The GC and Met in OO

I've followed this with interest James, as many years ago I made from new the K's kit and finished it in GC green as City of Lincoln! What big engines they must have been, I only fully realised this when setting alongside other models such as a B1. Like you my skill level was somewhat below full GC splendour, but having seen your creation I might try a bit of extra detail and correct one or two small errors.

 

I don't know what you have planned for plates, but I found the only supplier was Guilplates, who normally do 7mm stuff. Although this was over ten years ago, they came up with a very nice set of name, number and worksplates, plus tender rear plate, for around

I hate to tell you this, but I think City of Lincoln was one of the three that was black. IIRC the other two were City of Liverpool and City of Chester. The GCR lined black livery was, of course, very handsome indeed, but it's probably easier for you to decide to model Sir Sam Fay, City of Manchester or City of London which were green. I don't know why some were put into black but possibly because they were used (mainly) on fast goods and fish trains. (The GCR didn't actually need that many top link passenger engines, and up until 1917ish (when loads shot up) a 4-4-0 was fine for many of the trains.)

 

I have an idea that very late in GC days circa 1922 the black engines (or some of them) were put into green but it was a simplified version with green splashers.

 

You need John Quick's book on GC liveries. (If you haven't got it.) I think it will confirm or deny the above.

I've followed John Quick's book for the model; it's an absolute goldmine and I honestly think had it not come out I wouldn't have decided to backdate everything to pre-1923 (!)  According to Quick, City of Lincoln went into green in August 1922, but there is no mention (at least, that I have seen) that the splashers were green.  This contrasts with the Lord Faringdons, at least one of which did have green splashers.  

 

I'll have to break out the books tonight and double check... 

GC liveries are a nightmare. It isn't quite true to say that no two classes were painted exactly alike, but it isn't far off. And there were all sorts of variations over time. John Quick's book is, however, the best guide there is.

John Quick's book says that City of Lincoln was the last Sam Fay to receive green livery (August 1922), but doesn't say anything about green splashers.  I did have an 'argh!' moment when I thought that if it were in green, it would need an oil tank on the tender, but the RCTS book on LNER 4-6-0s reckons the oil tank was fitted in 1921 and removed later that same year.  Perhaps because she only wore the livery for a year or so, photographs of City of Lincoln in GCR green seem to be few and far between, and don't appear in the RCTS book, Quick's liveries book, or EM Johnson's GCR locomotives books.  The best that can be done, I suppose, is to follow what photographs there are of the other members of the class in the 1920-23 period and wait for further information to come to light. 

 

Because I have a 'Lord Faringdon' which will also eventually go into GC livery, I also read up the relevant chapter on those engines in Quick's book.  That shows 1169 early in her career with full GCR livery and also in early 1923 with green splashers- he goes on to say that although that is what the photograph shows, it is now not known whether this was because of paint shortages in the postwar years, or an attempt to 'LNER-ise' the GC livery.

 

Why is nothing ever simple?!?

Hi, taking this thread as inspiration I had a go at making a OO version of City Of Lincoln, not quite finished - used Isinglass drawings to help, a Bachmann Jubilee chassis and a couple of GBL Director D11 static loco bodyshells and the tender body. It’s far from perfect but I really enjoyed hacking it together and it doesn’t look to bad to my eyes at least. Hope it’s of interest.

Managed to move the front bogie pivot forwards about 5mm which improves the appearance 

That's a clever way to approach this project Alex, and you're well on the way it seems.

 

I seem to recall that the Sam Fays didn't have cab windows, but rather a cut out like the O4's or D10's, so presumably that's up next.

 

Is the 26000 a Trix one, the cab roof shape suggests this but I may well be wrong?

 

John.

Edited January 28, 2022 by John Tomlinson

Fantastic! I've also seen the GBL Butler Henrson used as the basis of a Genalmond (small wheel version of a Sam Fay).

The Tommy is a 3D print bodyshell, I asked a supplier of an N gauge shell on Shapeways if they could scale one up to OO. I then took the bogies off a static HO German electric model by Atlas, and located two power bogies at 40mm wheelbase from DC kits. Technically the bogies are a bit short of scale but the wheels are lovely 16mm spoked ones and the motor bogies at 40mm exact so the wheel centres are correct for the frames so it looks pretty decent. Two motors as well and I think they are Hollywood foundry so it’s well made. I’ve actually made another Tommy before using a EM1 bodyshell which I reshaped around the windows to get them more like the prototype shape. Thanks so much for the advice and comments  I’ll have a think about the cab on the COL. A few other interesting projects on the go down the years I might share now

The one that got away  I started with a 3D print of the LNER Beyer-Garratt and figured it would work with 2 austerity 2-8-0 chassis, I ran out of funds and sold it having got really close to making it work.. maybe I’ll try again one day. Again this was via some kind assistance via shapeways and an N gauge scale up for me. A 3D print kit of Pickburn box I’ve made with full interior detail and lighting, and some shots of my old Sheffield Victoria inspired diorama/layout now no longer around but was fun to take photos with. Hope you like them.

