mechanical

I hadn't realised this fact either! I'd assumed (never do that..) Rolls Royce took care of their own things elsewhere and not within another makers factory. These engine blocks may not have ended up as wartime equipment either - Rolls Royce were, and still are, renowned for their reliability. The engines could also have ended up in shunting locos or even rare items such as emergency winders for mines should their headgears fail.

Interesting history of Armstrong, just finished reading "Arms and the State" by Marshall J. Bastable, very informative. Sadly Armstrongs did not live up to the standards of the founder, and I think after his death they slowly declined especially due to the over ambitious plans for wood pulp in Newfoundland, post the Great War.

I've read lots about Armstrong and feel that sometimes he only just scraped by with his plans and work! His determination is what drove that industrial machine to the size it was. I suppose once he was gone there would be no-one with so much drive to replace him. I'll have to read that book Brian - it sounds very interesting.

[https://www.flickr.com/photos/flyeye] I have read quite a few books on Armstrong, my opinion based on the various comments of authors is that the transition from Armstrong to Noble began the problem. Sir Andrew Noble took the opportunity to populate the top tier of the company with his family members (place-men). Then the aftermath of the Great War caused serious issues in restructuring, the venture in Newfoundland, Italian projects being two episodes that brought the once great enterprise to a low pass. Eventually parts of the company were amalgamated with their long time rivals Vickers, in the late twenties. I think the lack of continuity due to Lord Armstrong having no heir was a major impediment.

I must admit it's not an area I've read about Brian. I certainly will because a once great industrial might simply dissolved.. My interests lay with mining and the older sites in Northumberland and Durham. Armstrong 'crossed' my path when I was researching the various small coal and Iron mines around Bellingham (Northumberland). One trail followed Armstrong because I wanted to know why he chose that particular supply of iron!

I hope it had a long, productive and safe life.

We'll soon find out Alan. I've hotlinked it to a few local history groups and we also have some excellent train fanatics viewing these pages. Almost every steam loco built has had its full history recorded..

I have some feedback; ' Little Nut. ran between the Boltsburn Mill, Boltsburn Mine, Lintzgarth Mill Wolfcleugh'. It seems it had a crew of two men and due to the weather extremes of where it was working (high in the North Pennines) it was fitted with a more weatherproof cabin which looked much like larger locos. It seems that wasn't enough (it can snow sideways up there!) and it was fitted with basic full wooden doors! This small loco was also given its own small snow plough to keep the tracks clear!