Does repainting a unit before withdrawal warrant a need for it to be preserved?

[JonathanH]

I just hope 455868 will be preserved.

Is it the 455 in the best condition?

What would be the use case for its life after preservation?

I realise that 423417 was preserved in similar circumstances but there must be arguments for and against preserving a particular unit just because it happened to be repainted by the operator, particularly with a type of unit known to suffer corrosion.

 

[Class15]

Is it the 455 in the best condition?

What would be the use case for its life after preservation?

I realise that 423417 was preserved in similar circumstances but there must be arguments for and against preserving a particular unit just because it happened to be repainted by the operator, particularly with a type of unit known to suffer corrosion.

Quite. For long-term preservation it would be better to take the best unit.

 

[Class450/4DES]

Is it the 455 in the best condition?

What would be the use case for its life after preservation?

I realise that 423417 was preserved in similar circumstances but there must be arguments for and against preserving a particular unit just because it happened to be repainted by the operator, particularly with a type of unit known to suffer corrosion.

Looking at images, it seems to be in the best condition.

 

[JonathanH]

Looking at images, it seems to be in the best condition.

Is that just because it is the most recently painted, and therefore there has been some filler used wherever there may have been corrosion found?

 

[Class450/4DES]

Is that just because it is the most recently painted, and therefore there has been some filler used wherever there may have been corrosion found?

Ah okay!

 

[fgwrich]

Is that just because it is the most recently painted, and therefore there has been some filler used wherever there may have been corrosion found?

Indeed, a perfect case in point is that a lot of people seem to think that 43206/312 and that set should have been preserved because of its (hasty) repaint ahead of LNERs farewell tour. The reality of it was that the specific set was chosen as it had the highest miles on it, did not have a planned future (whereas the majority of the rest of the PCs and sets ended up at EMR + 2 PCs for XC), neither Power Cars or set were in the best condition and it was due to be one of the first sets to head to the bin when LNER had finished with it. Paint can as they say, hide a multitude of sins.

 

[DanNCL]

No it doesn’t. Apart from 507001 are there any cases where a unit has been preserved for this reason and nothing else? 43002, 43102 and 313201 were all preserved for different reasons, those reasons also happening the be the reasons why they got BR livery repaints in their final years.

Certainly for stock currently in BR liveries such 455868 or 91119, I struggle to see why those specific trains are more worthy of preservation than any other member of the same class.

 

[43096]

No it doesn’t. Apart from 507001 are there any cases where a unit has been preserved for this reason and nothing else? 43002, 43102 and 313201 were all preserved for different reasons, those reasons also happening the be the reasons why they got BR livery repaints in their final years.

What is significant about 43002? First of the production build, but otherwise no real significance.

 

[cav1975]

483007 had only a few days in service before withdrawal in near pristine condition. Unfortunately the traction motors didn't enjoy their few days in service but that doesn't detract from it being a very effective static exhibit at Havenstreet. Some used tracyion motors are available in the probably unlikely event that there is a need in the future.

 

[D365]

Apart from 507001 are there any cases where a unit has been preserved for this reason and nothing else?

Your assertion is not quite true. 507001 was also chosen on the basis that it is fundamentally in good mechanical condition.

 

[Davester50]

What is significant about 43002? First of the production build

I think you answered your own question.

 

[43096]

I think you answered your own question.

Being first built isn't really that significant. It wasn't even in traffic on 4 October 1976, the first day of the 125mph timetable, which was of major significance. 253009 (43018/019) worked the first service to run at 125mph.

 

[Davester50]

Being first built isn't really that significant.

It's funny how D200, D400, D1500, D9000 and 87001 have been preserved. It's almost like there's a theme running.

 

[JLH4AC]

A unit having notable livery should be a consideration in what units get preserved but other factors such as its mechanical condition, any notable feature belonging to an individual unit or subclass, and notable feats of a unit should have a higher weight to the decision.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Painting a unit before withdrawal seems a waste of money IMHO, regardless of body or mechanical condition - unless it has a sound future in preservation - not rotting away in some siding somewhere. I would expect 455.868 to be one of the last of its class withdrawn unless mechanical failure or being out of miles sees early withdrawal.

And remember, 455.868 isn't in original livery either - at least 313.201 was closer and of more historical importance

 

[61653 HTAFC]

If a unit is given a heritage repaint for its final few months, there may also be a tendency for it to become a bit of a "depot pet" as a result... which could lead to it ending up as the one in the best shape once the axe falls, and thus the one that is offered for preservation. Then as an added bonus, it's already in a heritage livery so that's one less job for the new custodians.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Jan 2025 ==

It's funny how D200, D400, D1500, D9000 and 87001 have been preserved. It's almost like there's a theme running.

Clearly some people within the preservation scene value the "pioneer" examples. I personally find it a bit repetitive when so many preserved locos or units are "Dx000" or "xxx001"... but it's not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things. It's more annoying to me when model manufacturers do the obvious and release models numbered as "first in series"- I'll even pay extra to have them renumbered in that case!

 

[The exile]

If a unit is given a heritage repaint for its final few months, there may also be a tendency for it to become a bit of a "depot pet" as a result... which could lead to it ending up as the one in the best shape once the axe falls, and thus the one that is offered for preservation. Then as an added bonus, it's already in a heritage livery so that's one less job for the new custodians.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Jan 2025 ==

 

[Davester50]

Clearly some people within the preservation scene value the "pioneer" examples. I personally find it a bit repetitive when so many preserved locos or units are "Dx000" or "xxx001"... but it's not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things.

And that's fair comment. Thankfully there's plenty of other of those examples in most of those classes, and it's not like they've assumed identities of others before.
Without the first in class, there's no second