Bachmann New Tooling Announcement 31st July

[Bob G]

OOoooh it's lovely to be able to froth in two scales! 

Get thee hence, Satan

But it's not safe on the other side site 

[Suffolk Rob]

I wasn't remotely close and would not have guess the NER hopper in a million years.

Of no use on my GC layout but they look lovely models, I will probably buy a couple in the colourful NCB and sugar corporation liveries just because of that.

I think the biggest issue is a lack of any currently available RTR locos that are really suitable to pull them, in the Farish range, a further batch of the J39s has been due for a fair while now with no news, but apart from that really only the B1 and WD Austerity would be suitable I would think.

Of course the Union Mills J26 would have been spot on and it does occur to me that amongst the DJM models announced was a Q6 0-8-0 and I think a CAD was shown - could we maybe see an EFE model of that I wonder 

Yeah, OK I know, dream on...

Roy

Funnily enough I was musing only last week about the lack of smaller 0-6-0s in N and the J36 struck me as one that potentially ticked a lot of boxes. Long life, the last locos in steam in Scotland, Maude in a special livery post withdrawl, seconded to ROD and the Highland Railway in WW1. The ROD locos given WW1 related names on their return. All of these, including what seems as a growing awareness of what previous family generations did in that conflict and where, should lend themselves to ruleone purchases.

I guess the pre-grouping problem is that you have the added problem and potential dissapointment of it being not only the wrong one of the big 4 for your interests, but the wrong geographical area of your big 4 choice too. The SECR 0-6-0 didn't unduely hang around as I recall but has never been rerun, even with their release of the SECR brake and the Rapido goods stock. Of course it's hardly on its own in that respect when it comes to Farish steamers and it was in their Branchline range first.

Back to the point of this thread, I wonder what sales of the NER liveries will be like. Bachmann won't say of course but price reductions in 12 months time, or the absence of the,will be informative. Who knows, maybe the North Eastern tank they announced in OO this morning is in the works too.

[martyn]

The NER started building these from 1903, with the LNER building over 7000 to dia. 12.

Some were converted with a light frame supporting a wagon sheet and used for coal dust to power stations.

A photo in 'A pictorial history of LNER wagons' by P Tatlow shows one in PO livery in 1968 (possibly internal user? Don't know.), so long lasting.

From 1936, newbuilding change made to all steel wagons.

All above condensed from the quoted book.

Given that these were originally an NER design, and floor doors only I have no proof but possibly they didn't stray too far from the ex NER area? The book implies that these wagons were for NER area use.

As has been said, in steam days, there is a lack of locos which would have been used in hauling them. The forthcoming J72 will be handy for shunting and trip working; the A5, though allocated to the NER area, were primarily passenger locos.

One for @icairns to post about.

Martyn

[Roy L S]

Of course we shouldn't forget that the Dapol J72 is on the way and is currently at EP stage, that would be an eminently suitable loco to pair with these wagons!

Roy

[PLD]

Definitely an unexpected curve-ball... Not sure if it's the same or an earlier type than the West Highland Models 3d print? (which are £30-something for 4 for those muttering about cost)

Would be interested if anyone with more knowledge could share more about them, particularly how far they travelled or whether you might see a singleton in a branch goods. That might persuade me to look at one when they arrive.

Yes they could be seen individually, but bear in mind they were designed for bottom discharge so only worked to locations set up to receive them which usually meant a raised track with storage cells beneath. They were common in ex North Eastern Railway territory, but much less so further afield..

[bluedepot]

they look nice wagons.

i'm sure some north eastern and early br modellers will like them, but it does seem a bit niche.

a new tool 21 ton coal hopper, available with different bodies and fitted and unfitted, would have been more useful for coal I think.

anyway good on them for producing a new n gauge wagon.


tim

[Steven B]

NCB's Ashington network made much use of these wagons:
1973:
https://flic.kr/p/2r1vBgd - Hunslet austerity

1986:
https://flic.kr/p/2jg5HAG - seen front left next to a class 56 in the exchange sidings.
https://flic.kr/p/9PyREX - rear most track, alongside a train of HAA. Also in shot are 21t hoppers just like the Dapol model.

https://flic.kr/p/2ncR2hz - Andrew Barclay 0-6-0 diesel, but squint and it could be a NGS Hunslet.

1987:
https://flic.kr/p/2kCu2pZ - hauled by class 08

[PLD]

i'm sure some north eastern and early br modellers will like them, but it does seem a bit niche.

I'm sure those pre-war North-East modellers would have said the same if a  Diesel-hydraulic loco had been announced... 

a new tool 21 ton coal hopper, available with different bodies and fitted and unfitted, would have been more useful for coal I think.

Maybe so in terms of overall potential customers, but slightly missing the point of fitting in will the Rail200 theme...
Whereas most guesses were tying to the Derby gathering location, they've gone even more on-brand with a direct connection to the Stockton & Darlington Railway...

[bluedepot]

yes all fair points!

[icairns]

One for @icairns to post about.

Well, I would never have guessed Bachmann's new tooling announcement would have been about these NER and LNER hopper wagons in a million years!

Having built several of these wagons over the past two years (2mm Scale Association resin kit and West Highland Models 3D print) I really don't need any more but I think I will be in the market for two or three when they are released.
 
As previously stated, I believe that these hopper wagons were primarily found in the North-East of England in NER, LNER, BR, and NCB service.
 
They are noticeably "vintage" in design and I love the long end stations (end pillars) and distinctive hand brake levers.

One for @cmason to post about.

Ian

[madchadbrad]

As far as I remember, the only other model of an NER hopper is the 2mm Scale Association's kit version, which is very fiddly to make, especially if you want to put N-gauge wheels on it (and a tiny bit on the small side, being 1/152)
I'll be interested in the original version offered (for historical reasons), the NCB version and the BSC version: "the private owner version" of course!

[GlenEglise]

These special editions are not really something I'd care to purchase.

Sorry Bachmann but It may fit with Rail 200 but not for me.

GE

[njee20]

Sorry? It's not a special edition and nothing to do with Rail 200? 

[PLD]

As far as I remember, the only other model of an NER hopper is the 2mm Scale Association's kit version, which is very fiddly to make, especially if you want to put N-gauge wheels on it (and a tiny bit on the small side, being 1/152)

Also the West Highland Models 3d print versions (mentioned a couple of times earlier in this thread).

[icairns]

As far as I remember, the only other model of an NER hopper is the 2mm Scale Association's kit version, which is very fiddly to make, especially if you want to put N-gauge wheels on it (and a tiny bit on the small side, being 1/152)

In NGJ 2/24, I described how fit a cut-down Peco 10ft. wheelbase underframe to the 2mm Scale Association resin kit (see below).  It's fiddly, but results in a very smooth-running hopper wagon, especially when fitted with metal wheels.  This idea originally came from Noel Leaver. 

The West Highland LNER 20T hoppers are excellent value and are available on eBay here: 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176592575338?

Ian