DEATH IN CAPTIVITY

摘要

'IF ONLY' is a phrase often uttered railway preservation circles. Usuall; it refers to famous or favourite locomotives that went to meet the maker in the normal course of events - but there is a group of engines for whom the phrase 'if only' takes on a much more significant meaning. For those are the locos that should, by rights, still be with us today. The ones pulled out of the sad lines destined for the scrapyard and set aside for immortality... only for cruel fate to intervene at a later date and condemn them to death after all. In many cases, there was a valid reason why they were earmarked for a continuing life - whether it be first, last, fastest or most famous of their class - making their demise all the more poignant. This article lists those unfortunate machines. In addition to preserved locos, it includes ones for which positive action was taken to delay their disposal- but not those for which preservation was merely suggested if the idea was not then pursued in some way.