Edwardian Models Upgrade

[RosiesBoss]

My GWR/WR model collection has grown a lot since the first true GWR loco (3046) arrived at Christmas 1965. Several themes can be set up on my layouts using selected models:

·         Edwardian (c.1903-4)

·         Post-grouping (1922-30)

·         Later grouping (c.1934-8)

·         BR  (1948-60)

 

Apart from 3046 and her sister 3011, most of my other Edwardian period locos have been built from kits, kitbashed, motorised from static models or scratchbuilt.

 

Needing a change of pace after completing yet another loco absorbed at Grouping, I revisited some models that had sat for some time in a glass case – my Edwardian passenger locos.

 

Several of them were very tired or had become quite unreliable. So – back to the workbench for diagnosis and rectification.

 

These were the “patients” and a summary of the work done on them:

 

3046 Lord of the Isles (acquired 1965, modified with Bullfrog Snot & extra pickups 2013)

·         Dead magnet replaced by Neomydium magnet bundle

 

3297 Earl Cawdor (built 1971, rebuilt 2016)

·         Front bogie spring replaced and reset

 

3440 City of Truro (built 1970, rebuilt about 1977)

·         Faulty pickup redesigned and replaced

·         Moulded handrails removed and replaced with new handrails and knobs

·         Missing details restored

·         Repainted and relettered

 

3713 City of Chester (built 2015)

·         Tired motor replaced

·         Springing of front bogie rebalanced

 

3814 County of Chester (built 1971, rebuilt 2000)

·         Tired motor replaced

·         New motor mount fabricated

·         Noisy gears replaced and reset

·         Wheel splasher clearances eased around driving wheels

·         Sprung front bogie rebalanced

 

They all now run very well and are capable haulers.

 

They don’t look too bad, either.

 

 

 

 

Other pre-grouping GWR locos in the collection extant in Edwardian times (but not necessarily in Edwardian condition or livery) include:

·         848 (517 class)

·         1195 (388 class)

·         1331 (ex-Whitland & Cardigan)

·         1376 (ex- Bristol & Exeter)

·         1565 (1076 class)

·         1890 (1854 class)

·         2322 & 2573 (2301 class)

·         2620 (Aberdare class)

·         2783 (2721 class)

·         2818 (28XX class)

·         3283 “Comet” (Duke class)

·         3515 (3201 class)

·         4508 (45XX class)

 

Further Reading

·         https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/167158-gwr-28-“cleobury”-–-ex-cmdplr/

·         http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/70438-gwr-4-4-0s-on-carmarthen-junction/

·         https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/107593-gwr-1076-class-double-framed-pannier-tank/

·         http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/134586-gwr-stella-2-4-0-kitbash/

·         http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=user_activity&mid=17793

·         https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/72460-gwr-1331-ex-whitland-cardigan-0-6-0st-project/

·         https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/67786-gwr-1376-ex-bristol-exeter-0-6-0t-project/

·         https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/96216-motorise-gbl-city-of-truro/