My grandfather’s local station in southwest Wales was served by a GWR railmotor and would actually pull goods! He was a farmer and there are photographs of it pulling a his cattle wagon to market!
Pre-grouping, some of the Valleys lines had their own designs, one such featuring a 6 wheeled engine unit..... unique in the UK Mr Churchward's approach was (as always) based on empirical data, having arranged to borrow and test an earlier unit from the LSWR. The resulting GW railmotors lasted noticeably longer than pretty much any other 1st gen railmotors. Only one from this first flowering (from the old Lancs and Yorks) made it into the nationalised era, succumbing during 1948 without being renumbered. Not bad, given the last of the 2nd generation (1920s Sentinel pattern, widely used by the LNER) didn't last much longer. The actual engine of the GW railmotors (i.e.cylinders, valves and valve gear) formed the basis of the design used on the 1923/4 pair of three (!) VoR 2-6-2T locos and with the original drawings not being run to earth in the archives until just before the replica motor unit's construction, very nearly got reverse-engineered as the solution for the amazing reconstruction.
The cab roof shutter does slide. they are just a little stiff. Interior lights are at a brightness to represent the gas lights of the prototype. With the door handrails being attached in real life to both the body at the top and the foot steps that are part of the chassis at the bottom it was a necessary need to have them unclippable from one end to remove the body to represent them properly!
Rode on it at Didcot, certainly a unique machine. The amount of strength the driver needed to operate the controls from the auto coach end it was hauling to compensate for the slack in the whistle rope and regulator was incredible 😊
@@steamfandan9682How do you coal these things? Pretty sure the water comes through the little trapdoors on either side above the rear driver, but how do you coal it? Just shovel it in by hand? Surely not..?
@@BrokenIET that's exactly the method Having helped coal Steam rail motor No 93 the coal bunker is located in the cab above where the power bogie is located ( Underneath the windows and run full width of the footplate ) the boiler has to be removed as a separate unit
Did you notice that it contains a supercap. These means even on dc the interior lights stay glowing for a while at station stops. Don't forget these were originally gas lit so the dull brightness is correct. Cheers
My favourite oddity about these railmotors is they couldn't be fired on the move, so the fireman would have to stoke up a good fire at the station and hoped it would last to the next station.
I was wondering where is the coal bunker ! Now thanks to you I know that there was no coal storage on the locomotive. I wonder if Sam knew this if he did then why not mention it on his review ? Regards from Ron 🚂👍😃
There are three coal bunkers located just beneath the front windows in the engine end. They could be fired on the move with due care and anticipation of the trackwork ahead.
I really like it. Although as an exception I prefer the GWR Crimson as the preserved no. 93 example. I think it is a competent model for a fair price, especially as an exclusive. Should I buy one, I will most certainly buy the sound fitted version and leave it for my repair shop should something stop working because I ain't taking this apart again if it involves six clips and detailing to be removed. It looks very attractive and with two coaches, as you have demonstrated, it is a beautiful consist here. I didn't expect a review so soon after release. Excellent, I must say 👍👍
What a captivating model and prototype Sam. We have nothing to add to your review. It is a very fair and well done job once again. Room for some quality improvements by Kernow indeed. The realm of super fine-scale models on the other hand is evidently an invitation to issues and challenges as well. Extreme fragility of such models is one thing. Design-engineering choices, and high precision of manufacturing and assembly are of course added requirements. Overall, a most fascinating model. In need of some quality attention yes but an enthralling model. Cheerio.
@@andrewdking Oh hi. Us/We are us as a married couple, lol. Both of us are in the hobby, although he does all the technical things. I'm into modelling of scenery myself. Not in a club setting but we have started a layout a few years ago. We did discover Sam's Trains as well when we started, and strangely enough our passion has little to do with OO. Our fondness is Märklin (H0) with models from the 1970s onwards. We try to integrate old-new, and analogue-dcc which can be challenging at times. However the Märklin system has always been extremely consistent, coherent, and compatible since the 1960s. It's one of the oldest and continuous (truly) premium rail model companies as well; absolute historic focus on durable flawless quality and very high innovation. However we've also converted one Hornby Peckett (Daphne) to M 3-rail. Sam's Trains is very entertaining though and provides an insight of the OO market and British history of rails.
Thank you so much for both of your comments! Yeah they could improve improve it if they wanted, but overall it's just the job! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I'd say that the solution to fragility is to make those parts out of brass or steel. I havent seen many well made brass locos that are that fragile, but plastic on the other hand, breaks whenever it feels like it. Engineering resin is good for that too, as it is incredibly flexible while not being overly rubbery.
