The 19th Platoon

**The 19th Platoon of the Steam Reserve Corps** is a division of the Steam Reserve Corps (SRC) during WWII. It is commanded by Knight of St Patrick with his 2nd in command Aberporth Grange. They play a major role when Tobruk is taken by the allies with the 119th Platoon. This platoon is made of GWR locomotives, they are commonly known as **"The Great Western Platoon"**.

## Knight of St Patrick

### Designer

George Jackson Churchward

**Knight of St Patrick** is a GWR Star class that commands the 19th Platoon. He is persistent when another platoon's commander want his to stay behind and always keep Aberporth Grange from fighting with their allies.

#### Bio

Knight of St Patrick was built by the Great Western Railway (GWR) at Swindon Works in 1908 for express-passenger duties on the GWR mainlines. During the First World War, he spent most of his time racing across the mainlines with troop trains bound for the Western Front, until the war ended in November 1918, which lead to renewed peacetime service life. This however for he and his classmates was the case in the 1920s. Post-war traffic increased express services and lead to George Jackson Churchward's successor, Charles Benjamin Collett, to create a new class with the same chassis. The 1930s saw him renegaded to lighter duties due to the 4073 'Castle' class replacing them on the heavy express, even some of his brothers and sisters were rebuilt in Castles, and the outbreak of WWII.

In 1940, Knight of St Patrick became a member of the Steam Reserve Corps and banded together a force filled with Great Western motive power (including WWI veteran Olivia) to form the 19th Platoon of the Steam Reserve Corps. The platoon saw action in only Africa and in the Middle East. During their time in Africa (1940-1943), they battled with Rommel's forces and often had defeats (most say Knight of St Patrick's lack of knowledge of the enemy), until re-enforced by the 119th Platoon, which had been pulled out of Asia in their battles with Japan. Both platoons worked together to recapture the port of Tobruk from "Desert Fox" and push them out of North Africa. During this time, Knight of St Patrick had to keep his 2nd in command (Aberporth Grange) under control and not screw up the operation.

When the platoon was decommissioned by the Steam Reserve Corps in 1948, Knight of St Patrick lived a normal life running express trains on the former GWR network (displaying the final GWR livery) until he was withdrawn in 1950 from Chester shed and scrapped that year, even when the location is unknown.

#### Livery

In his only appearance, Knight of St Patrick is painted in GWR Green with "Shirtbutton' emblem.

#### Basis or real locomotive

   Knight of St Patrick is based off the real locomotive. It was one of 73 Star class locomotives built by the Great Western Railway's Swindon Works between 1906 to 1923, the same year No. 4073 'Caerphilly Castle' was built and spelled the end for the Star class. The first member of the design was in 1925 and the last wasn't retired until British Railways (BR) withdrew No. 4056 'Princess Margaret' in October 1957. Fifteen members of the class were also rebuilt into more powerful Castle class locomotives, but mostly retained their names and numbers. One member of the class is preserved, No. 4003 'Lode Star', and is a member of the first batch. It's a part of the UK National Collection and is on static display at STEAM: Museum of the Great Western Railway at Swindon.

No 4013 'Knight of St Patrick was built in 1908 and scrapped by BR in 1950.

#### Trivia

   Knight of St Patrick's model is a standard Hornby model with a re-crested tender to match the era.

Knight of St Patrick is the only commander of the Steam Reserve Corps who built before WWI but has never seen any combat action in any war until 1940. He says that the reason he joined the SRC was because of his name: "I'm a knight, and knights fight in combat."

Knight of St Patrick is the only engine who knows how to keep Aberporth Grange at bay during a battle, even during arguments with other platoons and their commanders.

## Aberporth Grange

### Designer

Charles Benjamin Collett

**Aberporth Grange** is a GWR Grange class that is the 2nd in command of the 19th Platoon. He normally takes over the platoon when Knight of St Patrick is down to repairs from battle damage. He is also one of the most angriest members of the platoon and never questions his commander's leadership.

