A couple of months ago I ventured out for a weekend's research, visiting Didcot (for the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Great Western Society) and STEAM (20th anniversary of the closure of Swindon Works).
I returned with lots of photos, and I include below a few that are relevant to my layout (and a few that aren't, but seemed worth including anyway).
I haven't yet established when 4 or 6 wheel coaches were replaced by bogie coaches in my area, but this one is from the right period (about 1890) and the livery is right, as far as I can tell. I have a set of 4-wheel coaches, and a selection of Dean clerestory bogie coaches, waiting their turn in the construction queue. The locomotive is deliberately excluded - although it was also from the right period, it was an 0-4-0 dock shunter, not suitable for the planned layout, and the bunker capacity must have been tiny, it seemed to need refuelling rather too often to be effective.
Just visible in the background is part of 93 - the recently rebuilt steam railcar. Almost the right period for me, but unfortunately none ran in my area. The North Staffs Railway had three steam railcars which ran about half way along the line from Stoke to Market Drayton, but I don't think they ever actually appeared at Drayton.
An interior view - not actually the same coach, but it gives a general idea of the colour scheme and furniture in the compartments.
These are also rather attractive, but about 50 years too early for me. There would be a problem with the track too.
Replicas of broad gauge Firefly and a second class coach - originals built in the 1840s, replicas about 20 years ago.
I need a set of bogies like these for a Siphon F (I don't think it actually ran through my area, but it's just within my time period, and I have a part built kit).
I will use this as a justification for some of my less successful paint jobs! Definitely suitable for my layout - one of the ubiquitous Iron Minks.
Another one for the layout - a Y2 fruit van dating from about 1890, and there were many of these passing through on their way north from Worcester and back again. However, I'm not convinced by the brake gear - the DC variety shown here (short lever on the extreme right) wasn't introduced until 1904 or thereabouts, and I have photos from 1890 and 1923 both showing a more conventional lever system, with a somewhat shorter than normal lever positioned centrally.
Tankers like this ran through, carrying creosote from Manchester to the Sleeper Plant at Hayes.
Details of the interior of the verandah of a Toad (brake van for those who aren't familiar with the GWR terminology). The first of mine is about half-built at present, so this will provide an excuse to procrastinate further, as I work out how to reproduce the brake handle.
Unfortunately subsequent research suggests this is probably a bit too modern - benches would be of a rather heavier plain wooden style in my period, I think.
An interesting lineup - the HST on the right was a temporary visitor, receiving the name "Great Western Society" at a ceremony around midday. The only one I could justify is the Mogul (though not in that ROD khaki colour scheme), but following the realignment of the Ixion-Dapol partnership the production of Ixion's N gauge Mogul must be in doubt.
Another "must-have" for my layout - the Dean Goods locomotive. However, I think I would want a bit more elbow-grease on the boiler, at least in my era.
David
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