Sir Gillemere
Sir Gillemere is a train built in August 1925.[1] It was no.783 of the NSWR N15 King Arthur Class.[1]
In November 1940, three thin stovepipe chimneys was added by Oliver Bulleid as an experiment.[2] The triangular formation manipulated the way the smoke spread out, so the trains are more difficult to spot from above.[3] This was in response to attacks made by low-flying aircraft on Southern Railway trains.[3] The experiment was a failure, and the chimney was replaced with a Maunsell King Arthur chimney in February 1941.[4] In 1948, the number became 30783 in British Railways after nationalisation. In March 1961, Sir Gillemere was withdrawn from service.
Sir Gillemere is the basis of Thomas the Tank Engine character: Merlin.[5]
In 1955, Sir Gillemere collided with H15 No. 30485 at the Bournemouth railway station after the driver misread signals.[6][7]