Devo63

There were five of the E class 0-6-0T supplied to the Barry Railway by Hudswell, Clarke between 1889 & 1891. BR numbers were 33, 34, 50, 51 & 53 which became GWR 781 - 785. GWR 783 & 784 survived to become part of British Railways with the other three sold by the GWR in the 1930's. 783 was 'Swindonised' with a new boiler and extended bunker while 784 just had minor changes made by the GWR. * I don't have access at the moment to my copy of Russell's Absorbed Locomotives at the moment but from memory the four 0-8-0 were actually the Barry Railway D class built by Sharp,Stewart. * these details info are from one of my old file cards I wrote up about 35 years ago Dave

I had a look at the selection of wheels from the Alan Gibson range. There is a listing for the correct size in the catalogue. A small compromise is that the wheels are described as 10 spoke when the E class had 12. This should not be a problem for such an obscure prototype and would be a lesser compromise than using a RTR chassis. Dave

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. I thought that there may not be anything suitable but I had to ask to make sure. I may have to look at a brass chassis, either a Terrier or SEFinecast P type, and some Gibson wheels if there are any about the right size. I assume that the tyres would have been fairly worn by this stage of its life so I do have a bit of leeway. GWR 784 was a favourite that my father, as a teenager, would keep an eye out for due to the small size and he was disappointed the year after the photo was taken when he found out it had been sent for scrapping. The loco was 59 years old when withdrawn so it had a reasonably good innings. This was one of the few photos he still has from his weekend and holiday visits to various depots in and around South Wales (Cardiff born & raised) before he came to Australia in the early 1950's. He left most of his photos, models and personal treasures behind when he emigrated and these were given away to various family and friends when his parents came out later. I hope to make a model of it for him (he's now 80) to run on his new 13'x6' layout which he has under construction. Dave

Can anyone suggest a readily available RTR chassis for my next bashing project? I’m planning on making a model GWR 784 (ex Barry Railway E class) based on a photo my father had taken of this engine in August 1948 in Barry. The loco is a 0-6-0T by Hudswell, Clarke with a 6’+6’ wheelbase and 3’3½” driving wheels. There are a few chassis kits available with the correct wheelbase but I would prefer a RTR version if something suitable could be found. This is meant to be a ‘cheap & cheerful’ project to fill in time when I am a bit fed up with other model construction. Dave Edit for location of pic. I was speaking to dear old dad who advised that it was taken in Barry depot during the summer school holidays in 1948.

Hi Dan, The Samson certainly looks the part. If my metal working and soldering skills were any better I'd have a go at one myself. A couple of years ago I built a 'Northumbrian' 0-2-2 based on the old 'Rocket' kit you have in the photo. I fitted the tender drive unit from the Bachmann 'Dewitt Clinton' and it ran very well. Unfortunately I burnt the motor out with a load that was too heavy for the poor thing. I'm trying to pick up a couple more of the Bachmann locos to replace the burnt out job and to provide power for a scratch built 'Planet'. The biggest trouble is that everyone wants ridiculous prices for them these days. I have about half a dozen of the old K's HO scale Spanish Mataro coaches and I'm thinking about fitting a Black Beetle or Spud bogie in a couple to provide an alternative propulsion method if I can't get hold of the Bachmann units I look forward to seeing further progress on your projects. They are quite an inspiration. Dave R

Thank you for bringing this range back from the dead. There are a lot of the former K's and Nucast range I had always meant to buy but couldn't afford at the time. A couple of questions for you. 1. Will all the kits have new chassis as they are released? 2. Will various separate parts be available as per the current South Eastern Finecast policy? Best of luck with the re-introductions. I'm looking forward to all the old GWR and South Wales models becoming available again. Dave

I'm in the process of doing just such a conversion. I had a pile of 2900 class bodies in the spares box and decided to convert some to the straight frame versions. The 4-4-2 version is going to be loco powered using an old spare Triang Hall chassis with suitable re-wheeling. I have chickened out on modifying the boiler to a half cone version and will stick with the full cone with a shortened smokebox. This narrows the choice of prototypes down to a couple of locos. I'm not trying for a showcase model but something that looks the part. The biggest stumbling block at present is the side frames for the trailing wheels. I've made three different versions but they either looked wrong or failed to work. Any suggestions an suitable parts would be appreciated. If I can bring myself to stop spending my pension on model railway items and buy a new camera I may be eventually able to post some pictures. Dave