Glossop EMU via Moussa Models etches and plenty of Replica Railways spares, converted an S1 via Mike Edge etches and Bachmann Chassis. 

Thanks for the response and all the photos. I do like the look of your Sheffield Victoria diorama, and it must have been rather sad to let this and the Garratt go. I only ever ventured onto Victoria once, in 1979 long after closure, although it was still intact and rather eerie. Several DMU's came through but not a 76, and I decided to not to linger in case someone came along and asked me what I was doing there!

 

I'd never thought of having enlarged Shapeways prints as a means to 4mm models, but it obviously works. The "Tommy" is interesting, I do have an MSL brass kit for this in a cupboard, but given the difficulty of making their standard EM1 I haven't dared to have a go. I think the bogie wheelbase was 11'6'', so 46mm to us, effectively then you're 3mm short at each side but it certainly doesn't notice.

 

What is interesting as well is the Glossop unit. Many moons ago I recall seeing a model of one at an exhibition in Retford, whatever the origin it wasn't Mousa, and the outcome of yours is very convincing indeed.

 

All in all excellent!

 

John.

 

Did a quick check on the Mousa site after reading your posts, the Glossop set etches are £45 although there's a bit of a delivery delay. On the basis of your pictures that looks rather good value!

 

John.

Thanks John, there’s also a 3D print option for the EMU, I started but moved on to other projects. Google Rue D’Etropal shapeways, the chap who runs that business is very helpful if you’re after something specific and have a scale drawing or they are available has often been great in putting something out there. Needs a bit of sanding/finishing to make the finish less grainy but can get to a decent finish with patience. The etches are absolutely superb but a lot of patience needed to shape the tumble home and soldering is not my favourite (I used glue quite a bit too). If you want any pics to help with construction let me know, I used a replica chassis they launched to power DMU’s/coaches - came DCC ready. I had that in the centre car and so it was pulling one coach and pushing another which worked fine, plenty of power in that unit.

Here’s the other Tommy I made, it was a DC kits bodyshell, some Heljan side frames I found as spares on eBay, an old PIKO HO electric loco pair of bogies which I managed to make run ok with plenty of cleaning and a bit of WD-40 before chipping them. I modified the cab windows using humbrol filler and files, and I think one or other of the body grilles. 

Nice to see the model of Sheffield Victoria.  Is there layout in build, planned or pipe-dreamed?

Hi Alex,

 

Thanks for posting the extra photos. I can see now why you did your second "Tommy" in black!

 

The Glossop unit 3D print looks of good quality, however if I ever do one I think I'd go for the brass etches. I bought some rolling bars a few years back, and although they have been used a bit they could do with a bit more, so I think that would be an interesting challenge.

 

It's always good to find someone with an interest in the long gone Woodhead electric system, here's a reference to my Flickr album, sadly all in the Railblue era, just click on the picture;

 

 

 

Edited January 29, 2022 by John Tomlinson

Wow, that a superb album. I grew up in central Sheffield - from St Vincent’s school I could see the line thread out towards Neepsend so literally I saw the last 6-12 months of operation and a few “cavalcades” of Class 76 locos go over to the scrappers yard. So BR blue and literally as a kid are my memories. My dad took me on the Barnsley DMU service that went out of Midland but reversed through Victoria for a while, these two things got me hooked. My Dad told me stories of how he used to leg it at dinner time from school to see the boat train and see a Britannia. He’s mainly a Midland man so we also have a collection of ex LMS and BR locos that ran out of Midland - and a bit of a layout/diorama based on that layout too, sadly the last two years have put paid to our modelling and layout running (he’s 75). I did make a couple of n gauge 76’s in blue, will find a post the pics  Absolutely loved the pics; thanks for sharing those. 

Hi Alex,

 

Thanks for the comments about the photosite. I've more Woodhead pics still to scan than are already on there, but it is a very slow process.

 

You've accumulated a great range of motive power linked with the line, the Tinsley double shunters and also the neverwozzer 26510, on Woodhead at least, I know it went to Ilford. The black "Tommy" looks rather good on the carmine and cream Gresley coaches.

 

May I suggest you start your own blog or workbench thread, say in "Kitbuilding and Scratchbuilding", so that your efforts can be more widely shared, probably only fair to James as well, as this is his blog!

 

John.

Thanks John, good idea - and apologies James