McConnell

McConnell is a LNWR "Small Bloomer" that was built for and works for Tri-ang Railways on Nerland, Scotland. He is the railway's first locomotive and it's oldest locomotive.

Bio
McConnell was built by Crewe works of the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) in 1854 for work on a new railway on an isle in the northeast of Scotland called Nerland (Tri-ang Railways). He became the railway's No: 1 and was TR's first express locomotive.

Livery
McConnell is painted in LNWR (Southern Division) red livery with the number 1 written on a brass numberplate and painted on the front and back buffer beams.

Basis
McConnell is based off a L&NWR "Small Bloomer" 2-2-2 steam locomotive, introduced in 1854. They were based off the similarly nicknamed "Large Bloomers" from 1852 but featured 6ft 6in driving wheels opposed to the 7 foot driving wheels of their basis. They were rebuilt with cabs along by Francis Webb in the 1880s and were all withdrawn by 1890. All had been scrapped.

Filming model
McConnell's main filming model is a modified London Road Models kit of a Large Bloomer (Large Bloomers have 7 foot driving wheels instead of 6 foot 6 inch wheels). The model kit is heavily modified so it can represent the right class.

Trivia
McConnell is named after his designer, James McConnell.

The nickname "Small Bloomers" (which McConnell is a member of) is the nickname to LNWR "Bloomers" with 6 foot 6 inch (1.981 metres) tall driving wheels.

Unlike his basis class (which were rebuilt with covered cabs), McConnell is still in "as built" condition with a spectacle plate as his crew's only protection with no roof. This explains why he never operates during wet weather.

McConnell was 164 years old when withdrawn by TR in 2018.

McConnell is the oldest operating steam locomotive in the British Isles. He is known as "museum piece" by Casey a few times due to his age.

Unlike his basis, McConnell is built at Crewe Works despite the fact that all of the Small Bloomers were built at Wolverton.

Due to how long he's been around, McConnell has many superstitions from his design's era (the 1850s) and some from much later.


 * One example is whenever the naval tramper Krakatoa moored in Nerlish waters. McConnell believed the vessel could explode at any moment. This could be because of the 1917 Halifax explosion or referring the volcano the ship is named after.

McConnell being red could be based on the popular myth on the LNWR Bloomers being painted red despite reports saying they were historically painted Brunswick Green and later Blackberry Black