937. She suffered damage in a collision at Hatfield and required attention at Doncaster Works from January 31 to March 18, 1939.
Allocated to Kings Cross 'Top Shed' from new. She was reallocated to Grantham on April 7, 1957. The next shed was Kings Cross 'Top Shed' again on September 15, 1957. New England was the next allocation on June 16, 1963, after the closure of 'Top Shed'. The final allocation was to Aberdeen on October 20, 1963 where she served The Flying Scotsman express between Edinburgh and London.
[edit] Preservation
60010 Dominion of Canada was withdrawn at Darlington shed on May 29, 1965. The locomotive had not been repaired since May 12. July 5, 1965, the locomotive was marked in Darlington records as 'for sale to be scrapped'.
After 60010 was condemned, and her chimney removed for either 60024 Kingfisher or 60004 William Whitelaw, both in the works at that time. She was placed behind Darlington motive power depot and forgotten about. After Darlington was closed on March 26, 1966, 60010 was moved to Crewe works for cosmetic restoration and shipping to Canada.
She was donated to the Canadian Railroad Historical Association (CRHA) by British Rail. Since May 1966 60010 has been preserved by the CRHA at the Canadian Railway Museum at Delson/Saint-Constant, Quebec, near Montreal. The CPR bell was shipped out with 60010, but has not been refitted to-date due to the double chimney. Currently stored in a secure building with other equipment, the engine is in good cosmetic shape.
[edit] References
- Clarke, David (2005). Locomotives in Detail: 3 Gresley 4-6-2- A4 Class. Ian Allan Publishing. An overall history of the Gresley A4 class, as well as unparalleled details about the class and individual members.
- Trevena, Nigel (1985). Steam For Scrap, Volume 2. Atlantic Transport Publishers. A detailed but chilling book detailing the end of the big express engine classes of the 'Big Four' companies. Contains the story of 60010 at Darlington and a photograph.
- Viaud, Jean-Paul (2002). Portrait of the Collection: Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum. Imprimerie Létourneau. Catalog of the Canadian Railway Museum accompanied by a short history of Canadian rail.
- Yeadon, W.B. (2001). Yeadon's Register of LNER Locomotives: Volume Two: Gresley A4 and W1 classes. Booklaw/Railbus is association with Challenger. Histories of the A4 and W1 classes of locomotive with details of repairs and liveries etc.
[edit] External links
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