Our builders have promised a pre-production sample of this locomotive by January 2017 and we hope to have it on display at the Bristol Show. This is very exciting development as we have made great progress on this project in a very short time. Depending on the level of corrections required, we may be able to get the production completed in the first half of 2017. As soon as the model arrives we will ask our technical panel to assess and critique it as soon as possible so that we can get a rapid report back to the builder for any changes that may be required.
We are looking at the possibility of supplying the panniers with Superwheels. We estimate the cost is likely to be about £200 per locomotive. If we make them, production will be limited and once again – as with the’Castles’ – they will only be made in Scale7 as the machining time is quite long and they are difficult to make. Whether you opt for Superwheels or not, the level of detail on this locomotive will equal or surpass anything we have done before. So if you want the best Pannier available in 7mm scale, please get your orders in as soon as possible.
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The three 28XX/38XX pre-production samples are currently being assessed in detail by our technical experts. When this work is complete we will prepare a detailed report showing all the required production changes and send it to the builders. The main problem with this build is that it comprises three different types of 28XX: the original square drop footplate, the later curved footplate with locomotives with and without outside steam pipes, followed by the 2884/38XX type with the side window cab and other significant differences. So there are three locomotive types in a single build of 60 engines.
Our expectation was that the 28XX in both its forms would be by far the most popular type, but this has not been the situation with orders so far. It seems that most of our customers prefer the later side window cab 2884/38XX version. We did receive a couple of requests for the very early saturated steam boiler version, which had no top feed and a completely boiler different shape from the other engines, but for economic reasons we will not be offering that type.
We plan to offer both the early parallel and later cast iron taper chimneys on the 28XX and only the cast iron taper chimney on the 2884/38XX type side window cab locomotives. We still have to get the builder to get the taper cast iron chimney pattern absolutely correct!
As on the other GWR tender engines, customers will theoretically be able to have the choice of the four tender types: Churchward 3500 gallon, Collett 3500 gallon, Collet 4000 gallon0 or Hawksworth 4000 gallon tenders. However, we believe that most of the engines had the Churchward 3500 gallon tender for most, if not all, of their lives, although some may have had the Collet 3500 version. Some engines (in preservation at least) have used Collett 4000 gallon tenders, so if you want this combination we could offer it providing you order a locomotive well before the production is fixed.
Our current thoughts on 28XX/38XX 2-8-0 production are not yet fixed. It seems most likely that it will be come after the 47XX and ‘Grange’, probably arriving in late 2017.
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The ‘Hall’ pre-production sample has been assessed in detail by our technical experts and a detailed report showing all the required production changes has been prepared and sent to the builders. Last week we sent the sample back to the builders for modification in accordance with those changes Surprisingly, as on the ‘Grange’, we discovered there were many more changes needed than we expected. Following expert detailed technical advice we have also discovered that the 49XX, 59XX and 69XX ‘Halls’ (excluding the ‘Modified Halls’) had very significant changes, which are not easy to incorporate in a build of only 60 locomotives. We would therefore like to limit the build to fewer types, especially eliminating versions with difficult modifications. This would mean dropping the 69XX type on this build and limiting the range on offer in the 59XX range to engines up to 5920. For later engines we would propose that this could be a subject of another build in the future (admittedly it could be some time before these locomotives would become available). We will be contacting customers who have ordered later 59XX and 69XX locomotives to see if they would be prepared to consider other earlier locomotives before we make the final decision.
As on the ‘Grange’, a key area where we made a mistake was chimneys. There is the same complexity of three types, the ‘Hall’, the ‘Grange’ and the improved draught (ID) types. As ‘Grange’ and ‘Hall’ boilers were swapped around frequently, all of these chimneys appeared at some time on some ‘Hall’ locomotives. We will be contacting customers to confirm which of the three chimney types they require.
Customers will have the choice of the four tender types: Churchward 3500 gallon, Collett 3500 gallon, Collet 4000 gallon, or Hawksworth 4000 gallon tenders. If you have access to copies of the Book of the Halls’ Volumes 1, 2 and 3 (Ian Sixsmith - Irwell Press) you can see how the range of tenders were swapped around the various locomotives. Our tender availability gives you a wide choice of tender for this locomotive. This variety adds considerable interest to this locomotive and several customers have opted for two different types of tender for their ‘Hall’ locomotives.
Our current thoughts on ‘Hall’ production are not yet fixed. We could try to produce it at the same time as the ‘Grange’ (mid-2017) or leave it to join the 28XX/38XX production (late 2017). The matter is not yet decided.
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The pre-production sample has been assessed in detail by our panel of technical experts. As with the 47XX, a long and detailed report showing all the required production changes has been prepared and sent to the builders. Last week we sent the sample back to the builders for modification in accordance with those changes. Surprisingly we discovered there were many more changes than we expected including some items discovered as a result of the work proceeding on the 81st Locomotive, 6880 Betton Grange.
Unlike the other GWR locomotives in our current programme there were relatively few life-time modifications on the ‘Granges’, but a key area where we made a mistake was chimneys where there is an additional complexity of three types, the ‘Grange’, the ‘Hall’ and the improved draught (ID) types. We have decided not to produce the narrow chimney fitted initially to 6800 that was rapidly replaced by the first ‘Grange’ type chimney. We will be contacting customers to confirm which of the three chimney types they require. We will also alter the website choice on this matter.
Customers will still be able to have the choice of the four tender types: Churchward 3500 gallon, Collett 3500 gallon, Collet 4000 gallon, or Hawksworth 4000 gallon tenders. Yes it seems strange, but true, that up to four ‘Granges’ at some time or other ran with the Hawksworth 4000 gallon tender. If you have access to a copy of the Book of the Ganges (Ian Sixsmith - Irwell Press), there is a lovely picture of 6844 Penhydd Grange with a 4000 gallon Hawksworth tender pulling a passenger train. Our tender availability gives you a wide choice of tender for this locomotive. This variety adds considerable interest to this locomotive and the ‘Grange’ is perhaps the best candidate locomotive for customers to consider buying two tenders.
In terms of production we are exploring the best way to move forward. Current thoughts are being focused on possible simultaneous production with the 47XX. This would mean delivery mid-2017.
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