Number 28

Thompson's 1,000 engines. Geoffrey Hughes. 18?-23.
Thompson's initial proposal to the Locomotive Committee was for "ten engines of two-cylinder type, entirely composed of standard parts which will be roughly equivalent to the 'K3' engines". The bold type has been added to the "standard parts" to show that Gresley's LNER was at least as standardized as Swindon and that the B1 could be produced from existing parts designed for other classes. The B1 class was far "more standard" than the LMS class 5, many of which members did not share common parts. Hughes also deals with designs which were not built, or were constructed in lesser numbers due to the purchase of the Austerity 2-8-0 and 0-6-0ST designs, and how the K1 design (attributed to Thompson, rather than Peppercorn) displaced the upgraded J11 class.

Number 66

Firing Bulleid's 'Leader'. Michael Harris. 115-18.
Based on conversation with Ron Manley who had fired the locomotive when under test at Eastleigh. He described the driver's cabs and the stokehole for the fireman which was cramped and hot and required an assistant to bring the coal forward – the locomotive had intended to be oil-fired. Other difficulties were the failure of the brick arch which ended up being far thicker than designed, thus reducing the heating surface and grate area.

Number 72 (1995 August)

Armstrong, Sam. The inglorious Garratts, 487-96.
Recounts the development of the Beyer-Garratt type, the involvement of James Anderson and his insitance on undersized axleboxes and short travel valve gear, the difficulties of hand-firing such large locomotives. The axle-weights were absurdly high. Beyer peacock designed the rotary bunkers which relieved the firemen of some of the effort. Problems with failures of rotary bunkers, exhaust steam injectors, time to fill the water tanks and maintenance which was accerbated by a shortage of apares. Some consderation is given to further Garratt designs for the LMS/BR.