As well as giving you the chance to vote for your favourite models and manufacturers of 2018, the categories also celebrate excellence and innovation in the wider British model railway scene such as websites, retailers and exhibitions.
There have of course been a number of excellent Southern / Southern Region related models released during 2018 so I urge you to support the production of these models by choosing your best in the relevant category and voting accordingly. These Southern models are as follows:
I am also very humbled to see that this little corner of the blogosphere of mine has once again been nominated in the British Model Railways Awards (it was voted 6th in last years awards) within the website of the year category, so and this is a bit of a, well a big, shameless plug, please feel free to vote for it, if you have enjoyed my ramblings over the last twelve months.
Also if like me you have received excellent service from a particular retailer such as Kernow Model Rail Centre please also vote accordingly.
This release follows on from a number of Southern locomotive produced by the ’00’ Works in the past such as: N15, 700, C, E4, I3 and 0415 Adams Radial classes (although of course some of these have now all been subsequently been announced or produced by the major manufacturers). The level of detail of these models has steadily improved over time, although is still not as high as we see from the likes of Hornby and Bachmann, or from if built carefully from kits. No other ready to run D15 exists although kits have been available in the past from BEC and PDK
No. 463 The 00 Works ex LSWR D15 class
Tony advised: Having just taken delivery of the new 00 Works D15 loco in Southern olive green, I am pleased to say that it was extremely well packed, has a lot of weight above the driving wheels and captures the essence of Drummond’s original locomotive. As with 00 Works’ previous Southern loco (the I3 tank) the model has some interior cab detail, and wire handrails, whilst the lined olive livery is very well executed, however, this is a “limited run” RTR loco and at £280 it is not cheap; on this basis there are a number of niggles, some of which could perhaps have easily been resolved.
A head of view by comparison with OO Works D15 left and kit built PDK version right The moulded coal in the bunker does not look good and is not easily removable, so it will need some real coal to cover it; if real coal is not supplied, then my personal preference would be for the tender to be modelled empty. A tension lock coupling was fitted to the front of the loco and this was easily removed, although no alternative was supplied. Although the coupling rods are blackened, the wheel rims are not and look too shiny, there is no rivet detail around the boiler (which is prominent on the prototype), and although the top and bottom lamp irons are fitted, the two central ones (which should be on either side of the smoke box) are not represented; finally, brake hangars and blocks are modelled but there is no brake rigging.
Tony continued; On my particular model, the fixed loco to tender coupling was holding the front tender wheels off the track – which was easily adjusted, whilst the red cabside oval plates did not have the loco number within them.
The understaide of the 00 Works D15 The model is fitted with a coreless motor which is new for 00 Works, and whilst it appears powerful it seems noisier than other recent release from the mainstream manufacturers, however, my biggest problem arose from the way in which the loco is wired. It has pickups on one side of the loco and on the opposite side of the tender only – so of 14 available wheels (including the front bogie) the loco only picks up from 5 – a single wire connects the loco and tender (see picture). I spoke to Roderick Bruce at 00 Works and he described the way in which the loco was wired as “the American standard”; he also pointed out that his previous tender locos have been wired the same way.
Tony’s PDK kit built version to allow a comparison
I have since remedied this by fitting additional pick-ups to the opposite side of the loco, however, the conversation did cause me to look at my other 00 Works locos and perhaps unsurprisingly, I had noted 3 of them as being “poor runners” that I had yet to attend to. I have since fitted additional pick-ups to each and this has resolved all of the running issues, however, this does make me wonder whether it is reasonable these days to provide so few pick-ups – particularly on a 4-4-0 loco! Once the wiring was remedied, I put the loco onto a test train consisting of 8 x Hornby Pullmans and it was able to pull away on the flat – albeit with some wheel-slip – and make good speed; once run in it may perhaps do better.
Overall I am now happy with the loco, but it needed some tweaking to get to this point. Given that there is no mainstream RTR model of the D15 available, the 00 Works model remains a good choice, because the kit-built option will cost at least double – unless you are going to build the kit yourself. Nevertheless I think it would be fair to say that there is “room for improvement”!
From my own view of the images Tony supplied and those I have seen elsewhere an area that has slightly let down the finish of the 00 Works releases in the past has been the highly visible carrier film to decals especially the numbers, although Tony’s example in SR Olive Greens looks OK I have seen that this issue still exists on their numbered releases, especially the lined BR versions.
Despite these small issues the model from 00 Works fills a niche gap in the RTR market and a with little additional detail makes a fine model. Thanks again for Tony for his pictures and comments on this model.
The ’00’ Works have produced a number of small batches of hand built Ready to Run locomotives including a variety of Southern classes, including most recently an ex London Brighton and South Coast Railway Marsh I3 4-4-2 Tanks. They also produced, before Hornby, a brass Devon Belle Observation car which graces Fisherton Sarum. The ’00’works have announced that they are to produce three versions of the ex London and South Western Drummond D14 4-4-0 express passenger locomotives.
The Image of the CAD drawing released by the 00 Works for their ex LSWR D15 4-4-0
BR Black Lined No 30465 (Small early crest with stove-pipe chimney)
SR Black Bulleid Black Sunshine lettering No 466 (Original chimney, no Snifting valves)
SR Olive Lined No 463 (Original chimney with Snifting valves)
The 00 Works advise that the The D-15 will have an all Metal cast body and fitted with a Coreless motor. The D-15 will also come fitted with slimline Bachmann/Hornby type couplings which can be unscrewed to replace if required.
