#lner i3

[hazel-of-sodor]

You said I could ask about more of these, but I didn’t want to spam your ask box, then I forgot

But then I remembered!

Who are these three?

SPAM IT!

If you have asks send them!

These 3 (four actually) are my LNER Thompson I3 Dreadnoughts

In short these were Thompson's Answer to the Gresley's P1 and P2 locomotives.

[hazel-of-sodor]

Introducing my newest fictional engine, the LNER I3 class!

In my Au , the I3 was a freight locomotive designed by Edward Thompson.

Following the success of the Gresley P2 locomotives at hauling heavy freights during the second worlds war, a P2 succesor was added to Thompson's standardization program.

The resulting design was a 4-8-4 that utilized many components of Thompson's A2 pacific classes. On introduction they were the largest four non-articulated engines in the British Isles. They were numbered 526-529, and while largely mechanically identical, each was unique styled.

The Prototype was turned out similarly to Thompson's Pacific's and named after HMS Dreadnought, leading to the class often being referred to as there LNER Dreadnoughts.

The Second was named HMS Vangaurd after the Royal Navy's last battleship. She was streamlined in the manor of Nigel Gresley's A4 Pacific's. She was often found serving as an replacement express locomotive rather than pulling goods as intended, much to Thompson's irritation.

The third was Given a streamlining of Thompson's own design. Named after HMS Dauntless, it was quickly found that 528's streamlining lacked the practical effects of 527's streamlining.

The fourth was originally meant to be given A4 type streamlining, but last minute Thompson ordered for P2 style streamlining instead. Officially this was meant to directly compare the I3 to early tests of the P2. Unofficially many thought it was an attempt by Thompson to prove his streamlining superior to a Gresley one. LNER No. 529 rolled out of the shops bearing the name of the Royal Navy's Flagship, HMS Ark Royal. She proved less efficient at speed than 527, but better than 528.

All four would pass into British Rails ownership upon Nationalization. They served late into the Moderinzation Era, with 527 only being with drawn in 68. As LNER Engines were rare by this point, all four would end up preserved in the end. HMS Dreadnought would become part of the National Collection. HMS Vanguard would be purchased by a private buyer, and was presumed scrapped until the 1980s, when she was donated to join HMS Dauntless, who had been purchased by the London New Eastern Railway. HMS Ark Royal would be transferred to the North Western Region in 65, where she remains to this day.

[hazel-of-sodor]

Tonight's engine, the (fictional) Thompson I3, in two livery selections.

[hazel-of-sodor]

More LNER I3 liveries.