Accucraft UK Ltd

Accucraft (US) has extended the special offers into the New Year and added a few more mouth-watering packages into the bargain.  Take a look at these 1:20 scale bargain bundles:

‘Dora’ 0-4-0T + two Iron Mountain coal cars just £399.00

Heisler WSL #3, Live Steam + two Short Logging Cars just £3150.00

Plantation Engine 0-4-2 ‘IUKI’ + two items of Rolling Stock just £999.00

Free Rolling Stock: choose either two AM32-110A Short Flat Car or two AM20-110A Iron Mountain Coal Car

Shay 28T Class B, Oil Burning Bunker + two Logging Disconnect Cars just £2499.00

Baldwin 4-4-0 – Black Unlettered, Live Steam + two Box Cars just £2399.00

For box car choices, see the Accucraft US website

Mogul 2-6-0, Live Steam + two Box Cars just £2199.00

Choose from AC77-411 Nevada Shortline, AC77-420 NCNG Unlettered, AC77-421 NCNG #2 Lake Brown or AC77-422 RGS #11 Black and add two free box cars from the list on the Accucraft US website

Mogul 2-6-0 D&RG #27 ‘Poncha’ Live Steam + two Box Cars just £2399.00

Choose two free box cars from the Accucraft US website

Don’t miss out, some of this stock is in limited supply and when they’re gone, they’re gone!  Contact our Herefordshire office now on 01981 241380 or via info@accucraft.uk.com

May we wish everyone a Happy Christmas and pleasant New Year.  We are delighted to say that we have received the first tranche of our models of Welshpool & Llanfair Railway No.14.  Due to a slight confusion over colour codes the first red examples were delivered wearing a rather fetching golden ochre!  The red ones will be delivered after Christmas (with the rest of the batch) so those people who pre-ordered just need to check with their preferred dealer.  We will now be offering the golden ochre examples with the product code S19-26O for manual examples, S19-27O for radio control fitted ones – contact your retailer to reserve yours now, this will definitely be a very limited edition!

Built in 1954, No. 85 was the last of 32 built for the Sierra Leone Government Railways to a standard design by Hunslet. Completed as works number 3815, No. 85 was delivered to the Sierra Leone port and capital of Freetown with sister engine No. 84, the pair costing £21,273. They were set to work on the extensive Sierra Leone Railway, which had a mainline extending 227.5 miles.

By the time No. 85 arrived, the Hunslet 2-6-2s were confined mainly to shunting and banking heavy trains out of Freetown. Their working life was to be short too – with the Sierra Leone Government Railways finally closing in 1974.  No. 85 was brought back to the UK to work at the preserved Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway, where it regularly hauled passenger trains until April 2010, when its last 10-year boiler ticket expired.  It has recently been on display at the National Railway Museum at Shildon.  You can find full details of the model here.

2016 Year End Specials from Accucraft (US)

Accucraft (US) are offering year-end specials on select live steam and electric locomotives that are nearly out-of-stock.  Purchase the locomotive at regular price and receive 1:32 scale streamlined passenger cars or 40’ box cars FREE (as appropriate per the offer) from available stock!  This offer ends December 31, 2016. 

Canadian Pacific ‘Royal Hudson’ 4-6-2 + two FREE CP Passenger Cars

Only a few of these fine locomotives remain in stock.  Purchase the loco at regular price and select two Canadian Pacific streamline passenger cars from available stock, a £680.00 value, for FREE!  Price £3,995.00

AL97-082 CP Royal Hudson #2860 “As it is today”, chrome boiler, butane fired
AL97-083 CP Royal Hudson #2860 “As ran in service”, grey boiler, butane fired
AL97-083A CP Royal Hudson #2860 “As ran in service”, grey boiler, alcohol fired

1:32 scale Canadian Pacific passenger cars to select from:

AL34-329 CP Baggage Car
AL34-319 CP Coach
AL34-339 CP Dining Car
AL34-359 CP Pullman Sleeper
AL34-379 CP Observation Car

Pennsylvania T-1 class 4-4-4-4 + three FREE Pennsy Passenger Cars

We still have a handful of these locomotives in stock.  Don’t miss your chance to own one!  Purchase the loco at regular price and select three Pennsylvania Railroad streamline passenger cars from available stock, a £1,020.00 value, for FREE!  Only 4 of these locomotives remain in stock!  Order yours today!

