All the research is slowly coming together, though there still remain some leads that may help sort out details.

Given the upgrade of the entire tramway to steam operation in the 1930s (probably late 1930s as this allows for a wider selection of available rolling stock), and with the GWR afforded running rights into Stratford and beyond, most of the line’s locomotive power would have been GWR origin though with some inevitable running from the LMS motive power at Stratford 21D. It is probable that both Worcester (85A) and Tyseley (84E) sheds could have provided locomotives, some being allocated to Tyseley’s sub-shed at Stratford.

Shipston’s own engine shed would have continued to operate and might have had an allocation from Worcester, continuing the pre-WWI heritage of a Class 517 0-4-2T. Such an arrangement would allow an early morning train to start at Shipston. Without the Stratford branch being converted to steam power, the Shipston loco would have been provided from Worcester, but this of course could easily have changed as most authors agree that Shipston tended to look to Stratford rather than Moreton. Where would Shipstonians want to travel at 7 am in the morning? My guess is that Stratford would have been their destination, much as it is today.

So, on to the trains themselves. First passenger workings.

The GWR 14XX 0-4-2T autotrain - a given since I have the models!

A GWR diesel railcar (Flying Banana)

A Dukedog plus carriages for through workings from Birmingham

LMS 3F 0-6-0 for passenger workings from Stratford when GWR locos not available

Next, Mixed passenger/goods workings.

GWR Dean Goods 0-6-0 plus GWR 4 wheel coaches and assorted wagons, with GWR TOAD brake van

LMS 3F 0-6-0 plus Midland 48ft Suburban coaches and assorted wagons with LMS brake van

Finally, Goods only workings.

GWR 57XX 0-6-0PT plus assorted wagons and GWR TOAD brake van

LMS 3F 0-6-0 plus assorted wagons and LMS brake van

Next I need to allocate specific locomotives to each of the classes above.

The 14XX continues to be a bit of a puzzle, though Worcester did have two, 1408 and 1418, in 1948. They would have been 4808 and 4818 back in the 1930s.

The GWR diesel railcar could be any one of the early models as this is a very fictional option!

The Dukedog could be either 3203 or 3215, both of which have been photographed at Tyseley after WWII.

The LMS 3F seemed to be the locomotive of choice at 21D in 1948, so there are a few to choose from. More research needed here.

For the Dean Goods, I have postwar photographic evidence of 2458 at Shipston.

The GWR 57XX poses a bit of a problem, as 7750 was the only one in class at Worcester in 1948. Tyseley did, however have a few of them in 1948 that were built in the 1930s. Again, more work required to narrow the search down.

Sourcing these 6 locomotives is or will be relatively easy. I have the 14XX, albeit in bits at the moment. The diesel railcar has been announced by Dapol (there was a K’s metal kit many years ago but the Dapol version should be much more detailed). Bachmann has already made the Dukedog and the GWR version has DCC installed; however, a second release is promised sometime “soon”. I have an LM® 3F at the other layout but this is BR and has sound* fitted, so an LMS model needs to be sourced. I have all the parts to make a Dean Goods with Comet chassis (actually the Comet parts are in the mail) while the GWR 57XX is in its box, ready to run. I have several spare TCS decoders.

* Legge Lane locos will eventually all have sound but for Shipston I have decided to go with just DCC.