LOCOMOTIVES

All of the locos on my layout are built from kits, although some have been considerably modified. I use Romford RP25 wheels whenever possible and I usually build in springing or compensation on all but the driven axle to keep as many wheels as possible in contact with the rails and so ensure reliable electrical pickup. I use small motors combined with a suitable gearbox, often a Hanazono LH21 combined with a Branchlines 50/1 box. If I want more power I use a Mashima/Branchlines 10x24 motor, which has almost twice the power of the LH21. I put as much lead as possible into each loco, provided the centre of gravity stays within the coupled wheelbase. If I run my locos up against a stop and turn up the power the wheels will spin. As long as this occurs I consider it very unlikely that  a motor will burn out.

My construction methods are very conventional. I solder for preference but use Araldite Rapid for securing boiler mountings and most other small parts. I occasionally use superglue, but have problems with it as it does not resist heat as well as Araldite.

My painting method is also very conservative. I first give the loco, after a detailed inspection, a very thorough clean, first with a degreaser such as Surgical Spirit, followed by a hard scrub with "Shiny Sinks", applied vigorously with an old tooth brush. A good rinse then follows. I do all of this over a sink or wash basin and make sure that I have put the plug in as something is sure to become detached! I then leave the loco to dry overnight on a radiator.

I always do my paint spraying outdoors on top of my wheelybin and always use Halfords matt car sprays. So, on the next fine, windless day I apply a coat of red oxide primer. This will show up any blemishes and these must now be rectified. Another coat, or patch coat, of red primer follows and then a full coat of matt black. This may be sufficient, but I often find some areas to be a bit thin, so a second coat of black may be required, either a full or a partial coat.

The transfers I use are HMRS Pressfix. I usually varnish over the areas where the transfers are, to improve their resistance to handling, but I leave smokeboxes, cab roofs and footplates unvarnished. I always use Ronseal Satincoat varnish thinned with good quality enamel thinners in the ratio of about two thirds varnish to one third thinners. This I apply thinly, by hand, using a Winsor and Newton flat, quarter inch wide, Kolinsky Sable brush (expensive but worth every penny).

Brief details of all the locos which appear on the layout are given below. A click on any loco class name will take you to details and photos of that loco model.

LNWR Steam Shed – 1901 – The Locos

Some brief details of the locomotives to be seen on the layout are given below. All of the locomotives on the layout represent classes built at Crewe Works, with the exception of the green loco, which is a Great Northern Railway Small Atlantic type built at Doncaster between 1898 and 1903 and which illustrates what a rival railway was building at this time.This model is built from a DJH kit.

"Cornwall" No 3020. This is a 2-2-2 tender engine built in 1847 as an experiment with 8’-6’’ diameter wheels and the boiler below the driving axle. The experiment was unsuccessful and the engine was rebuilt in 1858 in conventional form. Re-boilered in 1877, it has been preserved and is on display at the  National Railway Museum at Shildon, Co. Durham.

The model is built from an Alan Gibson kit.

'SDX' Class, No 2034. One of a class of 0-6-0 tender engines built between 1858 and 1872. The class, totalling 943, were rebuilt between 1881 and 1900 and became extinct by 1930. A remarkable early example of mass production.

The model is built from a London Road Models kit.

'Problem' Class, No 531 "Lady of the Lake" and No 1430 "Pandora". These are 2-2-2 tender locos built between 1859 and 1865 and rebuilt between 1895 and 1899. A total of 60 were built and the class became extinct in 1907.

Built from K's kits.

'4ft. Shunter' Class, No 3099.  46 of these 0-4-0 saddle tanks were built between 1863 and 1872, with a further 7 built in 1892. The last working example was withdrawn in 1936. One has been preserved and is on display at the Railway Museum at Preston, Lancashire.

The basis of this model was the LRM kit for the “Special Tank”.

'Samson' Class, "Engineer Lancaster" A 2-4-0 tender loco, designed by John Ramsbottom, this class of 90 locos was built between 1863 and 1879. Most were withdrawn by 1894, but a few lingered on in departmental use until 1925.

Built from the LRM kit.

'Special Tank' Class, No 3368. This is one of a class of 258 0-6-0 tank engines built between 1870 and 1880. The class became extinct in 1959.

Built from the LRM kit.

'Coal Engine' Class, No 713. One of a class of 0-6-0 tender locos built between 1873 and 1892. The class totalled 500 and became extinct in 1953.

