Brian
Locomotive Statistics
Name: Brian
Number: 80010 (BR TOPS 98410)
Type: Steam Locomotive
Locomotive Class: BR Standard Class 4 Tank
Power Classification: 4MT
Wheel Arrangement: 2-6-4T
Built: Brighton (1951)
Gender: Male
Current Location: The Dark Railway
Current Condition: Operational
Current Livery: BR Black
Number: 80010 (BR TOPS 98410)
Type: Steam Locomotive
Locomotive Class: BR Standard Class 4 Tank
Power Classification: 4MT
Wheel Arrangement: 2-6-4T
Built: Brighton (1951)
Gender: Male
Current Location: The Dark Railway
Current Condition: Operational
Current Livery: BR Black
Profile
"Brian" is a BR Standard Class 4MT Tank, brought to the line for General Duties in 1958.
He is a friendly engine, getting on well with many of his Colleagues, and greatly enjoys his life.
Despite his Flaws, Brian has proved his usefulness over time, able to undertake a range of tasks.
He is a quick witted engine, able to hold his own in an argument and turn the tables on his enemies.
He is also remarkably intelligent, often boasting that he has a higher IQ than many of his Colleagues!
Brian is rather Blunt, and states things matter-of-factly, often highlighting vital flaws in a Plan.
He has a sarcastic sense of humour, something that some engines find irritating and unhelpful at times.
His best friends are Dave and Raymond, having many adventures with them over the years.
He is very protective of his friends, often going beyond the call of duty to help and protect them..
He is proud of his Storytelling Ability, something that has come is use from time to time.
He is a friendly engine, getting on well with many of his Colleagues, and greatly enjoys his life.
Despite his Flaws, Brian has proved his usefulness over time, able to undertake a range of tasks.
He is a quick witted engine, able to hold his own in an argument and turn the tables on his enemies.
He is also remarkably intelligent, often boasting that he has a higher IQ than many of his Colleagues!
Brian is rather Blunt, and states things matter-of-factly, often highlighting vital flaws in a Plan.
He has a sarcastic sense of humour, something that some engines find irritating and unhelpful at times.
His best friends are Dave and Raymond, having many adventures with them over the years.
He is very protective of his friends, often going beyond the call of duty to help and protect them..
He is proud of his Storytelling Ability, something that has come is use from time to time.
History
Completed in July 1951 at Brighton Works, Brian was the first member of his class to enter service with British Railways. His first allocation was Plaistow, where he mainly operated over the old London, Tilbury and Southend Railway.
Brian tried to get on with the other engines in his sheds, but unfortunately, they were all a little on the dim side, and rarely understood his intellectual jokes and quips. Things didn't help when one of them accused Brian of having sexual relations with his sister, a claim that was proven to be completely untrue. Things didn't help when Brian's Twin Brother, No 80011, came to join him at Plaistow. No 80011 claimed to have an even higher IQ than Brian, and subsequently adopted the name "Brain", something that Brian claims was intentional, as it is merely an anagram of his own name.
Brian and Brain never got on very well, and eventually, Brian asked to be transferred away from the area. His manager agreed and, in February 1952, was transferred to Bournemouth, to work over the Swanage Branch. Here, he worked alongside aging L&SWR M7 Tanks, including the now preserved No
30053, who Brian was very fond of. His adventures on the Swanage Branchline were varied, including one notable incident when he rescued No 30053 from a snowdrift at Furzebrook during a Blizzard.
In the Summer of 1953, Brian was again transferred, this time to Weymouth. It was here that Brian was taught all about Banking trains up steep gradients. Soon, Brian became the master of this task, and could often be seen pushing the heaviest expresses over Upwey Incline. Management were very impressed, and gave him a very special present to commemorate his work: A large Electric Lamp, which Brian wore above his Smokebox for many years.
It was in Weymouth that Brian met his first, and currently only, Girlfriend. She was a Fairburn 2-6-4 Tank called Rose, who had been transferred to Weymouth to assist Brian with banking duties. The two engines did not initially get on well, with Brian believing that she was annoying and irritable. However, over time, the two engines quickly fell smokebox over bunker for each other, and quickly got a shed to themselves.
