6959 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 WARNING. This topic is for readers of a mildly frivolous disposition. Persons of clinical mind who demand strict historical accuracy need not apply. Now that Hornby has released a 'Castle' class loco that is unlikely to be improved, I have a surplus of the older Airfix/ GMR, Dapol and Hornby 'Castles'. The Airfix -derived 'Castles' have many errors but some, particularly the Hornby versions, have good paint work and are a bit too good to join the scrap line. In the currently depressed economy, they will probably not get a good price on Ebay so could just as well be run into the ground. To get some life out of these redundant loco's, it occurred to me that they could be renamed and renumbered as some little known GWR class but there are few options which begs the question, "What?" By the mid-1930s, the LMS was already using up Cities, Royal Navy ships, Army Regiments. In the 1940s the Southern Railway bagged the West Country Cities and shipping lines of the merchant marine. The most obvious option is cathedrals in GWR territory but there are not many of these as listed below: GWR Towns with Anglican Cathedrals Town Date Founded Status Birmingham 12 January 1905 City Brecon 1923 Town Bristol 4 June 1542 City Cardiff Not Known City Chester 4 August 1541 City Exeter 1050 City Gloucester 3 September 1541 City Hereford 676 City Liverpool 24 March 1880 City London 314 City Newport 1949 City Oxford 1 September 1542 City Salisbury 1075 City St. Asaph 560 Town St. Davids Not Known City Truro 9 December 1876 City Wells 909 City Winchester 676 City Worcester 679 City It has been said that these names might have been used for the unofficial scheme to build Pacific class in 1946. In 1922 the GWR used the main Abbeys and Priories for the last batch of the Star class. Abbeys and Priories in South West [underlined names used for Star class 1922] Bath, Cleeve, Gloucester, Hailes, Malmesbury, Tewkesbury Abbeys and Priories in Midlands Lilleshall, Croxden, Rufford, Haughmond, Buildwas, Wenlock, Whit Ladies, Malvern, Leominster Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted January 18, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 18, 2012 Why do they have to be in GWR territory? Agreed that is the obvious, and sensible I think, place to start but the GWR spread its net wider for 'Hall' names (e.g. I don't think the Company operated anything in Norfolk but it certainly named a loco after a hall in that county). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karhedron Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 I have heard of the idea of both Abbey and Cathedral names being applied to the mythical Hawksworth pacific. No reason not to use them on ficticous Castles though. If Castles were still being built today perhaps we would have Disney Castle. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisf Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Bouncy, Barbara, Roy ... Coat already on Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kris Posted January 18, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 18, 2012 You've missed Plymouth Cathedral and St Pauls, oh and Westminster Abbey. If you went down the dissolved abbey's route would could put a few more names in the hat including Glastonbury and Tintern Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meil Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 What happened to Shrewsbury? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted January 18, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 18, 2012 Hadn't the series of notable man made structures been done to death? Just as the LMS (with the Jubilee's) had used up every exotic part of the then British Empire, major sea battles and warships. But another theme for the GWR (without boring everyone with the usual choices - such as your suggestions) could be tourist attractions, including towns, preferably those close to GWR stations. Plenty of scope, I'm sure. Kevin Martin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach bogie Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 But another theme for the GWR (without boring everyone with the usual choices - such as your suggestions) could be tourist attractions, including towns, preferably those close to GWR stations. Challenge here as they found with the Bulldogs which all had their town names removed to avoid confusion with train destinations. You could resurrect older class names, such as the 'Rivers', Dean singles, Iron Dukes etc. Universities/colleges would provide a good range of names within GWR boundaries. The GWR is not adverse to naming locomotives after nobility, and could possible look at the Lady's, (rather than Ladys' from literature, Viscounts, Dukes (duke class in decline by 1930's). Also Knights (again actual rather than mythical) based on King's honour lists of the period. As the UK was very much still an empire in the thirties, following on from the Jubliee suggestion above how about the 'Colonies' class ( bulldogs on the decline so some names could be reused)- lots of opportunities for dename/rename as independence gathers pace. A good friend has THREE Great Bears with 112,113 named after other constellations Look forward to other suggestions Mike Wiltshire Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danemouth Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 [nitpicking mode on] Cardiff doesn't have a Cathedral - it's Llandaff Cathedral [nitpicking mode off] quickly retires, Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted January 18, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 18, 2012 But another theme for the GWR (without boring everyone with the usual choices - such as your suggestions) could be tourist attractions, including towns, preferably those close to GWR stations. Plenty of scope, I'm sure. Kevin Martin Well Swindon/Paddington did have that in mind for a well known class of diesels so I wonder if they had simply done the typical railway thing and just dusted off an old file? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
