Talking Stock #23 Pull Push set 734 ex LSWR Emigrant Stock

The Southern Railway following on from its constituents made use of Pull Push sets across the network and this practice carried on well into British Railways Southern Region days. Other railways companies also made of such although they were often also known as autocoach, motor coach or push pull sets on these other railways. Originally many … Continue reading Talking Stock #23 Pull Push set 734 ex LSWR Emigrant Stock

Talking Stock #22 The Missing Mogul – the K class

With respect to the Southern Railway Mogul 2-6-0 locomotive fleet most people probably immediately think of the Maunsell Moguls,  the N/N1 and U/U1 classes. Their origins lead back to the SECR for the 5'6" driving wheeled N class followed by the later Southern built, also under the design auspices of Maunsell who was now CME of the Southern, the … Continue reading Talking Stock #22 The Missing Mogul – the K class

Talking Stock #21 – Bulleid’s Q1 ugly duckling or powerfully out of the ordinary?

During the second world war the need for a goods locomotive with wide route availability at a time of scarce raw materials and labour was to provide Bulleid with a challenge. He has already voiced his dislike of the Maunsell Q class 0-6-0 (appartently stating he would have cancelled the build if he had taken … Continue reading Talking Stock #21 – Bulleid’s Q1 ugly duckling or powerfully out of the ordinary?

Talking stock #20 The Devon Belle

The "Devon Belle" Pullman service between London Waterloo and Ilfracombe with a portion to Plymouth did not in reality last for long as named train services go. It was introduced by the Southern Railway on 20th June 1947 and lasted until September 1954. Usually the train was worked from London to Exeter with Merchant Navy class … Continue reading Talking stock #20 The Devon Belle

Talking Stock #19 The quiet but powerful Maunsell Z class tanks.

Firstly a quick Happy New Year to all the readers of this blog as this is the first post of 2013, I wish you all a peaceful and prosperous year ahead with hopefully plenty of time of modelling all things Southern! One of the regular sights on Fisherton Sarum is my Z class pushing loaded … Continue reading Talking Stock #19 The quiet but powerful Maunsell Z class tanks.

Talking Stock #18 Drummond’s T14 Class 4-6-0 he had to get one almost right…

I mentioned in my Talking Stock # 17 Drummond’s 4-4-0s more than just T9s!, that whilst Drummond had managed some successful 4-4-0 designs his various 4-6-0’s for the London South Western Railway (LSWR) were somewhat more variable in performance. This was quite worrying as increased passenger loading, the requirement for faster schedules and in general … Continue reading Talking Stock #18 Drummond’s T14 Class 4-6-0 he had to get one almost right…

Talking Stock #17 Drummond’s 4-4-0s more than just T9s!

Dugald Drummond joined the London and South Western Railway (LSWR) in 1895 as Locomotive Engineer, succeeding William Adams (see my Talking Stock # 14 post here) having previously worked for the  North British Railway, London Brighton & South Coast Railway and the Caledonian Railway. His title changed to Chief Mechanical Engineer in January 1905 and he … Continue reading Talking Stock #17 Drummond’s 4-4-0s more than just T9s!

Talking Stock #16 The S15 Goods Arthurs…

Like the Urie’s other successful 4-6-0 designs the H15 and N15 King Artur Class, for the latter see my Talking Stock #9 post here, his S15 class was built in batches both by the London and South Western Railway (LSWR) and also the Southern Railway. The first Twenty were built at Nine Elms in 1920. … Continue reading Talking Stock #16 The S15 Goods Arthurs…

Talking Stock #15 Maunsell 350HP diesel ‘trip’ locomotives

And now for for something slightly different... Along with the other railway companies at the time , the Southern Railway, during the 1930's, were also looking for the future of locomotive power. In 1937 Maunsell ordered three six coupled 350hp diesel electric locos, built by the SR at Ashford with English Electric power units, to compare against the … Continue reading Talking Stock #15 Maunsell 350HP diesel ‘trip’ locomotives

Talking Stock #14 The Adams family (William Adams of the LSWR that is!)

William Adams was the Locomotive Superintendent of the London South Western Railway between 1878 and his retirement due to ill health in 1895. He arrived having held similar positions on the North London Railway and the Great Eastern Railway at Stratford. On the LSWR he was responsible for the introduction of 524 locomotives across 16 classes ranging from diminutive … Continue reading Talking Stock #14 The Adams family (William Adams of the LSWR that is!)