AL97-101 PRR T-1 class, alcohol fired, live steam – only 4 left!  Price £6,050.00

1:32 scale Pennsylvania passenger cars to select from:

AL34-328 PRR Baggage Car
AL34-318 PRR Coach
AL34-338 PRR Dining Car
AL34-358 PRR Pullman Sleeper
AL34-378 PRR Observation Car

Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 “Big Boy”, live steam + 12 FREE 1:32 scale 40’ box cars from remaining stock! 

Big Boy 4-8-8-4, butane fired, live steam £8,995.00 each

AL97-393  UP Big Boy #4008  only 3 left!
AL97-394  UP Big Boy #4015  only 1 left!

Southern Pacific M-6 class 2-6-0 in electric + 6 FREE 1:32 scale 40’ box cars from remaining stock

Don’t miss out on this great running locomotive!  Purchase the loco at regular price and receive 6 FREE 40’ box cars from our remaining inventory. Price £2,400.00

AL98-201  SP M-6 class 2-6-0, unlettered, electric    only 5 left!
AL98-203  SP M-6 class 2-6-0, #1744, electric           only 1 left!

This month we bring you news about the Type 1 Decauville, recently delivered 1:32 Scale wagons, a significant contribution to the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust as well as the Colonel Stephens Museum in Tenderden.  Please note the ‘final call’ for the N&W J-Class and our item about ‘open box’ sales as well as our absence from Warley this year.

Type 1, 3 ton Decauville

News reaches us that the first of these little locos is under construction and can be yours for just £70,000 + VAT if you get your order in before the end of the month, after which the price goes up to £77,000 + VAT.  However, if you don’t fancy the 2′ gauge version now being built by NBR Engineering it looks as though the Accucraft (US) 7/8ths” version will follow delivery of our own Bagnall in the new year.  Alas this means we have had to review the price (in light of Sterling’s continued weakness against the dollar) and the model will now carry a UK RRP of £1695.00 including VAT and UK warranty.  We will have more news about Accucraft’s involvement with the manufacture of the 2′ gauge new build locomotives in due course.

Gauge 1, 1:32 Scale RCH 7 Plank Wagons

We are pleased to say that we have recently taken delivery of another batch of these lovely 1:32 wagons including the BR bauxite version.  The production run also included a limited edition version produced exclusively for G1MRA members to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Association as well as ‘Camerton Collieries’, which is only available from Cliff Barker, and ‘Consolidated’ which is exclusive to Trackshack.

Accucraft (UK) give £10,000 to the A1SLT

At the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s annual convention on 1st October, we were delighted to hand over a cheque for £10,000 raised from the sale of our 1:32 Scale model of Tornado.  The money will be put towards the final purchase of Tornado’s tender from William Cook Cast Products, principal sponsor of the Trust, who had generously funded its construction and subsequent lease to the Trust.  Passing the funds over to Mark Allatt, chairman of the Trust, Graham Langer paid tribute to all those who purchased the model, thereby contributing to Tornado herself.

An Accucraft WD Baldwin for the Colonel Stephens Museum

Through the good offices of the Colonel Stephens Society, Accucraft (UK) has facilitated the acquisition of one of our 1:19 Scale WD Baldwins for display in the Colonel Stephens Museum in Tenterden, Kent.  An urgent need for narrow gauge locos to operate the lines behind the trenches in WW1 led the Railways Operating Division (ROD) to source locos from America as well as Britain. Both Baldwin and Alco produced designs and the Baldwin 4-6-0 pannier tank was made in huge numbers. Dispersal sales after the war saw them scattered around the globe with a number ending up in the UK on lines such as the Welsh Highland, Ashover, Snailbeach and Glyn Valley Tramway, many having been acquired by Colonel Stephens for his narrow gauge empire!

Last call for the Norfolk & Western J-Class

We are just about to ship our allocation of these stunning models so if you fancy one, this could be your last chance.  UK RRP £5,950.00 – call our Hereford office to make a reservation!

1:32 Scale Allegheny 2-6-6-6

We recently delivered one of these superb models to Bram Hengeveld (Exclusive Models) and he took the opportunity to film the locomotive’s first run.  It is only natural to expect an engine this complex to be a little stiff and suffer some initial teething problems but Bram reports that it ran as smoothly as a sewing machine ‘straight out of the box’, a fine tribute to engineering skills at the Accucraft factory!

