Prototype Warship Details

Osgood

Western Thunderer
Whilst sorting and filing a lifetime's collection of articles saved from magazines, I came across this on the back of a saved article (on Eritrean railways) from The Railway Magazine of July 2003 - thought it might be of interest.
There is also a long list of names rejected by the Western Area Board in 1961 - not comfortable reproducing more here, but may be worth finding a copy of the magazine as I recall it was a reasonably lengthy article?
IMG_8641.JPG
 
Last edited:

Lyndhurstman

Western Thunderer
Interesting.... An evolution of the look of the GWR Railcars. I wonder if the use of passenger-hauling livery was seen as limiting?

Cheers

Jan
 

Compton castle

Western Thunderer
If Stanley Raymond had anything to do with it there was no way Chocolate and cream was going to be an option. However he didn’t come into his post until 1962 it was at his request that the Chocolate and cream sets where to be broken up, seems he had a dislike for anything akin to the old GWR. Luckily his purge of all things GW ceased when Fiennes to over the post a year later.
I think it was KC Grand who was at the helm when the warships came into use, Reading recently in the Blue Pullman book he wanted the WR sets to be chocolate and cream, he was the man behind the ornate headboards introduced around 1956.
 

Yorkshire Dave

Western Thunderer
It appears the livery styling in the artists impression was influenced by that applied to the DB V200. Photo by Roger Wollstadt - Neckarelz
220_002-0_in_Neckarelz.jpeg

My Warship is a Fleischmann HO model re-powered with Roco V200 drive trucks (the model was originally produced in 1977 and the detail still holds it's own against today's models).

Warship 6.jpg
 
Train spotting at Chard Junction 1969/70, you had a long wait, the crossing barriers went down, the huge yellow nose appeared in the distance, excitement, anticipation, but no, D827 ( I think ) Kelly yet again. But the good days included cabbing 869 Zest in the milk factory sidings, Greyhound on mystery tour to Littlehampton and Magpie in faded maroon. They weren’t steam, but had the locomotive appeal lacking on so many services today.

Keith
 

Compton castle

Western Thunderer
Many many moons have passed since I planned to modify a pair of Heljan locos one for myself and one for A friend.
Although I did sell mine to another friend. nevard 160916 Severn T 19 HAZE.jpeg
I do really like the warships in original condition.
 
Last edited:

oldravendale

Western Thunderer
Is there any explanation, Ian? It looks as though it may have been primed/undercoated and then withdrawn. Or is it in preservation, in which case anything could (and does) happen! (Like red 8Fs).

Brian
 

Lancastrian

Western Thunderer
Is there any explanation, Ian? It looks as though it may have been primed/undercoated and then withdrawn. Or is it in preservation, in which case anything could (and does) happen! (Like red 8Fs).

Brian
Brian,

I had to go and check. D832 "Onslaught" at BREL Derby early 1980, in green primer.
Ilford FP4 film.

Ian
 

oldravendale

Western Thunderer
As it was withdrawn at the end of 1972 I guess that means it's being readied for preservation. Thanks for checking the details.

Brian
 

Osgood

Western Thunderer
Try as I may I cannot find any details on the www of ONSLAUGHT's early years of preservation - in particular how it came to be repainted at Derby (presumably following repairs / overhaul?).
 

PhilH

Western Thunderer
According to the www - D832 ONSLAUGHT was the last 'Warship' in service; on withdrawal it was sent to the Railway Technical Centre at Derby, where it was used for various research purposes until it was secured for preservation.

From Industrial Railway Society records - ONSLAUGHT was transferred from BREL, Horwich Works together with D1041 WESTERN PRIDE to the East Lancashire Railway on 10/6/1980. So presumably it was moved by BR from Derby to Horwich sometime between early 1980 and June 1980 in preparation for its transfer to the East Lancs.
 

Quintus

Western Thunderer
For what it's worth, here is a photograph taken by myself as a young spotter at Bristol T. M.
I think it must have been 1959 /60.
I have to say that I would have much preferred it to be a " Castle", and there were still plenty of them around at the time.
Never thought these things would catch on!
D800 Sir Brian Robertson at Bristol T.M..JPG
 

MarkR

Western Thunderer
absolutely love these locos – can' get enough of them. This, courtesy of RC Riley, has been my favourite pic for a while. It's D800 'Sir Brian Robertson'.
Hi Steve,
That's a lovely picture, could you tell me please, the title of the book it comes from, thankyou.
Mark
 

40057

Western Thunderer
Hi Steve,
That's a lovely picture, could you tell me please, the title of the book it comes from, thankyou.
Mark
There’s an error in the description, though. What’s a Penzance to Plymouth train doing at Cowley Bridge Junction? The location does appear to be Cowley Bridge Junction, so the train description must be wrong.
 
Top