The LNER Encyclopedia

Hi New member with an enquiry about the Great Central 9K (BR C13) 4-4-2 tank engines. I am building a 4mm Nu Cast kit kit to represent the final BR survivors. Photographic evidence shows a feature not shown on my model. The main side tanks seem to have a horizontal seam or join running midway thorough the center of the tank. Can any member explain what it is and how best to show it in model form.
regards Chris

Hello and Welcome aboard!

I haven't looked at any C13 photos for a while. Can you see in the photos to which you refer whether this seam is merely a row of rivets in flush-surfaced plating, or is it a weld line, perhaps with the layer of plate below the line overlapping the level of the plating of the upper parts of the tanks. If the latter, and if this feature only (or mainly) shows in late-period photos then is it simply that the lower halves of the tanks have been plated-over because of rot, rather than being fully re-made?

Thanks for your reply. I have viewed many photographs of the C13 class in later BR days and the horizontal seam or joint passing midway through the entire length of the side tanks, shows no sign of rivets or overlapping. I cannot imagine an overlap because the seam is running right through the BR Crest which shows no sign of distortion. I can only conclude that if this is a replacement part panel due to rot, then it must be a flush butt joint. What would your view be?
regards Chris

In RCTS part 7 there are two photos that show the kind of line that you describe, one in the later LNER period and one on a BR period loco. I'm pretty sure they are tank repairs, although whether it is thin over-plating, or material let-in flush is a matter of conjecture. The line / seam certainly isn't there on most of the LNER period photos, and definitely not the GCR ones showing more ornate and nicely maintained livery. There is hower a 1929 photo showing a C13 already with a visibly repaired tank, but in this case only the lower quarter.

If the repairs / renewals were done "flush" I suppose that was a sign of a fairly thorough approach to the functional considerations - no rotting innner plating left in place to potentially shed flakes and lumps that might block the injectors (could that happen?), although there was perhaps less thought for finished appearance from relatively early grouping years - hence the seam left visible rather than ground off, stopped-up and rubbed down until perfect.

I hadn't noticed the same question posted here. My first comments are here....

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6931

There are some clearer pictures in Yeadon's Register Vol.33 the best of which is attached below. Extensive rivetted and overlapped repair patching and similar on the bunker. 7421 must have been a real rust bucket. I think a little distortion can be seen in the crest here and it is certainly noticable on the bunker side number. Don't forget that the plate work was only likely to be between 1/4" to 3/8" thick. This isn't much when viewed from a distance and is only 0.08 mm to 0.125mm thick in 4mm scale. A 0.005" (0.127mm) plasticard overlay would be the best approach albeit slightly overscale.