Wainwright’s opus in D major

Posted byTrevorPosted inMisc 7mm equipment, Misc Locomotives, Misc Models
South Eastern & Chatham 732 – among the most beautiful locomotives ever built?

My 7mm scale layout – Bydemill – represents a classic Great Western Railway branch line terminal in the Edwardian era. So there’s no reason for anything other than GWR motive power to make an appearance.

However…

The era produced some truly stunning locomotives. And sometimes, when the stars align, a model of one ends up in my collection.

My latest wandering off the GWR right of way is SECR 732 – a D Class from the mind of Harry Smith Wainwright, widely acknowledged for creating some of the most elegant designs of the era.

The cab is fully detailed – and the open-backed nature of these Edwardian era beauties makes it easy to appreciate all that effort. I will have to paint up a crew for the cab.

As a Lee Marsh model, it’s as finely executed as can be – including full cab interior and working inside valve gear. And it runs as nicely as it looks.

Between its physical lines and the painted lining, there’s an elegance to these machines that has given way to modern practicality. I’m actually struggling with the idea of weathering this model because it’s so delightful in its clean finish. I’ll get over it: Light weathering, carefully applied, can only highlight a model like this.

The South Eastern & Chatham Railway headed east from London – the opposite direction to that of the GWR. So I have no justification for this model except, well, it’s beautiful and it speaks – no, it sings – to me. So, I have invoked Rule 1 (“It’s my railway”) and I’ll enjoy running it between more formal operating sessions.

I will have to find some suitable passenger stock for it to haul.

Published by Trevor

Lifelong model railway enthusiast and retired amateur shepherd who trained a border collie to work sheep. Professional writer and editor, with some podcasting and Internet TV presenting work thrown in for good measure.