MAINLINE 00 66XX CLASS 0-6-2T MIXED TRAFFIC TANK ENGINE 6652 BR PLAIN BLACK EALY

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This is the Mainline (cat. No. 37039) 00 gauge BritishRailways, ex Great Western Railway 66xx class 0-6-2T tank engine no.6652 in BR plain black livery with early emblem. It is in excellent condition, and has never been run on a layout. The 66xx moulds were inherited by Bachmann but they modified them to produce a 56xx, so this exact 66xx sub-class model is no longer available. Not DCC ready. THE PROTOTYPE: The 56xx class locomotives were designed by C B Collett and introduced by the GWR in 1924 for passenger, goods and mineral traffic on the steeply graded lines of the South Wales valleys. They were to replace urgently a varied array of engines inherited by the GWR in 1922 from predecessor railways in South Wales, and were designed to use as many standard parts from other GWR classes as possible to speed design and production. They copied the 0-6-2T layout of the Rhymney Railway M and R class locomotives of 1904 and 1907 respectively, already successful in the valleys, but with a much more modern Swindon boiler. A total of 100 56xx class engines were built between 1924-7, when the design was slightly modified and a further 100 were built as 66xx class. All 200 survived into BR ownership. Nos. 6600-6649 were built by the GWR at Swindon in 1927-1928, and nos. 6650-6699 were built by Armstrong Whitworth in 1928, so 6652 is an Armstrong. The class was notable for its power and acceleration, which made it especially suitable for the South Wales valleys. Withdrawals started in 1962, and the last was retired from BR service in May 1966. Nine have been preserved. No. 6652 was built by Armstrong Whitworth at Scotswood (Newcastle-upon Tyne) in August 1928 and withdrawn from Llanelly shed (87F) in December 1963. In 1948 she was at Aberdare shed (86J), and the model has this shed code. She was scrapped by T.W. Ward, Briton Ferry in June 1964. A photo of 6652 at Aberdare in March 1952 can be found online. NB the Rail UK website says 6652 was built at Swindon works, but I think this must be wrong, and that she was an Armstrong. THE MODEL: Mainline introduced the 66xx model in 1983 and it was only produced in 1983-4, in three versions, GWR green (cat 937038), BR plain black, early emblem (cat 937039), and BR lined green, late crest (cat 937508 – 8 samples only in 1984). When Mainline collapsed Bachmann inherited the moulds but it never appeared in their range in the original Mainline form. Bachmann modified the moulds, re-issuing it as a 56xx in 2002. The Mainline 66xx sub-class model has significant detail differences from the Bachmann 56xx model, e.g. on the cab roof. The model has fine detail, but is to 1980s standards, i.e. no refinements such as sprung buffers. LIVERY: The model is in BR plain black livery with the early emblem. The livery is appropriate for the period from nationalisation in 1947 until 1956, when BR replaced the early emblem with the later crest, though engines in goods service were not repainted quickly. CONDITION: I bought this model new for a branch line that never got built, and it has only been out of its box to be test run on a yard of track when new and for this sale. The model is in perfect condition and runs well in both directions, but is noisy in line with models of that era. The box is intact but scuffed reflecting 30 years residence on my shelf! REASON FOR SALE: I will never use it. I prefer POSTAGE: – I will send this via a Royal Mail Recorded service appropriate to the sale price, and I will email you with the tracking number when I have posted it. I will accept return of the goods only if not as described. I don’t expect overseas bids, but will investigate postage costs if asked. FEEDBACK : Please note that I will leave feedback for you after you have left feedback confirming that the goods have arrived safely and are satisfactory. This is in accordance with ebay guidance for sellers, which says ”You should wait until the transaction is complete before leaving Feedback - i.e. after ... read more

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