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D1 Stroudley |
D1 Marsh (awaiting picture) |
The D1 (initially D) class 0-4-2T tank locomotive was introduced in 1873 by William Stroudley, largely to work on heavily loaded outer suburban services. 125 engines were built in ten batches up to 1887. Many passed to the Southern Railway on Grouping in 1923, with the final working engine being condemned by British Railways in 1950.
Brief Historical Survey:-
Stroudley Period (1873 1889) {Ochre Livery}
The first twenty four locomotives were originally outshopped with no Westinghouse brake equipment, but with wooden brake blocks and single link couplings. Later, Westinghouse equipment and iron brake blocks fitted along with screw link couplings.
R.Billinton Period (1889 1905) {Ochre Livery}
As engines came to be reboilered, some of them were fitted with manholes over the firebox on which the whistle stood, the dome was moved forward and Billinton chimnies fitted.
Marsh & L. Billinton Period (1905 1922) {gradual change to Umber Livery}
Many engines were fitted with new Marsh boilers, including a new chimney in many cases, new dome, safety valve and whistle position. Stroudley fittings were retained on other engines and some had a mixture of Stroudley and Marsh fittings. Many of the class had a new lease of life being fitted for motor train working.
Southern Railway Period (1923 1947) {Maunsel passenger Green Livery}
Vacuum brakes were introduced. Permutations of boiler fittings continued and even Drummond fittings were added in some cases. Some engines were fitted with fire fighting equipment in World War Two.
British Railways Period (1948 1950) {BR plain Black Livery}
A handful remained in service after nationalisation and the end came in September 1950 when Horsham-based No.2252 (complete with Drummond chimney) was withdrawn. Two fire fighting engines which had been stored out of service since the war were scrapped in 1951.
The modeller is strongly advised to choose a particular engine and a particular period to model. Whilst the boiler remained of virtually identical dimensions throughout the life of the class, the diversity of fittings was significant.
Reference to the text and photographs in the books listed below should help in both selecting which locomotive to build and the construction of the kit:-
Stroudley Locomotives A Pictorial History by Brian HaresnapeIan Allan 1985
Locomotives Illustrated No.84-LBSC Four Wheeled Coupled Tank Engines July/August 1992
E.J.Bedford of Lewes-Photographer of the LBSCR by J.Minnis Wild Swan Publications 1989 (Superb photographs of D tanks in the Stroudley period)
Locomotives of the LBSC vol 2 by D.L.Bradley RCTS 1972
A Pictorial Record of Southern Locomotives by J.H.Russell OPC 1991
(Copies of all the above publications are available secondhand)
The MSC Models Kit
The kits are produced in two basic forms:
• With Stroudley Fittings;
• With Marsh/Southern Railway fittings.
However, MSC Models can supply alternative fittings if, for example, a model is required of a Marsh period engine with a Stroudley chimney. An information sheet is enclosed with the kits.
The kits can be powered by a number of different motor units, but the MSC Models JH or SM motor units are particularly recommended.
Wheels have not been provided in the kits as there are a number of different standards available in O Gauge. Slaters Plastikard Ltd and Walsall Model Engineering wheels are recommended. Driving wheels are of 5' 6 diameter with 16 spokes. Trailing wheels are of 4' 6 diameter with 14 spokes.