It's been 18 years since I built a 7mm scale model Crewe Goods loco to run on my 'Alexandra Yard' set up , I'd quite forgotten where it had ended up until a phone call from Jim McGeown reminded me that he got it along with the layout. So recently the scratchbuilding bug bug bit again and this is the result......our Frankie's 1874 rebuild of same into a 2-4-0 saddletank. A bit of a rare bird as, to my knowledge, there are only 3 photographs of the loco in existence and none show the front end, so it's a bit of a 'flying by the seat of your pants' job. Also there is only a small drawing of it in Nock's 'Premier Line' book which is of limited help......so anyway here 'tis .....more scratch-bodging than scratch building.
On a historical note quite why they were rebuilt as such is an enigma as 30 were converted and most were scrapped by the mid-1880's the last ones hanging on 'til 1891. From what meagre information is available they were mostly used as station pilots , though in my case the model will be used for more general shunting on a mid-1880's Mk2 'Alex. Yard' .....something nice and gloomy
On a historical note quite why they were rebuilt as such is an enigma as 30 were converted and most were scrapped by the mid-1880's the last ones hanging on 'til 1891. From what meagre information is available they were mostly used as station pilots , though in my case the model will be used for more general shunting on a mid-1880's Mk2 'Alex. Yard' .....something nice and gloomy
but in hindsight 10mm scale does give you a bit more clearance twixt the outside frame inner and the crankpin end on the leading driving axle......on the real thing it was about an inch!! With the odd bit's of G1 etches I've got left and a bit more 'scratch-bodging' I suppose a G1 saddletank could be done......in 10mm though.......
