Special DX

A London and North Western Railway 'Special DX' tender engine built to P4 scale by Mike Edge (Judith Edge Kits) from a London Road kit and painted by Ian Rathbone.

The original DX dates from the 1850s and the LNWR went on to build large numbers of these basic but practical goods engines.  Many, including this one, were rebuilt in the 1880s with higher pressure boilers.  Some of these, known as 'Special DX' locomotives, were fitted with vacuum brake equipment to enable them to work passenger trains - continuous, automatic brakes became mandatory for passenger trains in 1889 although freight trains continued to rely on the locomotive and the guard's 'brake van' for stopping power.

3121 is seen here as it would have looked around 1905.

2-4-2 Passenger Tank

A London and North Western Railway 2-4-2 passenger tank engine built to P4 scale by Mike Edge (Judith Edge Kits) from an Iain Rice Perseverance kit and painted by Ian Rathbone.

The LNWR built 220 of these locomotives between 1879 and 1898 to work suburban and local passenger train services and many of them lasted well into the 20th century.

Bulldog "Blasius"

Part of the Club's 'Watermouth' fleet, this Great Western 'Bulldog' 4-4-0 was built to P4 scale from a Mitchell & Finney etched kit, with working inside motion and an RG4 drive.

The prototype was built in 1900 and survived until 1949, one of the last of the class to be withdrawn.

58xx

Showing what can be achieved using an Airfix plastic kit as a starting point, this handsome little locomotive, built by the late Pat English, has Ultrascale wheels to P4 (18.83mm track gauge) standard, extensive detailing and a high-quality paint finish.

The 58xx fleet was built in 1933 to replace ageing locomotives on the Great Western's many branch lines.  Unlike its sister fleet (48xx, later 14xx) these engines were not fitted with auto control equipment for operating push-pull trains.

K10

Part of the Club's Watermouth P4 fleet, this ex-LSWR K10 is an etched brass kit with an RG4 drive and painted in the olive green livery of the Southern Railway in the 1930s.

The London and South Western Railway built 40 K10s between 1900 and 1902 for mixed traffic (passenger or freight) work.  Smaller wheels than their T9 'Greyhound' express passenger sisters gave them lower power but higher tractive effort for low-speed slogging.

Slip coach

Another example of Pat English's modelling skills, this Great Western slip coach was built to P4 scale from scratch using Plasticard with whitemetal underframe details.

The Great Western Railway made extensive use of slip coaches, detached at speed from the rear of non-stop express trains and brought to a controlled stop by a 'slip guard' in the leading compartment.  The potential dangers of this operating practice are obvious (and would give today's railway safety officers the vapours) but the Great Western's slip coaches had a good safety record.  This particular vehicle dates from the 1908-20 period.

Foxcote Manor

Club member Ken Gordon-Head's 7" gauge live steam model of a Great Western 7800 class 4-6-0 locomotive

1500 Pannier Tank

A magnificent 7" gauge model of one of the Great Western's powerful 1500 class dock tank locomotives, built from scratch by Club member Ken Gordon-Head.

Clytemnestra

Peter Somers' model of a Manning-Wardle F Class 0-4-0ST to 7mm scale. It is based on a Slater’s kit with modification to the chassis, drive-train and with additions to the superstructure. It is not based on a specific prototype but is representative of the class, based on photographs.

The number plate was the first item purchased – at an exhibition – as it appealed to Peter because of his interest in Greek literature. He then looked around for a locomotive design that he thought would fit!

American narrow gauge

Peter Somers' freelance model of a narrow gauge Mallet style locomotive for On30. The chassis is a heavily modified Mantua HO Mallet chassis and the superstructure is based on a Backwoods Miniatures kit. The aim was to produce a locomotive model reminiscent of the Rayonier Mallet locomotives which were well known on the American narrow gauge systems.