Scalefour Forum

Could anyone please tell me whether the tenders of these engines carried a vacuum pipe? I cannot find any pictures of a tender rear, only front three-quarter views, which show no pipe on the front at least. All seem to carry screw couplings. Period is 1930 - ish.

Philip

Hi Philip,
I don't think any of the RODs purchased by the GWR were fitted with an ejector to operate vacuum brakes, therefore no vacuum pipes. As build they were fitted with Westinghouse gear for working continental stock in France. There is a good picture of the tender rear in Rowledge Volume 1. This is original condition ROD so I guess this is not what you are after.
Cheers....Morgan

Thanks, Morgan. I think that's all I need to know.

Philip

The above seems to be confirmed by Loco Profile 21 which mentions removal of the Westinghouse brakes and states that the vacuum brake was not installed. It has a couple of pictures (not showing tender rear) but showing that there is no vac pipe on the engine front.
Pics are of 3043 on hire to the GW in 1919-21, 3010, one of the 20 purchased in 1919 and 3016 at Reading in 1950.
Regards
Keith

The Swindonised RODs were only ever equipped with steam brakes (and tender handbrakes, of course) following removal of the Westinghouse brake - indeed, according to RCTS volume 10, they were fitted with a modified ATC which produced only an audible warning because of the lack of an automatic brake. Also, according to RCTS, many retained the flat steel hangers where the Westinghouse pump was mounted to the smokebox, some into BR days.

Check out MRJ67 for pictures of GW ROD tenders.

To all who responded and took trouble to look up things, many thanks - I now have all the info that I need for the conversion.

Happy New Year to all!

Philip