Keyser's ex-LNWR 6-wheelers

[Prometheus]

Having an inexplicable weakness for K's coaches, I have at last acquired [just] one of the above - the Bk 3rd. It'll take some fettling to construct a square and free-running model, but it can be done [at least if my experience with their GWR coaches is anything to go by].

 

My questions though -

 

• would these have still been in regular use anywhere within the LMS during the War years [WW2, obviously], and
• were the droplights painted or left as varnished mahogany? 

 

Thanks all.

 

ps  I'm still looking for a Third to build, and a Full Brake!

 

Tony

Edited January 23, 2018 by Prometheus

[hayfield]

Tony

 

In the past with the 4 wheel SR coaches I removed the W irons, springs and axle boxes from the sides and fitted etched brass W irons from memory re-using the springs and axle boxes, this totally transformed the running of the coaches. May have used copperclad sheet for the floor.

 

My plan for the 6 wheel coaches is to use the Comet 6 wheel etched W irons, the centre wheels having the axles cut back to the wheels and using the inside bearing part included of the Comet etch, leaving the spring, W iron and axle box of the centre part of the underframe

[Compound2632]

Philip Millard is frustratingly vague on withdrawal dates, simply stating that "examples ... survived well into Nationalisation after 1948". He does have a photo of a 5-compartment third in fully-lined LMS livery, noting thatit was withdrawn in 1940. Jenkinson doesn't give withdrawal dates either. He gives the number of 5-compartment thirds as 500+ but Millard gives the total as 827, stating that this is the most numerous single design of British railway carriage, though the L&Y's 49' bogie 8-compartment thirds come a close second at 808, with no other design coming close. Many of the 5-compartment thirds were converted to brake thirds with, it seems, comparatively few built new.

 

Refs.

 

P. A. Millard, London & North Western Railway 30ft 1in six-wheeled carriages, 2e (LNWR Society, 2008).

D. Jenkinson, LNWR Carriages a concise history, 2e (Pendragon, 1995).

[Prometheus]

Thank you for this. At least a mid-40s livery will not stretch credibility toooooo far then.

 

Tony

[Compound2632]

Thank you for this. At least a mid-40s livery will not stretch credibility toooooo far then.

 

Tony

 

Although you should bear in mind that a great many older carriages were still in the fully-lined (Midland style) livery during the war years (go carriage spotting in Brief Encounter) as is the example I mentioned from Millard. I very much doubt very many would have had a full repaint after the adoption of the simplified livery, which only came in in 1934.

[Prometheus]

You'd be surprised just how far I could stretch credibility on that point !!!!

 

Thanks though, for the information.

 

Tony

[Ravenser]

I think it would be very unlikely that a 6 wheel coach would have still been in revenue traffic on the LMS by WW2. The LNER had a much bigger problem with 4 wheel and 6 wheel stock between the wars , but they had virtually eliminated non-bogie passenger coaches by the summer of 1940 - as far as I recall the Mid Suffolk was the only line still using them in 1945

 

However in departmental use it would have been a very different story......

[Prometheus]

Thanks for that further information. I can see that credibility issue becoming more elastic by the moment....

 

But I can rest assured that absolutely nobody else in the Club will notice!  I made a perfectly good and successful living driven by style over substance and am far too old to change now!

 

Thanks again

 

Tony

Edited January 26, 2018 by Prometheus

[hayfield]

Tony

 

Does it matter if the odd rake of coaches, or loco pops up from time to time on a layout based on a different era ? Its not as though a Virgin Voyager will be passing it at high speed. We always called it modellers licence. Or build yourself a small inglenook layout to run it on 

[Prometheus]

It matters not a jot, John: you are correct. I'll be building as planned. My only rule of thumb in matters like this - and it is an extremely general rule of thumb - is try not to be totally incredible [in the correct sense of the word]. As Cecil B deMille is at least reputed to have said, '...Gentlemen, those are my principles: if you don't like 'em, I've probably got a few more...!

 

If we can't enjoy ourselves, what can we do?

 

Tony