Weaselfish

Thanks for your replies everyone. It's been very helpful and interesting.

That's great, thank you for your help. I hadn't seen the Bachmann list. I've no idea about any prototypes - I'm building up a rake of crimson and cream WR MK1s and was puzzled by the absence of composites. Thanks again.

Good afternoon. Did Bachmann ever produce a Mk1 (express type, for the avoidance of doubt) composite or brake composite coach in crimson and cream livery with Western Region numbers? If so, what were the serial numbers please? I've drawn a blank with finding any on the Model Rail database and haven't seen any come up in the usual 2nd hand sources. Any information gratefully received - thank you.

Thank you. I've just noticed that I forgot to add the link I mentioned in my question. Here it is: https://www.warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/gwrbsh2494.htm

The clerestories in the Beaufort video are interesting. Are they kits or modified Hornby? I was immediately reminded of this and other photos on the Warwickshire Railways website.

Thank you for your replies everyone. This confirms what I thought - Hymeks were very rarely seen on the lines around Snow Hill in their early years and even then not on a regular service. Thanks again.

Good evening. Does anyone know if there were any Hymek workings over the ex-GWR lines around Birmingham Snow Hill before the transfer to the LMR at the end of 1962 please? I've drawn a complete blank with the online and published sources that I'm aware of so I'm guessing Hymeks didn't visit, but I'd welcome confirmation from someone more knowledgable on the matter than me. Thank you.

I'm not sure about this. I haven't got the relevant RCTS volume to hand but here's a photo of 8700 in BR days and she is clearly a 57xx. https://www.warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/gwrt2363.htm

Thank you everyone. This is very helpful. I suspected that hoppers and tipplers would not normally run together given the different unloading facilities required, but my knowledge of this traffic is limited hence me looking for better-informed input. FAT CONTROLLER: Thank you for the pointer about the Railways of South Wales Group. I'll check that out. Thanks again all.

Good afternoon. Were iron ore trains ever run with both tipplers and hoppers in the same rake? I'm particularly interested in finding out if this was a regular occurrence on the Western Region between the introduction of tipplers in 1951 and the end of steam on the WR in 1965. The limited range of photos of these trains in my own book collection show trains composed of various types of either tipplers or hoppers, but never the two types together. I've drawn a blank with other online sources so would be grateful for any information on the point or a steer towards any relevant sources. Thank you in advance for any guidance.

I wonder if the relatively early withdrawal dates for the 31xxs was to do with them having higher pressure versions of the standard 4 boiler, 225lb psi rather than the 200lb psi of the 3150s, 43xxs, 42xxs etc. If the 31xxs were becoming due for work on their non-standard boilers perhaps it was decided it wasn't worth the cost. There were plenty of other large prairies in the 5101, 61xx, 41xx and 81xx series available, particularly with DMUs taking over more of the local passenger traffic.

What diameter are the wheels?

Thank you to Johnster and Becasse for the additional information. Becasse's point about the roundel's not being picked up in photographs is a particularly interesting one. Thanks again all.

Hello Mike. Thank you for this. It's useful to know too as it indicates that refurbishment of pre-war stock was not always comprehensive after 1942. The lack of information about the longevity of the exterior shirtbutton is interesting. It may indicate that it disappeared from the outside of coaching stock very quickly after 1942 despite the circumstances.

Good evening. Does anyone have any idea how long the GWR shirtbutton monogram lasted in service on passenger coaching stock after it stopped being applied in 1942 please? Photographic evidence seems scarce and no existing online threads seem to cover the point. Examples could be seen on brown stock for many years afterwards but I've drawn a blank with passenger coaches. Any information gratefully received - thank you.