I worked on the real thing to finish off my apprenticeship at Llangollen Railway back in the day. Such a lovely locomotive and the model is fantastic. Well done with the review 👍
Ok this video had me worried for a second: I've got a couple of these on pre-ordered and I wasn't even aware they were in stock. Apparently though Kernow have over 3,000 orders for these and they're working their through in payment date order. Unfortunately it looks like I'm quite far down the list since I paid for mine in Jan 23 and most paid for theirs in Nov/Dec 22, so hopefully in the next week or two I should receive mine. Would have been nice to get an email saying that they had arrived and orders were being processed, rather than finding out via RU-vid. Cracking video, seems like a lovely model.
I had the pleasure of riding on and photographing it at Llangollen in 2013 before it was moved to GWS in Didcot. Wonderful experience and I’m absolutely delighted at the model which arrived last week. I got the excellent Steve Johnson at Grimy Times to fit the accessory pack
I had already seen a review of a rail motor in crimson lake livery and that reviewer seems to be more impressed than you - apart from having to unclip the door handrails! I also don't think he mentioned anything about a stiff bogie so perhaps you were a bit unlucky? Nor do I remember anything about pipes etc being too short. For a DC loco to have internal & directional lighting as standard is surely a good step forward?
I love this model, I've seen the same engine in a book before and have always been interested in it! good to see the companies making such unique engines!
Bought the preserved version at £189. Stiff rear bogie, thanks for the tip. No glue marks 1:05 1:05 . No Kerr Stuart builders plate but then no idea if there is one on the real thing. Have not run it as the track is buried under boxes currently. Lining is superb. Loco end steps nice and level. The underside was the first part i looked at and was impressed it would have been nice for the brake rodding to be fixed, nah wouldn’t work, make the rear bogie stiffer still. In the light i have can’t see any interior detail however you showed it well and it looks good and accurate (I guess) pity there was not a drivers jacket hanging on the back wall and bag on the floor. I am pleased you did not complain about the 0 gauge lamps as apparently could not have been made smaller due to bulbs not that small any other lighting method would have been very messy. If mine runs as good as yours then I will be a very happy person. I will run it on my Chesham branch when built, there is always a chance it could run there on a Sunday service day in reality. A nice balanced critique. Nice to have met you on the last day of the last Warley and apologies to your partner for not acknowledging her, very remiss of me. Just to park, get in and buy a snack, all i could afford, and two drinks. Total cost 63.61 gold bars. I had nothing more to buy anything there. Good riddance to an expensive location, just like Telford. I look forward to your review of the Ellis Clark Stanier class 5 should you get one or are loaned one. Best regards, graham
One nice touch on the Kernow site is a diagram of the loco showing the livery marked up with all the RAL colour codes. The Reichs-Ausschuß für Lieferbedingungen is a worldwide standard. It can be cross referenced with the Munsell system. Hornby occasionally post up similar diagrams on their website.
Finally. Its good to know this is a good model. Good detail and also runs well. Cannot wait to get mine. The only thing Kernow slipped up on is not producing the trailer to go with it as seeing Videos of the railmotor running at Llangollen it just would have completed it for me.
I really love this model Sam, It's such a very interesting & unique locomotive. I'll probably get one of these for sure, although if I can find it for a good price. Cheers Jasper & Willow
I've got the boring brown one deliberately because it will be the least popular (just to be different). Its DCC sound, but so far I've only powered it using a 9V battery across the wheels, just to check it functions - it did. It is indeed very delicate & picking it up, one has to check the door hand rails are still in-place when you put it down again. I was dissapointed with the roof piping, like you say its just moulded & the eye goes straight to it. Maybe the price was mounting with all the separately fitted parts, so Kernow had to compromise to stop it going over £200 in the basic DC version ? The other year I mentioned to Kyle at TRS Trains whether it could be fitted with his water vapour steam system, but probably not. It would look brilliant it he could achive it. Now it actually exists in the flesh, I'll have to ask him again. Sam, do you know who actually manufacture it for them ? Also, ModelU already do a crew & passenger set (two separate items) specially for this model, which I already have procured (not cheap), so more fiddly painting reqd & body removal to fit them :(
I find the goofiness of the rail motor so charming, they basically stuck a vertical boiler 0-4-0 in a coach body and just threw it into service, a very great western thing todo lol
If you think that one looks odd, the contraptions run by the GNR and the L&YR (to name but two) will really blow your mind. Myself, I love the weird Sentinel railmotor bought by the Southern to operate the Devil's Dyke Branch ..... very Jules Verne!!
