Anyone have experience with either International Hobbies in Auburn, California–or Eureka models. Price looks pretty stiff at first glance–but there is not much to offer anyone wanting a Garratt.
Notice from Model Railroad News-
“The spectacular HO scale Australian NSWR AD60 class 4-8-4+4-8-4 Beyer Garratt is now in stock! Produced by Eureka Models this massive locomotive is available in conventional DC and DCC ready or with DCC and QSI sound. Price $795.50, with DCC/QSI sound $869.50. Add $20.00 for the weathered version.”
Saw the photo in the latest edition of MR News–pretty impressive. Now if I can find some kind of “Lend-Lease” excuse to put it on my Yuba River Sub, LOL.
Handsome devil–and Auburn’s right up the highway from me about 20 miles.
Just checked the website that Mark provided in his post, and it’s certainly a handsome loco. It also looks to be a little less expensive–at least for the DC version–than MR News quoted–$690. Which, IMO is not a bad price for a very limited run locomotive that may not have very much appeal to the American market.
Way back when, in MRC, Bill Schopp showed how to kit-bash a Garratt from two Mantua Mikes. I’ve always thought them a fascinating locomotive.
I just might forget the Triplex and bite on this one, by golly!
It’s had good reviews in a Uk mag and some of the Aussies on the model rail forum in the UK speak highly of it so if you like it and can muster the money I’d go for it.
Here is a 21st century derivative of a Garratt (built 2006). Note that it has only two articulated sections rather than the Garratt’s three. The fuel section adjacent to the cab is part of the boiler/cab frame. Only the water-tank section in the front is articulated with the main frame. Note that the cylinders are inward, like the original Garratt, but not almost all later ones.
I have 2 of these beasts and they’re a really well detailed, good running model ( they need to be for the price !). The QSI sound is awesome to listen to, especially as it runs in and out of sync, and the speakers are mounted in the boiler, so it’s coming out of the right spot, not trailing the loco like on all other sound equipped steamers.
I don’t know if QSI have released the update chip for them yet, but that might iron out the sudden stop issue mentioned in the review that was posted.
The only thing I don’t like is the weathering, it just doesn’t look right to me, but that’s a personal preference and it might be just to your liking.
My opinion is basically this, I would sell everything else I have before I would part with my AD60s ( I am a biased Aussie from NSW though ! [:-^] )
Are you sure this was built in 2006? Was this on the Prison Railroad down in Ushaiua, Argentina? I know there was one like this built in 1996. I have pictures of the builders plates. the reason I question the date is because I was there Dec 30. 2005 to Jan 5, 2006 and believe I saw the same engine.
Yes, it was on that railroad. The 2006 date is what I recall reading when I was there December 2007. The railroad has at least one other Garratt, but I didn’t have time to explore the railroad (our tour was rushed). The following link contains a photo of a very similar locomotive on the railroad. The only difference I note between the two is that the other locomotive’s water tank is sloped at the top-front whereas the one above is square. Is the sloped-tank locomotive the one you saw earlier?
Click on “railway” and you’ll see pictures of two Garratts: Engineer Porta and Engineer Zubieta. Click on their respective photos for more details. The above-pictured locomotive is Zubieta. Porta was built in 1994. It has been painted blue now and has a snow plow added. Note differences in water tank shape. Porta has builder plates on cab sides.
Cool!! Porta is the one I saw. They added a new one since i was there. Now i have a reason to go back. When I was down in late 2005 Porta was still red and looked very similar to Zubieta. Thanks for the info on this.
Are you sure about that? My understanding after talking to Martyn Bane was that the Ushuaia locos were conventional Garratts. The photo of the dismantled loco on the webpage seems to confirm that.
Yes I am certain the boiler/cab/fuel tank are on a rigid frame. While the drivers under the fuel tank I’m sure are free to rotate, the tank is clearly rigidly attached to the cab. So, this locomotive has only two articulated sections, not three like a true Garratt. Note the sophisticated lubrication system!
While Zubieta’s cab, tank and fuel bunker is built on a rigid frame it may still be considered a Beyer Garrett as it was built off plans used to construct the first generation of garrett’s in England in the early 1900’s. I believe the original design did not call for an articulated rear section on the locomotive and this feature was added to later models. The second articulation was mostly likely added to later models to help handle sharper curves and help distribute weight better. Generally a Garrett style locomotive means that the boiler is centered between two sets of drivers with its tanks located above each set to increase traction.
The website for the train at the end of the world (http://www.trendelfindelmundo.com.ar/tfm_base_en.html) says that the Ushuiua Garretts were based of the early prototypes designed by Garrett and built by Beyr and Peacock in 1909.
I’m pretty sure Porta (the sister locomotive of Zubieta) is a “true” garrett using your definition of 2 artilculation points. The photo below shows that the rear water tank/fuel bunker is not a part of the cab and it has room to move freely (second photo).
Click to enlarge.
These photos were taken by me when I went down in December of 2005. I believe Porta has now been repainted to blue. These were taken prior to a her new paint job.
While Zubieta was built by a different company in a different country, Porta does fit the requirements as a “true” Garrett.
