GWR

[chrism]

God's Wonderful Railway just says it all.

Or Greasy, Wet & Rusty 

[emjaybee]

God's Wonderful Railway just says it all.

Or Greasy, Wet & Rusty 

Or Grotty, Wretched & Ridiculous 

As opposed to Lithe, Magnificent & Superb.

[Newportnobby]

I'm just happy Sonic's first N gauge loco is the 56xx as a couple were based at Oxford for a few years. I have plenty of SR locos which were visitors to Oxford (or can be found excuses to )
Certainly when  I started out in N everything seemed to be based on WR branch lines and it seemed to take quite a while before sufficient decent models emerged for other locations. I also agree the Southern has been ignored considering the plethora of EMUs in use from very early days and the lack of variety of steam, but guess manufacturers know their markets (or do they?)

[chrism]

but guess manufacturers know their markets (or do they?)

To some extent I guess the manufacturers have created the markets.
If a manufacturer makes the decision to produce a reasonable range of locos from a particular region then, provided what they make is good enough, then people will buy them - thus creating a market for more variety from the same region.

[The Q]

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.

Stanier decided to go, because he would never have made CME of GWR, being only 5 years younger than Collet, had he waited for Collet to retire, he would have been passed over in favour of someone younger.
Stanier made the LMS fleet good by bringing GWR Ideas, the black Five just being a later development of the Hall Class, with outside valve gear..

[Antipodean]

So quick missing GWR list County, mogul (wheel base missing across the board I believe), Star, saint.

I need a Saint Class dammit, if only to renumber it to 2910 Lady of Shallott. Added to 6910 Gossington Hall, I shall have my tribute to Dame Agatha's The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side.

Wait, what were we talking about?

[Ali Smith]

I'm not as partisan as I used to be and don't wish to join the argument as to whether the GWR was the best or the worst of the big four (does anybody think it was the second best?) but there is something that puzzles me about GWR engines. One often sees reference to their classes as for instance, 28xx, which presumably means that the first of the class was number 2800 and the rest had numbers ascending from there. You never see something like the LMS Royal Scots referred to as 61xx although the same logic would apply. My question is, did GWR employees from Churchward or Collet downwards actually say  "twenty-eight ecks ecks" or is this an enthusiasts invention?

[Train Waiting]

My question is, did GWR employees from Churchward or Collet downwards actually say  "twenty-eight ecks ecks" or is this an enthusiasts invention?

I understand that the usual term amongst the enginemen was simply a 'Twenty-Eight'.  Harold Gasson, who wrote extensively about his footplate experiences, did mention 'Halls' and 'Castles', so it appears that at least some named classes were referred to as such.  Interesting, he called what enthusiasts would describe as a 'Star' class engine a 'Forty'.

Best wishes.

John

[port perran]

I'd hazard a bit of a guess that the xx suffix may actually have been an Ian Allen invention (but only for the WR and Standard classes).
It does lend itself to ex GW locomotives as that company standardised on locomotive numbering eg classes did not run from say 5901 to 6050 (as an example). So, referring to 59xx locomotives, one is sure only to include Halls.
The GW numbering was, of course, retained after 1948 possibly due to the reliance on cast cabside numberplates.
It wouldn't work on other regions eg LNER had classes within numerical groups eg 60001-34 were A4s and 60035 -60112 were A3. Therefore 60xxx or even 600xx wouldn't work.
Similarly the LMS classes transcended numerical groups eg Patriots and Jubilees.
As for the Southern, well apart from the Bulleid Classes, their numbering was all over the place it seems.
The xxx suffix does work again for the Standard Classes eg 70xxx or 92xxx etc.
Just a thought
Martin

[Chris Morris]

God's Wonderful Railway just says it all.

Or Greasy, Wet & Rusty 

My mom worked for a company that sent machines and spares out by rail. The transportation manager referred to a certain railway as Loose em, Mix em and Smash em. I'm told that what based on bitter experience.

Or Grotty, Wretched & Ridiculous 

As opposed to Lithe, Magnificent & Superb.

[chrism]

God's Wonderful Railway just says it all.

Or Greasy, Wet & Rusty 

My mom worked for a company that sent machines and spares out by rail. The transportation manager referred to a certain railway as Loose em, Mix em and Smash em. I'm told that what based on bitter experience.

Indeed - most of them have alternative names, although the only other one that springs to mind immediately is Late & Never Early 

I can't recall ever hearing one for the Southern - although that might be because my preservation days were spent well and truly in SR/LSWR territory.

[Newportnobby]

Going by the OP I think the S in SR means sparse

[PLD]

Stanier made the LMS fleet good by bringing GWR Ideas, the black Five just being a later development of the Hall Class, with outside valve gear..

Absolutely; while Swindon stagnated, and at a time Derby needed a kick in the tender area, he carried on the developmental path (with a hint of Horwich influence) for his new employer to their mutual benefit.

[acko22]

I'm beginning to think that GWR is a cult

Well that's a strong opening quote  , but not sure it's so much a cult a following yes but a cult well.....maybe for some 
This is where I personally think makes the GWR such a success modelling wise is not only based on the very much standard designs but actually comes from the Press department of the 1930s GWR offices!
Lets be honest if many of us think of a railway poster from the 30s most (not all) will conjure up images of GWR posters and the rose tinted glasses of their adverts which in many respects catches the "golden era of steam" ideology which still reverberates today amongst many, which in turn when it comes to modelling makes a large portion of GWR items very good sellers.

Personally while I don;t model steam i think that while not all classes are covered GWR is a very well covered period, and maybe some other regions need a bit more coverage to fill some of the gaps, then no one can claim cult status for GWR....

[Chris Morris]

Although it is a bit of a chicken and egg situation I think GWR models sell well which is why manufacturers keep making them. Its interesting that since making his first GWR model Union Mills have almost not looked back and have continued with a GWR theme for new models. That kind of suggests GWR sales have been very good, either that or he has" seen the light".