GWR tenders and all that
Thanks to the conversion of my Hornby long coned boiler 28xx into a representation of 2811 in 1912-1914 condition (2811 is currently still in disgrace but may soon be upgraded to an utter pig of a job in the next couple of weeks if things go reasonably well), I have become interested in GWR tenders used in the Edwardian period - God help us. The start was the observation that 2811 did not have the tender supplied by Hornby (a Churchward 3500 gallon tender), but had a Dean 3000 gallon one instead.
I had thought that sourcing a Dean 3000 gallon tender would be easy, after all one was supplied behind the Hornby (ex Mainline) Dean Goods - how wrong one can be!
It seems that there at least (and I stress this - at least) 4 different varients of Dean 3000 gallon tender - and thats before one gets into coal rails v coal fenders etc etc. So having found out more than any sane person would wish to know, I thought that others might find the information helpful, especially how one might portray these differences in model form.
It seems that the differences can be divided into:
- Differences in the front of the tender top
- Differences in the design of the front steps
- Differences in the design of the water filler / dome arrangements
- Differences between coal rails, plated coal rails, and coal fenders
Now some, understandably might be going 'So who cares? I'm happy with what the loco came with...' or words to that effect. This is an entirely acceptable, even reasonable,viewpoint. Railway modelling is a broad church and if you're happy doing your thing, then I'm very happy for you - but you might not want to read any further (this is not supposed to be a post about 'you have to enjoy your hobby the same way as me or else' type thing, but it may bore the pants off you....).
However, it seems to me that if you (like me) want to make a model as close to a particulalr prototype at a given period, as you can, then what the tender looks like is a important as the rest of the loco. So Dean 3000 gallon tenders...but first a note of caution: Dean 3000 gallon tenders look remarkably like Dean 2500 gallong tenders (7'6"+7'6" wheelbase on 3000s v 6'6"+6'6" on 2500s) so what you think is a 3000 gallon tender might actually be a 2500 and vice versa - deep joy all round. Anyway, I think the pictures below are of Dean 3000 gallon tenders (but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).
Above is a Dean 3000 gallon tender (although, given the angle it is hard to be sure it isn't a 2500 example). Note there is a cut out of the front of the tender flare. Also note the stright leading edge to the front tender steps. This is the type of tender you can get from behind a Hornby/Mainline Dean Goods. And if you don't believe me here is one:
and the front of the tender in close up.
Of course the Hornby/Mainline version has coal fenders, so for my forthcoming model of 2322 I've had to cut away the fenders (and the horrid moulded coal heap) and reaplce them with coal rails made from brass wire.
It has to be noted, that based on photographic evidence, a curved leading edge to the front tender steps is far more common- like this one:
[Also note that you can see the previous 'Great Westeern' lettering under the paint work with the GWR shirt button monogram on it! Aslo note that this tender has a seperate dome and filler, rather than the combined dome/filler usually found].
W & T modles do a white metal kit of this varient.
The other main varient of Dean 3000 gallon tender lacks the cut out to the flare at the front of the tender, and again there are differences in the front tender steps. Some have a straight leading edge....
Some had a curved leading edge...
And some had a straight leading edge and straight trailing edge...
And of course there is the coal fenders or coal rails issue!
In RTR form we have the lovely Bachmann Dean 3000 gallon tender supplied with their City class. This has the squared front end and straight leading edge to the tender front steps.
This is just the thing for 2811, but Bachmann, may the modelling gods smite them mightly, refuse to supply it as a spare (unlike Hornby; the Dean Goods tender is available as a frame and seperate tender top). Happily, while discussing this dreadful policy of Bachmann's with the Sage of Fareham, Mr Richard Butler, I pointed out that his City class for Westcliff probably had a Chruchward 3500 gallon tender in the 1920s and see, here is a photo or too. And why yes I knew where I could lay my hands on just such a 3500 gallon tender and swap it for the Dean 3000 gallon.... Richard thought about this, and then kindly agreed to the swap. [Note to Bachmann and Hornby - please stop using slighly different sized JST connectors for the tenders and please please please knock your heads togther to wire them the same way - if you aren't going to produce (the realtively few) GWR tenders with the gay abadnon that you seem to be happy doing BR,LMS or LNER ones at least make it easier for us to get the right tender behind the right loco for the right time period. Anyway I'd have thought that doing the different tender varients would have given more options to flog stuff to the collectors market, but I digress.]
So if you can't lay your hands on a tender from a Bachmann City class, where can you get the sqaure ended Dean 3000 gallon tender? Well there is the tneder from the Dapol City class
But this is rather crude and will need lots of work to get it to an acceptable standard - but I'd love to see examples that people have worked on.
There is also advertised on the shapways site 3D printed 4mm scale Dean 2500 & 3000 gallon tenders with the cut out at the front of the flare and coal fenders. Now I've not seen them, so can't comment on their accuracy or build quality, but if anyone out there can add any information on this I'd be delighted to hear from them.
The alternative is only really etched kits and specifically the Martin Finney Dean 3000 gallon kit. It covers pretty much all the vairiations possible - just find your photo to copy. The etches look lovely, the instricutions are clear and I've yet to summon the courage to start building it. (He also does an equally good Dean 2500 gallon tender.)
Which brings us to the Dean 2500 gallon tender. Rather easy, really - no RTR except the Shapways 3d print already mentioned and in kit form Martin Finney's lovely work.
And so to the Churchward 3500 gallon tender - which I need to go behind my model of a pre 1914 43xx (exact exampe to be decided but all the pictures I have show 3500 gallon tenders). surely this should be easy, take one Mainline/Bachmann 43xx and use the tnder that comes with it. Er, no. While the variations in the 3500 gallon tenders aren't quite as widespread as with the Dean 3000 gallon there are some significant differences and once you know what you are looking for it doesn't half stand out - knowledge is a dangerous thing!
This is the Mainline 3500 gallon tender from its 43xx.
And if you want to use it behind a loco pre 1925 here is the problem:
In the mid 1920s the GWR strengthend the tender frames!
So perhaps a kit would do - there are lots, SE Fincast, Ks, Westward, Finney, Mitchell etc. I had a Ks 3500 gallon from an Aberdare goods kit, but it too is a 1920s varient.
So I ordered a Westward 3500 gallon tender, but this was worse, it had the deep mid 1930s frames! I'm not sure what frames the SE Fincast have (but would love to find out) and given the detail of the Finney and Mitchel offerings I can't belive they don't cover all the options).
The frame differences can be illustrated thus:
On the left (i) is the orginal narrow frames used before the mid 1920s, in the middle (ii) is the mid 20s strengthening, and on the right (iii) is the mid 30s version.
So I will need a narrow framed 3500 gallon tender...
Od course I could buy one of the Finney or Mitchel kits, but while exceptionally good, they are a bit pricey. So my current thinking is revolving around the 28xx tender frame which is available from Hornby as a spare (thank you so much Hornby, but can you do the body too?) with the top from either the mainline tender or the Westward one. I'll keep you posted as it developes.
One last issue - riveting. Its not clear (even in the excellent GW Study Group's articles on tenders) which 3500 gallon tenders were flush rivetted and which were not. Any help or information gratefully received!
drduncan
- 2
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