These superb locomotives are currently available at an amazing UK RRP of just £7,000.00 including VAT, UK delivery and UK warranty.  Contact our Hereford office to reserve yours.

‘Open Box’ items for sale

At the bottom of our ‘stock status’ pages we carry a list of ‘Open Box’ models available for direct purchase.  All items listed in ‘Open Box’ section may have been used for trade show demonstration, display, or other similar use. Some items may be repairs of slightly damaged models and are so noted. Quantities are limited. Locomotives have been tested and are in operable condition. No broken or missing parts unless otherwise specified. All Warranties Apply. Models are available for direct purchase only. Please check back regularly for newly listed items!

Warley Model Railway Show

After many years attending the Warley Model Railway Show at the NEC, we have decided to take a rain check this year and will not have a stand.  While we appreciate seeing many of you there the costs now outweigh the benefits and we will be concentrating our efforts on more appropriate shows such as G1MRA gatherings and the Llanfair Garden Railway Show in future.

Starting production soon will be the Argyle Models / Accucraft Australia 38 Class Pacific.  With prices ranging from a UK RRP of £3,550.00 (electric) to £3,795.00 (Live Steam) we think they represent outstanding value for money.

The 38 class design was based on a need to eliminate the complications of double heading required on a number of fast interstate passenger trains. The conditions of track work with frequent sharp curvature to be traversed at high speed would require six-coupled driving wheels in a ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2 configuration. Maintenance considerations suggested a two cylinder simple steam locomotive. In May 1939 an order for five 38 class locomotives was placed with Clyde Engineering with a distinctive streamlined boiler casing. The remaining 25 locomotives were built without streamlining at the NSWGR Eveleigh and Cardiff Workshops. From 1961 the locomotives were progressively withdrawn from service. Four have survived into preservation being 3801, 3813, 3820 and 3830.

The model will be available in both Streamlined and Un-streamlined versions and in a variety of liveries and power options. Pilot Model 2016 – you can download the order form here.  Place your reservations with our Hereford office now – prices may be subject to currency revision.

Product Specifications – Live Steam Version:

• Scale: 1:32
• Gauge: 45mm
• Valve Gear: Walschaerts, two cylinders, slide valves, cylinder drain cocks
• Working Pressure: 60psi
• Construction: Copper boiler, Brass boiler jacket, Brass cab, Brass tender,
• Boiler Fittings: Safety valve, pressure gauge, water gauge
• Axle water pump with bypass valve, Water hand pump with check valve
• Length over buffers: 756mm (29.8 inches)
• Width: 91mm (3.6 inches)
• Height: 133mm (5.2 inches)
• Min Radius: Electric 2m (6½ feet) Live Steam 3m (9 feet)
• Steel drivers
• Chassis is sprung on all wheels, with sprung side control on the leading bogie
• Main driving axle boxes have oil reservoirs with felt oil pads
• Trailing Truck has oil /felt reservoirs
• Main Coupling rod and Connecting rod have a rotating bronze sleeve bearing common to both rods
• Spirit fired boilers have Automatic Blower which opens when the Regulator is shut.

Liveries Available:

• 3801 Streamlined, Verdant Green
• 3803 Streamlined, Black / Red lining
• 3813 Un-Streamlined, NSWGR Special Green
• 3820 Un-Streamlined, Black / Red lining
• 3830 Un-Streamlined, NSWGR Special Green (all green)
• 3830 Un-Streamlined, Olive Green 1961 livery

Models & Options Available:

• SG Live Steam, Gas Fired, Ceramic Burner
• SA Live Steam, Alcohol Fired with multi tube boiler
• EL Electric with full Cab Detail
• RC Radio Control Fittings Kit for live steam models

This month we carry important news about the future distribution of Accucraft (US) products in the UK, an announcement of a new 1:13.7 Scale model and some amazing bargains available from the U.S. range.