However, things soon took a turn for the worst. In March 1958, whilst banking a Weymouth-Waterloo express over Upwey Bank, Brian's Right Hand Cylinder exploded, due to a faulty Valve. He limped back down to Weymouth, where he was placed in an overgrown siding to assess the damage. Management were not prepared to repair Brian, and so, with little hesitation, they decided to withdraw him and send him for scrapping at Barry Island. Rose was very upset by this, and despite her best efforts, could not save Brian herself.
However, a man called Mr Dark (who, coincidentally, was holidaying in the area) stepped in, and offered to Buy him from British Railways, repair his broken cylinder, and use him on his own Railway in Kent. Though Management were skeptical of this, they promised to call their superiors and arrange a sale. Once the sale was confirmed, Mr Dark sent one of his other newly purchased locomotives, a Black Five called "Dave", to collect Brian from the scrapyard and bring him to the Dark Railway. On their way back, the two steam engines quickly started talking, and realized that they were both of a similar intellect, though Brian will tell anyone who will listen that he is the most intelligent engine on the Dark Railway. They were soon good friends.
Mr Dark wasted no time in repairing Brian, and after several weeks out of traffic, was set back to work over the Galen Junction to Merecombe Branch, where he has worked ever since.
Brian tried to get on with the other engines in his sheds, but unfortunately, they were all a little on the dim side, and rarely understood his intellectual jokes and quips. Things didn't help when one of them accused Brian of having sexual relations with his sister, a claim that was proven to be completely untrue. Things didn't help when Brian's Twin Brother, No 80011, came to join him at Plaistow. No 80011 claimed to have an even higher IQ than Brian, and subsequently adopted the name "Brain", something that Brian claims was intentional, as it is merely an anagram of his own name.
Brian and Brain never got on very well, and eventually, Brian asked to be transferred away from the area. His manager agreed and, in February 1952, was transferred to Bournemouth, to work over the Swanage Branch. Here, he worked alongside aging L&SWR M7 Tanks, including the now preserved No
30053, who Brian was very fond of. His adventures on the Swanage Branchline were varied, including one notable incident when he rescued No 30053 from a snowdrift at Furzebrook during a Blizzard.
In the Summer of 1953, Brian was again transferred, this time to Weymouth. It was here that Brian was taught all about Banking trains up steep gradients. Soon, Brian became the master of this task, and could often be seen pushing the heaviest expresses over Upwey Incline. Management were very impressed, and gave him a very special present to commemorate his work: A large Electric Lamp, which Brian wore above his Smokebox for many years.
It was in Weymouth that Brian met his first, and currently only, Girlfriend. She was a Fairburn 2-6-4 Tank called Rose, who had been transferred to Weymouth to assist Brian with banking duties. The two engines did not initially get on well, with Brian believing that she was annoying and irritable. However, over time, the two engines quickly fell smokebox over bunker for each other, and quickly got a shed to themselves.
However, things soon took a turn for the worst. In March 1958, whilst banking a Weymouth-Waterloo express over Upwey Bank, Brian's Right Hand Cylinder exploded, due to a faulty Valve. He limped back down to Weymouth, where he was placed in an overgrown siding to assess the damage. Management were not prepared to repair Brian, and so, with little hesitation, they decided to withdraw him and send him for scrapping at Barry Island. Rose was very upset by this, and despite her best efforts, could not save Brian herself.
However, a man called Mr Dark (who, coincidentally, was holidaying in the area) stepped in, and offered to Buy him from British Railways, repair his broken cylinder, and use him on his own Railway in Kent. Though Management were skeptical of this, they promised to call their superiors and arrange a sale. Once the sale was confirmed, Mr Dark sent one of his other newly purchased locomotives, a Black Five called "Dave", to collect Brian from the scrapyard and bring him to the Dark Railway. On their way back, the two steam engines quickly started talking, and realized that they were both of a similar intellect, though Brian will tell anyone who will listen that he is the most intelligent engine on the Dark Railway. They were soon good friends.
Mr Dark wasted no time in repairing Brian, and after several weeks out of traffic, was set back to work over the Galen Junction to Merecombe Branch, where he has worked ever since.