This is similar in appearance to a doodlebug, though those used gasoline (petrol) engines, not diesel. That was their downfall as if they wrecked, they often became a big fireball as the flammable gas leaked and caught fire. These rail motors are also similar to RDCs; those use a diesel engine to power a small generator just like a modern diesel-electric locomotive, but the diesel engine was on the roof, covered by a shroud to protect it from the elements. Like these rail motors, they too had limited pulling power; often only one extra coach to meet passenger demand. I think a few RDCs were converted (or built) to haul mail or freight, and they were used by short line railroads to haul passengers to/from work where they couldn’t justify the cost of a full passenger train.
Correction on the RDCs, They are not diesel electric, they are diesel hydraulic - diesel motor driving through a torque converter transmission and the engines are mounted under the floor like any other diesel railcar. The roof pods house the engine radiators.
This railmotor is fantastic. Gorgeous prototype and also a beautiful model! There were some "Dampftriebwagen" over here in Germany, but most if not all of them were much smaller and had only 2 axles. This GWR Railmotor really makes me want to build a British 00 layout! 😅
@@SamsTrains Märklin (AC) / Trix (DC/DCC) made a model yes. I am not sure if they're still on sale today. It's called the "Kittel" Dampftriebwagen ... it's tiny compared to the Kernow Railmotor, maybe half the length I would guess! And yes, a few more videos of some gorgeous vehicles like this railmotor (or that beautiful GCR Class A5, I totally fell in love watching your review) will get me going for it one day! :)
Mine arrived yesterday, what an amazing model! Runs perfectly. Not having heard that Kernow were developing this vehicle, I was most pleasantly surprised when you reviewed it. Interesting to have a model of such an unique vehicle.
I saw the prototype of this model during my UK trip. It is bizarre but really cool to see a coach with driving rods. It’s at the Didcot railway centre, which if you haven’t visited I highly recommend, lots of cool great western locos there, including replica broad gauge!
For those of you who keep track of such things, “Pogo Pins” are a new entry in your Sam’s Trains Bingo Card 😂 Only gesting of corse. A nice review of an interesting prototype. If you ever get a chance to visit the Bekonscot Model Village, there (excellent) outside model railway has one of these that appears from time to time, or at least they used to. Best
My version arrived yesterday and it is impressive I have the sound version. You did an excellent presentation and I am sure the locomotive will be a success. Cheers
Its a nice model.When I looked into the demise of the full size Railmotors a while back there seemed to be a huge number of issues not least the only place you could reliably put coal in the firebox was when they were stationary meaning palls of smoke in the stations. They rattled so much that steam leaks were commin and drivers were given an extensive tool kit to do repairs on the move. As they got older they spent long times out of actuon under repair and of course it meant both the power plant and the coach would be out of use. Would love to have a ride on the preserved ine though.
The new Kernow Model Railways GWR Railmotor looks very nice and I do like this. Of course there are some things which Kernow should improve on the GWR Railmotor model Sam. Overall, it is a pretty good model and it has a pretty good coreless motor in its mechanism.
This is what you want out of a model, I am overwhelmingly enthralled by the contrasting panel work & painting. Maybe I am bit too obsessed with it on a model, but when it looks like it's come out of the NRM at York it is good. I'll leave the drooling there. Thnx for the video.
Sam its worth taking a photo of the exploded view. Zoom in you will probably be surprised at the detail visible. I often do that when trying to see whats going on especially in motorcycle diagrams.
A lot of these railmotors ran in the South Wales Valleys between Cardiff and Pontypridd, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil. There are so many photographs of these locomotives.
As nice as it is seeing Kernow stop rereleasing DJM toolings and making really cool stuff like this, I'd kill for a DJM GWR 14xx rerelease right about now. Gettin real sick of the ancient Hornby 14xx being the only one available
Excellent review of a lovely model Sam! I took delivery of one today and it's gorgeous! Beware of the chimney cap falling off when opening the box and the Valve Gear Scrolls on the power bogie scraping platform edges. (Update - Changing the Valve Gear Scrolls to the smaller ones from the detail pack solved the platform edge issue). As advertised, the model is not so happy on 1st radius curves.
Ordered mine with sound. The detail and finish are amazing. My 6 year old Digitains sound fitted Bachmann 009 Baldwin, as this model is, cost more. So, a "bargain" ? I hope somebody does a nice North Eastern petrol/electric railcar. I have ridden in both, which are stunningly restored. A must do when visiting lines when they are resident and running.
