Axlebox and Spring Castings for early LBSCR/LNWR coaches

Michael D

Western Thunderer
Dear All,
I'm scratch building some very early 1850/70
4 wheel coaches from the LNWR and LBSCR I'm trying to source springs about 5'6" and axle box castings.
Could anybody point me in the right direction please?

Many thanks in advance

Michael
 

Overseer

Western Thunderer
The Broad Gauge Society website would be worth a look, they have 5' and 6' springs amongst others.

On early LNWR carriages, I am looking for information on these three compartment four wheelers which ended up on the Brampton Railway. Does anyone have drawings, dimensions or more detailed photos of things like axleboxes for these carriages?
image.jpg
 

Mike W

Western Thunderer
The best detail photos I know of are those taken of an underframe built c1868. Can't remember the photographer but most were published in Casserley & Millard's WCJS book from the HMRS. Don't be put off by the specialist subject suggested by the title as this book has a lot about detail changes and design for the LNWR as well. Another reference source is Queen Adelaide's saloon at the NRM.

Mike
 

John D

Western Thunderer
image.jpeg

Re...the Brampton coaches could they be these? Could be downgraded firsts with one being converted to a two compartment brake perhaps.......

John
 

ianlbsc

Western Thunderer
Yes, I have not considered that these were anything other than 7mm, and my carriages, etches, castings etc are all S7. I have just run out of wheels and am awaiting another batch to be made by Gibson whose I use because the axle end and the bearing is of a smaller diameter - 2.4mm - than slaters and fits inside the small early grease axleboxes better. The rectangular, Craven axlebox is 3.6mm wide.
Cheers
Ian
 
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Michael D

Western Thunderer
Argh yes 7mm is the scale made by the original request....
Thanks for expanding the post as well, those are exactly the axle boxes I'm after, I'm reading your blog with great interest Ian !
What about those LNWR ones they are exactly what after as seen on John's drawing, does anyone make those by chance?

Best wishes
Michael
 

Mike W

Western Thunderer
Well, many years ago Peter Davis made patterns for early LNWR axleboxes, springs and hornguides. All in one piece and including that early grease box and the slightly later oil box. I think they were intended for NPCS so the springs may have been a tad shorter. They were cast for him by Gordon Heywood. That's the good news. Sorry to say that I have no idea where the patterns or moulds are, nor even who might have any castings. I will check but don't think that I have any.

Mike
 

Overseer

Western Thunderer
The best detail photos I know of are those taken of an underframe built c1868. Can't remember the photographer but most were published in Casserley & Millard's WCJS book from the HMRS. Don't be put off by the specialist subject suggested by the title as this book has a lot about detail changes and design for the LNWR as well. Another reference source is Queen Adelaide's saloon at the NRM.

Mike
Thanks Mike, I have ordered a second hand copy and await its arrival. I should have bought it years ago.
 

Overseer

Western Thunderer
View attachment 67053

Re...the Brampton coaches could they be these? Could be downgraded firsts with one being converted to a two compartment brake perhaps.......

John
You may well be right about being downgraded from first class. Even though the body in the drawing has the later classic LNWR panelling the underframe looks similar to the Brampton carriages. I think the Brampton carriages were a little bit shorter too based on the other photo of them at Brampton Town station. Also note what looks like the early LNWR livery.
Brampton carriages1.jpg
 

Overseer

Western Thunderer
These may be too modern for Michael's early LBSCR carriages but may assist Ian with future productions. Stroudley designed a first class and a second class carriage for the Victorian Railways and supervised Brown Marshall building 70 in total of them during 1883. The bodies were very similar to the contemporary LBSCR carriages as were the underframes. These axleboxes appear in quite a few of the photos in LB&SCR Carriages by White, Turner & Foulkes, for example p148 in Vol 1 showing a D33 Third with these axleboxes and another with the earlier ones being modelled by Ian. One remains in running condition and the drawings survive, extracts follow:-
bm 1 crop.jpg
bm 2 crop.jpg
bm axlebox 1.jpg
bm axlebox 2.jpg
bm axlebox 3.jpg
Note the original 9 spoke wheels on one axle on the carriage. These were used on the LBSCR brake vans and NPCS.
bm 40X side 121003.jpg
40X is one of the second class carriages. At least 4 other bodies survive in varying conditions.
 

Dog Star

Western Thunderer
Well, many years ago Peter Davis made patterns for early LNWR axleboxes, springs and hornguides. ... They were cast for him by Gordon Heywood.
Tony Watts has many (most?) of the patterns which were with Gordon Heywood.
 

ianlbsc

Western Thunderer
Well I'll be blowed, I have never heard of the Stroudley involvement in VR carriages. They look just like his but with a double roof! Have you any further info, photos or plans as, as you say, the style is the same as what I am attempting in brass in Blackpool, via PPD!
Thanks for that!
Cheers
Ian
 

Mike W

Western Thunderer
Tony Watts has many (most?) of the patterns which were with Gordon Heywood.

I would be amazed if he has these or any others like them. Many patterns went to John Petcher if they didn't go back to Peter Davis. But, worth asking the question I guess.

Mike
 

Overseer

Western Thunderer
Well I'll be blowed, I have never heard of the Stroudley involvement in VR carriages. They look just like his but with a double roof! Have you any further info, photos or plans as, as you say, the style is the same as what I am attempting in brass in Blackpool, via PPD!
Thanks for that!
Cheers
Ian
Post 61 in the Overseer's Oddments thread has more photos and a bit more information. I can send you copies of the GA drawings and newspaper articles detailing Stroudley's involvement if you are interested. Veteran Models have recently done etched brass kits of these carriages in 1:48 scale.
 
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