### Bio

Aberporth Grange (known to everyone under the simplified name "Aberporth") was built in 1939 before the outbreak of WWII. Following trouble with troop movements and heavy air raids in 1940, Aberporth joined the Steam Reserve Corps, given the military rank 'private', trained by locomotives that served in the Great War and became the 2nd in command of the 19th Platoon, completely made of GWR locomotives (commander: Knight of St Patrick).

Aberporth Grange worked with the 119th Platoon to take the port city of Tobruk in 1942, but opposed the platoon's commander for his age. After nearly compromising the mission, Aberporth became involved with bringing in troops into the city when Knight of St Patrick and Will broke through. Aberporth soon made amends with Will following their victory at Tobruk.

After the platoon was disbanded in 1950, Aberporth was put on reserve until 1956 and was back to operating as a normal locomotive. In 1965, Aberporth was withdrawn by British Railways (BR) and scrapped that same year at Swindon.

### Personality

Aberporth Grange is normally stubborn and won't accept help from "pre-Churchward" or "non-GWR" locomotives, but can make amends with other locomotives during times of war.

### Livery

Aberporth Grange is painted in unlined GWR Middle Chrome Green with the "shirtbutton" emblem.

### Appearances

#### Mini Series 2010s

* The Western Region legacy (mentioned, indirectly named)

### Basis or real locomotive

Aberporth Grange is based on the real locomotive. It was one of 80 GWR 6800 'Grange' class 4-6-0s built at Swindon from 1936 to 1939 and based off the 4900 'Hall' class from the 1920s. They were designed as mixed traffic locomotives but were normally seen at the head of fast passenger services across the GWR network well into BR days. Withdrawals began in 1960 and the last was withdrawn in 1965 and all were scrapped. All hope isn't lost since a new one, No. 6880 'Betton Grange' is under construction and expected to be completed in 2021.

No. 6860 'Aberporth Grange' was built in 1939 and was withdrawn in 1965 and was scrapped.

### Trivia

Aberporth Grange's model is a Hornby GWR Grange class in GWR Green. This model has no modifications.

Aberporth Grange is once (accidently) called 'Aberport Grange' by Lizzie in 2016.

Both Llanvair Grange and Bucklebury Grange from 'Western Super Pannier' are Aberporth's older brothers.

## Olivia (tactical officer)

Main article: *Preserved visitors: Olivia*

## Cardiff

### Designer

Charles Benjamin Collett

**Cardiff** is a Large Prairie tank that serves as a gunner in the 19th Platoon.

### Bio

Little is known about Cardiff but it's known that he was built at Swindon Works in 1931 to help replace the aging Churchward 2221 4-4-2T "County Tanks" on suburban traffic. He became the first of his class fitted with a "trip cock" of work on London Transport lines. In 1940, Cardiff enlisted in the Steam Reserve Corps and trained as a gunner, joining the 19th Platoon as one of its two gunners. He and the rest of his platoon helped the 119th Platoon in the recapture of Tobruk from the Germans in 1942.

Cardiff retired from the war effort in five weeks before the end of WWII and finished his military career as a reserve member in 1955. He lived a quiet life until he was withdrawn in 1965 and scrapped a year later.

### Livery

Cardiff is painted in Great Western unlined Green.

### Basis or real locomotive

Cardiff is based off the real locomotive. It was one of 70 Collett 6100 class "Large Prairies" built as a replacement for the 1905-introduced Churchward 2221 class 4-4-2Ts on commuter trains around the London area from 1931 to 1935 at Swindon works. The design was based off a 1902 Churchward prototype without any major modifications to the original design and was basically a larger version of the 5101 class. Withdrawals of the 6100 began in 1958 with the last going near the end of Western Region steam in 1965. One has been preserved.

No. 6110 was built in 1931 and was fitted with a "trip cock" to operate on former Metropolitan Railway (now London Transport) lines around London. It was withdrawn from service in 1965 and scrapped in 1966.

