Blobrick

Hi Andy Thank you for taking the time to dig this information out for me, its always good to have a second opinion!, as you say dates on photos are not always spot on. So l ll make my time scale mid 58 to mid 59, job done ! However I think l ve struck lucky here as al the locos l need for this date are available, abet with a little renumbering, and to that end, thanks also for the link to Pacificmo l ll give them a whirl too Bob C

The back ground to my enquiries, is that l am attempting to identify suitable locos for my Kingsbridge extension layout. The layout is underway with all the basic track laying complete, including surface mounted point motors in the fiddle yard at the rear of the layout. These had to be done first as the rear of the layout sits against a wall. This layout started off as Broadsands, a station based on the never build proposed halt on the Kingswear line which had a very short thread here on RMweb. I found that once the track was laid and l started running 6 coach trains, the layouts short 12 foot length came home to bite. It was just to cramped, with the station looking swamped. Slowly it dawned on me that l had to much stock for to little layout, and a re think was required. The choice was between the Kingsbridge branch and the Chacewater to Newquay branch. The current track layout was inspired by Perranporth, so the design seemed to sit well in that location, plus in addition to 45/55x and Panniers, there was the odd 43xx which worked freight traffic up to Newquay as a positioning move for the 43xx. However l found the charm of the Kingsbridge line to much to resist. So l concept is that after the GWR bought and completed the unbuilt line from the SDR in 1893. they ran with the branch through to Kingsbridge for about 10 years. At which point the returns on the new line were such that they re visited the original idea for running the line through to Salcombe. Thus the extension was opened in 1905 through to Salcombe with an addition station at Burleigh Lane, mid point between the hamlets of South Huish and Woolston. It is envisaged that the line followed the same course as the A381, avoiding all the small rivers and streams to the east. It is this station l am attempting to build. Being built at the same time as the Chacewater - Newquay line, the architecture is the GWR house style for that period, with the structures being built in brick not stone as the earlier section of line. The station has an island platform with an up and down loop, and a goods shed off to one side on its own loop with siding. The goods loop is trapped from the running line by an arrival road, with a head shunt at one end and a cattle dock at the other. All in all a compact layout that does not look to compressed, that is until you start running 6 coach train with a Star or Castle at its head that is! At the moment l am still thinking what to call the station, perhaps Burleigh Lane would be best, but l cold follow railway practice and name it after one of the near by villages of either Woolston or South Huish? I ve attached a couple of photos to show the general idea of the layout

Sorry for the inverted image, l ve rotated it 180 degrees to correct it but its still keeps appearing upside down?

Here's my Kingsbridge extension layout's small but growing fleet, just awaiting the arrival of a post 56 liveried 55xx to complete the group, all with the correct liveries for 1959, with thanks to all who contributed above

Hi Chris Many thanks for the tip, l ve dropped Brian an email to find out more Bob C

I d like to say a big thank you to everyone who was kind enough to help me with my enquiry, with your help , we ve identified 4 loco/livery combination which were in use on the Kingsbridge branch in 1959. So my next step is to renumber the locos l have to their new identities. does anyone have any advice as to the best numbers plate to use?. The other issue l fore see is the smoke box number plates. Is it better to renumber on to the moulded on plates, or doe anyone know of a supplier who does good quality smoke box plates which look the part (white numbers on black back ground) and could be mounted on to the existing smoke box moulding?

Hi Andy With the number you ve given me, l gone through my books again (Branch Line to Kingsbridge plate 39) and found a photo of 5558 leaving Avonwick in June 1959. Its another almost head on view, but there is that large blob on the tank side and no sign of lining that l can make out. So if the date is correct l ve found my 4th loco for my small fleet. Bob

That's interesting Andy, l ve never seen photos of Std 3 tanks on the Kingsbridge branch before. I have seen Std 3 tanks working portions of trains down to Kingswear in the early to mid 1950s, so these must be the same engines? Andy could l ask if you have come across any black liveried 55xx class tanks on the Kingsbridge branch around 1959?. I ve found a couple of photos whilst searching for the Panniers, but any black 55xx photos l found were not dated. All the ones l found dated 1959 were of 55xx s in post 56 green,so it does seem that the locos in the west country received the post 56 liveries quiet quickly? Bob

