Dapol N 2S-009-004 GWR 3803 28xx/2884 Class 2-8-0 Heavy Freight Engine Green Lettered GWR
A detailed model of GWR 3803, one of the Collett side window cab 28xx class 2-8-0 heavy freight locomotives and now preserved and in working order. The model is painted in the later & post-WW2 livery of plain green, lettered GWR.
The model is driven by Dapols' tender-mounted motor with shaft drive to the locomotive. This arrangement allows a good size motor to be used without compromise in the model and still provides power through the locomotive driving wheels. As can be seen in the photographs this has permitted the visual clearance between the frames and boiler to be replicated. A defining feature of the 28 together with it's long, low boilered look accentuated by the boiler taper, which are nicely captured by this model.
DCC Ready. 6 pin decoder required for DCC operation.
The GWRs' progressive chief mechanical engineer G J Churchward created a range of standard locomotives from the early 1900s, with different designs sharing as many common parts as possible.
The 28xx (or 2800) class 2-8-0 locomotives were built for heavy freight service. Large diameter, long stroke cylinders coupled to the small 4ft 7.5in driving wheels providing excellent traction allied to a capacious boiler easily able to cope with the steam demands of starting and hauling heavy coal trains up the grades from under the Severn. The class were quickly established as among the most powerful and efficient freight engines in the UK.
After 84 engines had been built the the design was revised by C B Collett, with a number of detail changes being made incorporating in-service experience. The major visual change was the fitting of a modern looking side-window cab in place of the Churchward arc cut-out. Similarly to the other classes revised by Collett a 'sub-class' was created. Officially this was the 2884 class, but as numbers quickly entered the 38xx series the side window engines are often referred to as 38s.
These powerful freight engines provided the basis for the later Stanier 8Fs