Accucraft US, DE and Aus distribution in the UK

Accucraft (UK) is pleased to announce some important changes to the distribution of the Accucraft US, Aus and DE ranges. Owing to fluctuations in the value of Sterling and a review of our business model, UK retail sales of the American, Australian and German models produced by Accucraft will be handled exclusively by our office in Herefordshire and all sales enquiries should be directed there in future.  We ship every four to six weeks from California and the availability of US items can be checked on the US eStore; price lists are displayed on this website.  The good news about this move is that, despite the fall in the value of Sterling, many items now carry a lower UK RRP and can be delivered to the customer more quickly.  Forward orders can also be placed for forthcoming items in the usual manner. Here are just some of the U.S. models currently available:

1:32 Scale Chesapeake & Ohio Allegheny 2-6-6-6 (butane fired) UK RRP £6,475.00

1:20.3 Scale 28 ton Class B Shay UK RRP £2295.00

1:20.3 Scale Heisler, West Side Lumber Co. UK RRP £2,995.00

1:13.7 (7/8ths”) Scale SR&RLRR Forney 0-4-4 #6

For those of us who love the Maine 2′ gauge network the news of this release couldn’t have come sooner!  Ever since Accucraft started making ready to run live steam locos available in 7/8ths” Scale there has been a growing clamour for a model Forney from the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad.

The Portland Company constructed 0-4-4 Forney #5 in 1891 for the Sandy River Railroad. The locomotive was named “N.B. Neal” and operated this way until 1908 when the Sandy River, Franklin & Megantic, Philips & Rangeley, along with their respective subsidiary railroads merged to form the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes. At this time the loco was renumbered to SR&RL #6. In 1925 the loco was sold to the Kennebec Central, becoming their #4. She was again sold in 1933 to the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington as their #9. After the WW&F railroad was abandoned in 1936-‘37, it was purchased and stored near Putnam, Connecticut.

In December 1994, an agreement was reached with the estate for WW&F #9 and its return to Maine for eventual restoration. Over the course of several years the loco was restored and is now featured in regular excursion over a restored section of the railroad.

The model is butane fired with a copper boiler featuring a ceramic burner working at a pressure of 60i. The two cylinders are operated by full working Stephenson valve gear.  Other features include a safety valve, reverser, hand pump, lubricator, water gauge and pressure gauge.  The loco is only offered in 45mm gauge and carries a UK RRP of £3200.00 inc. VAT, P&P and UK warranty support – pre-order from our Herefordshire office.

Accucraft (US) Special Deals!

One of the advantages of the new distribution arrangement is that we can now capitalise on the special offers that occasionally appear on the eStore.  During October the following deals are available (while stock lasts):

AC77-101 – DORA, LIVE STEAM + 2 FREE IRON MOUNTAIN COAL CARS – £465.00

AC77-044/6 – PLANTATION ENGINE 0-4-2 UNLETTERED, LIVE STEAM + 2 FREE ITEMS OF ROLLING STOCK – £899.00

AC77-720 BALDWIN 4-4-0 – BLACK UNLETTERED LIVE STEAM + 2 FREE AM2201-01 DATA ONLY BOX CARS – £2195.00

AC77-722 – BALDWIN 4-4-0 – SP #3 LIVE STEAM + 2 FREE AM2201-01 DATA ONLY BOX CARS – £1995.00

AC77- 411/420/1/2 – MOGUL + 2 FREE AM2201-01 DATA ONLY BOX CARS – £1995.00

AL97-082/3/3A – ROYAL HUDSON #2860 BUTANE/ALCOHOL + 2 FREE PASSENGER CARS – £3695.00

AL97-101 – PENNSYLVANIA T1 4-4-4-4 ALCOHOL FIRED + 3 FREE PRR PASSENGER CARS – £5595.00

1:32 Scale Norfolk & Western J-Class 4-8-4 #611

Now available!  Accucraft US have released the first examples of the alcohol and butane fired versions of this fabulous locomotive, available for an amazingly reasonable price of just £5,630 – contact our office now if you don’t want to miss out!  Also due for release soon is an electric version which has a UK RRP of £4,855.00.

Some would argue that the Norfolk & Western Railway’s J-class represents the zenith of steam passenger locomotive development in the United States. The class was introduced towards the end of steam on U.S. railroads, but was designed and built without compromise to do the job in style. Conceived and assembled at N&W’s East End Shops in Roanoke, Virginia between 1941 and 1950, these elegant 4-8-4s only ever numbered fourteen examples. The first five were streamlined from the outset, the next six examples only being thus fitted later due to wartime economies, while the final three once again emerging fully streamlined from the start. Unusually for a passenger design, the class were only equipped with 70 inch driving wheels, which required perfect balancing of the wheel sets and drive train and the adoption of light-weight rods to allow 100mph running. However, the relatively small drivers and 300psi boiler pressure gave a very high tractive effort, 80,000 pounds, making the J-class the most powerful 4-8-4s built without requiring a booster.

