typical UK shunting engine for a 30ies layout

[msr]

No-one has yet mentioned the Gronks: Class 08 in modern parlance. The black version by Farish takes you back to the 1950s, e.g. 371-020a. However, with a Parwood body, the predecessors from the Big Four can be resurrected, which takes you back to the 1930s. Search for woodpark88 on ebay.co.uk

[msr]

Here's some of my own fleet from the 1930s to 1950s:

[AlexanderJesse]

As Rails of Sheffield have some Terriers and Panniers on Preorder... how are the experiences with them as preOrder dealer?

And what do you think about these 3 candidates? I choose them for their looks rather than preferred region 
TERRIER A1 GIPSYHILL 643 MARSH UMBER BROWN

PANNIER 6752 GWR GREEN LETTERED GWR LATER CAB

PANNIER EX 5775 GNSR LINED EARLY CAB

[Newportnobby]

As Rails of Sheffield have some Terriers and Panniers on Preorder... how are the experiences with them as preOrder dealer?

Rails have been my 'go to' dealer since the demise of The Signal Box and are very good for me, especially as I've trained my relatives to get me vouchers for birthdays and Christmas

[emjaybee]

Here's some of my own fleet from the 1930s to 1950s:

@msr I'm very interested in the two LMS shunters that you have. I'm guessing they been made rather than bought. Specifically No. 1831 and the grey No. 1832.

Are they from resin/3d prints, and what chassis do they use? Any info would be much appreciated.

Cheers.

[Dorsetmike]

Here's a link to Parkwood on Ebay, they have quite a few shunter bodies, including LMS, GWR, LNER & Maunsell 350HP, LMS 10000/1, Metropolitan and LT electric locos, also brake tenders.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/m.html?_odkw=&_ssn=woodpark88&item=174325905840&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2046732.m570.l1311&_nkw=parkwood&_sacat=0

[Bad Raven]

Having built and exhibited a DC shunting layout (Cromford Wharf and Sheep Pasture Incline Bottom), its perfectly possible to achieve good reliable operation with a little care, "even with" the std couplings.

There's been (rightly) adverse comment on the Lima 4F , but the other two you list originally are also far from good locos, the early Grafar Prairie through an over rigid chassis and long wheelbase, and the best thing that can be said about the early so called "standard" 2-6-4T was that its blue lining was as unacceptable as its performance! You have three pieces of history there, but time has not been kind to them, move on.

Can't comment on small DAPOL locos other than limited personal experience, have two, both require more effort to keep running well than any other make of the same age.

In my case I anglicised two Fleichmann locos, an 0-4-0T to a Midland 1F lookalike, and a short wheelbase 2-6-0T modded to 0-6-0T and largely rebodied as an ex-LNWR "Chopper". Both these chassis have a degree of compensation as the pickups provide "springing". Both are nothing short of superb runners.

Things I learned along the way:-

1. Track is not to be trusted as supplied, Prove all connections are low resistance, PROVE its flat, PROVE the gauge is correct and consistent.

2. Locos and rolling stock are not to be trusted as supplied. PROVE the back to back is correct. PROVE that all wheels are aligned. PROVE if there is compensation that it gives a good even pressure rail connection at all wheels. If there is no compensation, do all the wheels contact track evenly?

3. Do not rely on rolling stock manufacturers to always achieve the right rest height of couplings or degree of movement allowed. CHECK AND CORRECT.

4. Clean track with a fully evaporating cleaning fluid AND check wheels are clean before every use. I have seen people clean the track and locos, yet the wagon/carriage wheels are caked thick with attached dirt ready to instantly defeat their effort!

Yes, its a pain if you let it be, but if you are not prepared to put in the effort, N gauge (and especially small steam loco shunting) is NOT for you. The satisfaction when it all works is really good though.

Good Luck!

[msr]

In answer to @emjaybee, I actually did very little to these two locos to get them to their present state, and both were bought essentially ready to run other than modifications described below.

1831 is the Fleischmann 7306, a red electric loco with the pantograph removed and the sunshades over the cab windows and the roof overhanging the ends shaved off. There is also a green one with the same catalogue number but seems otherwise to be the same. I painted the wheel spokes black and the body nearly black (Phoenix Precision Dirty Black P981). I added some bits from the scrap box to simulate the roof gubbins (probably from an other electric loco), a vacuum brake pipe and oil lamp. The buffer beam were painted red and the buffers picked out in silver.

