My 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 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 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! |