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changed identities

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341o2

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Following the Mallard/Bittern thread, thought it an idea to list occasions when locos have assumed other identities. Did 34051 actually haul Winston Churchill's funeral train?

To start the ball rolling 34027 Taw Valley became 34045 Ottery St Maryhttp://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/656474
 
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Peter Mugridge

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No, the genuine 34051 was out of service at the time, but I can't remember which one took the place.

LMS 6220 / 6229 swapped with each other in connection with the USA "Coronation" tour didn't they? I'm not sure they ever swapped back either...
 

12CSVT

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'Royal Scott' class 6100 and 6152 swapped identities in 1933.

Class 08s 08296 and 08787 swapped identities in the 1980s

Class 11 12082 was renumbered 12049 when it was preserved by the Mid Hants Railway (taking the number of a previously preserved class 11 which was destroyed in a fire)

'Western' D1010 took the identity of D1035 during its early years of preservation.

Several class 76s exchanged identities (76003 with 76036, 76038 with 76050 and 76039 with 76048)

Although not an identity swap, when some class 20s were renumbered as class 20/9s in 1989, two of the locos were incorrectly reported as renumbered 20041 becoming 20901, and 20101 becoming 20904. It was discovered several years later that in fact it was 20101 that became 20901 and 20041 became 20904.

There have been other cases of the same TOPS number being used on two different locos (although not at the same time) - 20301 to 20308, 27103, 37271 to 37274, 45054 and 86501.
 
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DXMachina

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Also I suspect sometimes if a particular unit has been promised but then proves unavailable, it's easier to renumber an identical one than break a plan (I think that's why Duchess of Hamilton spent a while in the US as Coronation)

Some conspiracy theorists would have it that Titanic & Olympic swapped IDs, but then never swapped back for obvious reasons - but I reckon that's hogwash
 

LE Greys

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Also I suspect sometimes if a particular unit has been promised but then proves unavailable, it's easier to renumber an identical one than break a plan (I think that's why Duchess of Hamilton spent a while in the US as Coronation)

Some conspiracy theorists would have it that Titanic & Olympic swapped IDs, but then never swapped back for obvious reasons - but I reckon that's hogwash

The first definitely happened, since the engine that crossed the Atlantic was crimson lake, to match the crimson stock (which was never used for its intended purpose as WWII intervened). The second didn't, since you don't plan for a freak accident.

Another swap that really happened was 4082 Windsor Castle and 7013 Bristol Castle. King George VI drove 4082 (briefly and slowly) during her naming ceremony, presumably when he was Duke of York. When he died, 4082 was just about to go into the works for a heavy overhaul, so the nameplates, numberplates and commemerative plaques were removed and placed on the recently-overhauled 7013 (with her plates ultimately ending up on 4082). Unfortunately for the Western Region's management, some rivet-counter spotted that the middle cylinder block was different, had a look at the works plate, then mentioned it to a reporter. Next day, one headline reported 'Royal funeral train hauled by FAKE engine'. The identities never swapped back, but the commemorative plaques disappeared.
 

hairyhandedfool

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I believe two Mk4 coaches have swapped identity, I can't recall exactly which ones though.
 

Peter Mugridge

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I believe two Mk4 coaches have swapped identity, I can't recall exactly which ones though.

That was during construction, though, not after release.

12405 was built from the bodyshell originally intended for 12221; the bodyshell originally intended to be 12405 was built as 12232.
 

12CSVT

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Why do locos swap identities, just seems stupid?

The reason some of the class 76s exchanged identities in 1976 was so that the air braked only locos and vacuum braked only locos were numbered consecutively.
 
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