The class quickly gained a reputation for hauling heavy trains at high speeds with an enviable record of reliability, often accumulating 15,000 miles per month. Despite this, the writing was on the wall for steam. Towards the end of the 1950s, N&W began receiving more diesels with a view toward replacing their steam fleet. In 1959, J-class #611 hauled a last special – the remainder of the class were scrapped. N&W #611, however, was lucky, thanks partly to an accident in 1956 when the loco derailed at speed near Cedar, Virginia. Due to its consequent good condition following a rebuild, and partly to the efforts of the legendary railroad photographer O. Winston Link, #611 was given to the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke in 1960.

After twenty years of inactivity, #611 was taken to Birmingham, Alabama for overhaul at the Southern Railway’s Norris Yard workshops, emerging in 1982 to haul specials on the newly created Norfolk Southern railroad until 1994. In 1995, after a serious accident related to Norfolk Southern’s steam program, #611 was once again confined to the museum at Roanoke.

Today, the Virginia Museum of Transportation’s “Fire Up 611” committee has recently completed rebuilding and preparing this fine locomotive for service again! #611 was moved to the North Carolina Transportation Museum’s complex at Spencer, North Carolina, where the work was performed.

Matching streamline car sets!

Don’t forget the matching streamline car set to go with the locomotive!  A limited number of these six car sets are still available for just £1895.00 per set.

We are delighted to bring you news of the K1 Garratt commissioned by Anything Narrow Gauge and Garden Railway Specialists.  The engineering sample was unveiled at this weekend’s Llanfair Garden Railway Show, run in conjunction with the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway Gala.  In addition we also showed the first production sample of our new 1:20.3 Scale Isle of Man Railway ‘E’ Van.  We have also recently delivered a batch of WD Baldwins to dealers – don’t miss out.

1:19 Scale K1 Grarratt 0-4-4-0

Assembled in 1909, K1 was the first locomotive built to the Garratt Patent (No 12079) granted in 1907. K1 (and sister engine K2) were delivered to Tasmania in 1910 to work on the 2ft gauge North East Dundas Tramway where they hauled silver-lead ore for twenty years. By 1929 both engines were withdrawn from service following loss by the tramway of its major traffic. K1 and K2 were placed in storage but in 1947, Beyer Peacock purchased K1 as a museum piece. By this time the loco was a combination of the power units of K1 and the boiler frame of K2; the resultant locomotive (now known as K1) was shipped from Burnie (on Tasmania’s North coast) to Manchester (England). K2 was later dismantled and K1’s original boiler sold on for stationary use in a sawmill.

In 1947 K1 returned to Gorton Foundry, the Beyer Peacock works in Manchester where it was placed on display as a museum piece. After a failed initiative to steam the loco in 1955 and offering it to the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum in 1961, Beyer Peacock surveyed the locomotive with a view to selling it in 1963.  In 1966 it was bought by the Ffestiniog Railway and stored at Boston Lodge for nearly a decade before being placed on loan to the National Railway Museum in1976.

The prospect of a restored Welsh Highland Railway sparked the start of K1’s restoration in 1995, a process that took nearly a decade at a number of different sites and involved the construction of a new boiler.  K1 finally entered traffic on the reborn WHR in 2006 and became a popular performer on the line.  Currently withdrawn for a ‘heavy general’ overhaul, the locomotive’s return to traffic is eagerly awaited.

Produced as a commission for Anything Narrow Gauge and Garden Railway Specialists, the model is also exclusively available through Accucraft U.S. and Argyle Locomotive Works in Australia.  The model is internally gas fired (twin flue, twin superheaters) and is gauge adjustable for either 32mm (‘0’ gauge) or 45mm (‘1’ gauge) – all the parts for this are supplied with the model. This operation can be undertaken by the owner and only takes a few minutes. The cab roof lifts up to give access to the water and lubricator fillers, the gas filler and control are in the bunker. The boiler is fitted with a water gauge and the lubricator has an under floor drain. The model is fitted with slide valves and simplified Walschaerts valve gear and is built from stainless steel, copper and brass.  You can see full details here.

