During Easter week 1972, I was wandering the KX area model shops, and Bernie Victor somehow talked me into a purchase of the original version of the Big Boy from Rivarossi. (My original intention had been to look for any further suitable HO mechanisms that might power UK diesel traction, after my first good experience of this.) Anyhoo, I came out with £25 spent, and the large loco in a long box; and have subsequently enjoyed regularly operating it during 'anything goes' sessions. It can take all the overnight ECML fast fitted freight trains I have modelled, well over 200 wagons! (The up fast line on my layout is clear of any obstruction, mainly because there is no platform face on it, so can accomodate the significantly greater width of this monster, which thanks to UP's massive loading gauge, is much wider than any UK OO scale model, even at HO's 1:87, making it 12.5% (linear) smaller than it would be in OO scale.)
Knocks the one available RTR OO articulated steam loco into a cocked hat especially for performance; although happily RTR OO9 now boasts a high grade articulated steamer in the form of Bachmann's Fairlie. Long time coming: this original version of the Big Boy was introduced by Rivarossi in 1967 with all coupled wheels driven by a shaft drive arrangement. That's some measure of how far off the pace of RTR HO the UK's RTR OO has been...
My Rivarossi 'Big Boy' turns 50
- Ken Shabby
- Posts: 444
- Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 12:20 pm
Re: My Rivarossi 'Big Boy' turns 50
Can we see a picture of it ?
I always remember reading about this loco in the book Telford and The American Visitor by Ray Pope.
Ken
I always remember reading about this loco in the book Telford and The American Visitor by Ray Pope.
Ken
Re: My Rivarossi 'Big Boy' turns 50
No digital camera, but plenty of online pics which look much like mine, such as
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rivarossi-Scal ... B00BF9IS4A
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rivarossi-Scal ... B00BF9IS4A
Re: My Rivarossi 'Big Boy' turns 50
They are lovely things. Can turn sharply as well despite their size. Never had one myself but I used to look at one in a shop window in the 1980's. Was more then I could afford. Impressive model though!
Modelling On A Budget ---》 https://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/F ... 22&t=52212
Re: My Rivarossi 'Big Boy' turns 50
Wow 25 nicker was a mighty sum of money back in '72! You mention the rtr artic kettle we have now. I never really understood why it is twin motored with tiny motors instead of a beefy motor in the boiler and driveshafts to the power bogies. The second issue ones are far better than the first though performance wise.
Re: My Rivarossi 'Big Boy' turns 50
How much I agree. Has there ever been a RTR HO or OO Garratt with this layout? I am aware there was an HO Australian Garratt production - probably a decade past now - but never saw a description of the drive method...D605Eagle wrote:... You mention the rtr artic kettle we have now. I never really understood why it is twin motored with tiny motors instead of a beefy motor in the boiler and driveshafts to the power bogies...
Memory reset and now working: Eureka Models HO Class AD60 Garratt. Same as the Hattons model, motor in each engine unit. Well reviewed for appearance and performance. Came out in 2006, roughly contemporary with the similarly much liked Bachmann 9F, and at 4X the price, near £400 against the 9F at £90 (and there were sharp intakes of breath in the UK about the 9F price).
Last edited by Bigmet on Sat May 07, 2022 2:32 pm, edited 2 times in total.
- Bufferstop
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- Location: Bottom end of N. Warks line
Re: My Rivarossi 'Big Boy' turns 50
I remember when they first came out. I saw one running around the mountain circuit on the old Alton Towers layout. I think it must have belonged to one of the operators or maintainers as I never saw it again.
Growing old, can't avoid it. Growing up, forget it!
My Layout, My Workbench Blog and My Opinions
My Layout, My Workbench Blog and My Opinions