LNER Class A4 4496 Dwight D Eisenhower

Infobox Locomotive
name="Dwight D Eisenhower"
powertype=Steam
gauge=RailGauge|sg

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caption="Dwight D. Eisenhower" on display at the National Railroad Museum on April 26 2004
railroad=London and North Eastern Railway
roadnumber=4496, renum 8 in 1946, renum 60008 in 1948
officialname="Golden Shuttle", "Dwight D Eisenhower"
builddate=September 4th 1937
disposition=static display at the National Railroad Museum, Green Bay, Wisconsin
railroadclass=A4
whytetype=4-6-2

60008 "Dwight D Eisenhower" is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive.

Built for the LNER in 1937, it was originally numbered 4496 and named "Golden Shuttle". She was renamed "Dwight D. Eisenhower" after World War II and was renumbered 8 on November 23rd 1946, under the Thompson LNER 1946 renumbering scheme. After nationalisation in 1948 BR added 60000 to the number so it became 60008 on October 29th 1948.

Liveries

Like the other members of the LNER A4 Pacific class, "Dwight D. Eisenhower" has worn many liveries throughout her career. When first released into traffic on September 4th 1937, locomotive 4496 was named "Golden Shuttle" and painted in LNER garter blue with stainless steel trim on the base of the valances and tender. The numbers and LNER lettering on the tender was also stainless steel. This livery design was used on this locomotive and the other A4s named after countries, on the "Coronation" service in order to match with the rolling stock.

The next livery worn was wartime black with LNER on the tender, this was applied January 30th 1942. This livery was modified to read just NE on the tender, to confuse wartime spies, in a repaint on March 12th 1943. LNER garter blue was reapplied September 25th 1945, the name "Dwight D. Eisenhower" applied, but this was covered until February 1946. The next livery applied was British Railways dark blue livery with black and white lining on June 14th 1950. The final livery applied was British Railways brunswick green, applied November 9th 1951.

"Dwight D. Eisenhower" had a non-standard red background to the nameplate circa 1958. During her time allocated to Grantham motive power depot, the name of the depot was stencilled on the buffer area.

Technical Details

Like all the early A4 locomotives prior to "Mallard", "Golden Shuttle" was released to service with a single chimney and side valances covering the wheels. The valances were removed to aid in maintenance during a general overhaul on January 30th 1942. Experimental Automatic Train Control equipment was fitted on June 23rd 1950. A double chimney and Kylchap double blastpipe was installed to help performance, during an overhaul August 20th 1958. A Smith-Stone type speed indicator was installed June 30th 1960.

"Dwight D. Eisenhower" has had eleven boilers during her career: 8959 (from new); 8945 (from 4482 "Golden Eagle"), January 30th 1942; 8906 (spare) from November 23rd 1946; 8955 (from 60026 "Miles Beevor"), June 14th 1950; 29314 (new), November 9th 1951; 29303 (from 60030 "Guillemot") June 18th 1954; 29296 (from "60033 Seagull"), July 8th 1955; 29308 (from 60032 "Golden Fleece"), December 20th 1956; 29312 (from "60010 Dominion of Canada"), August 20th 1958; 27964 (new), June 30th 1960 and finally 29335 (from "60019 Bittern"), May 17th 1962.

"Dwight D. Eisenhower" had two tenders during her career: 5651 from new and 5671 from April 1st 1957.

Career

Locomotive 4496 was to have been named "Sparrow Hawk", but was instead named "Golden Shuttle". "Sparrow Hawk" was later used on 4463. September 25th 1945 locomotive 4496 was ex-works and the next day was at Marylebone station for a viewing by the Directors of the London and North Eastern Railway. The nameplates were covered and it was intended that the Supreme Commander, Allied Forces would attend an official unveiling, but sadly this could not be arranged.

From new, "Golden Shuttle" was allocated to Doncaster shed for just 9 days from September 20th - 29th 1937. She was transferred to Kings Cross 'Top Shed' until December 4th 1939 when she was reallocated to Grantham. June 4th 1950 saw "Dwight D. Eisenhower" reallocated back to 'Top Shed'. April 7th 1957 saw a move back to Grantham until she was sent back to 'Top Shed' on September 15th 1957. Her final depot allocation was New England from June 16th 1963.

October 4th 1962, "Dwight D. Eisenhower" hauled a special train from Stratford to York, being cleaned up specially by the staff of Kings Cross 'Top Shed'. She was withdrawn from service on July 20th 1963. By this time, the Deltic diesel electric locomotives had ousted steam from the premier services and the reduced A4 fleet was concentrated further North. "Dwight D. Eisenhower" was donated to the Unites States of America and sent to Doncaster 'Plant' works for restoration.

Preservation

"Dwight D. Eisenhower" was restored but not repaired at Doncaster 'Plant' Works July 19th 1963. She was donated to the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin in the United States and shipped there on May 27th 1964. She arrived at the museum in May, 1964. Efforts to repatriate the locomotive back to the UK have been unsuccessfulFact|date=July 2008. The locomotive is displayed with two British passenger carriages once used as part of Eisenhower's Command Train. These have been restored to the condition they were in when used by Eisenhower.

References

* cite book
first = David
last = Clarke
title = Locomotives in Detail: 3 Gresley 4-6-2- A4 Class.
publisher = Ian Allan Publishing
ISBN 0 7110 3085 5
year = 2005 An overall history of the Gresley A4 class, as well as unparalled details about the class and individual members.

* cite book
first = W.B.
last = Yeadon
title = Yeadon's Register of LNER Locomotives: Volume Two: Gresley A4 and W1 classes.
publisher = Booklaw/Railbus is association with Challenger
ISBN 1 871608 15 5
year = 2001 Histories of the A4 and W1 classes of locomotive with details of repairs and liveries etc.