Under Consideration

You’ll notice we have added a new section, summarising potential new classes which are ‘under consideration’.  This is not only to indicate our long-term thinking but more importantly, to bring considered new projects to the attention of those with extensive knowledge of proposed new builds.  Such expertise enhances the build and benefits everyone who wants accurate models. 

B17’s / Sandringham's / Footballers

B17’s or Sandringham's or 'Footballers' are a future build.  A total of 72 appeared between 1928 and 1937, built at Doncaster and Darlington as well as North British Locomotives Works.   Our current plan is to model each of the 72 individual Sandringham’s.  To reach our target 111, we will build two series of the 24 original and popular 'football club' names – the first series in LNER condition/livery and the second in British Railways condition/livery.  Each Football Club will appear twice in either LNER or BR.  We will probably follow a similar format for B17’s with regimental names, while consider increasing more popular football clubs such as Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United to reach our 111 target.  Even perhaps 'Newcastle United', rumoured to be named for a few days!  We will offer short tenders for GE section Sandringham’s as well as LNER standard tenders; together with other modifications, currently being researched.  But we will not build the streamlined versions or Thompson B2 rebuilds.  Works drawings are available at NRM so we can move quickly to develop our Sandringham build.  We are working on the list of 111 names and numbers.

Dukes / Bulldogs / Dukedogs

Turn-of-the-century GWR locomotives with outside frames, polished domes, detailed lining, etc. make attractive models and are a future build.  In addition, many of us have fond memories of Dukedogs in BR days.  So we thought, why not do what the Great Western Railway did and produce a series of classic 'relatively standardised' GWR/BR 4-4-0's, which mixed and matched over many years?  We are planning to build Dukes and Bulldogs; which inevitably leads to Dukedogs - important because interest in mid/late 1930’s GWR and early BR era is high.  However our GWR 4-4-0 build will be complicated - a statement of the obvious!  Decisions have to be made about how many of each Duke, Bulldog and Dukedog are built within our production run of 111 individual models, or perhaps we build the Dukes and Bulldogs; and extend to Dukedogs (similar to the Star : Saint/4-4-2 later build).  And then other GWR 4-4-0 classes become a realistic possibility……..  But we have started from basics and are considering which boiler types; boiler fittings, inside/outside frames, livery, periods, tender types and so on to consider as options.  And that is only the start.  We have an expert adviser already working on this complex build and expect to make further, more definitive announcements in due course.

British Railways Standard Class 5 4-6-0’s

Standard class 5’s are arguable the most attractive of British Railways standard designs and a future build.  But standard they were not!  Not only were class 5’s built with conventional and Caprotti valve gear but had no fewer than six BR tender types (although some were virtually identical in appearance).  There were similarities with early Britannias, with hollow driving wheel axles (soon changed and fluted coupling rods (again changed); LNER return crank changed to LMS, and so on.  Livery varied; as did the size of cab side number; whistles were repositioned; some (SR shedded) were named – indeed all BR regions saw class 5’s so they should have wide appeal.  But so much for a ‘standard’ design!  Yet we can use some fittings developed for the Britannia/Clan build, including some tender designs.  172 class 5’s were built but we will only build 111 – one each only of each number reserved.  No duplicates.  For this build when formally announced, simply enter the running number of the class 5 you require.  But before then, there is much to do researching the many options.  Incidentally this will be our first build with the majority not carrying nameplates.