Midland Railway 'Big Bertha' (Paint Your Engine)

[@jenniferhoughton6837]

"Big Bertha" was the enthusiasts nickname. A former Bromsgrove fireman I knew in the 1990s told me his colleagues called her "Big Emma", he thought is was because she once had the large letters MR (for Midland Railway) on the buffer beam (Big MR = Big Emma)

[@boxcarwillies1603]

"Ten big wheels to roll 'er along, just a working girl on the lickey" -"Big Bertha" by Dave Goulder

[@GNRA1GreatNorthern1470]

"Bertha's the name in the hall of fame she was the only one of her kind, the first and last of her line"

[@joshslater2426]

Been trying to get this song out of my head forever but even in fact videos I can’t escape.

[@kenharris5390]

The old girl had a headlight fitted for a good reason, finding the back of the train at night. You would think that the shiney bums in the office would have come to realise that the replacement would need one too, unless they recommended that the footplate crew nibble on some carrots during their night shift, as per the WW2 legend that carrots improved night vision. Great stuff Chris. Thank you.

[@Evaunit98]

Emma is one of the engines I wish were still around today, she had so much character especially with that iconic electric headlamp

[@overpoweredsteamproduction513]

I got to admit, these paintings are just absolutely beautiful

[@TheGreyTurtleEntertainment]

there's no such thing as a ruined painting, just unsatisfied artists. but in all seriousness, I relate to that last bit about over working a project waaaaaay to much.

[@Tombola1993]

That’s amazing. It is a shame that Big Bertha isn’t around anymore. She needs a model to carry on her legacy.

[@Living_Life_RN]

Glad to see you’re continuing this series. I never really knew that any of Big Bertha was preserved, so I’d love to go and see the whistle and plates now I know of them.

[@jacoblyman9441]

6:40 I understood that reference. 🤣

[@williamadams7865]

Glad I wasn’t the only one!

[@BalticFilms144]

Y e s

[@TritonBrickRailway]

I'd love to see your take on the LMS coronation scot but painted in the style of a 1930s poster

[@BalticFilms144]

6:44 That sir is how you restore it and run it on the mainline

[@TheMidlandTerrier]

Hi Chris A friend sent me this way after they asked me about big berthas whistle. I will have to inform that it hasn't been on display in around 2 years but the rest of the big bertha stuff is.

[@nathanchan4653]

Nice painting and history about Big Bertha Plus this painting makes me think of Big Bertha working in the twilight of 1929 or 1930

[@Masire0009]

To the story about the LMS Garratt being banked by the LNER Garratt and Big Bertha, The LMS Garratt had run a hot hotbox, the LNER Garratts reverser slipped , and Bertha was the only loco properly working in all of it. Quite funny. Great video always, Chris.

[@EdwardsDayOut]

Funny that the one-off was the only one that worked!

[@nathanchan4653]

@@EdwardsDayOut Sounds like "Edward The Really Useful Engine" episode but with more realistic events like this

[@flyer3849]

Bertha shows up in the 2002 game Mafia for some weird reason. Also, you are making me interested in painting again

[@joshuaW5621]

This was a great idea. Painting Big Bertha.

[@eagarmp]

Chris is it possible on the next paint your engine to cover the neilson box tank engines

[@PaulSmith-pl7fo]

Hi Chris. The painting turned out fine - well done. I would have liked to have seen some photos of items in your story (you did say they exist!).

[@jameswright7284]

Very interesting indeed Chris thanks for such an informative and interesting video

[@LolLol-xy4rh]

I didn’t know you watched this channel?

[@Sir.Castle77]

Oh yesss!! Can you pls make more vids like that?

[@ReubenAshwell]

This is an engine I wish they preserved.

[@mels4796]

wonderful video

[@mels1811]

Wonderful video

[@eliotreader8220]

what about her head light I am guessing that's no longer around? during the filming of a film about Winston Church hill during the Boer war wild life artist David Shepard said that his engine Black Prince wore her headlight after getting dressed up as a Boer war era engine

[@cesarcarranza216]

nice painting

[@YJRail]

Fun Fact since the other name for Big Birtha was Big Emma, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad had a class of 2-8-4s called "Big Emmas". Sadly, the only thing that survives of them is one tender, though from I heard they were Old Reliable's best steam engines before they decided they liked ugly gray with piss-yellow on the face diesels.

[@angelabarbosalopesrodrigue2602]

hey chris did you know emma´s headlimp was to the same 9f number 92079

[@jordandorsett3106]

To me big Bertha looks like a larger version of the GNR N2 but a 0-10-6

[@atanproductions5137]

Very nice

[@Samstrainss]

Cue 500 comments saying what a shame it wasn't preserved and how its a crying shame it can't be rebuilt. Naff. Need to move past the guild of railway artists thing, they aren't gonna break into the room like the Spanish inquisition if you get the water colours out to paint a train or two for fun. 😅

[@jenniferhoughton6837]

Like the Turbomotive i suspect it wouldn't be very useful on a heritage line.

[@Samstrainss]

@@jenniferhoughton6837 🤣

[@AlexHill1991]

Chris if I do a paint my engines video would you like it

[@bazza945]

Big Bertha was the only British Steam Locomotive with a working Headlight.

[@Samstrainss]

Other than the 9F that took its headlight later... and the array of industrial locos that had them. But yes, the only mainline one with a headlight in its time.

[@bazza945]

All New Zealand Railways steam locos had headlights. They also had "proper" steam horns, too.

[@Samstrainss]

@@bazza945 as indeed did many locos here on Australia, but not all of the railways required them lit at all hours. Funny when you see modellers put the headlight on in the day when the rules mean it wouldn't be.

[@eliotreader8220]

so thats the real reason way she broken up

[@Brian_rock_railfan]

great video sad to 🚃🚂👍

[@warrior3456_]

Nice painting