Two more pre-owned locos arrived this week, a Hornby R2464 Chinese 5-pole tender drive GWR 28XX and a Bachmann J72 with post-1946 LNER numbering.

This completes the initial batch of acquisitions, so work will start on servicing them and changing numbers or logos as appropriate. It's likely the 28XX will have its G W R insignia changed to the 1934-1942 era roundel (shirtbutton) logo as I don't own any GWR locos with that style and it looks better with my GWR Toad brakevans labelled "Birkenhead" (post-1936, small GW lettering) and "Bordesley" (pre-1936, large GW lettering)

I'm waiting for a suitable opportunity to access the relevant volumes of Yeadon's or the RCTS LNER books to find out which J72s, and when, were transferred to Bidston and Wrexham depots. I own a book titled "Locomotives of the LNER: a pictorial record", 1st edition, by E.R. Wethersett and L.L. Asher (Heffer, 1947) which lists locos re-numbered under their post-1946 renumbering scheme with their earlier numbers, and notes covering the 1942-1945 interim changes.

The other thing is Bachmann's only released to date the 1925-built batch of S&D 7Fs (BR 53806-10) and there were differences between them and the original 1914 versions which hopefully will be covered in a future release.

LATEST: I attended Railfest today (3rd June) and accessed the relevant Yeadon's volume for the J72s. Several were transferred to North Wales and the Wirral from 1930, and examples allocated there during the 30s and 40s included nos. 2184 (later on 8701, 68701) and 2307 (later on 8714, 68714).