Overview
The locomotives that will run on Pencarrow will be based on those that ran on the Wadebridge / Bodmin North / Wenford lines. As such I've identified the following core motive power as all being suitable for this project:
- 2-4-0 Beattie Well Tank 30587 - as used on the Wenford mineral line
- 0-6-0 Collett 1366 Dock Tank 1368 - the replacements for the BWT
- 0-4-4 Adams O2 Tank 30200 - as used on Bodmin North passenger services
- 2-6-2 Ivatt Tank 41275 - the replacements for the O2
- 0-6-0 8750 Pannier Tank 4666 - again seen on Bodmin North passenger services
- 2-6-0 Maunsell N Class 318xx (tbc) - at one time daily visitors to Bodmin North on freight duties and very occasionally a passenger service
- AC Railbus W79977 - the unit used at the tail end of the Bodmin North's passenger service
In addition the following locos are all on my 'somewhat tenuous' list either because they also ran in the area or because I like them!:
- 2-6-2 Small Prairie Tank 4569 - regulars on the Wadebridge to Bodmin General services and a handy extra for my warped version of history where Pencarrow is in the route between those two destinations
- 4-4-0 Adams T9 Greyhound 307xx (tbc) - not used on Bodmin North services but strongly identified with the North Cornwall Railway and one of my favourite locomotives
- 63xx / Class 22 - again I don't believe one of these ever got to Bodmin North but they were certainly in the area on Bodmin General to Wadebridge duties (and for some reason I like them)
- 4-6-2 Bulleid Light Pacific 340xx (tbc) - yes I know one only made it to Bodmin North once and that was for a naming ceremony but the NCR stalwarts are my favourite class (rule 1 applies)
Loco Progress
The thing about moving from 4mm to 7mm is that it really does force you into building kits to supplement what's available as RTR stock. This is time consuming but is becoming more rewarding as my soldering and general fabrication skills increase. Due to not having a great deal of time for modelling, I am making full use of the good RTR options where available - the Minerva 8750 being a prime example.
Unlike other projects I've been involved in, this is a 'just for me, build at my own pace' project and as such it's ore about the journey than the destination. I have however learned that it's important to buy kits and RTR as and when available as they have a tendancy to not be around when needed. This does mean I'm building up a stockpile of kits to build in the future.
All the kit built stock is either being compensated or sprung and so far I have:
Bought a Heljan AC Railbus, added DCC sound, passengers and a spot of dirt.
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Bought an Ivatt 2mt tank buillt by Peter Cross from a much modified ACME kit. Pete's build of this kit is covered in his blog on RMweb
IVATT 2MT TANK - Petes Model workshop (or ramblings from the balcony).
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Nearly completed the build of a Connoisseur LSWR O2 Tank. This will be 30200, a regular performer on the Bodmin North service. My build of this superb kit is covered here:
Connoisseur LSWR O2 for Pencarrow Bridge - 7mm+ modelling. I've swapped out some of Jim's castings for those produced by Laurie Griffin and it's fitted with an ABC gearbox and Maxon motor.
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I'm still fighting with my build of an Agenoria 1366 Dock Tank. This was the first loco kit I tackled and, due to a difference of opinion and artistic differences, we're currently having a trial separation ;-p. On the plus side it's taught me a lot, introduced me to scratchbuilding parts and improved my soldering no end. Also fitted with an ABC gearbox and Moxon motor. The loco's state in 2016 is shown in the following photo which has many parts placed on rather than fixed. Just about all the castings have been replaced as the originals were either so poor or just plain wrong for the loco. Very disappointing as it wasn't a cheap kit. The build trials and tribulations of this kit can be found here:
Agenoria WR 1366 Pannier for Pencarrow Bridge - 7mm+ modelling
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A 2016 addition has been the parts (not a kit) to enable the construction of a Beattie Well tank. Bit of a long story but I managed to get a part kit from Laurie Griffin containing all the castings and body etches. The castings are superb but the etchings show their age and Jidenco parentage. A chance conversation with Nick Easton resulted in the offer of a set of etches he'd produced for his own build of 30587. This will therefore progress as a hybrid of Laurie's castings and Nick's etches. I was very concerned by rolling the boiler for this loco but was saved by Pete Harvey and his set of rolling bars. A big thank you to Nick and Pete. I'm trying my best to not start this until finishing some of my other outstanding builds. Nick's own build can be seen here:
Beattie Well Tank in 7mm - Kitbuilding & Scratchbuilding
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2016/17/18 saw most other locos sourced and ticked off the list.
- Bulleid Pacific - the re-introduction of the kit by Finney7 in 2016 was too good to miss.
- 8750 Pannier - ordered a sound fitted one from Minerva and it arrived in Sept 2017. It will be 4666.
- 45xx Prairie - completes the trio of GWR influence. In a moment of weakness I ordered the new Lionheart one from Tower Models in 2017.May arrive this year or early 2019?
- LSWR T9 - registered interest with Finney7 on their kit for 2018
- Maunsell N Class - in October 2018 I took delivery of one from what could be a final run of the kit prior to David Andrew's retirement
- 63xx / Class 22 - I've 'invested' in the project by the Little Loco Company to produce a RTR version of this ugly and unreliable loco. It will enable Pencarrow to run in post-steam period
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