GWR 28 “Cleobury” – ex-CM&DPLR

[RosiesBoss]

Introduction

In mid-2020, my club was donated some pre-loved model railway bits and pieces, some of which were shared among the members. Among them was this sad wreck of a Bachmann H0 AT&SF H0 2-6-0, which had a shattered body, non-working DCC chip, but a smoothly working motor and rolling chassis.

 

A search though my scrapbox revealed the saddle tank from a Tri-ang clockwork 0-6-0ST (given to me in the 1960s):

 

and a very playworn Tri-ang Polly body, whose chassis block now runs under 3440 “City of Truro” (Airfix, motorised in 1970).

 

Comparison of these with the sketch in Ref.2 revealed that I could make a passable model of GWR 28 “Cleobury”. The driving wheels were (in 00 scale terms) 3’9”” diameter, spaced at 4’10” + 4’10”. The closest fit that I could find for this wheelbase was GWR 1386, from the W&C Rly, but this chassis was far too tall to fit within the saddle tank of that loco. The next nearest I could find was GWR 28, which was built with 3’6” wheels, spaced at 4’10” + 5’8”.  In its original saddle tank form, the body could fit over the Bachmann chassis, with a few bits shaved off the chassis.

 

Technical details of the prototype may be found in Refs. 2 and 3.  A list of preserved cousins may be found in Ref.1.

 

Other details of the railway she served may be found in Ref.4.

 

Overview of Construction

The chassis was slightly modified to fit within the new body. The non-working DCC circuit was removed and the motor connected directly to the chassis.

 

The new body was made from a mix of polystyrene sheet, a few bits of modellers’ brass and aluminium, parts of the Tri-ang models and other components from my scrapbox. (See parts list for more details.)

 

The body and chassis were painted separately, using Tamiya NATO black acrylic (XF69), Humbrol GWR green acrylic RC405) and Humbrol matt red (60) and gold (16) enamels.

HMRS number transfers were fitted to the front buffer beam. Name- and number-plates were home printed and attached. The model was then varnished with Humbrol satin clear (135) enamel. It was then glazed, coaled, fitted with a crew and the cab roof glued down.

 

Here is “Cleobury” with a typical early grouping-era branch line passenger train, preparing to leave “Gennigael”:

 

Here she is, on the main line this time, passing Carmarthen Junction mpd:

 

And again, seen next to other saddle tank locos (1331, 680, 968, 2195 and 682):

 

Reflections

Does “Cleobury” run well? You bet! She is very smooth, from a slow crawl through to a maximum speed probably faster than her prototype. Her haulage capacity is more than adequate also.

 

Total cost: A$20.50, as nearly everything was made of scraps. The equivalent kit from Agenoria is listed at GBP205 (around A$410).

 

Parts list

·         Chassis from Bachmann AT&SF H0 2-6-0

·         Smokebox from Tri-ang “Polly”

·         Saddle tank from Tri-ang clockwork 0-6-0ST

·         Tank filler from Tri-ang “Polly”

·         Lost wax cast dummy leaf springs (very old stock from scrapbox)

·         Lost wax cast chimney (Mansfield Models H0 scale NSWGR D50 class chimney)

·         Misc. copper and aluminium sheet

·         Tri-ang buffers

·         Lost wax cast Ramsbottom safety valves (Mansfield Models H0 scale)

·         Whitemetal whistle & pipes (from scrapbox)

·         Handrail knobs

·         0.4mm dia phos bronze wire

·         Clear glazing plastic

 

References and Further Reading

1.       https://preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/manning-wardle-company/

2.       RCTS: “The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway – Part 10 – Absorbed Engines 1922-1947 (RCTS, 1966)

3.       J.H.Russell: “A Pictorial Record of Great Western Absorbed Engines” (OPC, 1978)

4.       https://wyrefarmed.blogspot.com/2012/09/cleobury-mortimer-and-ditton-priors.html

5.       https://www.svrwiki.com/2047_Warwickshire

6.       https://www.warwickshirerailways.com/misc/misc_coll-locos053.htm

7.       Photo on p.116 of C.J.Gammell: “GWR Branch Lines” (OPC, 1995)

8.       Photo on p.92 of R.C.Riley: “Great Western Album No.2” (Ian Allen, 1970)

[Adam FW]

Excellent work, I have a bit of a soft spot for these locos having 3D printed it's sister loco Burwarton earlier this year but I'm very impressed by this build, I'd have never guessed where all the bits came from without your list

[Phil Bullock]

A nice build of a characterful and late surviving loco …. Even if she had been swindonised in to a pannier tank by then! Thanks for sharing 

[RedGemAlchemist]

That is gorgeous! Very nicely done. Also love your little fleet of saddle tanks, has a lot of character.

[BenNewland]

Thanks for those details. It must be nice aquiring a smooth running chassis as blank sheet to work from. Well done.

Ben