Dapol announces a brand new OO Gauge 28xx / 2884 model range at CFoS 2023

Neil & Richard from Dapol with Mike Solloway and David Holmes representing The 2874 Trust

Morning all. I thought I'd bring you something a little bit different with this particular instalment, with "little" being the operative word. There is a bit of a clue in the opening photograph, and I am of course referring to the popular subject of model railways, which many of us are fortunate to have somewhere, whether that be in an attic, spare room, garage, outbuilding, or even under the bed. They offer endless hours of enjoyment, escapism, creativity, and plenty of nostalgia.

 

Model railway manufacturer Dapol attended this year's Cotswold Festival of Steam (CFoS) and launched their brand new model range of the 28xx / 2884 class steam locomotives for OO gauge. The Chirk based manufacturer is also working in conjunction with The 2874 Trust to produce an exclusive model of No. 2874. In addition, Dapol are to make a financial donation to the trust for each completed sale of the exclusive model. As many readers will be aware, the real locomotive is currently undergoing a complete restoration at Toddington by a dedicated group of the steam department's volunteers.

 

The announcement of this new model range follows the hugely successful 'Manor' project which included the production of 500 limited edition models of our very own 7820 Dinmore Manor. The sale of these models resulted in a significant donation by Dapol to Dinmore Manor Locomotive Limited (DMLL) and the GWSR. Further information can be found here. 

 

2874 on 10th May 1958 - Photo courtesy of The 2874 Trust

 

The Great Western Railway (GWR) 2800 Class of steam locomotives were designed by George Jackson Churchward who was Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the GWR between 1902 and 1922. The class were designed for heavy freight work and were the first locomotives in Great Britain to use the 2-8-0 wheel configuration. 84 examples were constructed at Swindon Works between 1903 and 1919 with the locomotives being assigned the 28XX number range (2800-2883). The prototype locomotive was outshopped from Swindon in June 1903 originally carrying the number 97, but it was later renumbered to 2800. The locomotive underwent two years of trials before construction of the production batch commenced in 1905. A modified version of the 2800 Class, known as the 2884 Class were built between 1938 and 1942.

 

2874 at Tyseley in 1931 - Photo courtesy of The 2874 Trust

 

Many of the class were still running into the 1960s hauling goods trains around the country right until the withdrawal of steam from the main line.

2874 was built at Swindon Works in 1918 as part of a batch of 28 locomotives to Lot 210, Diagram I and had Works Orders of 2762 – 2789 respectively. Construction was completed at the end of November and the recorded cost to build the locomotive was £4992. With the inclusion of the tender, this was £6193 (at today's prices this would represent £286,000 for the locomotive and £355,000 with the tender). 2874 was rated 8F with a tractive effort of 35,380 lbs and weighed out at 92 tons 12cwt with its tender.

The locomotive entered traffic on the 4th December 1918 and unfortunately this was too late to help with the major war effort. Its class colleagues provided valuable assistance to the Royal Navy in hauling coal from the Welsh coalfields to numerous ports in the Western Region (WR) and up into Lancashire for onward movement to Scapa Flow – the so-called “Jellicoe Specials”. 2874 was initially allocated to Old Oak Common where it worked coal trains between London and Wales. Later allocations included Reading, Leamington, Tyseley, Neath, Cardiff, Banbury, Stourbridge, Newport and Aberdare. The locomotive was condemned at Neath in May 1963 and sold to Woodham Brothers in Barry for scrap.

 

2874 with a mixed goods working - Photo courtesy of The 2874 Trust 

 

2874 remained at Barry for over 23 years until August 1987 when it was sold along with four other locomotives (3855, 4253, 5668 and 5967 Bickmarsh Hall) and moved to the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway. The locomotive was stored outside for 20 years before being purchased by the West Somerset Railway (WSR) in 2007. By 2014, its ownership had changed again as 2874 was purchased by Dinmore Manor Locomotive Limited (DMLL) and moved to its base at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. In 2016, ownership of the locomotive was transferred over to The 2874 Trust.

