The M3 Shunter’s trucks came around in 1912 when modifications were made to the previous design of M2 shunter’s truck which included self-contained buffers and non-wrap around handrails. Roughly 41 of these were built with modifications between the batches like lamp irons, step supports and handrails changing. In 1920, the design was changed and became the M4 shunter’s truck which don’t look very different from the later M3 ones. Roughly 44 of these were built up until 1938 with a few of the later batches having disk wheels fitted rather than spoked. Both types lasted into BR with some having steam heat through pipes and vac pipes fitted. A few Shunter’s trucks managed to last to the 70s/80s in locations such as Fowey and Cardiff. The Dapol model is designed to cover both these types and most of the differences between them. Also covered is the different lamp iron positions as they moved from GWR to BR.
Dapol O gauge GWR Shunters Truck Specification
- Die-cast compensated chassis
- Finely profiled disk or spoked wheels and axles with brass bearing pockets
- Highly detailed injection moulded body
- Many separately added fine details
- Sprung metal buffers
- Sprung instanter coupling
- Fully modelled DC III brake gear
- Separately included vac pipe