LMS Beyer Garratt at Hattons

[GunnerBill]

'Just pre-ordered the heavily Weathered BR 1949-56.

Should go nicely with the Virgin Voyager! <cough> Sorry I mean the 15 x BR 16 Ton Steel Mineral Wagon's I have lurking around for my 9F.

[Steve Hill]

Just got an email from Hattons saying "on or after 1 November 2013".

So that'll help with the Xmas budgeting.

[TK421]

I'm going to be so poor that month with a car mot as well.

[Zunnan]

House insurance, car insurance, car tax...I hope they're delayed again!

[Lysander]

Frankly, I'm rather relieved : the 2-8-2 is coming next month, and the L&Y tank is on the horizon too...........

Tony

[Free_at_last]

I wonder what the problem is, as when I asked at the beginning of the year I was told they expected the first batch around March.

[D605Eagle]

I wonder what the problem is, as when I asked at the beginning of the year I was told they expected the first batch around March.

Probably lost its production slot. I know its not great for people who are eagerly waiting, but it gives me chance ot get my breath back. Now do I sneakily preorder a 2-4-2T?????

[Bigmet]

That's the most likely explanation. The project plans that sets target delivery dates are always set up on the basis that each stage in the process works like clockwork. It only needs a small delay or overrun on one project stage and all the planned slots are disturbed, and then all the other projects see offsets until the next available slot opens up for whatever piece of work a particular project is working on. This is part of what makes for economy, the expensive skilled workshops are kept fully loaded with a schedule of work, and there is no slack or recovery. With dozens of projects on the go in most shops, and usually for multiple customers, it is all a bit of a nightmare for those who have to manage it. Been there, got the adrenaline and sweat soaked, blood spattered T shirt...

Just got an email from Hattons saying "on or after 1 November 2013"...

Bearing in mind how slowly they move, you can reckon on the back end not arriving until the 3rd November.

[Lysander]

Bearing in mind how slowly they move, you can reckon on the back end not arriving until the 3rd November.

......and that's if they sort those bearings out.

Tony

[Free_at_last]

Was in Hattons this afternoon. They had more samples of the Garratt showing the different liveries and coal bunkers.
They also had one opened up showing the drive mechanisms.
I took a couple of bad quality pics (sorry) but they may be of interest.

BG1.JPG (55.87 KiB) Viewed 3926 times

Front tank. Notice the cast weight on the right that covers the motor etc

BG2.JPG (52.58 KiB) Viewed 3926 times

Rear coal bunker. Motor removed for display.

BG3.JPG (46.19 KiB) Viewed 3926 times

[Lysander]

Were you given a release date ?

Tony

[Bigmet]

...They had more samples of the Garratt .. one opened up showing the drive mechanisms...

That's going to be the easy haulage champion in RTR OO steam when it is released, both ends driven, with heavy ballast blocks and flywheels for plenty of weight to aid traction. Should be quiet as well, with the gear tower design to take the drive from a shaft coupler much as in their twin bogie chassis.

The exterior looked fine at the NEC show where it could be closely inspected on Heljan's stand; and a couple of LMS types who actually saw the prototype rated it very highly, so it's all coming together. Heljan are going to raise the bar in RTR OO steam standards, just as Hornby are dropping it. Interesting times.

And the Gresley O2 next, yum, yum.

[Tiddles]

...They had more samples of the Garratt .. one opened up showing the drive mechanisms...

That's going to be the easy haulage champion in RTR OO steam when it is released, both ends driven, with heavy ballast blocks and flywheels for plenty of weight to aid traction. Should be quiet as well, with the gear tower design to take the drive from a shaft coupler much as in their twin bogie chassis.

The exterior looked fine at the NEC show where it could be closely inspected on Heljan's stand; and a couple of LMS types who actually saw the prototype rated it very highly, so it's all coming together. Heljan are going to raise the bar in RTR OO steam standards, just as Hornby are dropping it. Interesting times.

And the Gresley O2 next, yum, yum.

Would be interesting to have a haulage test between this and the Bachmann EM-1.

[markh]

Seeinf them pics make.me want one even.more sadly i have only £25 of the £240 price tag saved.

but i think its november the relase date is for the monsters

mark

[Zunnan]

Price increase? I'm glad I pre-ordered at £199, which they still seem to be on Hattons site.

The pre-prod models are certainly looking promising. The twin motor drive was expected, but it is nice to see how the motors are fitted, these should be quite formidable in the traction department!