Wotton Tramway, Brill Branch

[Scrat]

Hi,

next project will be 807, now in London Transport Museum. (Found an unfinished 5" geuge model)
I already tried to get the Brill branch book, but only found sellers that do not ship to Germany.
I am now looking for photos of that loco and information about the hoop visible behind the left front buffer beam and the boxes near the rear buffer beam on the running boards. The few pics I foud on the Internet also do not show much of the brake gear.

Best regards

Holger

[philipy]

Hi Holger,
I have that book and I'm happy to pass on anything that might help. There are three photos of No.807 but all are very dark with not much detail discernable. I can't immediately see what looks like a hoop behind the buffer beam but I'll have another look in the morning when I have better light.

[Scrat]

Hi Philip,

the hoop is visible in this picture:

[philipy]

Hi Philip,

the hoop is visible in this picture:

I'd guess it is simply a footstep?

[Scrat]

My guess is a holder for an oil can (or milk churn),

[ge_rik]

My guess is a holder for an oil can (or milk churn),

I wondered if it might be for a bucket....

Rik

[ge_rik]

Ah.... I wonder if it's to hold a container for sanding.

https://content-eu.invisioncic.com/y320 ... e78437.JPG

Rik

[drewzero1]

I recently found myself a copy of The Chronicles of Boulton's Siding and somewhat coincidentally spotted this locomotive within which seems to all but confirm the sander hypothesis:

Screenshot_20231118-091616.jpg (379.32 KiB) Viewed 7609 times

[Scrat]

That might also clarify the "box" on the running board near the rear buffer beam.

Were these sanders just buckets with a pipe through the bottom?
Were there any means of sanding when needed or was this an "always on" gravity and rattle method?

These containers would be suitable for hiding a battery for the piezo beeper that indicates when the belly tank is almost empty.

[philipy]

Just bare in mind that No.807 ( the Wooton Loco) was a very early one (built 1872 I believe, their very first one had been built in 1866) and that each successive production loco would have had significant 'improvements', so be very careful that something you can see on later photos would not necessarily be the same on 807. Plus, I believe that 807 was 'upgraded' /rebuilt at least once and possibly twice before it was left to rot and then subsequently rescued, restored and preserved and put in the LT Museum.

For example, 807 was Wooton No.1 but Wooton No.2 had larger wheels fitted in 1874 due to stabilty issues. Spark arrester chimneys were fitted as additions at one point and later removed again.....etc.

[drewzero1]

Good note Philip- - The build date given for the one I posted (built by Marshall & co) is 1899, so that is a considerable difference and plenty of time for alterations or changes in function.

[Scrat]

You are absolutely right.
Many alterations have been made during its lifetime.
Now the issue is to decide which state to choose for my model.

Same applied to another 5" gauge loco.
The stages of modification of the prototype were:
Claud Hamilton
D16/1, D16/2, D16/3
Super Claud
So I went with the Super Claud.

Wikipedia states that the front axle sometimes lifted off the track when pulling a heavy load.
So I think traction might not have been a big issue So I might go for the early version without sanding gear.
Let^s just keep collecting bits.
I will post pics as soon as I have something to show you.

[Old Man Aaron]

Looking forward to seeing it.The unique ones are my favourite.