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Bulleid left before the Leader project was finished, and there's no doubt that at the start this was a project he was determined to push through. But as nationalisation approached and difficulties with the build loomed, his focus shifted to his new employer C.I.E, in Ireland, and the chance to build another equally challenging, though smaller double bogied steam loco - the Turf Burner.
The development of Leader was fairly secretive, and as problems appeared they were hushed up - those working hard to make the project succeed did not want management thinking them to be incompetant; so we can be sure many (normal) teething problems were never reported.
Leader never had the modern control gear that might have allowed it to work well - perhaps just a little too ahead of it's time.
This amazing video clip taken during the build, includes the operation of the oscillating sleeve valves, and is certainly pretty unique.
Photos : courtesy of Mike Morrant collection.
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