 

Thames Valley panorama with Up freight train approaching Pangbourne - Photo © Ben Brooksbank (cc-by-sa/2.0)

View northward, towards Didcot, Swindon - ex-GW Paddington - Reading - Swindon - Bristol etc. main line. The Class H freight is headed by Churchward '2800' class 2-8-0 No. 2883. The Thames is in the trees towards the right, Basildon is off to the left.

 

Please note that the following video dates from a couple of years ago, much more progress has been made since.

2874 a little more progress - Video © David Holmes

 

The following information regarding the announcement is courtesy of Dapol Model Railways.

 

OO Gauge 28xx / 2884 2-8-0

Dapol is delighted to be able to announce the launch of their brand new OO Gauge 28xx / 2884 model range. The model has been launched at the Cotswold Festival of Steam on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. We are excited to announce that as well as producing a range of general release models (that you can pre-order through your preferred Dapol Stockist) we will also be producing a Dapol exclusive model of 2874 with a financial donation being made to The 2874 Trust for each completed sale of this model.

2874 - Photo courtesy of The 2874 Trust

2874 Dapol Exclusive Model

Dapol in conjunction with The 2874 Trust are producing a model of 2874 which will be available exclusively through Dapol. At this time we are deposit free expressions of interest for DCC Ready, DCC Fitted and DCC Sound Fitted versions of this model. You can make your interest known by filling in the attached PDF from and either e-mailing it or posting it back to Dapol. We will contact you for payment when the models arrive. Dapol will make a financial contribution to The 2874 Trust for each completed order.

 

The model of 2874 will have the following characteristics: Great Western Railway Green, with "Great Western" lettered on the Churchward 3500 gallon tender, original style chimney and safety valve bonnet, port hole windows in the top of the spectacle plate and inside steam pipes.

To express your interest, please fill out the PDF form which is available to download from the Dapol website here.

You can return your expression of interest by post to: Sales Manager, Dapol Ltd, Gledrid Industrial Park, Wrexham, Chirk, LL14 5DG. or by e-mail to sales@dapol.co.uk. The title of your e-mail must be 2874 Expression Of Interest

GWR 2-8-0 2884 Class 3850 - Video ©  preservedrailway

 

28xx / 2884 Prototype

The GWR prototype 2-8-0 locomotive 2800 (originally No 97) was built in 1903 and underwent two years of trials before further production began which resulted in 84 of the class being built. The design was much in advance of its time and this class and the slightly modified 2884 class were built from 1938 until 1942. They remained the standard freight design on the GWR for the rest of the Company’s existence and were used on the heaviest freight trains.

 

Ben Brooksbank - A '2884' 2-8-0 fresh from repair, outside Swindon Works - CC BY-SA 2.0

Model Features

General Specification  

Many original GA drawings were used in the development of these accurate and authentic models.

Building on the many developments from the Dapol Mogul and Manor Class models including Dapol's award winning slide in PCB in the boiler for tool free DCC fitting and sugar cube speaker enclosure (for sound models) and conductive drawbar providing tender wheel pick-up and connections for high bass speaker.  

The locomotive will have all of the usual refinements that are expected to be found on all Dapol models including:

• A diecast compensated chassis
• Detailed cab interior
• The front pony truck is also sprung and operates on a cam so the model will negotiate R2 curves with ease
• Churchward top feed boiler  
• Original and later Boiler support/motion bracket
• Churchward vertical drop & curved drop Footplates
• Churchward (tapered) & Collet (Straight) sprung buffers
• Smoke boxes with inside or outside steam pipes GWR & BR smoke box doors (with separately added number plate)

2874 - Photo courtesy of The 2874 Trust

 

Technical Specification

• A slide in PCB offers simple ‘tool-free’ installation of a NEXT-18 DCC decoder and a ’no-solder’ speaker connection.
• This board slides through the smoke box door and connects directly to the locomotive mother board.
• The tender to locomotive drawbar includes reliable electrical connections moulded within the close-coupling push-fit coupling. This eliminates wired plugs and unreliable wiper style connections.
• The locomotive and tender have electrical pick-up on all driving and tender wheels  
• An optional base reflex speaker can be fitted into the tender.  
• Firebox glow (synchronised with sound*)
• Dapol’s proven slow speed mechanism and high torque motor
• Enhance your driving experience with our feature RealDrive*

