In Day of the Diesels, we were introduced to Belle the Railway Fire Engine - well, when I say "Railway Fire Engine"; she is a British Railways Standard 4MT 2-6-4 Tank Engine with a brass lamp; red lights at the front; a brass bell; and water cannons mounted upon her water tanks.
Now, the BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T is amongst the most popular of Robert Riddles' Standard designs. In fact, there are 15 of these handsome tank engines preserved in Great Britain. I've got a Bachmann model of a BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T myself. It is good that Belle is based upon these beautiful tank engines. However, many fans were less than impressed with her modifications, especially the totally unnecessary water cannons.
The water cannons can't work on a steam engine, not only make Belle less beautiful, but very unpractical. Belle, being a steam engine, needs water for steam - not for fire-fighting. However, looking at the size of her water tanks, she does have a large water capacity - 2,000 gallons. So, maybe, Belle's modifications may not be as far-fetched as it seems. What I can only suggest is that the interior of her water tanks have being modified - there must be a sheet of steel centred halfway along inside of each water tank. Also, her water cannons are connected to the rear of her water tanks via red pipes running along the top of her water tanks. So, therefore, Belle would be well-suited for fire-fighting. However yet again, 1,000 gallons of water capacity wouldn't be enough for Belle, especially since she is a big tank engine.
In my opinion, Belle requires a cubicle water tank mounted between her frames underneath her boiler, with the water cannons connected to it. Or taking inspiration from Flying Scotsman's second tender, Belle should have a water tender in tow with a steam boiler-feed pump mounted underneath the tender frames to pump the water to her water cannons. This means that water pipes will run from the tender (via flexible pipes between loco and tender) between the frames and up to the water cannons. Both of these suggestions will allow Belle is use her 2,000 gallon water capacity in her water tanks. The water tender, a modified Gresley A4 tender, would carry up to 5,000 gallons.
So, to conclude this blog, what is your opinion on Belle? Do you think that these 'proper' modifications should be considered to Andrew Brenner and Sam Wilkinson?