Somerset and Dorset Steam Special

We do not run many steam locos on the layout as it is set in BR Blue Diesel era.

However, living where I do, I obviously have a great love of the Somerset and Dorset Railway and, therefore, we do have a few S&D related items in the collection, some of which are shown in the photographs above.

Our prize possession is the Limited Edition, Bachmann Fowler Class 7F 2-8-0 Nº 88 in Prussian Blue. This in Catalogue Nº 20-2012 and was released, as the number suggests, in 2012.

We have fitted her with a sound decoder by Howes, albeit a generic one, and have run it occasionally.

In the first four photos it is seen travelling along the branch line to Anchwood, stopping at High Bridge, en route.

In the penultimate photo, we see it back on the main line, emerging from the tunnel on its way to Carswater.

Finally, the 7F is joined by a couple of other recently acquired Hornby S&DJR locomotives, namely:

Fowler Class 2P 4-4-0 Nº 25 - Catalogue Nº: R3029.

and

Class 3F 0-6-0 'Jinty' Nº 24 - Catalogue Nº: R2882

The Prussian Blue colouring is a bit too light on these locos, to be honest, especially on the 3F but this one is from the Railroad range.

The 2P can be seen on the branch, hauling a rake of non-prototypical S&D coaches by Dapol. These are also limited editions (150, I believe) and are based on old Airfix coaches. They are not brilliant but do look good behind a blue S&D loco!

The 2-8-0, meanwhile, is hauling a rake of maroon coaches, reminiscent of the Pines Express that these locos were often called upon to haul over the Mendips.

Finally the Jinty can be seen emerging from the tunnel at the head of a rake of coal wagons. This again recalls the days when these locos were often to be seen hauling similar coal wagons in and around the collieries of Radstock and Midsomer Norton.