SECOND HAND / REPAIRED OO GAUGE MODELS #2 - GWR PANNIER TANK No.5764

OO Gauge 

Manufacture - Mainline Railways

Cat No 37084

57XX Pannier Tank Locomotive

GWR Green/Gold No. 5764

This model represents probably my earliest memory of owning a OO Gauge 'toy' model train, it was probably a Hornby or even Airfix model back in the 1970s (yes I am old), although this is a much more recent acquisition and doesn't have the smoke effect it still a very well made model for it's age, and I'm pleased to have picked one up. 

Especially pleased that it only cost us about twenty quid, which for a boxed item and one in such lovely condition seemed a quality purchase, will be used with some of my wagons as well as the auto coach or B-set that I have in Choc Cream GWR styling too. 

Nice and easy one to take apart, removing the screws to release the chassis from the body, tidy, just probably a lack of run and been in storage for some time. Didn't show us anything to begin with but after it was removed, cleaned and some light 'sewing' machine oil applied, as I do regularly with other models, also checking all the leads are intact too. All back together and checking for signs of life. 

Excellent result as we soon found it responding, leaving it on a rolling road to run gentle for about twenty mins at a very low speed. Like it so much I am looking at getting another one and having it renumbered, although also seen that Bachmann produce the London Transport livery which might be interesting to us.

GWR Pannier Tank History

5764 was built in 1929 at Swindon at a cost of £2,651. It spent its entire service under BR ownership based at Old Oak Common. 5764 was sold to London Transport (LT) in 1960 and renumbered L95. By the time it was withdrawn from service it had completed 668,771 miles.

It was sold to Severn Valley Railway in 1971, and was operational less than a month after last being used on LT. Along with many other locomotives 5764 has appeared in films and television dramas. This engine appeared in the BBC production of the Charles Dickens winter tale in 1976. It was last entered service in 2010, the boiler certificate expired December 2020, and it is currently in store at Kidderminster awaiting overhaul.

CLASS 3F [0-6-0] (4mm) OO GAUGE - KIT [CRAFTSMAN MODELS]

"OO" GAUGE CLASS 3F 
CRAFTSMAN MODELS KIT 

0-6-0T LMS Black Livery No.7312

Long before my Dad started building wonderful O Gauge model kits he started out by putting together a few OO Gauge items too. This would have been one of his very early kits, an LMS tank engine from Craftsman Models. I cannot find these available now other than a handful of accessories on eBay while Hatton's have a few OO Gauge models / spares but nothing 'new' as such. Further research suggests that the company changed hands towards the end of 2015 and was run down ceasing new business about a year later. I believe this model would have been from the mid 1990s once I had left home and Dad claimed my room as his modelling den instead. Also interesting to see the range of LMS, Southern, LSWR locomotives and rolling stock that he had spent time building because as time went on his focus certainly shifted to the LNER. 

A bit of wear and tear on the original box, not bad given it's at least 30+ years old so that's not too bad really. I dearly wish I had more information about this and what chassis Dad used etc. But all that knowledge was sadly lost when he passed away. At least with the many models he created, some good, some less so, as well as many outstanding especially when he moved into O Gauge, I have a pleasing reminder of him and the quality work he put into every item big or small. 

Given it's lack of running and had probably been stored in it's box for a good number of years was pleased that it immediately came back to life on our small test track. Running nicely at low speed too and having been given a good clean up as well as some much needed tlc and lubrication this will give someone plenty of enjoyment as it's passed on. Really pleased with the outcome after such a long period of inactivity. 

LMS CLASS 3F BACKGROUND

The London, Midland and Scottish Railway Fowler 3F is a tank engine which was built between 1924-1931 in considerably large numbers. The "Jinty" is considered to be one of the most popular, recognizable, and reliable types of tank engines built in Britain. Many were purchased by the London, Midland, and Scottish Railway, (LNER) and were soon reclassified, renumbered, and soon withdrawn in the late 1950's by British Railways (BR). The first of the Fowler 3F tanks were scrapped in 1959; the last were withdrawn in 1967 after a 40+ year career.

In Preservation
Thanks to their large numbers, renowned performance and late withdrawals, nine of these engines have been preserved, along with a spare set of frames and a boiler (from 47564). Many were restored within a few years of leaving the scrap heap, and most have a further working life ahead of them. All have steamed in preservation, with the exception of 47445.

One member of the class has operated on the main line in preservation. This was 7298/47298, which took part during the Rainhill celebrations in 1980 when it hauled a number of Steamport residents from the museum in Southport to Rainhill and also took part in the cavalcade. Owned by Ian Riley, in February 2017 it was undergoing its 'ten-yearly overhaul' and was expected to return to operation "in a couple of years".

Locations and condition are shown below
(current numbers shown in bold);

OO GAUGE P CLASS [0-6-0] - KIT BUILT LOCO AND PUSH PULL COACH

OO GAUGE KIT BUILT "P" CLASS
Southern Railway Livery   No.1556 [0-6-0]
Pictured here with it's accompanied Southern Region liveried 'Push Pull' Coach, it's an ex SECR (South Eastern and Chatham Railway) and both were built from kits by my late father Geoffrey Tyler. Research suggests this locomotive would have most likely been a 'Wills Finecast' white metal kit, I am not so clear on the coach but another example of a white metal kit painted and detailed to a high standard given these would have been early attempts by him at kit/scratch modelling in OO long before he moved onto O Gauge efforts for which he built many outstanding locomotives.

Model is a white metal kit which I believe was one from the Wills Finecast range, has been on display in a glass cabinet together with it's accompanied coach for around twenty years alongside with other models created by my late father. .

Conceptually, the P class locos were intended for working motor (pull-push in Southern parlance) trains. In practice though, they were found to be a little under-powered, and by the late 1920s the whole class was relegated to shunting work in locations where their small dimensions were found to be an essential asset. However, they remained fully equipped as passenger locos throughout their lives (although they lost their passenger livery after 1936) and did occasionally work passenger trains.  

The 'real' locomotive that Dad based his kit on is owned by the Kent and East Sussex Railway and is at present stored requiring a major boiler overhaul. The locomotive was withdrawn from service in 2010 when the boiler certificate expired. Its overhaul was suspended in 2017 and the locomotive was temporarily re-wheeled and moved to their carriage shed for storage. Our version of this P Class has been tested and still runs nicely which given it had been on display and not run for so many years was a pleasant surprise.

It's accompanied coach is in wonderful condition for it's age and goes extremely well with the loco. 

Although the roof to the coach is not as secure as I would like it's probably the 'glue' that has expired over the decades and will see about getting it fixed. No damage here does also give you access to the interior if you like to add passengers to enhance the realism. Pictured the underside which shows it's a kit and although looks basic there it's not as though you going to see it!! Everywhere else looks superb in my opinion.

P Class locomotive background

The South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SECR) P Class is a class of 0-6-0T steam locomotive designed by Harry Wainwright.  They were inspired by, and loosely based on, the more successful LB&SCR A1 Class "Terriers" and eight were built in 1909 and 1910.  All eight locomotives passed into Southern Railway ownership at The Grouping in 1923, and into British Railways ownership at Nationalisation in 1948. Withdrawals took place between 1955 and 1961.