LNWR18901910

What origin is this tank engine? Great Eastern? Great Northern? North Eastern? Midland & Great Northern?

Talk about confusion and delay! Luckily, no-one was hurt (I think).

Remember the tank engine from the film The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery? One of the J94 0-6-0ST tank engines was altered to resemble a J50 tank engine. Is it possible to make one of them?

I ordered one months back and I am looking forward to receiving it.

Marvellous! It must be a very powerful shunter!

I agree! Black Fives rock!

*sigh* I'm still waiting for mine and these images make me drool. In the words of Curly Howard, "I can hardly wait!"

I have been working on an LNWR Experimental Mogul - two variations in fact. One was based on the LNWR Improved Precedent 2-4-0 and another was based on the LNWR G2 Class. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/127699-lnwr-experimental-mogul/ The basis of the engines I saw at Shildon: The model of the Mk I Mogul: It started out as an old Tri-ang B12 body which was later broken and cut about. A tall chimney was then added on and so were LNWR-esque fittings. The windows were filled up with Milliput and then cut out to make rounded ones. Stylish glazing was then added in as well as detailing in the cab, a Pre-Grouping safety valve complete with whistle mounted on top of the cab and handrails on either side of the boiler as finishing items. It looked like a stretched version of an Improved Precedent but as an experimental mixed-traffic locomotive from the 1890s (the time period I have chosen to model). Plasticard and Milliput as filler were used to create the boxed sides of the cab and splasher. Some bits were cut off, filed away and added on (the tall chimney, the large splashers made from Plasticard and the safety valve) and with help from a friend of mine who is also a model railway dealer, the locomotive began gradually moving on step by step. Other projects of mine included a GWR 7100 Class 2-6-4T (still in progress) and a British Rail Class 19 Bo-Bo diesel locomotive (in development). The tender came directly from Bachmann as a spare from a G2A (an LNWR tender) which fit the locomotive perfectly appropriately. Because the loco body was an old tooling, the modern Hornby chassis for said-tooling of locomotive fit very well despite the crack at the back which was then filled in. The footsteps weren't actually added onto until later. In accordance with the original photoshop image that an Australian fella kindly did when I first mentioned the possiblity of an LNWR Mogul (which I am still eternally grateful) and that set the wheels in motion for this project. As for the livery, I actually did consider the LNWR lined blackberry livery, but instead later changed my mind in favour of the LMS Crimson livery. The first choice (and accurate one) was Crimson Lake that was appropriate for the locomotive, but made it look too dark and purple-ish, so after looking at various preserved steam locomotives (mostly the LMS Hughes Crab), I opted for BR Crimson instead and it looks better than before. The LMS lettering was applied to the tender and the number I chose for it was 1991 (the year I was born) and like Chesney Hawkes, it was The One and Only. The locomotive, No. 1991, was built in 1891 at Crewe Works using an extended version of Webb's Improved Precedent Class, but as a 2-6-0 Mogul. The main purpose of it was for mixed-traffic mainline duties and, on its first day of service, not only met expectations, but surpassed them greatly. 89 more were built between 1892 to 1902 most likely because of its popularity with crews and and enthusiasts, earning it the nickname 'Big Mike' as opposed to the 2-4-0 'Jumbos'. A handful of them worked along the Northampton to Birmingham lines while the rest were allocated to various parts of LNWR metals, except for Cumbria. Plans to build more locomotives of this class were considered but unfortunately fell through owing much to Webb's retirement and George Whale's succession in 1903. In 1923, the newly-established LMS railway company acquired a handful of these locomotives. Withdrawals finally took place until 1933 and continued until 1936. Fortunately, No. 1991, the class leader, survived into preservation and can be seen in its LMS crimson lake livery. Recently, in mid-to-late 2017, the locomotive was overhauled in time to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the End of the First World War and to work on heritage lines in the UK. And now, the Mk II version: It was made from a Bachmann G2A 0-8-0 but altered and rebuilt as a 2-6-0 with modifications. The front drive wheels were removed and altered in place of the pony truck. Larger splashers were buts of arch-shaped plasticard stuck on to imitate large wheels and toolboxes were added onto the front. It took some time but I am quite happy with the results. I went for the early 1920s LMS livery (LMS crimson lake like with the original as the LNWR lining would be challenging and hard to come by, plus expensive to come across) with the crest on the cabsides and the number on the tender (I chose 16591 was happens to be my birthday). After the First World War, the railway companies at the time were struggling to re-adjust to life and continue as normal, but with the Great Depression, more and more jobs on the railway would increase as would passengers and freight. On both branchlines and the mainline, this traffic also increased and a need for a locomotive of such sort would be required. Charles Bowen-Cooke of the LNWR would find a solution in the form of his G2 Class 0-8-0 locomotives and by altering them into a 2-6-0 arrangement but still keeping the same wheel-base which made them capable of handling tight curves and express points. The G2X as it became known would be mainly used on branchline routes but would also work on the mainline. The LNWR had previously experimented with the 2-6-0 arrangement before and the G2X would replace the aging Experimental Moguls from the 1890s. A handful of these engines were first ordered from the LNWR Crewe Works. The engines lasted throughout the Second World War and long after nationalisation in 1948 before finally being withdrawn in 1956. Fortunately, No. 16591 has survived into preservation and currently works on heritage lines throughout the UK. One day, I'll get both these locomotives together and do a comparison photo on it. And there you have it - that's how the models came to be. What is next for me, I wonder? Like I said, I don't normally look at all my models and say, "Yes, that's it, I'm satisfied." I just want to go onto the next thing.