* Factory fitted models only

 

GWR 2-8-0 2884 Class 3850 - Video ©  preservedrailway

 

Proposed Liveries

• 4S-009-008 - OO Gauge 28xx / 2884 2874 Great Western Green is exclusively available from Dapol, all other models are available to pre-order from your preferred Dapol stockist

• 4S-009-001 - OO Gauge 28xx / 2884 2831 Lined Great Western Green
• 4S-009-002 - OO Gauge 28xx / 2884 2804 Great Western Green
• 4S-009-003 - OO Gauge 28xx / 2884 2854 Great Western Green
• 4S-009-004 - OO Gauge 28xx / 2884 2884 Shirt Button Green
• 4S-009-005 - OO Gauge 28xx / 2884 3819 GWR Green
• 4S-009-006 - OO Gauge 28xx / 2884 3802 BR Early Emblem Black
• 4S-009-007 - OO Gauge 28xx / 2884  2851 BR Late Crest Black

Recommended Retail Price

• DCC Ready: £189.99
• DCC Fitted: £224.99
• DCC Sound: £299.99

Project Update

The Project is in the design phase at the moment. We will provide updates when they are available included the CAD images.  We anticipate the 28xx/2884 models will be in shops towards the end of 2024.

For further information and deatils, please visit the Dapol and The 2874 Trust websites. 

 

News from the footplate

 

Over the past year, great efforts have been made to try and increase the number of operational footplate crew, which gives the department a bit more flexibility and a small degree of relief for the roster clerks! The summer season is a particularly challenging time of year with the purple timetable in operation due to three crews being required for each day of running. We're delighted to report that Jonathan Windscheffel has now passed out as a driver. Well done Jonathan!

Jonathan Windscheffel (L) with Andy Meredith next to 35006 - Photo courtesy of Andy Meredith

 

GWRT £1.5m Stanway Viaduct Appeal

 

On a completely different subject, please consider donating to the GWRT's £1.5m appeal for Stanway Viaduct if you can.

Further information about the appeal can be found on the Stanway Viaduct Appeal page. See here for details.

 

 

Journey Through Steam Roadshow Valuation Day on track for 1st October

• Antiques Roadshow expert Paul Atterbury to attend special valuation event
• Visitors invited to bring Steam & Diesel era railwayana along to be valued
•  Special event organised by Broadway Museum & Art Gallery and the GWSR

Three valuers including the author, railway historian, and BBC Antiques Roadshow expert Paul Atterbury are all set to attend a special event to value railway memorabilia on Sunday 1st October 2023. The event, organised by Broadway Museum & Art Gallery, in partnership with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) and GW Railwayana Auctions (GWRA) is to take place at Lifford Hall, Lower Green, Broadway, WR12 7BU between 10am & 3pm.

Visitors are invited to bring steam and diesel era memorabilia along to be valued including railwayana such as: locomotive name and works plates, station totems and signage, signalling items, railway posters, paperwork and ephemera, plus any rolling stock or miniature railway related items.

As visitors to Broadway and the local area will know, the hugely popular ‘Journey Through Steam’ exhibition which has been extended until the 12th November 2023, resulted in Broadway Museum and the GWSR winning the 2023 ‘Heritage Railway Interpretation Award’ sponsored by Morton’s Media, publishers of Heritage Railway magazine. The award was presented at the Heritage Railway Association Awards ceremony in Birmingham, on Saturday 11th March 2023. 

If you’re a fan of all things antiques and collecting railwayana in particular, then this is an event not to be missed. For further details about the event, please visit https://www.gwsr.com/ or contact marketing@gwsr.com.

Important Note: New websites were launched in February for both the GWSR and the GWRT, thus any pre-existing bookmarks to the main blog page via the old GWSR website will no longer work. The new websites can be found by visiting https://www.gwsr.com/ (GWSR) and https://www.gwrt.org.uk/ (GWRT).

