My model

the model

When the Mersey Railway was electrified some of their locos were sold to the ADR and they proved very suitable for the coal traffic that had previously been worked by the Taff Vale Railway. These locos are not often seen modelled, so became rather irresistable. My model was based on drawings of the Mersey locos published in various periodicals, information in the RCTS Locomotives of the GWR Part Ten and a trip to Liverpool (see below) - it was only after I'd finished it that a general arrangement drawing became available from the HMRS!

the model

The body was made as separate units that bolt together: this was not done carefully enough and some joints do not fit as well as they should. It was quite a challenge to decide where the units should separate. For example the cylinder ends extend into slots in the inside frames so the cylinder block can't be lifted out with the smokebox.

the model

The chassis has double frames with the bearings in the outer frame, suspension is by continuous springy beam over the drivers and a simple coil spring round the bogie pivot.

Having the model bearings in the inside frames and having the outside ones part of the body would not work because the driving wheel springs are underhung. If the inside frames were made part of the body, so removing the problem with the cylinder block, there would be a problem of frame stretchers...

As there are a few problems with the model I aim to build a second version (with belpaire firebox) based on the more accurate information I now have. Has anyone some brilliant ideas of how to split the body units? After that hopefully will come a couple of the 2-6-2Ts.

Cecil Raikes

In 2013, as part part of my research I visited the workshop of the National Museum in Liverpool where Dale Riley was very helpful in facilitating photography of "Cecil Raikes". I've included here the photos I took that may be of help to modellers, some being views not often photographed. Below the small images is a table of observations I made during the visit.

Larger versions of the photos can be downloaded by clicking on the small ones.

Notes and Measurements

Below footplate

Front

Valve chest shape	Front cover plate missing
Guard irons shape	Missing
Buffer beam rivetting	Probably new (no wood backing) hence unreliable
Buffer dimensions	Base 11in sq 3cm thick Body 8in diam by 13in (to back of base, body itself (13in-3cm)) Ram 6.5in diam Head 13in diam Back of base to front of head 17in

Left side

Front guard iron shape	Missing
Front guard iron fixing	Bolted to frame?
Fixing between frame and buffer beam	See photo
Outside frame – simple plate? Thickness?	1 inch
Spacers between frames	Can’t see – infill plates at bottom
Bearings on inside frames	Yes (certainly for driven wheels others not inspected)
How are front steps fixed	Bolted to frame (shaped)
Sandbox behind front steps?	Yes (between frames)
No of Plates on centre driver spring	See photo
Shape of spring hanger	See photo
No of plates on rear driver spring	See photo
Rear sandbox front elevation, filler & dimensions	Missing
Brake linkage details	See photo
Size of brake hanger ends on outside frame Rivet sizes	3.75 inch 1.5 inch
Rear step mounting	See photo
Rivetting along top of outside frame (continuous or broken up – dimensions)	Not continuous – see photos. But beware of effect of the reinforcing plate added to frames
Fixing between outside frame and buffer beam	See photo
Coupling rod details & dimensions Note position (to determine which side leads)	Crank 5in thick at axel, 4in at end Plain coupling rod bosses 3.5in thick Rod 2in thick by 4in deep Joint boss 4in thick Crankpin nut 5in diam by 1.5in thick
Bogie – visible details, springs etc	Note compensating beam
Rear guard iron shape	Missing

Rear

Rear guard iron shape	Missing
End of bogie	See photo
Buffer beam rivetting	See photo
Coupling slot size	18” wide by 3in deep (worn in middle!)

Right hand side

Brake linkage (steam cylinder?)	See photo
Ash pan shape & visibility of dampers	See photo
Coupling rod position to determine which side leads	Right side leads

Above footplate

Front

Top of footplate, smokebox, cylinder front	See photo
Rivetting on top of footplate	See photo

Left hand side (elevation)

Sandbox filler and operating system	Missing – see photo of The Major
Front spring no of leaves and hanger shape	See photo
Smokebox/boiler interface	See photo
Boiler band details (size, clamping – boiler & firebox)	Missing
Visibility of inside motion	See photos - almost all taken down (in store) Note inside cranks are at 180 deg to outside ones
Details of front of side tank & join to side	See photo – side plate approx 5/16 in thick but is probably a replacement - different, flush, rivetting pattern
Space between tank and boiler	See photos
Handrail support at front end of tanks	Missing
Clackboxes?	Missing - injector not visible
Side tank rivet size	Prob 1in
Details of back of side tank and & join to side	See photo
Side view of cab floor from outside loco	Flat – but was this the working floor?
Handrail on bunker side	See photo

Rear

Rivetting at top of bunker

See photo

Right hand side (elevation)

Snifting valves on smokebox?

Missing

High level

Tank tops – fillers, vents – both sides same?	See photo
“reinforcing strip” between tanks in front of dome	See photo
Cab front/boiler/tank interface	Unclear – cladding missing
Whistle, safety valve lever	See comments on photo
Tank top & bunker beading	2in wide
Inside bunker	See photo

On footplate

Left side of cab details	Photo – nothing left
Fixing cab front/boiler/tanks	Unclear – cladding missing
Front window details	Missing
Boiler back head & controls details	Most missing
Right side of cab details	Lot missing
Front of bunker details	See photos
Inside bunker top details	See photo
Rear weathershield fixing	Changed
Rear window details	Missing
Weathershield beading?	Edged but quite probably not original
Floor details	Lot missing!