N Gauge Forum

Tomorrow at midday, apparently with EP samples at the Greatest Gathering over the weekend.

Just to get in early "nothing for me" and "my wallet is safe".

Updated 37 with sound? FFA/FGA? Mk2b/c coaches? I can barely contain myself.

In fact there are two new projects to be announced. One tomorrow, one at the fair IIRC.

I'm certain that they will both be in OO. Would love to be proven wrong.

Quote from: njee20 on July 30, 2025, 08:40:51 PM

Tomorrow at midday, apparently with EP samples at the Greatest Gathering over the weekend.

Just to get in early "nothing for me" and "my wallet is safe".

Updated 37 with sound? FFA/FGA? Mk2b/c coaches? I can barely contain myself.

I wouldn't care to speculate on specific prototypes, but as the announcement is linked to the "Greatest Gathering" I would be thinking in terms of (1) a loco and (2) something iconic with historic significance.

The fact that there is both a Farish logo and a Bachmann "Branchlines" one in the announcement banner above suggests to me that there will be a new tool model announced in both OO and N.

We will see!

Roy

i just wonder if it will be something made at derby litchurch lane.... because that's where the announcement video is coming from presumably???

so an aventra (a 345 elizabeth line i guess to start with), or a new tool turbostar?? or to really be controversial, an electrostar!

or maybe something else that was made in derby... but much longer ago.... something lms...

anyway we shall see!

Quote from: Roy L S on July 30, 2025, 08:57:54 PMThe fact that there is both a Farish logo and a Bachmann "Branchlines" one in the announcement banner above suggests to me that there will be a new tool model announced in both OO and N.

I thought the same actually, the fact that they feature the GF logo, though maybe its just wishful thinking.

Maybe as its for the Derby 200 years thing, something made at Derby might make sense. Maybe a retooled Midland Compound 4-4-0?

I will continue to wish for a new tooled King - we have a Duchess, MN, A1 etc.. but no King... An upgraded 37 with sound would also be nice.

Hope I'm wrong but I have a feeling I'm going to be underwhelmed :uneasy:
Wouldn't mind catching Crabs providing they're Horwich ones ;)

Quote from: Roy L S on July 30, 2025, 08:57:54 PM

Quote from: njee20 on July 30, 2025, 08:40:51 PM

Tomorrow at midday, apparently with EP samples at the Greatest Gathering over the weekend.

Just to get in early "nothing for me" and "my wallet is safe".

Updated 37 with sound? FFA/FGA? Mk2b/c coaches? I can barely contain myself.

I wouldn't care to speculate on specific prototypes, but as the announcement is linked to the "Greatest Gathering" I would be thinking in terms of (1) a loco and (2) something iconic with historic significance.

The fact that there is both a Farish logo and a Bachmann "Branchlines" one in the announcement banner above suggests to me that there will be a new tool model announced in both OO and N.

We will see!

Roy

Interesting deduction. Hmm.

With the Farish logo surely it'll be a Farish announcement (in part at least). It's not all the brand families.

could it be the 69 finally, they have the rights.

Quote from: Graham on Yesterday at 08:41:54 AMcould it be the 69 finally, they have the rights.

But haven't Bachmann already said that they will be producing the 69 in N so as such that wouldn't be a new announcement?

Some interesting locos were built at Derby including the S&D 7Fs, Midland Compounds, some BR Standards, Class 34 and 25 diesels and "Peaks". However I think that the location of the Greatest Gathering, as far as any connection to the announcements is concerned may be a red herring personally.

Roy

Also wondered about the significance of just Branchline/Farish brands on the announcement and no narrow gauge,EFE etc. Hopefully not just wishful thinking on my part.

The n 69, would that be a new tooling announcement? We've known it's under development for some time.

Logic does say something of historical significance in both scales but that's a pretty big pool to speculate in. Can't think of anything D&E of such significance that hasn't already been done, especially in OO. Maybe a long lived pre-grouping design? Something built in Derby. Even as a d+e bloke myself, I'm a sucker for a pre-grouping livery and suspect I'm not alone

Still, only 3 hours to go, barely time for a proper froth.

Something historic built at Derby - how about the Fell diesel?
But somehow I can't see Bachmann/Farish going for it, sadly ...
PW

A recent Facebook post from Bachman has confirmed there is N and OO new tooling.

I'll get a last guess in and say retooled 170. Built at Derby. Already 'in the family'.

Quote from: njee20 on Yesterday at 11:31:41 AMI'll get a last guess in and say retooled 170. Built at Derby. Already 'in the family'.

Maybe, but the 170, utilitarian though it may be, is hardly something iconic in the context of 200 years of railways.

I am ging to go for something iconic but probably equally unlikely - a new tool A4!

