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The models featured
below were built quite a few years ago, in a scale of 10mm
: 1 foot , better
known as 1/32nd. scale, or Gauge 1. There were 4, Loco and Coach sets
built, 3 G.W.R and 1 B.R. Three were sold to collectors, and one I
retained for my own collection. Later, I
added a station platform and building to one side of the train. To see more of the train in a Railway Station
Diorama, go to
Wallingford Station Model.
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The
locomotive is a 1400 Class, or better known as a
14xx - G.W.R. Collet -
0-4-2 Auto Train Loco. These engines were originally built as 4800
Class tanks, introduced in 1932, and later re-classified as 1400
Class. The tank engine featured here is No, 1450, which was attached
to the Wallingford Branch in the late 30's.
The
carriage modeled here - No,194, was also attached to the Wallingford
Branch around that time, and was built at the Swindon works around
1930. It is identified as a Diagram A30, Lot 1480. The model has full
interior seat detail, with the fabric pattern simulating very close to
the pattern used on that trailer car. The interior walls are covered
with actual painted wood planks as was the original. The interior
lights work, as does the rear red lamp mounted below the centre window.
Under
normal Autotrain practice, the engine would pull the coach on it's first
journey, to it's destination. When the
train is ready to return, the back end of the coach, becomes the front of the train. Single
branch line operation like the Wallingford run, was a push-pull
system. On the return
journey, the fireman would stay in the locomotive at the rear, but the driver would
go to the back of the coach, and could actually operate the steam
regulator in the engine, from this position, on its return .
A series of square steel control rods, which run the full length of
the coach to the loco, enables the driver to do this.
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Two of my four locomotives,
before decals were applied. The first being in
the Great Western era, and the black for the B.R. era |
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See the train, in a
Railway Station Diorama, at Wallingford Station Model. |
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