Announced as part of their range for 2016 this time last year the SR cattle trucks (technically correctly termed as being trucks being a sub set of wagons) have arrived in the last week or so from Hornby and certainly raises the bar again for rolling stock.
Hornby have produced two different diagrams of SR truck. The first is a Maunsell version to Diagram 1529. Introduced in 1930 a total of 299 cattle trucks to this diagram were built to essentially the same design as the the previous SR built trucks (Diagram 1515) except being on a steel on a 10’6″ rather than wood underframe, that were themselves derived from an existing pre-groupling ex SECR design. The final batch of 100 cattle trucks to this Diagram were introduced in 1939.
The two versions of the Diagram 1529 cattle truck released by Hornby, both in BR livery, are as follows: R6737, with running number S53732 and R6737A, with running number S53691.
The second is the later Bulleid version introduced in 1947 to diagram 1530. These trucks differed in construction with the end planks being replaced by plywood, reinforced on the inside by metal (I believe, in typical SR not throwing anything away style, from the metal left over when Bulleid carriage windows were stamped out from the sides).
The roof boards were also aluminum sheets rather than wooden. Finally the brake gear was modified to give compensated and equalised brake forces on all brake blocks and also the handbrake was lever moved to the end of the wagon to assist when shunting as it meant the lever was less likely to get covered in deposits from the wagon inhabitants, I will leave you to guess what I mean. Although due to their introduction date the SR livery would be thought of as being very short lived the fact that such trucks would not be repainted often they survived in this livery for a number of years, sometimes with just the SR on the sides and the ‘R’ of the ‘SR’ on the ends being removed.
The two versions released by Hornby, of the Diagram 1530 cattle truck both in SR small lettered livery, are as follows: R6735 with running number 52478 and R6735A with running number 52503.
I will pretty much let the pictures on this post do the talking as Hornby have captured these cattle trucks exceptionally well and I know they have been ably assisted by friend and Southern Coaching and Wagon stock guru Mike King. Hornby’s attention to detail shines through including all the, sometimes subtle, differences between the two Diagrams such as: body ends, brake gear, brake handles, vacuum pipes, roof construction, tie bars (Diagram 1529 only) even down to the correct split spoked wheels (a first for Hornby I believe) on the Diagram 1529 and disc wheels on the Diagram 1530 trucks. My only one question is the colour of the floor and curb rail on the SR version as this appears to be bauxite in colour, perhaps they are trying to represent varnished wood but either way I do not think this is correct (I will be touching mine up with SR brown prior to weathering).
Many have commented that the livery choice of BR livery for both the Maunsell Diagram 1529 trucks and the short lived Southern livery for both the Bulleid Diagram 1530 wagons was perhaps a little odd and it would have made more sense to either do one livery version of each or the Maunsell version being the SR livery version (with either pre or post 1936 styles possible i.e. large SR lettering or small SR lettering).
Although I agree that perhaps this would have been preferable, I can also understand that the way things are manufactured these days it puts possible constraints on multiple livery variations for one given manufacturing run bar a simple change of number. I am sure that other livery variations will be announced in due course, even though I intend to back date to SR liveries, a mix of large and small lettered style, my Diagram 1529 trucks.
Overall Hornby should be commended for these two cattle trucks. I am sure many, not just those modelling the SR or BR(s), will be adding a few to their fleets.
Well done Hornby – these are indeed excellent models!
I wonder now many younger modellers would be stumped by these appearing in the catalogue. It reminds me of my advising the operator of a very pleasant little layout at local exhibition that he had forgotten to add the brake van on the tail of a goods train to be asked with a most puzzled look, ‘what’s a brake van’?
JC
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Reblogged this on sed30's Blog and commented:
A model I would like in 3mm
I have one of these in maunsall livery but will be changing the “SR” to large letters. I can’t find a photo of one with the small letters
If you have one of the Diagram 1530 Bulleid version is small letter SR then this type never carried the large SR style livery as this was changed in 1936 to the small letter style. If you are reprinting one of the Diagram 1529 from BR Bauxite to SR brown then you can use either large (pre 1936) or small post 1936 depending on which number you choose as some were also built after 1936.
Another present to us SR modellers from Hornby. I’ll be getting a couple and it should be noted that by the 1950s it’s likely they ran more often as ventilated vans rather then carrying their original cargo
” the correct split spoked wheels (a first for Hornby I believe) on the Diagram 1529 and disc wheels on the Diagram 1530 trucks”
Strangely enough, the new versions seem to show split-spoked wheels on Diagram 1530 and disc wheels on Diagram 1529:
https://www.hornby.com/uk-en/catalogsearch/result/?q=cattle+wagon
The Hornby website has got its Diagram numbers transposed again
I notice that the BR liveried Bullied cattle trucks are numbered with a B prefix. I presume that these were build after nationalization. I assume that the SR build wagons were numbered with an S prefix to their SR numbers. Does anyone have confirmation on this?
I understand that
The Hornby Bulleid cattle wagons in BR bauxite represent one of 150 Diagram 1530 vehicles ordered on 1 August 1947 under order No.A(Ashford)3446. They were allocated SR numbers (52001-150) but, as they were delivered between October and December 1949, they were outshopped with the BR numbers B891250-399. I can confirm for sure when I return home in the middle of next week
Hi Graham,
Do you know when in 1947 the Diagram 1530 cattle trucks started to appear? I ask as my layout is set in 1947 and I’m wondering when the in the year I can justify running them!
Hi Ben
The first batch were constructed in October 1947. I hope this helps.
Thanks very much for letting me know Graham, that’s very useful. They really did come late in the day for Southern running – do you know the number series of the first batch by any chance? I
Hi Ben
Batches as follows:
Oct – Nov 1947 numbers 52418-518
Nov -Dec 1947 numbers 52268 – 417
And just for completeness:
Oct – Dec 1949 numbers B891250 -399
HTH
That’s brilliant, thanks so much Graham – I think I’ll renumber to one of the very first and it can make some cameo appearances towards the end of the year to showcase the latest in Southern modernity!
Hello Graham, apologies for digging up an old thread, but from my half-trained eye the BR diag. 1529 wagons look like they could be back-dated to SR with little more than a change of the running number. Would this be correct?
Hi Nigel
The first release of the wagons for the Diagram 1529 was in BR livery with the Diagram 1530 in late SR livery. They have since released the Dia 1529 in SR livery (ie SR Goods dark brown, not BR Buaxite, with full SR lettering and number.) If you do have one of the BR livery versions there is no reason why you can not repaint into SR Goods Brown and re-letter
Many thanks Graham. It seems, as with so many things pre-war SR, that stocks of the diagram 1529 in SR livery are like hens’ teeth. The BR version, on the other hand, is plentiful. Unfortunately, diag. 1530 is too late for my needs.