Not long now and we will know, hopefully it hasn't been a lot of froth over what turns out to be another "new tool" Scenecraft toilet block modelled on one that was at Birmingham Curzon Street in 1849!

Roy

So did anyone guess right?

I didn't, and there'll be no frothing from me.
Maybe the Autumn announcements on 6th August at 09.30hrs................... :hmmm:

Quote from: Suffolk Rob on Yesterday at 12:17:05 PMSo did anyone guess right?

I went for random wagon, Is that close enough  :D

Closer than me :D

NER P7 Coal Hoppers - noice!

A little expensive for a single though. I thought that might have been for a 3 pack!

Mark

Oh well, at least there'll be a P.O. wagon for @madchadbrad  ;)

It does look a nice little wagon which I guess will be around the £25-6 mark with the bigger retailers

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.

Am I right that Accurascale did it in OO. That would be interesting as it would demonstrate that they are not just focusing on things they can do in a larger scale too.

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  :hmmm:

Yeah, OK I know, dream on...

Roy

Nothing for me here.

But I'm intrigued by the hints of the next model (probably in OO)... "western" and "blue" ...with a video at the start of a class 50 (surely not) and a Hymek and Warship to end.

Well the Heljan Hymek is an old model now, the new Bachmann class 43 Warship has the ideal chassis for a new class 42, to get in ahead of the one that is still being designed by Heljan/Rails of Sheffield, but my money will be on a new OO Western. Yes please!

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

Quote from: Platy767 on Yesterday at 12:30:35 PMNER P7 Coal Hoppers - noice!

A little expensive for a single though. I thought that might have been for a 3 pack!

Mark

Unlikely, that would work out at less than £10 each for what is a highly detailed wagon which wouldn't be remotely viable. On the plus side allowing for the usual 15% discount it should be possible to pick them up for a shade over £25.

Roy

Quote from: Bob G on Yesterday at 12:39:47 PMNothing for me here.

But I'm intrigued by the hints of the next model (probably in OO)... "western" and "blue" ...with a video at the start of a class 50 (surely not) and a Hymek and Warship to end.

Well the Heljan Hymek is an old model now, the new Bachmann class 43 Warship has the ideal chassis for a new class 42, to get in ahead of the one that is still being designed by Heljan/Rails of Sheffield, but my money will be on a new OO Western. Yes please!

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

Get thee hence, Satan :nerner:

I'm being flippant. I built my first hopper for about 2.50GB courtesy of the 2mm Scale Association and another from BH Enterprises for not much more. Long time ago and quite a bit of work with assembly, painting, lettering, wheels and couplers.
Mark

 :sleep:

Operating wise, these wagons would have been used much like any other coal wagon. Small stations might only get one or two, whilst bigger coal users like gas works would receive many more. The big point to note is that these wagons are hoppers - you need under track coal drops to unload them. These were generally limited to the NR region. Some still exist today, albeit not in use. Halifax has some in quite poor condition whilst at Goathland you'll find them preserved next to covered lime drops.

Quote from: Roy L S on Yesterday at 12:37:05 PMI 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.

Depending on era you could use the Farish class 14 or EFE Austerity.
https://flic.kr/p/2oi7bg9

For pre-nationalisation there's the option of the Sonic/Rails J50.

Quote from: Newportnobby on Yesterday at 12:45:25 PM

Quote from: Bob G on Yesterday at 12:39:47 PMOOoooh it's lovely to be able to froth in two scales!  :D

Get thee hence, Satan :nerner:

But it's not safe on the other side site  :no:

Quote from: Roy L S on Yesterday at 12:37:05 PMI 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  :hmmm:

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.

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

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

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)

Quote from: Suffolk Rob on Yesterday at 12:33:31 PMWould 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..

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

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

Quote from: bluedepot on Yesterday at 01:58:37 PMi'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...  ;)

Quote from: bluedepot on Yesterday at 01:58:37 PMa 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...

yes all fair points!

Quote from: martyn on Yesterday at 01:36:57 PMOne for @icairns (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=3276) 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

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!

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

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

Quote from: madchadbrad on Yesterday at 09:18:04 PMAs 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).

Quote from: madchadbrad on Yesterday at 09:18:04 PMAs 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

Quote from: Roy L S on Yesterday at 01:41:23 PMOf 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

And the J72 was not unknown "North of  Hadrian's Wall" either.  Kittybrewster shed had a few in the 1950s.  Also Eastfield.  I might be tempted.

I think I've posted about J72 allocations on that thread-indeed there were some at Kittybrewster, Eastfield, Keith, St Margaret's and Thornton for various periods.

Martyn

Quote from: GlenEglise on Yesterday at 09:59:19 PMThese 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

Thanks for letting us know.