### Trivia

Cardiff is named after the capital city of Wales.

Cardiff's model is a unmodified Hornby GWR 6100 released in 2020.

Callum is his younger brother.

## Dartington Hall

### Designer

Charles Benjamin Collett

**Dartington Hall** is a mixed traffic locomotive that serves as a gunner in the 19th Platoon. She is known for this 8-wheel tender, which is unique on the GWR.

### Bio

Dartington Hall was built at Swindon Works in 1929 as one of the first members of the 4900 'Hall' class mixed traffic locomotives following the rebuild of No. 2925 'Saint Martin' in 1924. Sometime in the 1930s, she was soon paired with the odd Collett 8-wheel tender built in 1931. In 1940, Dartington Hall was drafted into the Steam Reserve Corps since she wanted to see beyond her country, and shut the male members of her class up. She was allocated to the 19th Platoon and gained the position of gunner.

In 1942, Dartington Hall was in North Africa with her platoon to assist in the combined effort of hers and the 119th Platoon to retake the port town of Tubrok. She provided shell fire from the normal 16in howitzers her platoon were given and with further assistance from the 119th's AA wagons, the operation was a success. She returned to the UK sometime in 1946 and left the SRC around 1948, ending her military career.

She soon had a quiet service life following WWII, apart from being converted (temperamentally) to an oil-burner in 1947, and was withdrawn in 1963 and scrapped a year later at Bridgend.

### Livery

Dartington Hall is painted in GWR unlined Wartime Black.

### Basis or real locomotive

Dartington Hallis based on the real locomotive. It was one of 258 built at Swindon Works between 1928 and 1943 with one rebuilt as the prototype (No. 2925/4900 'Saint Martin') in 1924. It was based on the Saint class from 1902 but with smaller driving wheels for mixed traffic duties instead of express passenger work. The design was modified as the 1930s progressed such as better superheating. They became the basis of the LMS Stanier 5MT "Black Five", LNER Thompson B1 and BR Standard 5 4-6-0s by having the same power rating and performance. Withdrawals of the class began of one in 1941 when No. 4911 'Bowden Hall' was destroyed by a German bomb with official withdrawals beginning in 1959. The last one was withdrawn in 1965 and eleven preserved, despite one being rebuilt to a Saint in 2019.

No. 4918 'Dartington Hall' was built in 1929 and was once paired with the unique Collett 8-wheel tender. It was withdrawn in 1963 and scrapped at Bridgend in 1964.

### Trivia

The reason why Dartington Hall was chosen was because it was paired with the unique Collett 4,000 gallon 8-wheel tender built in 1931 as an experiment. Other locomotives that have been paired with this tender include:

* 5919 'Worsley Hall'
* 5957 'Hutton Hall'
* 6951 'Impney Hall'

* 4043 'Prince Henry'
* 5001 'Llandovery Castle'

Dartington Hall appears to be a sharpshooter since he can hit small targets from far distances.

Dartington Hall is made from a Hornby Railroad Hall with the tender chassis bought from Shapeways.

Currently, it's unknown when Dartington Hall was paired with this unique tender.

The reason for making Dartington Hall a female instead of a male is to show that not all of the Steam Reserve Corps' locomotives were males, breaking the gender stereotype.

Bowden Hall is his older brother while Olton Hall is his younger brother.

## Trivia

Like a US tank platoon in WWII, the 19th Platoon is formed of five locomotives while the others have more than five (119th Platoon having eight).

This is the only platoon seen in Stories from the Wars seen fully equipped with one piece of artillery, the fictional BL 16inch howitzer.

Apart from one member, all of the 19th Platoon's models were manufactured by Hornby.

The 19th Platoon's emblem is bronze coloured and features a GWR Star class 4-6-0 paired with a Churchward 3,500 tender with two cross swords going through it.

* Their emblem resembles the US Army Armour Branch insignia.
* The Star class is to represent the platoon's commander, Knight of St Patrick, albeit paired with the wrong tender.