57XX cab side plate position
- Thread starter RonnieS
- Start date
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
Swindon drawings ? from here A selection of Great Western Railway locomotive drawings
You will be able to scale the dimension you need from this.
You will be able to scale the dimension you need from this.
RonnieS
Western Thunderer
This scales out at 1ft 5 and a half. Compared with the photo of 9642 it looks too high? It would however make the Baccy ones about right.
RonnieS
Western Thunderer
From that scan, 1' 9-1/4" or 1' 8-1/4". Looks to be pretty much central on the cabside to my eye.
Drawing 124745 of May 1947 is clearer at 1' 9-5/16", but I've no idea on the width of the side sheet:—
Pete.
Stephen Freeman
Western Thunderer
Lots of variations in the 57xx series, best to always use a photo of the real engine you are intending to model. E.g. Red number plates didn't last long (early WR) and not applied to all.
RonnieS
Western Thunderer
I am in the process of comparing 57xx photos with the very kindly supplied above drawings and there seems to my old eyes a discrepancy. With regard to red numberplates 8487 had a red backed cab side plate as late as Oct 62. Pic in Backtrack Mag July 2025 Page 389.
RonnieS
Western Thunderer
Thanks for this. Really good info. It makes both models out by a scale inch and a half! And the actual plate position bang in the middle of the proprietary offerings!
daifly
Western Thunderer
I suggest close examination of photographs. For the 300 57xx locos built, 6 outside contractors were used in addition to the GWR at Swindon who built only 50 of them. Photographs suggest minor variations in the positions of many fittings, handrails and numberplates.
Dave
Dave
RonnieS
Western Thunderer
You may be right although I have not found a glaring example. I admit I have not studied all 863 examples of the class.
Only the few that will become the new identities of my "toys."
I have all the pannier papers plus a big collection of my own books, access to a railway club library and local library. On line we have 1922-1941 GWR Charles Collett, colour rail, rail on line et al. I scan pictures and study them on a 28 inch screen and have good broad side pics of the locos I will renumber. They all appear consistent in numberplate position.
I will make a 5mm spacer to aid placement. I have not yet decided whether to use Fox etched plates
or the Railtec Railtec Transfers
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James
Western Thunderer
Ian@StEnochs
Western Thunderer
Driver looks very ghost like! Is he fit enough to drive?
Merry Christmas,
Ian.
Merry Christmas,
Ian.
James
Western Thunderer
Ghost of Christmas Past
RonnieS
Western Thunderer
Thanks.
I did get around to doing a comparison.
3650 is Jackson Evans etched plates and 3632 Railtec. I just ordered 5 more Railtec! It will now be my way to go!
Obviously the above panniers will look better after a spray with my weathering mix but it needs to be warmer and dryer for spraying; otherwise the dreaded bloom.
RonnieS
Western Thunderer
And today the next 5 arrived! So eventually all my Bach panniers will be Bristol/Westbury ones.
7723 was a Gloucester one and will be the new identity for the Accuscale ex 7714. In my photo collection it had the rare right facing emblem on one side. Railtec did that for me too! Thanks Steve. I have a pic of 7723 at Bath Spa and another at St Phillips Marsh so it will fit.
daifly
Western Thunderer
Not that rare! Arguably for the late 1950s to early 60s it would almost be the more common version. A quick search through a few pannier photos showing the right hand tank failed to find a single left-facing (correct!) lion. However, 7744,7753, 7774,7780,7785, 7790 all had the incorrect emblem, as did most repainted locos in the late 1950s until incorrect stock was exhausted.
For those not following the significance of this, from the mid-50s, the 'cycling lion' emblem was replaced by the later 'ferret and dartboard' logo. Heraldic registry rules meant the the lion should always face left on both sides of the loco but BR, incorrectly, also had transfers made with the lion facing to the right which, when applied to the right side of a loco, meant that the lion was facing forward - as was the norm for the earlier 'cycling lion'.
Dave
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