Help in choosing the right set of coaches please.

[Phoenix]

Hi All,

Had a bit of a busy week, but am now re-sizing the photos from the exhibition we went to, but while doing this, I would just like to ask a quick question please.

My mate bought a lovely B set of Choc / Cream coaches, and I am very tempted to do the same, as I have this little loco to pull them .....



The price I think is very good, 32 and a bit quid for the two coaches, but I have seen two types.

One set has the "shirtbutton" emblem, and the other set has the "GWR cities crest" on them.

Does it make much difference which set I get to go with the loco, or is there a preferred livery to go with the loco I have.

Many thanks,

All best wishes

Kevin

[Bad Raven]

http://www.gwr.org.uk/liveries.html

[Train Waiting]

Hello Kevin

That's a very nice engine in Mr Hawksworth's 1945 livery.  Ideally, the carriages to match would have 'Great [arms] Western'.  The roundel or 'shirtbutton' was introduced in 1934 and its use for most applications ended in 1942.  During the War, many carriages were brown all over.  But, there was a lot of revarnishing and general 'making do' during the War years so, of the two choices you have, I'd be tempted to go for the roundel rather than the 'GWR', which was primarily used pre-1934, although there was a very partial reversion to it from 1943-1945 for certain prestigious carriages.

The late Mr Haresnape's book British Railway Liveries 1923 -1947, Ian Allan, is a helpful reference which I have relied upon for the above summary.

With all best wishes.

John 

[tunneroner61]

You could run it with one of the autocoaches from both BF and Dapol as an alternative to a B set.

[Phoenix]

Hi Guys,

Thank you for your replies, which were really helpful, and I have just ordered a set from Rails of Sheffield ......just £29.75 

I already have an autocoach, which I run on "Windmill Hill ....



but seeing my pal's B set made me want one 

Thanks also for the link Dave (Bad Raven) really interesting, with some great layout pics as well. I got quite engrossed, and never got round to the exhibition pics I was going to post 

All best wishes

Kevin