Built from the LRM kit.

'4ft.6in. Tank' Class, No 2498. One of a class of 2-4-2 tank engines built between 1879 and 1889. There were 220 built and all were withdrawn by 1932.

Built from a Perseverance kit.

'Chopper Tank' Class, No 2234. These 2-4-0 tank locos were a cut down version of the 4ft. 6in. 2-4-2 tank class. (Hence, possibly, the nickname ‘Chopper’.) One worked on the Cromford and High Peak line until 1952.

Built from the LRM kit.

'Cauliflower' Class, No 1244. An example of a class of 0-6-0 tender engines, built between 1880 and 1902, which became extinct in 1955. A total of 310 were built.

The model was built from the GEM kit.

'Coal Tank' Class, No 2461. An 0-6-2 tank engine. A total of 300 were built between 1881 and 1901, the last being withdrawn in 1958. One example has been preserved.

Built from the K's kit.

'Large Jumbo' or 'Improved Precedent' Class, No 1666 "Ariadne". One of a class of 2-4-0 tender engines built between 1887 and 1901. The class totalled 166, all of which were withdrawn by 1934. One (the famous “Hardwicke”) has been preserved and is on display at the National Railway Museum at Shildon.

Built from the GEM kit.

'Small Jumbo' or 'Whitworth' Class, No 628 "Tartarus". A smaller wheeled version of the 'Large Jumbo' 2-4-0 tender locos, these 90 useful engines, built between 1889 and 1896, lasted until 1936.

Built from the LRM kit.

'Dreadnought' Class, No 2059 "Greyhound". This is one of a class of 40 three-cylinder compound 2-2-2-0 tender engines built between 1884 and 1888 and withdrawn by 1907.

Built from the Alan Gibson kit.

'Teutonic' Class. No 1309 "Adriatic". This is one of 10 three-cylinder compound 2-2-2-0 tender engines built in 1889 and 1890 and withdrawn by 1907. They were probably the most successful of Webb's three-cylinder compounds.

Built from the LRM kit and fitted with two motors.

'5ft.6in. Tank' Class, No 2263. One of a 100 strong class of 2-4-2 tank engines built between 1890 and 1897. The last of the class was withdrawn in 1955.

Built from the LRM kit.

'Greater Britain' Class, No 2054 "Queen Empress". This is one of a class of 10 three-cylinder compound 2-2-2-2 tender engines built between 1891 and 1894 and withdrawn by 1907.

Built from the LRM kit.

'John Hick' Class, No 1549 "John Rennie".  Similar to the ‘Greater Britain’ 2-2-2-2 three- cylinder compounds, but with smaller driving wheels, this class of 10 locos was built between 1894 and 1898 and withdrawn by 1912.

The basis of this model was the LRM kit for the 'Greater Britain'.

No 2524  This unique 0-8-0 goods tender engine was built in 1892. It was rebuilt in 1906 and again in 1925 and finally withdrawn in 1949. It is regarded as the great-grandfather of the 'Super D'.

The basis of this model was the Brassmasters kit for the ‘Super D’.

Class A, No 1867 One of a class of 111 0-8-0 three-cylinder compound goods engines built between 1893 and 1900. All were rebuilt as two-cylinder simples from 1906.The last of the rebuilt locos was withdrawn in 1962.

The basis of this kit is the LRM kit for the Class C 0-8-0.

Class B, No 859 One of a class of 170 0-8-0 four-cylinder compound goods engines built between 1901 and 1904. Many were rebuilt as two-cylinder simples between 1904 and 1946. The last member of the class was withdrawn in 1963.

The basis of this kit is the LRM kit for the Class C 0-8-0.

'Jubilee' Class, No 1903 "Iron Duke" This is an example of a class of 4-4-0 four-cylinder compound express engines built between 1897 and 1900. The class of 40 locos were rebuilt as two-cylinder simples between 1908 and 1923. The last of the class was withdrawn in 1931.

Built from the LRM kit.

'Bill Bailey' Class, No 1113. One of a class of 30 four-cylinder compound 4-6-0 tender locos built between 1903 and 1905. Intended as mixed traffic locomotives, they were probably the least successful of the Webb compounds. The nickname 'Bill Bailey' derives from a popular  music hall song of the period describing a character who would not come home. The last member of the class came home for good in 1921.

The basis of this model is the LRM kit for the Class C 0-8-0.

Note: LRM = London Road Models.

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