6959 Posted January 18, 2012 Author Share Posted January 18, 2012 [nitpicking mode on] Cardiff doesn't have a Cathedral - it's Llandaff Cathedral [nitpicking mode off] quickly retires, Dave Noted and list amended [or should it be emended? I need to check in Fowler's 'Usage and abusage']. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
10800 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Cheddar Cathedral? Oh no it's the other way round isn't it ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
6959 Posted January 18, 2012 Author Share Posted January 18, 2012 Challenge here as they found with the Bulldogs which all had their town names removed to avoid confusion with train destinations. You could resurrect older class names, such as the 'Rivers', Dean singles, Iron Dukes etc. Universities/colleges would provide a good range of names within GWR boundaries. The GWR is not adverse to naming locomotives after nobility, and could possible look at the Lady's, (rather than Ladys' from literature, Viscounts, Dukes (duke class in decline by 1930's). Also Knights (again actual rather than mythical) based on King's honour lists of the period. As the UK was very much still an empire in the thirties, following on from the Jubliee suggestion above how about the 'Colonies' class ( bulldogs on the decline so some names could be reused)- lots of opportunities for dename/rename as independence gathers pace. A good friend has THREE Great Bears with 112,113 named after other constellations Look forward to other suggestions Mike Wiltshire Very interesting. Ask him for some pictures especially lined up like that famous 'King' photo. Also ask him if he can suggest a source for a reversing rod. My 'Great Bear' must have a rare software reverser - invisible. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisf Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 You've missed Plymouth Cathedral and St Pauls, oh and Westminster Abbey. If you went down the dissolved abbey's route would could put a few more names in the hat including Glastonbury and Tintern IIRC Westminster Abbey and Glastonbury Abbey were carried by Stars and was not Westminster Abbey rebuilt as a Castle? Both classes were vulnerable to having their names removed and replaced. Then there are Abbey biscuits by McFarlane Lang ... Coat still on Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catkins Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 IIRC Westminster Abbey and Glastonbury Abbey were carried by Stars and was not Westminster Abbey rebuilt as a Castle? Both classes were vulnerable to having their names removed and replaced. Then there are Abbey biscuits by McFarlane Lang ... Coat still on Chris And the GWR handled the ROAD and rail distribution for McFarlane Lang . . . That could be the first "sponsered" naming!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozexpatriate Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 If Castles were still being built today perhaps we would have Disney Castle. That would be "Sleeping Beauty's Castle!" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozexpatriate Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 You could resurrect older class names, such as the 'Rivers', Dean singles, Iron Dukes etc. Rivers were good enough for the L&B: Yeo, Exe, Taw - why not the GWR? Dovey, Tefi, Towy, Taff, Usk, Wye, Severn, Avon, Kennet, Parrett, Taw, Fowey, Tamar, Teign, Dart, Exe, Stour, Thames etc. A good friend has THREE Great Bears with 112,113 named after other constellations I like that - Orion, Cygnus, Scorpius, etc and of course, Crux Australis. The zodiac is an interesting idea, but it doesn't fell all that GWRish. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kris Posted January 19, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 19, 2012 Rivers were good enough for the L&B: Yeo, Exe, Taw - why not the GWR? All of the GWR river class locos were named. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JZ Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 What about cheeses. Though not enough originating from GWR territory. Landscape features ? Mendip, Quantock, Polden, Cotswold, Malvern, Exmoor, Dartmoor, Bodmin Moor, Salisbury Plain, etc.......... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisf Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 I believe that the correct name of Westminster Abbey is "The Collegiate Church of St Peter in Westminster". Doesn't really trip off the tongue, does it? Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMRG Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 I believe that the correct name of Westminster Abbey is "The Collegiate Church of St Peter in Westminster". Doesn't really trip off the tongue, does it? No it doesn't but it would be interesting to see the nameplate all the same! GBMRG Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Taz Posted January 23, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 23, 2012 You've missed Plymouth Cathedral and St Pauls, oh and Westminster Abbey. If you went down the dissolved abbey's route would could put a few more names in the hat including Glastonbury and Tintern Plymouth Cathedral is another RC one. Plymouth was only granted city status in 1928 and is one of a small number of cities that have been created by Royal decree and do not have a CofE Cathedral. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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