Cabs of Bulleid Pacifics - different styles? Any obvious differences?

[Robinson102]

Hi all,

I have recently found out that (apparently) at least the Bulleid Battle of Britain (BB) and West Country (WC) light pacific's had different styles of cab at different periods, whilst streamlined.

There were 'V' cabs, 8ft6 (8'6") cabs, and 9ft (9') cabs, apparently.

I have a lot of photos of Bulleid light pacific's and have been going through them trying to "spot the difference", but haven't yet managed to do so...

So I am wondering if anyone here knows of any way to tell the difference, which would be visible on photographs?

Thanks!

 

[Titfield]

Cant help directly but this may give a clue (lifted from another forum)

From Bradley:

"Despite the better visibility offered by the front end modifications [i.e. changes to the smokebox area to help lift the exhaust and stop it drifting round the cab - TJ] many drivers considered the view ahead of the track and signals was dangerously restricted, and on numerous occasions in 1946-7 expressed themselves forcibly on the subject. As a result, in August 1947 No. 21C8 Orient Line was equipped with a wedge-shaped cab front similar to that appearing on the Battle of Britain light pacific. No change was made to the side sheets and the two side windows were retained. The lookout ahead was considerably improved, but what was more important was the reduction in glare by day and the absence of false reflections at night. Approval was universal and the modification was applied to the other nineteen locomotives in 1948-53, although in their case new cab panels and three side windows were fitted. No. 35008 Orient Line had its cab sides similarly modified in July 1949."

Subsequently, the last ten locomotives built by BR, 35021-30, were built with wedge-shaped cabs from new. Interestingly, some old drawings from 1943 or earlier were found at Eastleigh in the mid 1960s that showed the V-shaped cab, so it is perhaps interesting as to why it wasn't fitted from new. There were also drawings showing "the class with front ends approximating in profile to the LNER A4s and Cock o' the North as originally built".

 

[strimmer]

The Power of the Bulleid Light Pacifics by Gavin Morrison lists the date that each loco was fitted with the Wedge Cab.