I've always thought there should be a group/category of 'Pioneering Railways' which can cover the period 1800 - 1850. This would cover the earliest steam powered locomotives to run on rails up to just after the Railway Mania of 1846 and 1847. So many of the early railways had their one-off designs and ideas that it is an interesting period to model. A few years ago I built a small 8'x4' layout, partly inspired by Mike Sharman's articles in Railway Modeller, with a variety of early locomotives and rolling stock of British, Continental and North American types. Due to the fact that the models were so widely dispersed in origin I labelled it as a (please don't groan) 'Recreation Society Museum'. I have every intention of building a newer version in the same style but with a broad gauge demonstration line and transfer shed included next time. Dave

I am Australian born and bred with a Welsh father who spent the first eighteen years of his life growing up in and around Cardiff before seeking sunnier climes. From an early time in my life he regaled me with stories about the Great Western Railway and the various locomotives of that company and the various grouped concerns that he saw daily from the late 30's until the early 50's. He would tell me about staying with his Grandfather at his residence of Porthkerry House watching a 72XX class loco running from Swansea to Cardiff or days spent around all the various rail yards and sheds in Cardiff looking out for the latest arrivals from Swindon. One story he still repeats is about the time he and his best friend were waiting at Cardiff General for the South Wales Expess. It was getting on to being about an hour late when it finally came in. At first he couldn't make out what was hauling the train but as it came closer he could see that it was a pair of Dean Goods working hard after deputising for a failed 4-6-0. He told me they were both disappointed with that! The first model train I can remember watching him run was a Hornby Dublo Castle class with a train of chocolate and cream painted Kitmaster Mk 1's. Even though I grew up at the time the last of the South Australian Railways steamlined 520 class 4-8-4's, 700 class heavy freight 2-8-2's and Victorian Era Rx class 4-6-0's were making their last runs there was really no choice for me when it came to modelling - it had to be GWR. I have slowly built up a large reference library covering everything that I can find about the company and constituents. My collection of models can be used from early broad guage era up until Nationalisation. At model railway shows (few and far between in these parts) I always look for any GWR themed displays as a matter of course. Every visit to the United Kingdom must included at least one trip to Didcot and to two or three preserved lines where the GWR predominates. Reading through all may various books I have come across many references to the Great Western's dealings with other companies, either friendly or fiercely competitive. This has steered me to start building a collection of other references and models in both pre and post grouping eras but tending to favour the earlier period. I now have about six LNWR locomotive kits either building or in waiting. I have a pair of P class 0-6-0's in SE&CR and SR paint schemes on the go plus a number of other pre-group prototypes and stock from all around Britain such as a scratch build of Drummond's LSWR 4-2-4 inspection saloon. Some of my models would never had been anywhere near Great Western rails. I think 'Rule 1' will have to apply for these. Dave

Mikkel I'll be very interested in seeing what mods you make to the Bachmann chassis. I've been contemplating a similar fitting and could learn from your success (and, God forbid, mistakes). The 94xx looks good so I may do the same to my old Lima model. It's currently in bits needing new brushes. The body was reasonably good for the time it was made but the chassis with those terrible wheels and no detail was atrocious. Plus it could barely pull anything other than a few wagons on a gradient. My old GF 94xx is also hors de combat at the moment as well. Just lucky I'm concentrating on the GWR earlier in the 20th century at the moment and don't have a current need for my post war models. Dave

Over the years I've drawn up (and thrown away) a wide selection of plans for locomotives for the GWR supposing that the broad gauge had survived into the twentieth century. My favorite was a two cylinder (inside) 4-6-0 with 7 foot driving wheels and a Churchward short cone boiler with no top feed. I always thought that this could be the BG equivalent of the 'Saint' class but designed for express West of England services from Paddington in the Edwardian era. What a sight something like that would have been tearing down the Wellington bank with the 'Ocean Mails' in 1904 instead of 'City of Truro'. I might have to start designing engines for all the other railways of Britain after they had lost the 'Battle of the Gauges'. Dave

The era this loco is from is correct, but it's way outside my area of operation (see my avatar for a clue to my preferences) but I'm probably going to try and afford one anyway. The Stirlings are damn fine looking engines. I do have one of the old Kitmaster models built up with a K's tender drive unit but it hasn't worked in years. Dave p.s. - This will most likely halve the value of my two unbuilt Kitmaster models.

Those tea chests look very effective - glad my method was of help. I'm afraid it puts my earlier efforts to shame. I think I'll have to try and make another batch using your technique of printing onto the veneers if I can locate any locally. Dave Edit - And try not to flatten them this time!

