Review | Dapol - Swindon Works “Manor Class” 4-6-0

Today we're taking a look at another British model, of a prototype with a long and interesting history - so let's get started...

Manor Class History: The history of the Manor Class begins with the Great Western Railway, and their need for a lighter mixed traffic (freight and passenger) locomotive. Charles Collett, Chief Engineer of the GWR (1922-1944), had previously designed the "Grange Class" 4-6-0 locomotives, which proved to be a solidly successful design, so Collett planned for the Manors to be a smaller, lighter version of the Granges. This would give the Manors a wider route availability, permitting them to operate on lines the Granges and similar locomotives were too heavy for.

They would be named after manors in the area the GWR covered, with "Torquay Manor" being the first, rolling out of the GWR's Swindon works in January of 1938. Unfortunately, the Manors would prove mediocre in service, though GWR would produce a total of 20, from 1938 to '39.

They proved to have poor steaming rates and excessive fuel consumption, and, it was claimed, they would all have been recalled for modifications, if not for the constraints of the ongoing war (WW2), and the urgent need of all equipment operable.

Thus, the Manors would clank on doing their thing with no real rectification of the issues.

In 1948 the GWR would be nationalized under British Railways, and BR would endeavor to investigate the Manors' issues.

This investigation would reveal that the front portions of the Manors restricted steam flow and draft on the fire, with the blastpipe being too large in relation to the chimney. The blastpipe size was reduced by a quarter, and the new firebar design increased air space on the grate, which improved combustion.

These modifications improved the class greatly, and all the Manors would receive them.

These proved successful enough that BR would build 10 more at the by then BR Swindon Works.

The Manors would all be classed as 5MT on the BR, which meant they had a power rating of 5 (BR had locos from 1 to 9) and MT for Mixed Traffic (BR also has P for passenger and F for freight).

The entire class would be withdrawn by 1965.

Thankfully, a large number have been preserved, a total of 9.

BR 7823 "Hook Norton Manor" History: As is typical with a vast majority of locomotives, 7823 doesn't have a particularly interesting career. Built at Swindon by BR in December of 1950, it would perform its duties quietly but well for BR. In 1954 it would be chosen for improved draughting tests. That would be the pinnacle of its notoriety, and it would be scrapped in July of 1964, an unfortunately brief life, though a common story for BR steam locomotive designs.

Box info.

I specifically wanted the BR lined black livery, as I'm not a particular fan of the BR or GWR greens.

It's somewhat difficult to show good detail when photographing a shiny black object.

A closeup of the nameplate and cab side.

Note the electroplated steam dome and the red valvegear under the boiler.

Very nicely detailed cab.

And the Dapol tender to loco hookup - just push them together until the click, and there's a secure connection, both for actually pulling it, and for the electronics hookups. A very impressive design, a lot better than the mess of wires typically seen.

Good: Basically everything. I'll start with the first thing I look at, and work down. The paint and striping are fantastic.

The details are outta sight - all very nicely made and installed, especially that steam dome. It sounds really nice, and all the DCC functions work as they should. Handles trackwork mostly well, and has plenty of power.

Its weight is okay, coming in at a combined 12.7oz, 3.6 for the tender and 9.2 for the loco - not terribly impressive, but not bad.

Bad: The aforementioned weight - it's a decent sized model, so a little more heft would've been nice.

Also, the tender tends to derail when backing over switches - I'd hazard a guess and say that's the fault of the loco/tender hookup not providing enough play to handle uneven track. I also noticed that occasionaly one of the tender axles will not quite touch the track.

Overall: A mighty fine ten-wheeler. Looks great, and operates well. I'd definitely recommend it!