I only have a one official Kernow exclusive model at the moment and that is the GWR D6xx Warship but I am tempted by one of these, they are such interesting looking things and in model form they look even more interesting, a good review overall Sam.
Not sure how fast this actually is in scale speed, but a really good crew could probably get one up to 45mph without a load at a push. Planning on getting one (probably the Maroon one with Severn Valley Railway destinations) and am now looking forward to it! Great video as always! Edit: I got it! It took more than 2 hours in each direction before it ran smoothly, but once we got there it runs like butter. Now just to get one of those Dapol auto-trailers when they release!
We had a lot of these here in the NER area. Mostly built by Sentinel, with Cammell-Laird bodies (later Metro-Cammell), they were built between 1925 and 1932. The last was gone by 1948, and there are no known survivors. I wonder if we'll get a model of one?
I love some of the names the LNER used. Along with their directors' horsey names, some old stagecoach names were used. "Tally Ho!" was one of my favourites. There's a Sentinel repatriated from Egypt at the Buckingham Railway Centre. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like a restoration priority, but hopefully they'll keep it safe until it's turn comes around.
I model in N Gauge, but i have a few 00 bits as well. This loco/coach/Auto-coach being as good as it looks, makes me so tempted to buy one! Don't know why? it just does!
Try stripping-down and rebuilding the Acc's Manor!! That fiddly and Tight two-wire plug in the boiler is an absolute "B" for Bananas! Watch for parts pinging off and don't forget to clean the glue off before resetting...and you think the StPwrdC is difficult! 🙂
Here in Australia, we have a type of steam rail motor. But instead of it being a coach with a steam loco inside, it’s a tiny steam loco with a coach built into it. We have a preserved example, affectionately known as the coffee pot
I find it so funny when you were testing the crawl that I said pretty darn good in real life, and then you said it too like two seconds later in the video. That is just hilarious 😂.
On overall aspect, good to excellent, a good start. For exploitation, does she runs fine ? Well, she does. And thanks for the tip on the carrier bogie ! One thing that amaze me, in the negative sense of the term, is why on Earth did they conceive the opening of their engine to do it by taking apart the chassis ? Due to the position of the decoder socket, just have the roof maintained in place by one screw at each extremity passing through the whole height of the locomotive in places invisible or difficult to see (or clipped if nothing else can be done) would have made the opening far more easy ! Why did nobody at the drawing board think about such a simple solution ? I'll see next month if I buy me one, very tempting to get one !
If memory serves, weren't the first GWR Auto-coaches built out of converted railmotor trailer cars, with the power cars taking longer to convert? They were something like 10 or 11 feet longer than the Auto-coach.
If you have 2 R2 curves with one reversed it can cause problems for some longer models. Same with a tightening radius curve after a turnout. My Roco VT 12.5 DMU has very long cars and in reverse it would derail on that type of track layout due to a lack of weight in the middle car. It took a lot of lead weights inside to stop that happening.
@@andyaccount it did spend a few months at the South Devon railway and it did do a couple of shuttle runs between Liskard- Looe and the freight only Brentford branch now it's awaiting overhaul
That's an excellent livery, although I'm not used to seeing the GWR Railmotor in anything other than maroon. I've had this thing in Train Simulator for many years, but she's only supplied in one livery (that being maroon, as seen on the preserved No. 93). Incidentally, and from what I gather, some of these railmotors were actually converted into autocoaches in real life.
1. The chimney - since it is easily removable, there would seem to be an opportunity for someone with a lathe or 3D printer to produce s replacement part. 2. Several manufacturers make figures that can be installed ae passengers and crew 3. 3 man crew? Driver, fireman and Guard? 4.
Sam. You refer to valve gear scrolls. They are the bogie mounts. On the real thing the bogies were attached to the sole bar using the 'scrolls' . Due to the valve gear, the power bogie had to be mounted from underneath.
What a great choice for a review, and also for the supporting cast. The "Great Western Way" wasn't always about standardisation and uniformity. As I understand it, they were designed primarily to compete with the threat of trams. £189 is a bit steep for me, but I'll keep an eye out to see if Kernow reduces it in the future, as it is GWR, of which I am a big fan.
This thing is beautiful, absolutely lovely model, would be perfect for O gauge. I just hope the same thing doesn't happen to Kernow as happened to Hattons in regards to manufacturers seeing them as competition.