GWR

[tunneroner61]

As someone who did most of their trainspotting in the late 50s/early60s at Hayes & Harlington and Southall shed on the mainline to Reading and all places west I can only echo what the proponents of the GWR have already said. I don't have a problem with locos all 'looking the same' - the commonality of design and loads of green engines gave the (G)WR a quality image. As did the hydraulics that came after!!

Norman

[Papyrus]

As for the LMS/LNER - coal mines, satanic mills, unemployment, it was grim up north.

  Not in East Anglia to the best of my knowledge! The only mines were flint mines and the mills were powered by wind or water...



Cheers,

Chris

[joe cassidy]

What images does East Anglia conjure up ?

Flatness and water ?

Samphire ?

[Chris Morris]

What images does East Anglia conjure up ?

Flatness and water ?

Samphire ?

All of the above. And to the north of East Anglia - "Bracing".

[Chris Morris]

I don't understand the opening comments. Here is my collection of smaller GWR tender locos. All sleek and all quite easily distinguishable. For those who have yet to be enlightened the line up from left to right is 28xx, Hall, Manor and Grange. All trusted and long standing good runners by the way.

[PLD]

Much as already said, the GWR had in modern speak  "established brand recognition" before the grouping and a very effective publicity department.
On loco development, they undoubtedly lead the way up to the late 1920s then just stopped... The best up and coming designer they had - William Stanier, felt he had to go elsewhere to progress and look at the transformation of the LMS loco fleet under his influence. Most would acknowledge the the LMS lead the way in steam loco development through the 30s & 40s  and was heading for an even more standardised post war fleet than the GW (the Southern by then had all it's eggs in the Electric basket). Just imagine what a Duchess could have done on Brunel's billiard table.

[Papyrus]

...all quite easily distinguishable.

Nope, sorry. The Hall, Manor and Grange all look the same to me...      But then you knew I was a Philistine, didn't you? 

Cheers,

Chris

[Tackleberry]

What images does East Anglia conjure up ?

Flatness and water ?

Samphire ?

The Upwell and Wisbech tramway which I drove through the other day with my artic...

[Nebucanezza]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned laziness of the manufacturers yet. It must be much easier to model a locomotive without any outside valve gear, which makes GWR engines much easier to make.

[Chris Morris]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned laziness of the manufacturers yet. It must be much easier to model a locomotive without any outside valve gear, which makes GWR engines much easier to make.

Part of the greatness of the Great Western. They designed locos that were easier to model!

[Chris Morris]

...all quite easily distinguishable.

Nope, sorry. The Hall, Manor and Grange all look the same to me...      But then you knew I was a Philistine, didn't you? 

Cheers,

Chris

My tongue may well have been in my cheek at the time.

These locos were very similar but were designed to be the right tool for the job. Halls could manage heavy freight but the 2-8-0 was a better wheel arrangement. The Grange was basically a Hall with smaller wheels (the cylinders were actually of different design on the Grange) which made it a better loco for areas such as Cornwall where a bit more power was preferred to a bit more speed. The Manor then took the Grange basics and added a smaller boiler for greater route availability which was required in places such as central Wales. The Granges and Manors were officially rebuilds of Churchward 2-6-0s but I don't think that reflected reality.

[NinOz]

God's Wonderful Railway just says it all.

[railsquid]

Just imagine what a Duchess could have done on Brunel's billiard table.

This is a family forum!

But seriously, for all the imagery of Brunel, idyllic seaside holidays etc. it seems often forgotten that the GWR had a less romantic bit which went up through a major industrial conurbation all the way up to Birkenhead.

[Bealman]

Indeed. Strange you never see models of that, though.

I must admit I was brought up with the classic GWR branch station to fiddle yard concept in the early sixties, courtesy of Cyril Freezer and Railway Modeller.

Well, they were and still are based in the west country, I guess.

It was a different world to a kid growing up among the coal mines of the north east!

[Chris Morris]

The GWR also got a great deal of revenue by moving coal from the South Wales coalfields. Not glamorous or pretty and not for publicity brochures but nonetheless  profitable.