Matchless

Thought I might add one of my 'Creative Shots', Fowler 4F 43924 at K&WVR earlier this year.

Hi, thanks for the comments so far. Since my first post I have discovered that there was a goods yard just to the west of Alsager Station, the loco sheds and large yard were to the east of the station. So Alsager station goods yard might be a possibility. Now looking for plans and track layout to see if it is feasible, can anyone help? Re: "The Author was based at Alsager from January 1940 until May 41" Interestingly enough, 47266 (as LMS 7266) was also at Alsager shed from September 1939 to April 1944 (I'm still looking for the pre-1948 shed allocations for 44450/LMS 4450) so that book might just be very useful, thank you Simon.

This topic may overlap with UK Prototypes, for which I apologise. I am planning an OO layout based in south east Cheshire, the actual location of the layout is still to be decided, it may be a real location or it may be fictitious. The two particular locos I am planning to use on the layout were both at Alsager shed during early 1950; Fowler 3F 0-6-0T 47266 and Fowler 4F 0-6-0 44450 (when Bachmann eventually release it!) My question is; would anyone know the scope (or area) of freight operations out of the Alsager shed during this period i.e. where might these locos have operated? The answer to this will hopefully help me to tie down a particular location to model, as mentioned, the layout location could be real or fictitious and could be a station or a goods yard. As I am fairly new to the subject any pointers or suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks for that, item ordered.

Hmm... Seems I need to brush up even more on my knowledge of these Locos however, I reckon I'm biased being ex-forces Is there a definitive history of these Austerity locos one can access anywhere?

Talking of un-loved Austerities, I see that 'Sapper' has gone the same way at the East Lancs Railway. It now sports NCB livery! www.flickr.com/photos/neil_harvey_railway_photos/6928950561

I recently emailed Peak Rail enquiring as to why WD150 had been painted black and given a BR identity, mentioning that it was shame to see this particular loco liveried this way. The reply I recieved stated that 'Royal Pioneer' was in need of a repaint and they decided to paint it black however, the reply also stated "it may appear again as WD150 in the not too distant future". Lets hope so. I guess it's a difficult balance for Heritage Railways, do they preserve and restoring locos to their original state, or do they try to please the paying public by running what they believe the public want to see. Given the above, it might be that I wasn't the only one to comment on WD150 loosing it's identity...

Probably popping down this Sunday to see WD150, aka 'The Pretender' Will have a look at HST as well while I'm there.

Update: I have just spoken to the Heritage Shunters Trust this morning and they informed me that they do not own WD150 'Royal Pioneer'. It is owned and operated by Peak Rail. Dave

Having now learnt a bit more about the 'Austerities' I thought I would add my two penny worth. Not a lot has been mentioned here of the role the 'Austerities' during WW2 and in post war Army use. I have recently discovered that there is a 1944 built 'Austerity' at a certain 'Heritage Railway' not that far from where I live and that for some time it was finished and operated in its original Army livery, complete with an Army nameplate (original or replica?) showing the name it was given in 1955. Sadly the operators have seen fit to give it a fictitious BR identity by painting it black and applying a BR number and logos. I guess this is to try and make it 'more appealing' to visitors to the railway. What a sad way to treat a wartime survivor, surely we should be promoting locos like this and celibrating their War Department history. I admit to being biased here, being ex-forces like this particular Austerity.

Hi Tony Thanks for that, I appriceate your all your helpful comments and information and I have to say I totally agree with your final stament. Being ex-forces myself, like these Austerities, I wish more was being done to preserve them in their true form and celibrate thier contributuion to the country. I for one have taken a keen interest in these locos and, although I am very much in the learning stages, I hope to learn more about them. May have to visit the HST and see if I can have a look at WD150. Cheers, Dave

Hi Tony So, if I've got this right, the Loco at HST is WD150 'Warrington' - previously named 'Royal Pioneer' in 1955. So, probably named 'Warrington' when it arrived at Dinting, then re-named 'Royal Pioneer' as someone at Dinting knew it's previous history and name. Consequently sold to HST, who believe it is not 'Royal Pioneer' due to that name being given to another loco - WD113. To quote Poor Old Bruce above - "the HST do own an Austerity 0-6-0ST but 'Royal Pioneer' ain't it." are we saying here that in fact it is the original 'Royal Pioneer'/'Warrington' or is it a completely different loco at HST? Looking at the HST website they only list one WD Austerity - 3888 rebuilt in 1964 and the photos that go with this info show a WD Austerity with the number 68006 on the smoke box door. "It is all quite simple – honestly!" Are you sure? Dave

Hi Tony Many thanks for that, it certainly clears that up. A couple of questions if I may; I assume from what you say that WD150 was named Royal Pioneer in 1955 at Bicester? Do we know anything about the loco prior to 1955? After it left Hunslet, do we know where it went and who named it Warrington? I understand that is now carries the name Royal Pioneer again and is owned by the Heritage Shunters Trust based at Peak Rail. What happened to WD113 which carried the name Royal Pioneer? Cheers, Dave. P.S. Oops, that last post by Poor Old Bruce has thrown the cat amongst the pigeons! Isn't research wonderful...

After a bit more research, I have answered my own question.... 'Warrington' and 'Royal Pioneer' are one and the same, it seems that the loco's name was changed when it was in the care(?) of the Dinting Railway Museum. Though why anyone would want to change the name of a wartime loco is beyond me, maybe Warrington didn't sound 'Army' enough, maybe they didn't know that Warrington was an Army training establishment during WW2 (my father underwent his RASC driver training there in 1943). Apparently Warrington/Royal Pioneer is now owned by the Heritage Shunters Trust based at Rowsely Station at the Peak Rail centre.

OK I'm confused I have just purchased a Dapol 00 Austerity 0-6-0ST WD No.150 'Warrington' however, during some research on the Interweb, as you do, I have also come across Austerity 0-6-0ST WD No.150 'Royal Pioneer'. Further searching found photos of both locos bearing the WD150 number but the different names plates. I have also found references to both locos being at the now closed Dinting Railway Museum at some point. Can anyone shed any light on this please? Cheers, Dave.