All of the departmental blogs can now be found on a new main blog page here: https://www.gwsr.com/knowledge/blogs

 

For those of you who use Facebook, here are a number of GWSR related groups which are worth following:

 

DMLL - Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd

CSPL - Cotswold Steam Preservation Limited (CSPL) 

2874 - The 2874 Trust

35006 - 35006 Group

76077 - Standard Locomotive 76077

CWR - Cotswold Wagon Restorations

CFOS - GWSR Cotswold Festival of Steam Gala Page

THL - The Honeybourne Line - a GWR mainline in the making

 

Until next time folks... there's much more on the way.

 

Alex (the sooty one!). 

 

All published photographs are my own unless otherwise stated/credited.

Off to the races... and beyond!

Under starters orders! 35006 & 7820 prepare to depart for the Cheltenham Festival - Photo courtesy of Ade Showell

 

Good afternoon one and all and I trust that you are keeping well and enjoying the Spring sunshine, long may it continue! Although saying that, I can see some clouds approaching, thus I've probably gone and jinxed it now! Perhaps I should telephone Michael Fish and ask if there's a hurricane on the way? Anyway, that's enough talk about the British weather.

 

Time certainly flies by (or should that be steams by) when you're having fun and the past few months have been very busy for the steam locomotive department, mind you, I'd be hard pushed to find a time when we're not busy with one thing or another. It was a case of 'all-hands on shed' to get things spick and span for the start of the 2023 season which fell on the first weekend in March. The final week before we started operating involved a fair amount of cleaning, tinkering, testing (not to be confused with playing!) and the mandatory boiler inspections and any outstanding steam tests/exams.

Storing our locomotives in a dry and covered steam shed has many benefits as I've mentioned before (most notably protecting the engines and us from the elements during the winter months!). However, one very minor issue in the grand scheme of things is that dust and detritus from the shed quickly builds up on the fleet over time, due to the ongoing maintenance and restoration projects. Therefore, it's very important that we try and stay on top of the cleaning activities.

 

7820 'Dinmore Manor' rests inside the DP shed - 28th February 2023

 

Cleaning a locomotive is very much a manual affair and unlike some depots and facilities on the mainline railway network, we do not have a flash wash plant at our disposal. Despite my best efforts, unfortunately the showers in our changing area wont quite fit a locomotive in (something to add to the agenda for the next management meeting I think!). I personally find cleaning rather therapeutic and on a glorious sunny day it's good to stand back and admire the fruits of your labour, and spot the bits that you've missed cleaning (as they tend to stand out somewhat). However, on a very wet and miserable day, your efforts almost seem pointless and pretty futile but we do try our best all the same. It all adds up.

 

To new volunteers in the department with no prior experience of steam locomotives, the prospect of cleaning a locomotive can be a little daunting, although in reality it's actually more straightforward than you initially might suspect. What I tend to say to new members is to think of it as a bit like washing your own car or bike for example - it's essentially the same sort of process but simply on a much larger scale. It's important to treat our locomotives with care and respect as one would with your own possessions. Our fleet of engines are the stars of the show for visitors so they need to look their best.  

 

David giving 35006 a polish - 28th February 2023

 

In terms of how we do cleaning, well, we use wash & wax for the locomotive paintwork (boiler barrel, roof, cab sides and tender), and kerosene to clean below the running plate (wheels, motion, locomotive frames, buffer beams). All the above is generally done in a wipe-on wipe-off approach to leave a good shine behind and to prevent streaking. Having a hosepipe handy with good water pressure on tap certainly helps with washing things down afterwards. It's important that any areas where crews will be walking or stepping on are made thoroughly dry at the end to minimise the risk of anyone slipping.