Y Class. That's a good idea.

How goes Maunsell's Prairie Tank?

Well, why not? This locomotive would've been built at Ashford in the late 1920s before the Great Depression.

You, Sir, are a genuis! Thanks very much! How about 960 - 979 and BR 30960-979 and the S16 Class introduced in 1928?

It would? Oh, dear...

When's the next one?

Well, yes, that is true, but this locomotive is a what-if next to my GWR 71xx 2-6-4T and my LNWR Experimental Mogul and its Mk II variant, the G2X.

Yes, it is a fictional locomotive. I have been developing it for some time, now. Originally, it was going to be a Bulleid 2-8-2 heavy freight engine, but I decided to go for a Maunsell 2-8-0 freight engine inspired by the Fowler 7F 2-8-0.

It seems to be ongoing, but for some reason, all is quiet.

In the late 1920s, an increase of freight traffic was in high-demand on the Southern Railway. The idea of a 2-8-0 freight locomotive was considered as it would top the GWR Churchward 28xx and the S&DJR Fowler 7F 2-8-0 locomotives. This resulted in the form of the S16 2-8-0 locomotives which was a 2-8-0 variant of the S15 Class of the LSWR by Robert Urie. Richard Maunsell's variation of the S15 4-6-0s would take over all the heavy freight duties of the aging locomotives of the Pre-Grouping Era mainly used for freight purposes. The S16s earned the name 'Black Beetles' after the world's strongest insect affectionately by railwaymen and enthusiasts. What made the locomotives stand out was the use of different cylinders and Walschaerts vavle gear used commonly on LMS engines but still retaining the N15 cab and smoke deflectors as well as the raised tender on Maunsell's Lord Nelson Class. Known for their strength, capability and endurance, the S16s lived up to their nickname even when banking heavy goods trains uphills, the most notable account at Bincombe Tunnel by a young Southern Railway fireman. Only 20 of the locomotives were built in 1929 with the last built in 1932. No. 2000 and 2019, the first and last of the class were built together at Ashford Works with the rest No. 2001-2018 built inbetween 1930 and 1932 at Eastleigh Works. They were assigned to Southampton, Weymouth, Dorchester and Bournemouth; some spent most of their working lives along the old LSWR routes. During the Second World War, these engines served mainly as supply trains to dockyards and long after 1945 acted as auxhilary engines on express duties. After nationalisation in 1948, all 20 locomotives were re-numbered as BR 32000 - 32019 on the BR Southern Region. Withdrawals took place in 1959 to 1962 and the class were replaced by the British Rail Class 33 on the former Southern Railway routes. Scrapping took place in 1960 with the first being No. 32002 and the last being No. 32009. Fortunately, one locomotive, No. 32019, the last to be withdrawn hand spend 33 years and four months in service during Southern and BR ownership. The locomotive was saved for preservation most likely due to the international rise of the popular beat music group The Beatles which sparked an interest in the class and its popularity was boosted perhaps thanks to 'Beatle-mania'. No. 32019 was purchased from Dai Woodham at Barry Scrapyard and moved to the Swanage Railway where its overhaul took 16 years before the locomotive (now 2019) finally steamed back into service in 1978 and ran for ten years before being moved briefly to the Severn Valley Railway, Great Central Railway and East Lancashire Railway on loan. Its second overhaul took place in 1988 and steamed again in 1994 for another ten years on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway but unfortunately was too heavy for the line so instead went to the Bluebell Railway. No. 2019 was seen on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway alongside S15 No. 825 in 2004 before being moved to Watercress Line in 2010 where she returned to steam in 2012 and back to the Bluebell Railway where she currently resides. This is another locomotive project I have been planning to do after my GWR 7100 Class 2-6-4T or the 'Platypus Tank' as it is affectionately known. Once the engine is done, it will be started as soon as we gathered all the parts. This is what the model will soon look like.

I frankly would love to enter my LNWR Experimental Mogul 2-6-0 (both variants).

Neat little model! It reminds me of Percy the Small Engine!

Excuse me, but would my LNWR Experimental Mogul and Mk II Mogul count?

That was a repaint of a BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T.

What a lovely tender locomotive! Shame I don't see it available on your Shapeways yet. Still, it'd glad to see you venture with different locomotive styles.

Did you know that some Stanier 8Fs survive in the wreck of the sunken SS Thistlegorm? The sight of them rusting away and rotting into nothing-ness gives such a disturbing and creepy feeling. https://3sefka27u0ni3aq30d3q7nuh-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/12295386_709849675815954_6663829281617402208_n.jpg http://www.isdatravel.it/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/thistlegorm-mappa-relitto-ISDA-Travel-blog-1.jpg Try Googling it and search for the sunken locomotives - believe me, the first time I saw them, I was scared and terrified for days.

And here it is after so long! Finally, after so long, my GWR 71xx Platypus is finally taking shape! Once the body is finished, the chassis, on the other hand, is a different matter.