GWR 4-4-0 Bulldog class - photos of the curved frame examples?

[Dog Star]

WTers have them... green boxes in the Shelf Queen stash... and I admit to being one of those WTers.

A Martin Finney 7mm kit of the GWR (curved frame) Bulldog class has seen the light of day and I am doing the research necessary to build the kit as a particular engine - named Pegasus and numbered 3343 (which makes the representation an Edwardian engine rather than the later form after re-numbering as 3331). As we all recommend the preliminary task is to source photos of the engine in the relevant condition then that is where I have started... and run into the proverbial brick wall. Contemporary photographs, circa 1900 -1912, of the curved frame new builds, twenty engines numbered 3332-3351, means that suitable images are difficult to locate.

Adrian Vaughan has offered images, from the Bill Kenning collection, of a couple of the curved frame engines - unfortunately that offer does not include Pegasus. Kevin Wilson, who modelled Pegasus for Bucks Hill, has advised that the Kidderminster Museum has photos of some of the curved frame engines and I have written to the museum for details.

If anyone has suggestions of possible sources for photos pre-1920 then I shall be pleased to hear of them.

thank you and regards, Graham

 

[oldravendale]

Hi Graham.

I'm not at all knowledgable about the locos of the GWR, and particularly those before about 1920, but happen to have the volumes "Standard Gauge Great Western 4-4-0s" by OS Nock, published in two parts by David & Charles in 1977 and 1978. (I bought these as part of my "evidence" for building a Dukedog a few years ago).

In part one No 3343 is shown as a "Camel" rather than a Bulldog. There are three photos of the curved footplate locos in this number series, being 3338 in profile and from the tender, both in works grey, and 3332 working a train between Teignmouth and Dawlish. However, in Volume 2 summary of classes 3343 is shown as a Bulldog, later number as you say 3331, built Feb 1900, superheated Jan 1911, withdrawn Feb 1934.

These pictures are clearly copyright, but on the basis of this exercise being for research I'll be happy to copy them for you if they may be of help. Please PM me if you'd like me to do that.

These two volumes are currently available on Abebooks, the first volume (which deals with the Bulldogs) at only £4.50 plus shipping, although the second volume is considerably more expensive. It may well be worth looking at a few other potential suppliers.

Brian

 

[AJC]

Hi Graham - there are some nice shots in Mike Morant's online galleries:

GWR 4-coupled tender engines - MikeMorant

Not being especially familiar with GWR outside-framed 4-4-0s, I couldn't say which are which but there are some curved frame Bulldogs in the collection.

Adam

 

[Dog Star]

... there are some nice shots in Mike Morant's online galleries:

GWR 4-coupled tender engines - MikeMorant

Not being especially familiar with GWR outside-framed 4-4-0s, I couldn't say which are which...

Oooh some of those photographs are very nice .

Oh dear, just one genuine curved frame Bulldog (the other curved frame "Bulldogs" are rebuilds of Dean "Duke" class into the Bulldog class) .

Yippee, the genuine curved frame Bulldog is number 3343, Pegasus .

The condition depicted is post WW1, probably post grouping, suggested to be circa 1928 - rather too late to be of use in resolving when some details were changed, However, a nice picture which illustrates the seductive lines of this small sub-class.

 

[Steph Dale]

Graham,
I can't remember the route to get in touch with them, but I did find the GWS at Didcot photo archive useful for a couple of specific searches.
Might be worth making contact through the website?
Steph

 

[Dog Star]

This one got away.. a screenshot of an item on the Italian Ebay site of some months back.


The subject is Pegasus and the ebay entry gave the location as Westbourne Park circa 1902 - I see nothing in the picture to doubt the details so this is the closest image to date for my period of 1910-1912.

However, I was not able to secure the postcard and that leads me to ask WTers. Anyone able to help with any of the following:-

* photographer?
* publisher?
* another postcard of this image that I may inspect.

thank you and regards, Graham