While exhibiting my beginners layout, Edgeworth last weekend (blog post about this on Sunday) we had a few invaders on the tracks.
In the platform road, a Hattons/Heljan Beyer-Garratt. Sneaking in to the sidings, one of the first production Hornby P1s. Sharp eyed readers will spot a far more appropriate Pannier tank in the engine shed. Only the pannier belongs to me sadly. The others were brought in by the operating monkey left in charge of making trains move.
The Garratt found clearances beside the coal stage a bit tight but managed OK. The P1, with the loco-tender connection set at it's longest setting, handled the tight curves surprisingly well for an 8 coupled machine.
Pedants might suggest that neither machine is idea for a GWR branch line but the visitors disagreed judging by the number of photos taken!
2 comments:
Out of region locos? Like something out of the gauging trials? I wouldn't expect much else on a magazine stand at a show.
OK, a Beyer Garrett, or a P1, might not be the standard fare for a GWR BLT, but I'm not complaining.
In fact, when I saw it on Saturday, it struck me as a good idea to use a layout like this for photographing and testing locos - and checking clearances.
Nothing wrong with the Pannier, either - but then I've always had a soft spot for them.
I've also got a soft spot for AEC railcars (1 or 2 car) and modernisation plan DMUs - which also wouldn't look out of place on a GWR (or former GWR) BLT layout.
Even if they did, I'd be in no position to complain - whose layout is it? Well, it certainly isn't mine - I wish it were, but it's not... .
Returning to the show, the "layout building" seminar was excellent - I hope there's more of the same at "RMweb Live". I also hope some of the audience are inspired to build their own layouts - preferably small layouts, because some of them might get completed.
Time will tell.
Suspect you mean P2...
The P1 was a pretty elusive breed!
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