indentThe lighting isn't ideal in this
photo but it is included to illustrate a point. If you want more coaches in a train
(which equals more shunting possibilities) you can go back to the days of shorter ones
like these here. There were many branches which re-arranged their stock of small
coaches for different services, so giving you more to do on the layout. (The
ex-Brecon & Merthyr Rhymney branch was even known for a guard who used to insist on
his engine crew rearranging his coaches during the turn round at the Rhymney [Pwll Uchaf]
terminus to present the most uniform rake possible! True, that line closed in 1926
but it proves there's nowt stranger than real railways if you do enough research!)
indentThe standard Ratio 4-wheelers
represented the last series of four-wheelers which were built by the GWR for branch
services in the first years of the 20th century. Earlier coaches were similar but
had smaller windows, larger panels between the compartments and, until the late 1880s,
single arc instead of tri-arc roofs. There were also an amazing number of different
6-wheeled coaches of similar dimensions, a very few of which also had clerestories but
normally only those with first class compartments. These were originally for
main-line use but became typical stock for the ex-Cambrian Railways in the 20s, although a
few were cascaded down to branch lines all over the Great Western system before being
scrapped. A supposedly typical "B-Set" on the other hand (the normal 30s
replacement) is a complete, permanently-coupled train with zero shunting
possibilities. They do however have the advantage that you can buy them straight off
the shelf, unlike a good range of 4/6-wheelers which the trade has so far omitted to
provide.
indentFor the really keen, this train consists of a 4-wheeled centre-brake 3rd, (an adaptation of the Ratio kit), a standard 5 compartment all-3rd, a standard 1st/3rd composite, (both detailed Ratios), a six-wheeled 5 compartment composite (consisting of a 3rd, 3rd[ex-2nd], 1st, 3rd[ex-2nd] and 3rd compartments (another complex adaptation of two ratio kits), a plain parcels van and a bogie 40' brake; (the former being a simple "cut and shut" Ratio conversion, the latter the old K's kit with new bogies), the sprung bogies of which gave the guard the best ride of anyone!
(All these models are of specific Diagram numbers but that's more than enough info for one page!) If you are really interested and also want details of some of the wagon stock seen in the previous photos, click here!Previous photograph in series | Back to "Upper Isis Room" entrance | Next photograph in series |