Hornby GWR 28xx 2-8-0 2818

[rprodgers]

Please can anyone advise on the safety valve cover on this model as produced by Hornby under the NRM label.

 

It depicts one of the earlier locos with the square drop running plates and a small tender, but with top feed (which I understood  appeared prior to WW1)

 

When i look at photos of the class the safety valve cover appear much  taller in photographs, whereas on 2818 it is a much squatter design.

2818 I understood was of the first production batch, with a higher pitched boiler, but looking at others of the same batch they still have taller s/v covers.

 

I was looking for it to depict a loco in the mid 1920s , when is Hornby's version meant to represent with the s/v cover it has?

 

I am presuming that the safety valve cover might have been reduced later in life and is as preserved.

[Miss Prism]

For your 'mid-1920s', the safety valve cover would be of the tall type. The 28xx shared the same (Standard No 1) boiler with Saints and Stars (and later, Halls and Granges), so No 1s were numerous, and it is impossible to tell when the No 1s began to appear with short valve fittings, probably not before the mid-1930s. Many 28xx had tall covers well into the 1940s and beyond.

 

In the mid-1920s, parallel chimneys were still the norm for the 28xx. Many of the class kept their parallel chimneys until the mid-1930s.

 

Flush-riveted smokebox wrappers were the norm on 28xx until mid- to late-1920s.

 

A few samples:
https://www.warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/gwrt2401.htm
https://www.warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/gwrt331.htm
https://www.warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/gwrwe2849.htm
https://www.warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/gwrt300.htm
https://www.warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/gwrt330.htm
 

[rprodgers]

Thanks Miss Prism for a very thorough answer the squat safety valve cover didn't look anything like the photos I could source ; especially where the loco had the original square drop footplate.

 

Yes now I look the chimney fitted is narrower and than some of the photos (especially the one of 2814)  and the front pony truck spring cover as often appears under nourished.

 

Much appreciated 

 

Richard

[Miss Prism]

I forgot to mention the cover for the pony truck spring - this changed from the low squat type to the later domed type, but I can't put a date on the changeover at the moment.

 

[Coach bogie]

The Hornby model is based on preserved condition. 2818 was restored at Eastleigh and all they had to work with was what 2818 came with.

 

In comparison City or Truro was restored (several times) at Swindon and could be seen with both short and tall safety valve during its' 1950's use on the network. When it came to final restoration at Swindon, they had the luxury of a large supply of spares to bring it back to earlier condition. The same happened with Lode Star - withdrawn with short bonnet and restored with tall from the parts bin.

 

The Hornby Caerphilly Castle is also in preserved condition with fire iron tunnel, not fitted when built. The livery may be 1923 but various later modifications are both the full size and model.

 

Mike Wiltshire