Swindonized by the GWR

Hi all,

Another project I have started recently - a TVR 0-6-2. Not so much a  build but finishing off what somebody else started and never got around  to finishing.

The 56xx 0-6-2T was not one of Collett's best designs, curve shy with  lots of derailments  until an articulating joint on the rods was  installed. The Welsh railway company ones in  contrast had no problems  negotiating sharp curves. The private  contractors used to build them  (Manning Warldle, Stephenson, Vulcan  Foundry among many others) knew a  thing about sharp curves from their narrow  gauge products.

Pictures below are of a 4mm scale ex-Taff Vale class A 0-6-2 (built by   Hawthorn Leslie, NBL and Vulcan Foundry between 1914 and 1921)   hand-built brass and white metal model that I am currently converting to   EM gauge. "Swindonized" by the GWR at various times after amalgmagtion  (the latest was in 1948, 26 years afterwards, so the basic design was  good). I take no credit for the body build, I am just fettling and  making  final adjustments (smoke box is a tad too high, no handrail  around the  boiler as yet, one of the tank filler covers needs  adjustment).  Many of these ex-Welsh company locomotives ran until  the  1950's, a few without boiler or firebox modification. Photographs of  a  "Class 56xx" with rectangular tanks and narrow cabs are not a 56xx. The   Welsh railway companies used them for both freight and passenger work.   Some were even fitted with autogear.

The chassis is currently OO gauge, and was intended to be used with  home-made hornblocks. You can see the compensation springs already in  place. I m leaning towards using the chassis from a 56xx I have going  spare, along with some EM gauge Ultrascale wheels, also going spare. The  cost of a wheelset, motor and gearbox is not insignificant, and I  already have a perfectly good chassis, wheels, motor/gearbox and a DCC  sound decoder in the Bachmann model. The brass body and chassis cost me  $25 Can (around £14.50), part of an estate sale.
 
Nigel









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Hi all,

Well, it does not fit. Either almost total destruction of the Bachmann  chassis or major changes to the base of the brass  body. Plan B it is.  Widen the chassis to EM gauge, fettle the hornblocks, new wheels and  motor/gearbox. At least I have some EM axles. Hey ho, donkey riding  time.

Nigel

Looking good Nigel,so nice to see a cousin of the"56XX" and a nice bit of factual info to boot.Watching with interest as I have similar chassis fitting problems with not one, but two Colletts of the 0-6-0 tender variety.I'm sure you will soon show this particular loco who's boss!
Cheers,
John.B.:thumbs