WillCav

Thanks for all your assistance and information on diagram O36, Wickham Green, hmrspaul & Steamport Southport.

I didn't even know that wagon registers are available - I might have to pop to Kew when I'm next in the area.  I won't start a DCIII O36 until I've got some evidence that they actually existed!

Many thanks

Will

Hi all,

I have been looking for uses for the 17'6" length 9' wheelbase under-frames of Ratio GWR O29 wagons - I'm using the tops with standard 10' wheelbase under-frames to make later O31 variants.

One of my options is the O24/26/36 5-plank open wagon types which all have a wide top plank (029 kit has the wide plank lower down).

The O24 types are easy to model as there is a photo in Atkins et al and the only difference for O26 is buffers.

O36 however is a bit confusing - It is vacuum braked and has a sheet supporter rail.  There were only ten built, all in one lot (lot 976, 110991-111000) but the build dates are 1925-8 and they are a mixture of Morton and DCIII braked.   It seems a bit odd to change the design halfway through such a small batch?

I can't find any photos of them - does anyone know of any photos of them?

Does anyone know which numbers were allocated to which brake types?

I would really like to model the DCIII variant but have no diagram to work to - would the brake levers be the same distance from the middle of the wagon as on a 16' long 9' wheelbase  wagon or would they be the same distance from the end of the wagon?

Many thanks

Will

If you want a minimum length train - there used to be a single coach hauled by an 08 between Plymouth and Laira Depot.

The (Up) Penzance to Paddington sleeper leaves Penzance late at night and passes through Plymouth at an antisocial hour.  FGW used the 08 to haul a single sleeper coach from Laira Depot to Plymouth in the evening, allowing punters to get on the coach and get settled well before the remainder of the train arrives.  This coach is then marshalled into the sleeper train when it arrives and it all travels to London.

The Down Sleeper did the same in reverse - leaving a coach in Plymouth in the wee small hours.  This coach was then taken back to Laira in the morning.

I don't think they do this anymore - but it was definitely happening in 2002.

Will

More thanks to all the contributers including Blandford1969, Karhedron, £1.38, The Stationmaster, eastglosmog, wagonman, David Bigcheeseplant, kandc_au, Marshall5 and Nearholmer.  I now feel I have a reasonable grasp of the operations thanks to all your info and photos.

I have now decided to program in at least one visit to the coaling stage during the day (without the autocoach attached).  It would make sense to do this when one of the branch goods trains is occupying the single line.  This has the added bonus of adding more shunting to mix up the routine a bit.

Thanks again for the assistance

regards

Will

Many thanks clachnaharry, chrisf and The Johnster for your replies and assistance.

As my layout is intended to be the junction station, I will detach the autocoach in a carriage siding when going on shed.

regards

Will

Hi all,

I am planning to build a GWR layout with a modest engine shed facility.

Having read The E Lyons book on GWR sheds and numerous threads on this forum, I am familiar with the required movements and operations at the end of the day (coal / ash / washout / water / rotate / stable ready for the next day).

I am assuming that 14xx would be detached from their autocoaches at the end of the day as I have never seen a photo of an autocoach on shed.  My questions are:-

1) Would the bunker on a 14xx have sufficient coal to last the whole day?  It looks a bit small to me!

2) If it needs more coal during the day - would the autocoach be taken to the coaling stage or left at the platform?  It seems a bit of a faff to detach all the mechanical linkages only to have to re-attach them all a few minutes later.

Thanking you in advance

WillCav