Green Arrow

Green Arrow is an LNER Class V2 steam engine preserved as one of the main attractions of the National Railway Museum. He is currently on display at York, but was also on display at "Locomotion", the National Railway Museum at Shildon when his boiler certificate expired in 2008.

## Bio:

In 1963, Green Arrow was talking with Flying Scotsman, Mallard, and Spencer at Top Sheds about the changes that have been happening with British Railways over the years and the engines that had been withdrawn from service. Mallard questioned him of why he's sitting around in the sheds, Green Arrow explained that he had been withdrawn from service and was waiting to see what would happen to him. He was annoyed when Mallard boasted that he wouldn't get scrapped as he had broke the world speed record for steam and Spencer made a crack at him for being named after a fish train.

In 1969, Green Arrow went on the run to escape the cutter's torch with Harrison, Alfred, and Crovan to try and find the National Railway Museum where they wanted to be preserved, however the four engines ended up in the shunting yards of Bedford St. Johns where they decided to sleep for the night much to the annoyance of Alfred, Crovan, and Harrison. A little while later, the four engines awoke to hear the sound of some engines approaching them, Alfred and Crovan feared it was diesels, but instead they encountered Rosie, Neville, Joseph, and Murdoch who were on the run from scrap too. Shortly after they encountered Nickolas and Serena who were followed up by Geoffrey. After that all the engines laid low at Bedford Sheds to refuel on coal and water, while there Green Arrow talked with Murdoch about the places they were going to go and he explained to him that the National Railway Museum preserved some engines he knows like Mallard and Stirling which put Murdoch's hopes up if the NRM can be able to preserve more engines too. Green Arrow was the first to notice Jonathan passing by and Murdoch saved him from being seen by a passing diesel. After he was saved, Green Arrow asked Jonathan what he was doing out there to which the 4F explained that he was trying to find his way to Sodor. The group then made their way to Leicester where they hid in the sidings behind some trucks thanks to Arthur. From there the engines got into their groups of where they wanted to go and to say their goodbyes, Green Arrow lead the way to the National Railway Museum with Joseph, Murdoch, Alfred, and Crovan. They stopped at Sheffield Station to allow other night trains to pass, but they were suddenly ambushed by diesels and taken to a nearby scrapyard. Alfred and Crovan managed to escape from the diesels, Green Arrow and Murdoch called for their help, but Alfred abandoned them saying that were nothing but dead weight to him before running with Crovan following on a moment later. Green Arrow and Murdoch fought against the diesels, but they were unable to help Joseph as he was being lifted by a scrap grabber to the melting pot and the GWR 94xx told them to go on and to not look back. The two big engines raced out of the scrapyards hearing Joseph's last scream as he was melted down. The following morning Green Arrow comforted Murdoch that they did everything they could to help Joseph and that it was a noble sacrifice he did to save them both, Murdoch knew that Green Arrow was right and asked him if Alfred and Crovan would be at the NRM. Green Arrow doubted that as those two would easily get lost, but said that if they were, he would make sure that they wish they were scrapped. To their delight they finally arrived at the National Railway Museum where they met Mallard and Jessica, he was happy to see the blue A4 again and explained everything to him. Mallard told them that they are both welcome to join and are hoping to get more engines preserved. After Green Arrow and Murdoch settled in, they talk about the other engines and hoped that they were alright, Jessica pulled up to them and asked them if they had any engines in their group called Harold and Jimmy but they told her they didn't know and weren't part of their group. The three engines only hoped that their friends were alright.

In 2010, Green Arrow witness Flying Scotsman jam the turntable due to him still being coupled to his second tender along with Mallard, City of Truro, and Tornado.

## Appearances:

### Specials:

* 2019- 1963
* 2020- 1969
* 2021- 1970

## Technical Details:

### Basis:

Green Arrow is based on an LNER Class V2 steam engine.

The V2s were the only major class of 2-6-2 tender locomotives used in Britain. Whilst 2-6-2T tank locomotives were common in the UK, the only other 2-6-2 tender locomotives were the unsuccessful experimental Midland Railway Paget locomotive of 1908, and the two examples of Gresley's LNER Class V4 of 1941. The wheel arrangement allowed the fitting of a large firebox uninhibited by the rear driving wheel, and the front pony truck improved stability at high speeds.

The V2 was derived from the Class A1/A3 pacifics with smaller driving wheels (of 6 ft 2 in or 1.880 m compared to 6 ft 8 in or 2.032 m) and a shortened boiler. It retained Gresley's favoured 3-cylinder arrangement. Unusually all 3 cylinders were part of a single 'monobloc' casting.

184 locomotives were built in 14 batches between 1936 and 1944 at Doncaster and Darlington Works, construction continuing through the Second World War as they proved their usefulness. A further four locomotives, ordered as V2s, were redesigned by Gresley's successor Edward Thompson and completed as Pacifics (LNER Thompson Class A2/1).

The V2 was a versatile locomotive, capable of hauling fast fitted freights and express passenger trains. Their relatively heavy 22 ton axle load meant their use was restricted to around 40% of the LNER's route miles. For example, they were barred from all of the former Great Eastern Railway main lines. Gresley recognised that a lighter mixed-traffic locomotive was required, and the V4 class was designed to this end. However, it was to be the versatile LNER Thompson Class B1 4-6-0 which succeeded the V2 as the LNER's standard mixed traffic locomotive, although the B1 never matched the V2's power output.

## VA:

* Mr.MerlinFan02 (formerly)