Fantastic, thanks Andy, I was fairly sure it was an early crest, but its always good to get ones suspicions confirmed. It also means one less loco to buy as l have a brand new Bachmann 97xx sitting in its box, just waiting for news like this! And thanks also for the loco numbers, that could come in handy too. So now l think l ve got three types of loco working the Kingsbridge branch, 45xx, 4575, and 97xx! Many thanks Bob C

Thanks Rob that's useful information. Based on what you ve said the Pannier mentioned below might be 3796 then? I ve attached a still from the "1959 Railway Runabout" I mentioned earlier, l am pretty sure that the large blob on the Pannier's tank side is an early emblem, and not the later totem. I would be interested in what other RMweb members think too Thanks Bob C

Thanks Chris, good advice. I did "Google" all the pannier numbers previously, but got back very little information. However l ve checked through the Moretonhampstead branch as you suggested. So far l ve found about 8 photos of 3696, but most are undated and the one that was from 1961, is indistinct and the tank side markings can not be made out! Anyway l ll keep searching, you never know l might just be lucky !! Thnks again Bob C

Hi Kris Yes l suspect you are right, it would explain the lack of photos, on a fairly well photographed branch. However just one photo would be all l need to confirm what l believe l identified in the video, so fingers crossed some one out there knows?..................

Can anyone help please? I am currently researching the Kingsbridge branch in the late 1950s. As far as l can workout there were 3 possibly 4 Pannier tanks that were associated with workings on the branch. I have been going through the 1959 "Railway Roundabout" video segment frame by frame in an effort to, a) identify the pannier shown awaiting departure, just as a early 45xx arrives (4561 l think) and b) confirm what emblem the Pannier is carrying. I have been through the Vic Mitchell "Branch Line To Kingsbridge" but the only photo l found, was a still take from the 1958 "Railway Roundabout" segment about camping coaches at Gara Bridge. However this book did give the numbers of three known locos,all late series Panniers, nos. 3796,9633 & 9678. Does any one know where l might find any photos of Panniers on the line,or photos of any of these three locos between 1958 and 1959, which would at least allow me to confirm the emblems in use? Fingers crossed Bob C

Hi Paul Thanks for taking the time to reply, the information re SMBP tanks is most useful. Sorry if l missed this in earlier posts, as l did scan through the thread. However l ve noted the two books you mention and will investigate further Cheers Bob C

Sounds very interesting who's producing it?

Could l ask if anyone could tell me which of the new Dapol (Ex Lionheart) 14t tank wagons would be suitable for a branch line terminus layout? I ve noted a tank wagon in a photo taken at Cardigan Station in the later 50s. Its an end on view so l can not discern what type of wagon its is or to whom it belongs too. So l am trying to make an educated guess that it is more likely a "B" type 14t tank wagon probably carrying diesel oil for the local farm industry? However l have no idea as to who would own such a wagon, so is it more likely to be a Shell - BP or Esso, or would it be more likely to be owned by a local company? Bob C

Thanks for that Chris That's an order for a LHT631 going in this afternoon! Many thanks Bob C

Thanks Johnster, that's an other coach l could add to my stock list then!! Bob C

Very interesting Miss Prism, thank you for posting these two. Yes the 1st photo does look like a Hawksworth abet in maroon. its very interesting the range of coaching stock which ran on the branch in its last 6 years.

Many thanks Chris, I was wondering if it could have been a D109. I wonder if Lionheart/Dapol will release their D109 as single coaches?

No need to get your coat, l rather like the Hawksworth stock, but l ve not found one on the Lambourn branch yet!

Thank you Miss Prism, at least my eyes are not failing me quite yet. Just thinking about your comment re Non corridor coaches, from what l ve found so far it the corridor stock that seems to be far less common on the branch? I think l ve only found one Collett brake (Sunshine stock) so far

Thank you for posting this photo, is this an example of an E145 that Miss Prism mentioned?. The window corners look round to my eyes, making me think its a BR Suburban coach, but the end fittings and bogies suggest GW origins?

Thank you Miss Prism, that's interesting as l d not considered the E145. At least you ve answered one quest as to whether the single coaches were all thirds or composites, so l just need to find a photo of an E140 on the branch now! Many thanks for you assistance Bob C

I am wondering if any fans of GW /WR could help me identify the Collett coach shown in the attached photo? The photo was taken at Lambourn station in the 1950s. I suspect it is a Diagram E140 or perhaps a D109 but l can not tell if it is a composite brake or an all third brake, can anyone please help? Fingers crossed Bob C