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Wagons seen on the WC&PR and Gloucestershire-based private owners
A special limited edition model only available from Antics.The Weston Clevedon & Portishead Railway purchased 2 of the Brighton A1 Terrier locomotives, WC&P No.4 was delivered in the attractive Southern lined green livery. This was enhanced with the WC&PR lettering arranged in an arc on the side tanks applied after arrival at Clevedon.
Antics Weston Clevedon & Portishead Railway Collection : Weston Clevedon & Portishead Railway Open Wagon 27We have commissioned a model of WC&PR wagon number 27, one of the 7 plank wagons matching the RCH design style and possibly originating from the Gloucester RCW Co. We have requested the new Dapol 1887 RCH style body which features the appropriate style of inside bracing and Gloucester axleboxes.
Antics Commissioned Model - I.W. Baldwin & Co, Colliery Agents, Ruardean wagon 15Based in Oakleigh, Ruardean I W Baldwin & Co were colliery agents, offering a range of coals, including from East Cannock Collieries in Staffordshire, Welsh anthracite coals and locally won coal from the Coleford Highdelf seam in the Forest of Dean.Wagon number 15 was recorded by the Gloucester RC&W Co photographer in October 1906 with an elaborately lettered livery describing the companys' coal offering in italic script. As Ruardean had no railway connection the wagon were returned to Lydney junction, a convenient yard from which the wagon could be dispatched for it's next load.
Antics Commissioned Model - Chadborn, Son & Taylor, coal merchants at 'Docks, Gloucester' wagon 2 Chadborn, Son & Taylor were a firm of merchants and stevedores at Sharpness and Gloucester docks, noted for introducing floating steam powered winches for cargo handling. Wagon number 2 was recorded by the Gloucester RCW company photographer in April 1903, showing a RCH 1887 type 7 plank wagon painted red with white lettering shaded black and carrying a full set of Gloucester plates, suggesting the wagon leased or on 'redemption hire'.Chadborn, Son & Taylor were also timber merchants and sold their coal business to fellow Gloucester Docks coal merchant W L Buchanan in 1927. Subsequently they are listed in trade directories as 'steam winch proprietors'. It appears the company had decided to concentrate on the stevedore and cargo handling business, being active at both the Gloucester City and Sharpness docks.
The Weston, Clevedon and Portishead Light Railway (WC&PR) was 13.8 mile long, running along the coast between the three North Somerset towns. It opened in 1897 and extended to Portishead in 1907. The company was never a success and passed into the hands of receivers 1909 but continued to run under the control of the receiver and light railway advocate Colonel Holman F Stephens. He was succeeded by his deputy W. H. Austen in 1931. World War 2 saw the end of this impecunious little line with its few remaining assets passing to the GWR and salvaged track used for the war effort.
During the last decade of the lines' existence the principal motive power was two ex-LB&SCR Terrier class 0-6-0 tank engines and a couple of early petrol railcars. The second Terrier, purchased from Southern Railway in 1937, became no. 4 and, in WC&PR livery, is the subject of this exclusive model in Weston, Clevedon & Portishead livery.
The small Dapol Terrier offers the modeller the chance to create a small layout or working diorama based on the light railway, so we are planning a series of commissioned goods wagons from the businesses along the WC&PR. These wagons will be following later and we will open these for ordering once we have set a production date.
Further information on the life and times of the Weston Clevedon & Portishead Railway can be found on the WC&P Railway Group website at http://wcprgroup.org.uk/index.html