Specifications:

• Scale: 16mm to 1 foot (1:19)
• Gauge: 32mm or 45mm
• Length over couplings: 580mm
• Maximum height: 180mm
• Width: 130mm
• Min Radius: TBA
• Boiler: Twin Flue
• Working Pressure: 60psi
• Reversing Gear: Simplified Walschaerts valve gear, slide valves
• Fuel: Butane Gas
• Boiler Fittings: Safety valve, pressure gauge, water gauge.
• Cab Controls: Steam regulator, gas regulator, reverser, lubricator under floor drain valve.
• Alternative rear bunkers supplied – with/without coal rails

Versions available, subject to production batch:

Lined Grey
Lined Black
Unlined Black

1:20.3 Scale Isle of Man Railway ‘E’ Van

The ‘E’ vans were four-wheeled brake and luggage vans fitted with lookout duckets, but otherwise entirely sealed with only two drop-sash windows at the guard’s door. None of these vans survive today, and they were effectively made redundant when later passenger coaches had their own braking systems. The primary purpose of the ‘E’ van was to provide luggage accommodation and braking for the original ‘A’ – ‘D’ class most of which did not have their own brakes when supplied in 1873/4. One surviving member of the class sat at the end of the Port Erin arrival platform at Douglas for many years and retained its pre-war two-tone brown livery. The Manx Northern Railway owned a pair of similar vans for use with the ‘N’ class carriages, but these seem to have been replaced in the 1890s and then used for goods traffic until they were scrapped in the 1920.

The roof is removable if required for customers to install their own interior detail, for example, or lighting.  An additional set of 32mm wheels is also provided.  Although the models are 1:20.3 scale they look well with 1:19 scale equipment and are probably larger than the equivalent scale models of Talyllyn coaches!  Full details can be viewed here.

1:19 Scale WD Baldwin 4-6-0T

An urgent need for narrow gauge locos to operate the lines behind the trenches in WW1 led the Railways Operating Division (ROD) to source locos from America as well as Britain. Both Baldwin and Alco produced designs and the Baldwin 4-6-0 pannier tank was made in huge numbers. Dispersal sales after the war saw them scattered around the globe with a number ending up in the UK on lines such as the Welsh Highland, Ashover, Snailbeach and Glyn Valley Tramway, many having been acquired by Colonel Stephens for his narrow gauge empire!

The model is internally gas fired and is constructed from etched brass and stainless steel. The model is only available in manual control version. The standard colour is satin black. Versions for 32mm and 45mm gauges are available. As the gas capacity is larger than the water capacity, a boiler top up system will be supplied. The boiler is fitted with a water gauge glass. The locomotive comes fitted with our standard square headed chopper couplings. The wheels are insulated as standard. The cab roof lifts up and tilts sideways to give easy access to the cab interior.  Swift Sixteen make a comprehensive range of WD wagon kits to go with our WW1 locos. You can see full details here.

It is hard to believe we have already reached August and the garden railway season is well under way.  One of the highlights of this time of year is the Llanfair Garden Railway Show on 3^rd / 4^th September, timed to coincide with the Gala on the resurgent Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway – both events are not to be missed!

Currency fluctuations

Recent volatility in global currency markets have been a cause for concern.  All future deliveries from the factory may be subject to a currency surcharge, the size of which will depend on the rates in force at the time of delivery.  We will calculate this surcharge on a case by case basis to ensure that customers get the most favourable rate and will do our best to avoid having to apply it.

Welshpool & Llanfair No. 14 – Price rise

Owing to the drop in the value of Sterling we will have no choice but to increase the unit price of No. 14 to £1800.00 for manual models and £2100.00 for the radio control version.  We have elected to absorb some of the increased cost ourselves but customers will need to contact their dealer to find out how this will affect the price they will pay.  However, we still regard this model as offering outstanding value for money!

Llanfair Garden Railway Show

As ever we will be bringing our stand to the Llanfair Garden Railway Show on 3^rd / 4^th September and hope to bring some recent releases and production samples of our new models.  Once again, we will be selling the ‘sweepings off the factory floor’ – an assortment of ‘open box’ locomotives, items of rolling stock and numerous parts and accessories that are cluttering up our warehouse; all these items will be on a ‘first come, first served’ basis each day – bring cash!  The stock will be refreshed on the Sunday when we have made some room.

The W&LLR Gala is their biggest event of the year, now over three days.  Every operating engine will be in use.  Traction engines, steam cars and lorries, a model railway exhibition, demonstrations and trade stands, and a shuttle bus to the associated Llanfair Garden Railway Show up the hill at Llanfair High School.