Mikkel, I just remembered a few extra details from my tea chests. I used the foil dull side out for the strapping. The bright finished side was a bit too shiny in 4mm scale. Also some of the chests had tiny drops of grey paint on the strapping to represent the screws/nails. From normal viewing distances they were quite effective but in real life would probably been almost an inch in diameter. The chests were labelled with non-descript bits of paper with the word TEA stencilled on. I think the stencil I used was just one of those cheap ones available from general stationers for school children. I'm looking forward to what ever else you can come up with. I always follow your posts with interest. Dave

Hi Mikkel The crates look very effective and convincing - I do like some of your ficticious company names. Have you thought about standard tea chests along the same lines. Very common item seen in goods depots (worldwide) for about a century. I made some tea chests a few years ago in thin balsa and glued thin strips of kitchen foil along each edge to represent the metal corner strapping. They looked the part until I squashed the lot by dropping a transformer on them! Dave

I am in awe of your skills Mirek! I keep going back and studying the pics only to discover more details I had previously missed. Even the rivet detail is beautifully applied. How long have you been modelling in card? Dave

Is the car being used as a bus substitute? That's the place reserved on all layouts for the token bus - I think it's Rule 105 subsection XVIa. BTW I do like the Mikado. Dave edit for spelling

On my last operating layout (steam era GWR) I was always adding a new shunter of some description. I think I followed Cyril Freezer's suggestion of "When in doubt, add a pannier" fairly thoroughly. When I sold it I parted with about 8 or 9 of the 'matchboxes' and still have a selection left for the future. Dave

Freestone Model Accessories have a selection of the original Merco printed overlays for both goods stock (£1.00 ea.) and coaches (£1.25 ea.). Jerry advised that these are all original production and that he doesn't have the original plates for them. He said that when they sell out that will be it but he doesn't expect that to happen any time soon. The usual disclaimer: I have no connection with the business except as a satisfied customer. Today I received some Prototype Models replacement windows from Jerry along with his Jan. 2015 price list. I like to keep an eye on his website www.freestonemodel.co.uk as he sells a lot of the old Prototype Models and Bilt Eezi card kits which he is slowing upgrading. Dave

G'day Dave, Thanks for the quick reply to my question. I'm trying to find the necessary money to order some of the products you have announced or been commissioned to produce. I've sat around for the last few years lamenting the fact that there is so little in the way of GWR models to buy which take my fancy and suddenly you come on the scene with the railmotor, 48xx/58xx, 1361 and the King. The last mentioned is probably the only one I can't justify at the moment for my collection. Best of luck with getting everything up and running. Dave p.s. A nice, modern standards, Dean Goods would have me swooning with delight!

Dave, Will there be spare parts available for this model. I'm busy saving my pennies to order one but I would also like to get hold of a spare power unit or two for a conversion I hope to make (see my post in the GWR thread) and to scratch build one of the early match board sided motors. Dave

That's just being greedy! Merry Christmas.

Not for very much longer! (ends in 2017) As for the loco model itself, I'll have to find an excuse to get a GER version. I have a soft spot for almost anything pre-grouping even though I'm mainly into GWR. Dave

A quick question on the subject of the articulated sets of 1927 mentioned by Chris above. I have been scratch building a set of these for a couple of years (as a fall back project whenever I get stuck on something else) and was wondering about the numbering. It appears to me that the six cars in each set were numbered in order and not by class e.g. 9801-9806 with 9801/6 being brake 3rds, 9802/5 all 3rds and 9803/4 as composites, the next set 9807-9812 etc. Is this correct and did any swapping around occur during shopping of the units? I'm planning on finishing the set in a mid 30's scheme so I expect they were still in matched sets. I chose to model them as they would make a nice 6 coach train only about 4 foot long (plus loco). I haven't made up my mind yet as to the single 6 unit set or one of the 2X3 cars sets. I was planning to use 247 Developments bogies for these but they now seem to be getting withdrawn so any suggestions of suitable 7' and 8'6" bogies would be helpful. Dave

69843's mention of the old H class trams brings back some great memories. I've traveled on donor car No.375 (and the rest of the class) to school in the city and remember those old flip over Peters seats well. They were a lot more comfortable on your rear end than the seating in the modern 100 & 200 class trams now in use on the Bay line. Even though the 1920's era trams had no air conditioning for Adelaide's 40 deg+ summer temperatures I tended to stay cooler in them than their modern replacements. I still remember trying to get home with a 12 foot rowing oar (don't ask!) and the conductor helped me to get it on board stashed along under the seats. Try doing that with the new trams! Back in the 80's I regularly got free rides home from work - all I had to do was make sure my SA Police tie was visible to the conductor. Dave