I notice it’s a while since I have said anything about the historic rolling stock I intend (eventually) to run on Rivermead Central. However, I was undertaking a small conservation job this afternoon to prevent a further loss of poorly adhering paint from the front buffer beam of a favourite tank engine. As it happens, the loco concerned will serve very well to illustrate developments in the post-WW1 Bassett-Lowke range.
In my post #92, I listed the 0 gauge tank engines offered by Bassett-Lowke in the 1910–14 period. After 1919, the range offered was very different.
The Peckett 0-4-0T, previously made by Carette, was reintroduced in gauges 0 and 1, but the post-WW1 models were made at Northampton using the Carette tooling. The absurdly proportioned 0 gauge version now had larger wheels and looked even worse.
Of the five scale-model, 0 gauge, tank engines made for Bassett-Lowke by Bing prior to WW1, three reappeared after 1919. The NER 0-4-4T was listed just briefly — one year only, I think. The Bing LNWR Precursor tank lasted longer — but not by much. After 1921, the production of 0 gauge Precursor tanks was switched to Northampton. The LBSCR 4-4-2T was the only one of the range of Bing-made 0 gauge tank locos introduced pre-WW1 that stayed in the Bassett-Lowke catalogue for many years post-WW1.
When the production of 0 gauge Precursor tanks was transferred to Northampton, the opportunity was taken to introduce a freelance 0-4-0T that had many parts in common with the Precursor tank models. The 0-4-0Ts were produced in at least three liveries — I have seen LNWR, GNR and Midland examples — though the styling was pure LNWR. Distinctly toy-like, with fixed ‘express passenger’ headlamps, the 0-4-0T derived from the Precursor tank model was only catalogued for a couple of years, not lasting long enough to be produced in post-grouping liveries. On the plus side, unlike the 0 gauge Peckett tank, at least the 0-4-0Ts made using Precursor tank parts fit within the scale loading gauge. They weren’t realistic, but nor were they absurdities in the way the Peckett was.
Another new addition to the post-WW1 Bassett-Lowke range of 0 gauge tank engines was a freelance 4-4-0T manufactured by Bing. Again the styling was pure LNWR, with many parts derived from Bing’s 0 gauge Precursor tank models — and again a range of liveries was offered. The pre-grouping liveries listed in catalogues included LNWR, GNR, NBR, Caledonian and Midland. After 1923, these 4-4-0Ts were produced in the passenger liveries of the four principal railway companies. Compared with the pre-WW1 range of accurate scale models, these freelance offerings were a definite step backwards. Not in quality — the models still had Bing’s excellent motors, well-constructed bodywork and superb paint finish — they just weren’t representations of particular real locomotives, unlike the models Bing had made for Bassett-Lowke ten years earlier.
The remaining new 0 gauge tank locomotive added to the post-WW1 Bassett-Lowke range was another 0-4-0, also made by Bing. This was the famous ‘112 tank’ which had been made in gauges 1 and 2 (but not 0) prior to WW1. It is often claimed that the 112 was based on an LSWR prototype, but I am not aware of this being stated by Bassett-Lowke.* Certainly the model was not offered in LSWR livery — though other liveries that were listed in catalogues included LNWR, GWR, GNR, Midland and Caledonian, and later LMS, LNER and Southern. Only the LNER and Southern versions carry the company initials/name. All the others are merely numbered ‘112’ on the side tanks. In addition to the pre-grouping liveries listed in catalogues, I am aware of 112s in black lined out with double red lines (? possibly to represent NER goods livery) and one in NER passenger green. Whether or not the design for the 112 was derived from a real locomotive class, it was a freelance model in the liveries offered. But unlike the freelance models described above, there is nothing LNWR in the appearance of a 112 tank.
Which brings me to my 112 in Caledonian livery:
This locomotive was built in 1921 or 1922. Bing didn’t get the CR livery quite right — the cylinders should not be blue. Nevertheless, I feel CR livery sits well on 112 tanks, helped no doubt by the smoke-box wing-plates. To accommodate the motor, the boiler is pitched much higher in the 0 gauge models than in the larger sizes. The wheels are also proportionately larger on the 0 gauge models. Objectively, I have to admit the gauge 1 and 2 versions of the 112 are better models — but I love the 0 gauge ones.
The above model, of course, is clockwork. Electric versions (DC and AC) and live steam models were also available in all three gauges made. In Gauge 1, in the 1930s, 112s were offered with outside Walschaerts valve gear (using the valve gear parts from the 0 gauge Royal Scot model). In all, including pre-WW1 models in gauges 1 and 2 and post-WW1 models in gauges 0 and 1, there must have been close to a hundred different types of 112 tank produced — an astonishing total.
* Addition/correction. In the listing for the Gauge 1 112 tank in the 1933 catalogue, the description says: ‘our design is modelled on a type introduced by the late London and South Western Railway for motor trains’. I had not noticed this previously. Compared with the larger sizes, the very differently proportioned 0 gauge model does not much resemble the real LSWR locomotives. (Edited on 1/11/2024 to add this footnote).
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