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Cambrian stock question.


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Advice please on what classes of loco and types of coaching stock ran on the Cambrian mail line in GWR times (post grouping) up to WW2.

 

l assume that pre-grouping there would have been solely Cambrian company stock running.

 

Thanks.

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The older Cambrian stock was scrapped. Some Cambrian engines such as the 4-4-0s were given Swindon fittings and kept on until they could be replaced, finally going in the very early 1930s when the Dukes were drafted in from the West Country. All main 3 types of Cambrian 0-6-0s were deemed useful and lasted to beyond WWII, the Jones 0-6-0 type surviving until 1954. Some minor lines retained things like the Seaham tanks. Various GWR engines appeared, in particular the Dean goods, and of course the Dukes, which morphed into Dukedogs.  I think the odd Barnum appeared. Not sure when the small prairies arrived but they were there from the mid 1930s onwards. Collett goods were used on the main line but I believe were too heavy for the Mid Wales. The 517 0-4-2s were used between Barmouth and Dolgellau and the Mid Wales, and were followed by Collett 0-4-2s. Following the strengthening of Barmouth Bridge and the Dolgellau to Barmouth Junction line the whole Barmouth to Ruabon line became a blue route and Moguls, Aberdares and large Prairies became common on it.

 

Coaching stock would have been a right mixture. Cambrian 4-wheel coaches rapidly gave way to GWR ones, and the 6 wheel ones also went. However, the "modern" bogie stock was quite well thought of and had long lives. GWR clerestory coaches were commonplace, also Churchward toplights, and B sets arrived. Colletts stuff appeared over time. For excursions almost anything went, including "foreign" coaches. Not sure what there was in the way of "foreign" through coaches on normal workings but I think there were some. Just before WWII, trains began to assume a more uniform look, but not much before.

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Many thanks for that information NCB. Very useful indeed.

 

It's confirmed my thoughts that modelling the Cambrian will be an interesting project. l have/will have when built, most of the locos you mention plus a good selection of Dean clerestories and some Toplights.

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Form what I have seen from photos and I have been told that Yes locos and coaches would have been, on the whole, Cambrian up to 1923. However the Cambrian did buy locos form other companies from time to time. LNWR, Met, LYR  and GWR.

 

As for the goods stock there are a number of photos of Barmouth Jnct. show a Cambrian Loco and brake van the rest of the stock came from all over the country.

 

Marc 

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John,

Do you have C. C. Green's Cambrian Album?  Vol II or the combined volume covers your era.  They regularly come up on EBay.  There are of course the Middleton books but they are more diverse in terms of time period.  I am sure there would have been through coaches from the LMS as pre grouping there were through coaches from, LNWR, Midland, and GCR.

 

There are 3D prints of the Seaham tank and Class 61 4-4-0, which some I think ran until the 1930s, just.  There are kits of the bogie coaches by D&S but are almost like hens teeth and very expensive although I think there may be some in the future.  Cam Kits has just done the 4 wheelers and I think the 6 wheelers are next so maybe after that the bogie coaches.

 

Yes the freight was from all over the place.  As you said the area and era are very interesting.  Pre 1922 it would have been Cambrian locos and stock but lots of 'foreign' coaches and wagons would have been seen.

 

If you start a thread and it is not in 'Railways of Wales' put a link in here and I will follow it.

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The gwr quickly stamped out any Cambrian identity, making it very much like every other corner of the Swindon empire. Infinitely more interesting before they got their grubby mits on it, though the transition period was quite interesting for having locos running in Cambrian livery with Gwr plates.

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The gwr quickly stamped out any Cambrian identity, making it very much like every other corner of the Swindon empire.

An interesting observation; much changed but the bogie coaches lasted well into the GW period and even early BR. Through coaches brought LMS and its constituent companies vehicles on to the line as they did in Cambrian days. One humble piece of platform furniture lasts until today, namely, the platform seats. Photographic evidence suggests that the maajority of stations had them even in BR days. Whilst there were some GW interlopers, the majority were ex Cambrian. Trespass notices etc. also remained.

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An interesting observation; much changed but the bogie coaches lasted well into the GW period and even early BR. Through coaches brought LMS and its constituent companies vehicles on to the line as they did in Cambrian days. One humble piece of platform furniture lasts until today, namely, the platform seats. Photographic evidence suggests that the maajority of stations had them even in BR days. Whilst there were some GW interlopers, the majority were ex Cambrian. Trespass notices etc. also remained.

 

I have modelled a shelter based on the Newtown station shelter, and the Cambrian bench was still there in the pictures sent me at the end of last year.

 

The GWR rapidly Swindonised, if that is not a rude word, the locos that it kept, and some were only kept as there was nothing to replace them.  It also sent a large number of coaching stock for scrapping as soon as they saw them, mainly six wheelers

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