Ian@StEnochs
Western Thunderer
With the nights drawing in and the days getting colder it’s time to get my Winter modelling project under way. I always find that the months leading up to Christmas are my most productive. It may be the shorter days with less incentive to get outside or perhaps it’s just that it’s warm in my workshop!
To the project, an ’Auld Bogie’ or G&SWR 191 class 4-4-0. I have had one of these locos on my build list for a long time. My wife got me the wheels for Christmas about 12 years ago. It doesn’t look like there is going to be a kit on the market soon so it will need to be another scratchbuild. If truth be told I am much happier making my own anyway.
Firstly a bit of background history. Designed by James Stirling and built in 1873 at the Kilmarnock works of the Glasgow & South western Railway. These were the first 4-4-0s the Sou’West had and were quite big engines for the time. At the time of their building the Midland was constructing the Settle – Carlisle line over which would operate Glasgow – London expresses with the G&SWR handling the section North of Carlisle. Also the Glasgow Barrrhead and Kilmarnock line had just been finished, cutting the distance between Glasgow & Kilmarnock by 10 miles but at the expense of some very severe gradients. The engines as built have that distinctive ‘Stirling’ look as illustrated below.
My modelling period is 1900-1910 and by that time the engines were showing their age. Indeed 6 were withdrawn and the remaining 16 had been relegated to the duplicate ‘A’ list in 1897. However James Manson took the remainder in hand and did a modernising rebuild. The boilers were rebuilt internally but retaining the outer shell. The cab and chimney, of Manson pattern, gave a more modern look. However the old basic tenders were retained until some were replaced with 2nd hand ones from withdrawn Engines of Hugh Smellies design. This photo from a badly damaged original shows just what handsome locos they were.
Here is another showing the opposite side but taken a bit later when the tool boxes had been moved from the tender rear and replaced with the water bag ‘stools’
To the model. I always like to work from a GA drawing. Working in S7 permits one to just lift a size straight from the drawing without having to make compromises for the narrower gauge of fine standard 0. However for this engine I only have the original, as built, GA. I do have a drawing by Willie Stewart showing the rebuilds. Careful checking gives me enough confidence to use Willies drawing along with the GA. Incidentally Willie Stewart drew many of the locomotives of all 5 of the Scottish companies which has been a tremendous resource for modellers.
I have a basic set of specifications for all my locomotives. The locomotive should negotiate 6’6” curves, have all wheels sprung and if possible have inside motion. Current collection should be from as many wheels as possible and the loco should be able to pull a typical contemporary train.
I like the Canon motor and gearbox combination sold by Slaters as its final gear is quite small and relatively easy to conceal within the cab. By tilting the motor forward it will fit in the boiler with the gearbox in the ashpan.
It has been a wet day here so I have had a busy time cutting out some parts to make my own kit. Most of those shown in the picture below have been cut from nickel silver sheet, of various thicknesses with my trust piercing saw and a few blades! Where more than one piece is needed I solder sheets together and cut out together. For complex parts I have stuck copies of the drawing on with Uhu glue to save tedious marking out. It does take longer to saw but one can use a coarser blade and it is quicker than cutting each bit separately.
The Tender frames were not made today but were left over from a previous build which used the same tender.
Tomorrow I might just get the frames erected! I hope it stays wet, my wife is going out so there should be nothing to stop me.
To the project, an ’Auld Bogie’ or G&SWR 191 class 4-4-0. I have had one of these locos on my build list for a long time. My wife got me the wheels for Christmas about 12 years ago. It doesn’t look like there is going to be a kit on the market soon so it will need to be another scratchbuild. If truth be told I am much happier making my own anyway.
Firstly a bit of background history. Designed by James Stirling and built in 1873 at the Kilmarnock works of the Glasgow & South western Railway. These were the first 4-4-0s the Sou’West had and were quite big engines for the time. At the time of their building the Midland was constructing the Settle – Carlisle line over which would operate Glasgow – London expresses with the G&SWR handling the section North of Carlisle. Also the Glasgow Barrrhead and Kilmarnock line had just been finished, cutting the distance between Glasgow & Kilmarnock by 10 miles but at the expense of some very severe gradients. The engines as built have that distinctive ‘Stirling’ look as illustrated below.
My modelling period is 1900-1910 and by that time the engines were showing their age. Indeed 6 were withdrawn and the remaining 16 had been relegated to the duplicate ‘A’ list in 1897. However James Manson took the remainder in hand and did a modernising rebuild. The boilers were rebuilt internally but retaining the outer shell. The cab and chimney, of Manson pattern, gave a more modern look. However the old basic tenders were retained until some were replaced with 2nd hand ones from withdrawn Engines of Hugh Smellies design. This photo from a badly damaged original shows just what handsome locos they were.
Here is another showing the opposite side but taken a bit later when the tool boxes had been moved from the tender rear and replaced with the water bag ‘stools’
To the model. I always like to work from a GA drawing. Working in S7 permits one to just lift a size straight from the drawing without having to make compromises for the narrower gauge of fine standard 0. However for this engine I only have the original, as built, GA. I do have a drawing by Willie Stewart showing the rebuilds. Careful checking gives me enough confidence to use Willies drawing along with the GA. Incidentally Willie Stewart drew many of the locomotives of all 5 of the Scottish companies which has been a tremendous resource for modellers.
I have a basic set of specifications for all my locomotives. The locomotive should negotiate 6’6” curves, have all wheels sprung and if possible have inside motion. Current collection should be from as many wheels as possible and the loco should be able to pull a typical contemporary train.
I like the Canon motor and gearbox combination sold by Slaters as its final gear is quite small and relatively easy to conceal within the cab. By tilting the motor forward it will fit in the boiler with the gearbox in the ashpan.
It has been a wet day here so I have had a busy time cutting out some parts to make my own kit. Most of those shown in the picture below have been cut from nickel silver sheet, of various thicknesses with my trust piercing saw and a few blades! Where more than one piece is needed I solder sheets together and cut out together. For complex parts I have stuck copies of the drawing on with Uhu glue to save tedious marking out. It does take longer to saw but one can use a coarser blade and it is quicker than cutting each bit separately.
The Tender frames were not made today but were left over from a previous build which used the same tender.
Tomorrow I might just get the frames erected! I hope it stays wet, my wife is going out so there should be nothing to stop me.
Last edited: