Hi All,

Just a really quick question re the Dapol B set coaches ....



I have this set, but am looking for something to haul them. I have seen a Standard 3MT in BR plain green livery with late emblem for sale.



Is this a loco that would form a train with these two coaches, or haul a mixed freight train, and run in the vaguely west country area ?

If anyone could please advise me before I buy it I would be very grateful, otherwise I will have to spend the money on cider 

Many thanks

Kevin

Aw, c'mon, Kevin.... that's a lovely looking locomotive - get 'em both! The cider first.... helps with the decision making. 

Edit: The problem could be the green livery which I grew up thinking is reserved for passenger services?

Hi George,

Hope all is well with you. Thank you for your reply   

I have been looking at some of Martins photos on Trepol Bay, and as you say, he seems to have green just for Passenger stock

I have seen this one on ebay, a Dapol 45xx.



Would this perhaps be better for the two coaches, and if the price is right get this black 3MT for freight on what will be a branch line   



I can always tap my mate for a few ciders 

Best wishes

Kevin

Those are both lovely locos too. I believe that the lined green was definitely passenger only (could be wrong) and lined black was mixed traffic. So I guess the you probably couldn't go wrong with the black one, though that lined green one is uber smart. 

Cheers George 

I will get the lined black which as you say can be used for a bit of everything, and the lined green, which does look fab, will be just for the coaches.

Thanks for your help 

All best wishes

Kevin

Hi Kevin
The 45xx does fit the B Set better but that Standard 2-6-2 does look really good in green I think.
The other really good fit for a maroon B Set is the Farish 64xx Pannier in lined green - just to tempt you a little more.
Cheers
Martin

As a rule of thumb for BR era steam locos:
BR lined green (or blue or maroon) = passenger engine
BR lined black = mixed traffic - secondary passenger trains and faster freights
BR unlined black = freight

However, there's nothing to stop the shed foreman allocating a lined green loco to a goods train if that's what's available to him. There's a nice thread on RMWeb showing ex LNER A4 locomotives on goods trains, including loose coupled coal trains with a max speed of 25mph!
https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/49822-a4-locos-on-freight-a-couple-of-photos/

Some of the high speed goods, including the likes of fish and fruit trains needed what would be considered express passenger engines to get the produce to market in good time. Similarly, milk vans and tanks would often be found in the hands of something faster and stronger than the humble goods engine.

Farish's 82020 would be fine with the B set - the real loco was allocated to Exmouth Junction. Wrexham, Shrewsbury and Machynlleth throughout its 11 years in service.

The 45xx would also work well with the B Set (as would a Pannier tank). All equally at home on freight or passenger trains.

Steven B

Hello Kevin

Providing you are modelling BR Western Region post 1956, don't worry too much about green and black.  The Western Region took advantage of its new freedom to paint lots of locomotives in lined green passenger livery.  Later on, some were in unlined green.  These engines could have been found on freight trains as well as passenger, particularly on branch lines.

The lined green passenger livery was pretty much that of the former GWR, hence the attraction!  However, the GWR used it sparingly - most of its locomotives were actually in unlined green.

The post 1956 freedoms were less obvious on the other Regions - on the ER/NER/ScR 'V2s' became green, as did the 'Schools' on the SR.  The LMR painted some of its 'Pacifics' maroon (there were two distinct lining styles!), but the ScR retained its allocation in lined green.

Best wishes

John

I would agree with the 45xx although, unless later motors were improved, slow running is difficult with the early models.
Also the 64xx pannier is a useful tip but I would add into the mix an Ivatt 2MT (Dapol) as many were based at Bristol, Barnstaple and other SW depots.
Lots of 3MTs were based at Bristol, Newton Abbot and Exmouth Junction and, of course, Sonics 56xx is also available in green
Oh, such choice!

Here's Farish's 82020 on a freight train:
http://www.82045.org.uk/82045_about.html

Steven B

I have a 3MT in lined green at it looks fab hauling my B Set. As others have said you could run any of those locos without resorting to Rule one.

Hi All,

Many thanks for all your replies, they have been really useful  , and I have also been looking at other peoples layouts to see what locos and rakes look good on a branch line.

This is the plan at the moment.

I am not buying anything now for the next case layout, which will be a harbour scene.

I am at a stage now where the properties I let out have got lovely tenants in, who pay their rent on time, and the problems I had before are all sorted. I can now concentrate on my house, and get all the things I have had to put off done,

I know if I start a new layout now, the decorating will never get done 

That is why I am looking at buying stuff for an eventual BIG layout, and while decorating, thinking about, and incorporating ideas for where it will go 

The general idea is that it will essentially be two layouts in one. A double loop round the edge, where I can run bigger trains, and specials. I have been slowly buying for this, and have a flying scotsman I can run with a rake of either pullman coaches or maroon coaches, and a mallard with a rake of blood and custard.

Inside will be a branch line I am buying for now, so thank you for your help with what to run here.

I have a mini warship, a green lined 64xx with a maroon autocoach, and a maroon B set which brings us back to the point 

I have just gone and bought the 2 3MTs, one in green and one in lined black (who needs money for food and heating .... what a waste ) and there is a 45xx on ebay that looks good, and I will be bidding on 

I have also been looking at the Ivatt (thanks Mick)

Once again thanks for all your help

All best wishes

Kevin

Hi All,

I was not sure weather to put this on the new purchases thread, but for continuity it is here 



This is the first of my duo (or trio if I am optimistic about winning the 45XX on ebay)

I have tried running it up and down a length of flextrack, and it seems to run very smoothly, and very quiet as well 

If the weather is OK this Saturday I will be taking Windmill Hill and the Christmas Cracker on an outing (will tell more if it happens  ) so they are coming out of their cases for a tidy up and track clean on Friday.

Even though the loco won't run round Windmill Hill I will take some scenic photos of it on the track and put them up on the Windmill Hill thread.

The green one I have reserved for me, as where I am getting it from only has one, and as the shop only opens Saturdays to pay for it I will have to wait till next week before I can show you that with the coaches

All best wishes

Kevin

The weathering does look better than earlier Farish offerings, and the loco just looks a bit unloved.
Nice.

Cheers Mick,

I agree with that on the weathering

I am pleased with how it looks, and leaves scope for adding a few runs and streaks from pipes and valves if more weathering is needed after looking at pictures to see what sort of wagon rakes would be hauled.

I have a selection of goods wagons I have accumulated, and a couple of GWR grey "Toad" brake vans, but would one of these brake vans be better ?







All best wishes

Kevin