Albyn

RCTS GW locos section on Mid Wales 0-6-0s confirms 9ft 6in tender wheelbase and 3ft 8in wheels

The original Kitson diagram plus the redrawn copy by Tudor Watkins with dimensions

a few more photos, Albyn

Photos that might be of use for the earlier loco, regards, Albyn

Many thanks for the suggestions. I'll follow it up, thanks, albyn

The SLS have Kitson's original book of locos built with the maker's photo and a side view of the loco only as built. This was used for the kit but with the cab added and the width guesstimated - the same as LNWR I think. The tender came from the GWR weight diagrams and some plans for similar tenders supplied to other customers than the GWR in the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry. The Kitson drawings don't survive - I think Hunslet bought the goodwill and burnt any drawings they thought would never be used again. I have a copy somewhere and loads of photos of Carlisle taken on the BCR priot to its scrapping in 1936 I think. Happy to help with info if anybody needs some, regards, Albyn

The Welsh Railways Research Circle were given the archive of the late Harold Morgan. In amongst his papers was this part copy of a drawing of BCR rebuilt van No. 24. There is no further copy for the wagon end which appears to have been cut off in the copying. There are no major dimensions or details of the draughtsman but the van has a 9 ft wheelbase and is for 7 tons. These vans were withdrawn in the 1920s but a body still survives i think at the former Eaton station site. Does anybody know where the drawing originated please?

Carlisle got the 6 wheel tender when it was rebuilt at Wolverhampton in 1924. It had a new but identical boiler fitted from Kitsons. It was the last loco rebuilt at Wolverhampton and they were determined to make a good job of it. The 4 wheel tender was so poor that they found a better one on the scrap line and substituted it for the four wheel one. It was slightly wider and a bit lower than the original. They said that Swindon would never realise the tenders were swapped as long as the number of tenders to be broken up remained the same. The story is told in one of Holcroft's books. The kit has its limitations but is probably good enough. The tender top had the water filler in a horseshoe shaped casing, as per LNWR, butting up to the spacer to keep the coal at the back. It had a dustbin lid type top to the circular water filler. In its last few months Carlisle was repainted in black from GWR green I was told by the late Ken Lucas who often rode on the footplate as a boy. The copper capped chimney and brass safety valve cover are GWR types. Better ones in brass and copper are available from David Geen who supplies them with his 517 kits I think. I too have a part built one. It took rather a lot of fiddling to do and the picture on the front of the box is actually of my part built model! I too asked Trevor for a four wheel tender and suggested he put the tender on a separate etch as it would have sold separately to GWR modellers. If you have any missing etches contact him - I've always found him very helpful. My chassis was nickel silver, as were the rods. regards, Albyn