Horwich Crab

[Michael FosterParticipant @michaelfoster47072]

Our Club loco (Rochdale) is a Horwich Crab in 5″ gauge, which we have had for many years. It has slide valves. I assumed it was to Don Young design but this has piston valves. Was there another designer in the past . Can anyone explain?

[Dave WoottonParticipant @davewootton]

Hi Michael

At one time in the late 70’s or early 80’s at a guess there were castings, not sure about drawings, available from George Wainwright for his own version of the Crab in 5″. I know he certainly completed and ran his own model from  castings from his own patterns, can’t remember if it was slide or piston valves, I remember seeing it at a rally and later was pictured in M.E.

I’m sure that Mr Wainwright also marketed castings and drawings for some wagons in 5″. I’m sure the name is right but it was a long time ago! Might give you a basis for some searching.

Dave

Something has just stirred in my addled brain that the wagon designs were taken over by Doug Hewson, but I may have made that up!

[doughewsonParticipant @doughewson]

Hello Mike,  I knoe you don’t i as I came over to Rochdale a couple of times to give talks to the gang, I also know that George Wainwright’s crab had piston valve cylinders as I drove it once at the Derby track at Morley.  It also had working vacuum brakes which I loved,except they were direct vacuum, not automatic vac brakes.  I had 58 axles behind me.  His son Paul sold all the castings for Geodge’s Crab but I never knew how many engines were built, I know that Dave Penny built one but whether or not it was one of George’s I haven’t a clue.  One of our Gilling regulars has a Crab but I don’t know who he bought it from, and I don’t know who sells George’s castings now.

Doug Hewson

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