 

The running plates and smokebox area are cleaned with a damp rags or a towel and carefully dried off once complete - both areas are also painted, hence the care required. The running plates tend to need a lot of work due to the amount of dirt that accumulates over time and recently we have been using traffic film remover which helps cut through the really stubborn stuff. The brass-work, nameplates and numberplates are cleaned either using Brasso or Peak - I find the latter works better as Brasso has a tendency to leave white marks behind which has to be cleaned off. The footplate is also given a good sweep and the loco controls and pipework receives the same Brasso/Peak treatment where applicable.

 

A clean and tidy footplate on 35006 - Photo courtesy of Gwendolyne Wood

 

To give a really good shine, we apply coats of polish to the locomotive paintwork which really stands out in the sunshine.

 

Top Tip: Clean and re-oil the locomotive motion at the end after the engine has been disposed. Otherwise it's deja-vu!   

John giving 35006 a polish - 28th February 2023

 

To clean and polish a locomotive properly you really need a small team of people to help with each engine, and cleaning the fleet regularly helps with the workload. It's only when you get up close with these magnificent machines that you realise how much needs to be done. One day I felt a real sense of achievement when I'd cleaned the driver's side of 7820, only for it to dawn on me that I still had the fireman's side to do. There's a lot to be said for model railways! I say in jest!

Meanwhile, our friends from the diesel department and permanent way had been out and about on ballasting duties.

 

  

7820 being readied for her boiler inspection - Video courtesy of Mike Solloway - 2nd March 2023

 

With the home fleet being readied for service and inspections on Friday 3rd March, I thought I'd head down to assist as I usually do on a Friday. Unfortunately, I was in for an eventful morning and just getting down to Toddington turned out to be a rather challenging and nerve-wracking experience all in itself. As I was driving away from a roundabout on the A46 southbound I heard an almighty bang inside my car, followed by some serious resistance whenever I tried to accelerate, along with a rather uncomfortable droning noise - not particularly reassuring when you're travelling at around 50mph at the time on a dual-carriageway! With next to no power, my car quite evidently in 'limp mode' and sounding like a Flymo mower under the bonnet (I initially thought it was a car behind me with a dodgy exhaust), I managed to make it to shed!

 

Suffice to say, I didn't stay around long and after taking a few photographs below I decided to see if I could make it back home and to the local garage (sods law my MOT was due only a few days later). Trying to accelerate up a hill with next to nothing is not particularly pleasant. However, I survived the return journey and I'm still here to tell the tale as it were!    

Things are steaming up on shed! - 3rd March 2023

 

Chris Smith in charge of 7903 'Foremarke Hall' - 3rd March 2023

7903 'Foremarke Hall' - 3rd March 2023

 

I'm pleased to report that the home locomotive fleet passed their tests with flying colours and 7820 operated the first service trains on the 4th & 5th March. 35006 & 7903 spent the weekend out on test runs to ensure that all of the winter maintenance tasks had been successful. If only the same could be said of my car, which required a new turbo diverter valve amongst other things. So much for 'German Reliability' and all that - a penny-farthing would seem a more reliable option at this point! Onwards and upwards as they say and let us move on to something rather more exciting... horses!

 

Speaking of horses, the second week of the month saw the arrival of some visiting horsepower in the form of No. 75014.

BR Standard Class 4 4-6-0 No. 75014 'Braveheart' arrives at Toddington - Photo courtesy of GWSR

The third week in March heralded the return of the Cheltenham Festival between the 14th & 17th which is always a great event for both the railway and festival goers. We saw a lot of visitors and many happy smiling faces (even before the odd drink or several had been consumed!). Don't worry, we don't drink and drive as far as our steam locomotives are concerned, well, other than being under the influence of tea and the odd bacon roll anyway! Hmm I wish I hadn't just typed that as now I'm hankering for my fix of bacon. Sadly, I've just been down and checked the fridge and there's none.

 

7820 'Dinmore Manor' - Video courtesy of Kevin Jarvis

 

35006 & 7820 prepare to depart for the Cheltenham Festival - Photo courtesy of Dominic Roe

 

This year's Cheltenham Festival brought a little bit more attention to the GWSR as we were very fortunate to be visited by ITV Racing, along with Charlotte Hawkins and Mark Hayes. Quite a lot of work 'off camera' went into organising the visit.

