GWR - God's Wonderful Railway (Train Running Day)

Poster for the March 2014 Train Running Day event

A special Train Running Day, on 29th March 2014, celebrating the life and works of the Great Western Railway (GWR), known to its fans as "God's Wonderful Railway".

The GWR was one of the great achievements of legendary engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Description

" The Great Western Railway was founded in 1833 and in operation from 1835 to 1947. It connected London with the West and South West of the UK. Although it is no longer known as the GWR, there are still memories of it dotted across the country, including at Paddington station, Frome station, and Bristol, Temple Mead. Some knew it as "God’s Wonderful Railway", and others, less flatteringly, the "Great Way Round".

On Saturday 29th March at the Brighton Toy and Model Museum, we are commemorating this celebrated line by running a number of GWR model locomotives. We will be showcasing a large variety of trains from the era, including some well-known and other rare and antique and vintage models. Some of these are one hundred years old.

As well as providing a great learning opportunity, we will also have some special offers for new members of the museum. If you join us on this day, your admission to this event will be free. Your membership will also entitle you to free entry to the museum for a year, with half price entry to our special events. Otherwise, admission is £5 with no concessions. "

Programme

• Saturday 29th March 2014 - ~10:30-~17:00 morning and afternoon shows, with layouts running approximately ~10:30am-1pm, and ~2pm-4:30pm, with a one-hour break. Timings are approximate.

£5 entry, no concessions

Free entry to anyone signing up for membership on the day

Further details

16:9 GWR event "Welcome Screen" [image info]

Cover of the 1938 Hornby Book of Trains, featuring Great Western locomotive 6005 King George II [image info]

Hornby No.2 Special locomotive, GWR 3821 County of Bedford, 1938 catalogue image [image info]

For your information we have listed the makers of the vintage locomotives and rolling stock that you will see in operation. Most items are from the 1930's, when "0 gauge" model trains were at their peak. The Museum's large 0 gauge layout is itself unique and features mainly 1930's products, many of them very rare. Some, such as the water-tower, Fouroaks Station and the clerestory-roofed coaches were made around 1912 by Georges Carette, who set the standard for many contemporary and later "tin plate" products. The layout as a whole represents what was available before World War Two, and would have been a millionaire son's plaything.

LOCOMOTIVES

• "KING GEORGE" PACIFIC, by Marklin for Bassett-Lowke. c. 1937
• "COUNTY OF BEDFORD", by HORNBY, c. 1938
• PANNIER TANK, special order from Bassett-Lowke, c. 1935
• "PENDENNIS CASTLE", Vic Reader, 1960, finished by C. Littledale
• SMALL PRAIRIE, possibly Mills. mid-1930's
• LARGE PRAIRIE, possibly Bond's O' Euston Road, post war
• BULLDOG "ORION", ETS for ACE TRAINS, 2012
• "CITY OF BATH", Bing for Bassett-Lowke, c.1920
• "BARNUM", by Mills Brothers, c1934

Further "visiting" locomotives of special interest may make an appearance

ROLLING STOCK

• GWR CORRIDOR STOCK, with white roofs, early 1930's, modelled closer to prototype than post-war products
• GWR COACHES , Corridor and non-corridor, as represented by HORNBY in the No. 2 Series, 1930's
• GWR 70 FOOT PANELLED COACHES, by Mills Brothers to special order, pre-war, very rare.
• GWR COACHES, as modelled by Bing using a "standard" pressing, in early GWR "crimson lake" livery used up to 1923
• GWR 6-WHEEL COACHES, post-war standard issue, plus a special order white roof passenger brake, pre-war

GOODS STOCK

The main feature is a rake of Carette wagons of pre-First World War vintage, all now over 100 years old, and quite rare. Additional wagons, including Milk Tanks by Bassett-Lowke will be used according to occasion. It was common practice for the GWR to attach a milk tank or van to suburban trains in order to move them up or down the line as required.

See also:

• Category:Great Western Railway

External links

• Retrospective blog post with pictures about the day's events (brightontoyandmodelmuseum.blogspot.co.uk)