War Dept locomotive numbering

[Captain Mainwaring]

Hi guys,

In the process of building my WW2 Hornby layout and was just wondering if anyone has any pics of or would know of somewhere where I can see where and how many were the letters/ numbers on WW2 locos? Many thanks for any help you can offer 

Captain Mainwaring 

 

[RDS]

I just googled 'WW2 Locomotives' and it brings up lots of options and pictures, or maybe those are not what you wanted?

[Postman Prat]

 Photos in 'Power of the Austerities' by Gavin Morrison

[GreenGiraffe22]

Hey, what area are you going to be modelling? I too model WW2 on the South East coast. I've been after a WD Austerity 0-6-0 but out of all the old ones released, and all the new ones coming soon from Hattons & DJ, I don't think a single one is in WW2 appropriate livery... Which is frsutrating. I've been after one of Bachmann's WD Austerity 2-8-0s too, however they seem to be incredibly collectable and rival bidders on ebay have a much higher budget than I do!

[Captain Mainwaring]

Hey guys, thanks for your posts.

 

RDS, yes I was particularly after WD loco's but will check those images again thanks. Thanks Postman Prat I'll look that one up. GG22, I'm going to be doing a generic SR WW2 layout but with only Locos/coaches/road vehicles / posters etc from that era, there is a growing choice for modellers in our hobby for this era now.

Best

Captain M .

[Paul60]

 Hi Captain Mainwaring,

 

Sounds like a great theme for a layout.

 

It was my intention to 'loosely' model my layout on Walmington on Sea. I quickly realised that was a tad out of my reach with limited space. 

 

I am working on a 6x4 Dad's Army based war gaming table as well. It's a pity I can't combine the two but my Home Guard & opposing German Para's are 28mm. 1/48 scale. (Foundry Miniatures).

 

Shame. ☹️

[GreenGiraffe22]

Here's a link to my "Sussex 1943" layout, although I am currently planning a extensive rebuild http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/110498-wartime-sussex-1943ish/

[81F]

 You might find this book helpful "War Department Locomotives" by tT R Tourret ISBN: 0905878000.

It was published in 1976 so is probably long out of print but there may be a few 2nd hand on the web.

 

As a note, while trawling the web I have discovered that some LNER J50s were loaned to the Royal Navy for shunting in dockyards. 

 

As an aside does anyone know how clear/dirty WD locos would be in normal service considering what the Army apears to be like whe it comes to uniforms and other equipment.

[Postman Prat]

 ...............As an aside does anyone know how clear/dirty WD locos would be in normal service considering what the Army apears to be like whe it comes to uniforms and other equipment.

 

Hi 81F

 

The above needs to be tempered with a large dose of reality. The army reputation for "Bull***t" is fine back at the depot, or well behind the lines, but the majority of troops at the front line were probably filthy -  they would try to maintain personal hygine but that was probably all they could do.

 

My few photos show that the locos were clean when delivered, livery appears to be khaki boiler, cab, tender on some, plain black on others, but that was probably the last time they saw a cleaning rag. Also, bear in mind that a lot were loaned to the 'home railways', before being shipped over to Europe.  I don't know whether they were all driven/maintained by army guys but I suspect that a lot were operated by crews from the railway they were based on.

 

On return to the UK, stiill in WD ownership they were loaned to the home railways before being sold to the LNER and , later, British Railways.

 

Hope that helps.

 

By the way I didn't know about the J50s being loaned to the navy - I suspect there was no change to livery, numbers and ownership markings

 

 

[Captain Mainwaring]

Thanks for all your reply guys, very helpful. I also really enjoyed your layout GG22, looks good. Love the ME 109 scene, how did you find it worked scale wise? 

Best

Captain Mainwaring 

[GreenGiraffe22]

 I also really enjoyed your layout GG22, looks good. Love the ME 109 scene, how did you find it worked scale wise? 

Thanks :) Well, the railway is 1/76 and the 109 is 1/72, I assumed there wasn't much difference in the scale (I could be wrong) but it looks alright to me :) I haven't *yet* had anyone tell me "that Me 109 looks too small" ;)

[GeoFF03]

 I also really enjoyed your layout GG22, looks good. Love the ME 109 scene, how did you find it worked scale wise? 

Thanks :) Well, the railway is 1/76 and the 109 is 1/72, I assumed there wasn't much difference in the scale (I could be wrong) but it looks alright to me :) I haven't *yet* had anyone tell me "that Me 109 looks too small" ;)

Actually 1/72 is the larger scale, but the Bf 109 (the "Me" applied to later designs) is a relativly small aircraft when compared to Spitfires or Hurricanes.  The difference in scales only really becomes apparent when comparing like with like.

[81F]

 To put things into perspctive a 6ft person would be 25.4mm (1 inch) whereas in 00 they would be 24mm (making 1:72 approx 3 scale inches taller). Similarly in HO scale the same 6 ft would be 21mm (9 inches difference). So given that 00 effectively uses HO track the difference between 1:72 and 1:76 is comparitively small.

 

As I have a mix of 00 (1:76), 1:72 and HO scentic items I try to arange them carefully to ensure they are kept apart (HO and 1:72 especially. As an example my garage at the back of my layout has a nice selection of new Ford Model As (HO) and there is a OO Austin 7 van next to the Post Office towards the middle of the layout. I intend to put some of my 1:72 bits and pieces nearerthe front to help give a sense of perspective.

 

Not sure what scalethe Corgie trackside mechanical Horses are but they are larger than the Oford diecast examples so the Corgies will be at the front of the layout while the Oxford ones will probably be at the back.