 

Charlotte Hawkins & Mark Heyes - Photo courtesy of GWSR

 

All aboard P&O - Ed, Ade, Charlotte, Jamie & Gwendolyne - Photo courtesy of Jamie Christie

 

ITV Racing on the GWSR at the Cheltenham Festival - Video courtesy of ITV

 

Here's a selection of photographs taken by our resident photographer and The Cornishman editor, Jack Boskett.

 

35006 'P&O' powers out of Greet Tunnel heading south to Gotherington and Cheltenham Racecourse

 

Paul at the controls of 35006
 

Approaching Cheltenham Racecourse - A race between P&O and the helicopter?

 

More money in the meter, or should that be coal!
 

Bryony on firing duty aboard 7903 at Toddington

 

7820 en-route to Cheltenham Racecourse on Gold Cup day
 

7820 runs through Greet en-route to Cheltenham Racecourse on Gold Cup day

John with 7903 at Cheltenham Racecourse

7903 at Cheltenham Racecourse

 

7903 runs round the coaching stock at Cheltenham Racecourse

 

7903 passes the signal-box at Cheltenham Racecourse
 

A view of Cheltenham Racecourse taken from Cleeve Hill
 

The best view from high up in the air!

 

7903 works through Gotherington with a ECS move from Cheltenham Racecourse to Toddington
 

Rather full of happy racegoers!
  

You couldn't have asked for better weather!

 

As the light fades, the last 'At The Races' festival train heads out of Cheltenham Racecourse Station for Broadway on the 17th March 2023, with Modified Hall No. 7903 at the helm - Video courtesy of GWSR 

 

BR Standard Class 4 4-6-0 No. 75014 'Braveheart' being shunted in Toddington yard - Photo courtesy of Andrew Stratford.

 

With the Cheltenham Festival in full swing, work on-shed continued with getting 75014 together and ready to run. All visiting locomotives to the GWSR must have a fitness to run exam (FTR), a steam test, and be weighed before they can enter active service. On Thursday 16th March, test runs were carried out between Toddington and Winchcombe to ensure all was well. Ben and Tom from the Paignton & Dartmouth, along with John & Ben took charge of the fun filled activities.

 

 Look at those happy steamers! - Photo courtesy of Steve Parker

 

75014 sets off on a test run to Winchcombe - Video courtesy of Steve Parker

 

  

In restoration news, further progress had been made by mid-March on 3850 with both the tender and locomotive.

Tender brake hangers re-hung with tie-bars - Photo courtesy of Kenneth Sims

Tender rear buffer beam sanded and filled - Photo courtesy of Kenneth Sims

 

More black top coat applied - Photo courtesy of Kenneth Sims

 

The driver's side water valve was fitted - Photo courtesy of Kenneth Sims

 

Progress continued with the fitment of the axle-boxes - Photo courtesy of Mike Solloway

 

News from the footplate

 

In more recent department news we're delighted to report that Ed Brooks has now passed out as a driver. Well done Ed!

 

Right away driver! - Photo courtesy of Ed Brooks / Ray O'Hara

 

GWRT £1.5m Stanway Viaduct Appeal

 

On a completely different subject, please consider donating to the GWRT's £1.5m appeal for Stanway Viaduct if you can.

Further information about the appeal can be found on the Stanway Viaduct Appeal page. See here for details.

 

 

Important Note: New websites were launched in February for both the GWSR and the GWRT, thus any pre-existing bookmarks to the main blog page via the old GWSR website will no longer work. The new websites can be found by visiting https://www.gwsr.com/ (GWSR) and https://www.gwrt.org.uk/ (GWRT).

All of the departmental blogs can now be found on a new main blog page here: https://www.gwsr.com/knowledge/blogs

Until next time folks, there's another two months worth of stuff on the way so please stay tuned!

PS I'll leave you with the legendary Michael Fish - 15th October 1987 hurricane forecast

 

Alex (the sooty one!). 

 

All published photographs are my own unless otherwise stated/credited.