Recent arrivals

Delivery of ‘Mannin’, both live steam and electric, is now complete and all the stock has been sent out to dealers.  We also took delivery of a batch of ‘Ragleths’ and these are selling well, all the blue ones have now been sold but the other colours are still available, as are power units. The R19-3 W&L open wagons are still in stock and we expect our next rolling stock delivery to be the 1:32 scale RCH wagons in September.  We also have G202-01 and G202-02 packs of ‘Euro’ track (6’ lengths) back in stock as well as a limited amount of AM39-101 U.S. narrow gauge track (5’ lengths).

This month we bring you further news of the Isle of Man Railway ‘E’ Vans, the announcement by Trackshack that they intend to produce models of Polar Bear and Brown Bear to accompany their 7/8ths” Scale model of Sea Lion and the arrival of two new private owner liveried W&L open wagons. We will, as ever, be attending the Llanfair Garden Railway Show again on the 3rd and 4th of September and will, once again, be selling the ‘sweepings off the factory floor’ – an assortment of ‘open box’ locomotives, items of rolling stock and numerous parts and accessories that are cluttering up our warehouse; all these items will be on a ‘first come, first served’ basis each day – bring cash!

Isle of Man Railway ‘E’ Van

The ‘E’ vans were four-wheeled brake and luggage vans fitted with lookout duckets, but otherwise entirely sealed with only two drop-sash windows at the guard’s door. None of these vans survive today, and they were effectively made redundant when later passenger coaches had their own braking systems. The primary purpose of the ‘E’ van was to provide luggage accommodation and braking for the original ‘A’ – ‘D’ class most of which did not have their own brakes when supplied in 1873/4. One surviving member of the class sat at the end of the Port Erin arrival platform at Douglas for many years and retained its pre-war two-tone brown livery. The Manx Northern Railway owned a pair of similar vans for use with the ‘N’ class carriages, but these seem to have been replaced in the 1890s and then used for goods traffic until they were scrapped in the 1920.

The roof is removable if required for customers to install their own interior detail, for example, or lighting.  An additional set of 32mm wheels is also provided.  Although the models are 1:20.3 scale they look well with 1:19 scale equipment and are probably larger than the equivalent scale models of Talyllyn coaches!  You can see the full details here.

Polar Bear and Brown Bear from Trackshack

In its original guise Groudle Glen Railway operated with two steam locomotives, Sea Lion of 1896 and Polar Bear of 1905, both built by Bagnalls of Stafford.  The railway’s volunteers have long held a dream to restore the scene of two Bagnall locomotives operating down the glen at Groudle on a permanent basis. With this in mind, and on account of the reasonable certainty that Polar Bear will never return to the Glen permanently, the Groudle volunteers decided to replace her with a replica built to the original 1905 design. Continuing the theme of naming locomotives after the animals that once inhabited the Victorian zoo at the railway’s Sea Lion Rocks Terminus the new locomotive is being named Brown Bear.

To turn this dream into reality, the railway launched a ‘Build Brown Bear’ appeal to raise the envisaged £50,000 plus required to fund the construction of the locomotive.  At the time of writing (July 2016) the new build is well on. The frames are on the wheels with cylinders and many motion parts fitted as a rolling chassis. The tanks and cab have been made and the order placed for construction of the boiler.  The original chimney from locomotive Polar Bear (which now carries Sea Lion’s original chimney) has been restored and will be incorporated into the new locomotive to ensure a historical link with the past.

Following the success of the model of Sea Lion commissioned from Accucraft UK by TrackShack we are pleased to now launch new models of both Polar Bear and the new build Brown Bear. Once again 50% of any profit from these models will be donated to the ‘Build Brown Bear’ appeal, and along with the monies donated through the model of Sea Lion these funds are being ring fenced in the charity accounts ready to pay for the new boiler for Brown Bear.  The new model of Polar Bear carries the original Bagnall lined yellow livery as originally delivered in 1905. The new model of Brown Bear carries the lined light brown livery that will be carried by the new build loco when completed at Groudle.  The target UK RRP is £1295.00 for both models – contact Trackshack to pre-order.

New PO Liveries for Welshpool & Llanfair Open Wagons

Trackshack has now taken delivery of two more attractive private owner versions of the W&L open wagon, ‘Hereford Coal’ and Oldham Corporation’s ‘Gas For Reliability’ (hoping we don’t upset those who prefer meths firing!).