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D3 Billinton |
D3 Marsh (awaiting picture) |
The class D3 tank locomotive was introduced in 1892 by Robert Billinton, largely for secondary passenger work, with subsequent batches until 1896. Thirty six locomotives were produced, numbered 165-170 and 453-462, all of which passed to the Southern Railway on Grouping in 1923. Many lasted into British Railways ownership. The class, at various times during their lives, carried the main passenger locomotive liveries of Stroudley's “improved engine green” (yellow ochre), Marsh umber, SR olive green and BR lined black.
As with many long lived classes, the locomotives were subject to many detailed changes over the years. For example, when reboilered in 1905/06, four engines were fitted with a pair of direct loaded safety valves over the firebox. Many engines received standard Marsh boiler fittings, though, except for the D3X sub-class, the boiler dimensions remained much the same. Marsh rebuilt Nos.396 & 397 with I2 boilers in 1909, which were then classified as class D3X. These two engine variants cannot be made from the kit.
Further detail changes took place after Grouping in 1923 when many repairs were undertaken at Ashford rather than Brighton. Some engines were fitted with flush fitting smokebox doors and others with Ross pop safety valves. Vacuum braking was fitted to some engines in the 1890s, and this was extended to the whole class in Southern Railway days. It has not been possible to cater for all these variants in this kit. A data sheet covering SR/BR periods with a list of extra castings available is included with the Marsh versions of this kit.
It is recommended that the modeller selects a photograph of the loco that is to be modelled. Further details can be found in the books “Locomotives of the LBSC: Volume 2” by D.L. Bradley - RCTS 1972. Further photographs of locos in all periods can also be found in “Locomotives Illustrated No 84 - LBSC Four Coupled Tank Engines” (July/August 1992). Copies are available secondhand.
The MSC Models Kit
As the boiler dimensions remained the same for many engines throughout their lives, the modeller can construct, from the kit, the original Billinton version and those locomotives which were fitted with Marsh fittings right up to withdrawal by BR. The main etch and chassis are common to both Billinton and Marsh versions, but the castings supplied are those applicable to the version being modelled.
The kits can be powered by a number of different motor units, but the MSC Models JH motor unit is 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. Bogie wheels are of 3' 0” diameter with 8 spokes.