My first D15 No. 466 built from a BEC Kit
As I explained in my Talking Stock#17 Post here Drummond was responsible for the introduction of 18 locomotive types including from the diminutive C14 class, 700’s, M7’s, a number of 4-4-0 classes including of course the renown T9 ‘Greyhounds’ class a small number of 4-6-0’s classes such as the T14’s and also a couple of railcars too. Over ten of these classes were long lived and survived well into British Railways ownership with the last of the D15 class not being withdrawn until 1956.
Also built from a BEC kit is my No. 467 in cleaner condition than 466
The D15’s were the final 10 Drummond 4-4-0’s introduced and were a version of the L12 class but with a longer boiler and firebox, with an overall 18″ longer wheelbase than the T9. The D15s performed exceptionally well and were put to work on the Bournemouth line where, apparently, many drivers preferred them to the less successful Drummond 4-6-0’s designs. They latterly saw extensive use on the Portsmouth line.
Past Southern locomotive produced by the ’00’ Works, some of which have since been produced or announced by the major manufacturers, has in addition to the I3 mentioned above, included: N15, 700, C, H, E4 and Adams Radial classes. The level of detail of these models has steadily improved over time, although is still not as high as we seem from the likes of Hornby or Bachmann, they have in the past filled gaps in the market and they should be applauded for taking on another LSWR / Southern prototype.
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 remained in this position with the LSWR until his death on 8 November 1912 aged 72.
During his time with the LSWR he was responsible for the introduction of 18 locomotive types including from the diminutive C14 class, 700’s, M7’s, a number of 4-4-0 classes including of course the renown T9 ‘Greyhounds’ class a small number of 4-6-0’s classes such as the T14’s and also a couple of railcars too. Over ten of these classes were long lived and survived well into British Railways ownership with the last of the D15 class not being withdrawn until 1956.
This post highlights some of the examples of Dougal Drummond’s 4-4-0’s that I have models of (some of his other classes will no doubt be the subject of future posts) and can sometimes be seen running on Fisherton Sarum. Many of these these examples have been kit built.
T9 Class no. 119 from the first batch built was used by both the LSWR, SR and BR(S) for royal train duties and post 1946 was the only member of the class to be painted in lined malachite green. This is a Hornby model.
Although not his first 4-4-0 design for the LSWR, that was the C8 class, his second is probably his most well known and much loved being the T9 class known as ‘greyhounds’. First introduced in 1899 the 66 strong class had a 10′ wheel base and a 7’4″ firebox (both 1ft longer than the C8) with 6’7″ driving wheels. once superheated during the 1920’s their performance was legendary.
T9 Class No. 729 from the second batch coupled to a 3500 gallon 6 wheel tender. Again this is a Hornby model but repainted.
The first twenty engines were built at Nine Elms between June 1899 and February 1900. At the same time thirty engines were built by Dubs & Co A further fifteen engines were built at Nine Elms between December 1900 and October 1901.
T9 Class no. 312 from the final batch, note the wider cab and splashers and no secondary splasher for the coupling rods. Built from a Wills white metal kit (although Hornby have also produced the wide cab variant.
This batch were identifiable by having wider cabs and splashers which enclosed the throw of the coupling rods unlike the earlier batches with narrow cabs and separate additional smaller splashers for the rods.
Whilst most people associate this class with the Drummond 4000 gallon inside bearing ‘watercart’ tenders a number were paired to 6 wheel 3500 gallon tenders and these weere swapped about during the lifetime of the class.
K10 Class No. 389 ‘Small Hopper’ with 3500 gallon 6 wheel tender. Built from a Sharp etched brass kit
In 1901/2 Drummond introduced the K10 class known as “Small Hoppers”, a class of 40 which shared the same cylinders, boiler and firebox as the earlier C8 class but with 5’7″ driving wheels for mixed traffic duties. Like the C8 class their steaming ability was not great so they generally were kept on secondary routes.
L11 Class No. 405 ‘ Large Hopper’ with a 4000 gallon inside frame ‘watercart’ bogie tender. Built from a Loddon Models etched brass kit
1903 saw the introduction of the ‘Large Hoppers’ officially the L11 class again of 40 locomotives, these were in effect the slightly larger brother of the K10 class, still with 5’7″ driving wheels but with the same longer wheel base and firebox of the T9 class. Like the K10 they were never superheated.
1903 also saw the introduction of the 10 locos of the S11 class essentially an adaptation of the T9, also superheated but with smaller 6′ drivers and larger 4’9″ boiler. This class was followed by the L12 class of 20 locos in 1904 that was a further adaption of S11 class with the larger boiler but higher pitched on the essentially same chassis as the T9. I am yet to add these classes to my fleet.
D15 Class No. 466. Built from a BEC white metal kit.
The final 10 Drummond 4-4-0’s introduced were the D15 class which was a verson of the L12 class but with a longer boiler and firebox, with an overall 18″ longer wheelbase than the T9.
D15 Class No. 467 also from a BEC kit and awaiting weathering
The D15s performed exceptionally well and were put to work on the Bournemouth line run where, apparently, many drivers preferred them to the less successful Drummond 4-6-0’s designs. They latterly saw extensive use on the Portsmouth line.
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The model railway world and mainly Southern Railway meanderings of Graham 'Muz' Muspratt