1832 is essentially the orignal loco with some decals added. The original is a brass loco by World Craft (=World Kogei), a Japanese manufacturer which sells through Hobby Search. This model was a limited production in 2013 of a Higashino Railway DC20 diesel shunter in works grey livery with rapido couplings fitted. It has a motor designed for just 4.5V so be careful not to appy too much power. I gave it a light dusting of weathering on the roof and grills but otherwise left it as per the orginal. It's a brilliant runner at slow speeds: smooth and quiet. There was another release of this model in 2015 but the side grilles were blocked in and some of the windows had different shapes, so take care in identifying which model you are trying to locate. Some are listed by Hobby Search under the Toya Railway label but I don't know what relationship this has with the Higashino. The Higashino ceased rail operations in 1944 and became a bus company. Perhaps the Toya took over the stock?

The decals are from existing sheets in my collection. I think these might have been from the HMRS sheets 1 and 24, chosen to be an appropriate size since they were printed for OO rather than N, or possibly from Fox Transfers. I fixed them using Microsol followed by Microset.

[emjaybee]

Many thanks @msr, I shall look into that. Interesting stuff.

[AlexanderJesse]

Just a little update: fetched a Grafar Pannier in GWR livery together with another batch of wagons... Secondhand, decent runner

And another question popped up: what are the rules for brake wagons in goods trains?  Does somebody have a link to a page that explains their use?

[tunneroner61]

This might help  bit: http://www.igg.org.uk/gansg/4-rstock/04arstock7.htm

Rest of the site is usefull too.

[AlexanderJesse]

This might help  bit: http://www.igg.org.uk/gansg/4-rstock/04arstock7.htm

Rest of the site is usefufll too.

Quite some reading. Thanks a lot

[PGN]

not because of Thomas, even though he was obviously inspired by a Jinty!

I always thought Thomas was inspired by the LBSCR class E2 0-6-0T ...

[PGN]

And another question popped up: what are the rules for brake wagons in goods trains?  Does somebody have a link to a page that explains their use?

Every loose-coupled goods train has to have a brake van.

The brake van and guard HAVE to be of the same operating company as the locomotive and footplate crew (can't have them working to different rule books and operating procedures ... )

The brake van MUST be at the back of the train, and have a red tail lamp, so that signalmen can check the train is complete when it passes them

On a long train, additional brake vans may be included in the middle of the train to give extra stopping power

Some companies (e.g. the LBSCR) stipulated that there MUST be a brake van at BOTH ends of every goods train (a right royal pain in the proverbials, that one ... I need to build some more LBSC brake vans!)

If the train was carrying something that might go BOOM (explosives ... petroleum ... ) then there must be two empty "barrier wagons" between any vehicle carrying something that might go BOOM and anything carrying people

Those are the main "rules" to be followed. Observe all of the above and your goods trains will "look right". Note also that some companies painted their brake vans different colours to distinguish between those that were "fitted" (i.e. able to operate automatic brakes - air or vacuum) and those that were not. If the train contains a mix of fitted and non-fitted stock, then the fitted stock should be marshalled at the front of the train and the non-fitted stock behind them. HOWEVER ... if the train includes vehicles carrying livestock then these MUST be marshalled IMMEDIATELY behind the locomotive ... even if this means operating fitted stock with its automatic brakes disabled.

[PGN]

As Rails of Sheffield have some Terriers and Panniers on Preorder... how are the experiences with them as preOrder dealer?

And what do you think about these 3 candidates? I choose them for their looks rather than preferred region 
TERRIER A1 GIPSYHILL 643 MARSH UMBER BROWN

PANNIER 6752 GWR GREEN LETTERED GWR LATER CAB

PANNIER EX 5775 GNSR LINED EARLY CAB

The Terrier is in LBSC Marsh umber livery ... so that's a pre-grouping locomotive. Cant' remember the exact date when Mr Marsh took over, but this is the last LBSC livery and continued in use up until the Grouping in 1923. Some locomotives would have remained in this livery through the late 1920s, but all should have been repainted in Southern livery by 1930.

The GWR pannier tank is very nice, and a classic shunting / trip work locomotive. Suitable for your 1930s date line ... and others who are more firmly stuck in God's Wonderful Rut than I may be able to advise on the date of adoption of this particular livery style.

The third locomotive is in the livery of the fictional "Great Northern & Southern Railway", as it appeared in the film "The Railway Children" ... and I believe that the particular locomotive which featured in the film continues to wear this livery on one of the preserved railways somewhere (cannot remember which, offhand). Or is it the N2 which continues to wear this livery? Help me out here, someone ... but either way, this is not a prototypical livery.