You can step out any time you like, but you can never leave.
Thats branch or short line modelling for me. A brief chat with a viewer at the NEC in late November brought that thought forefront. They chatted for a few minutes and mentioned they’d been following the blog from its early days. Day one came from wanting to write specifically about Albion Yard away from the other online content I was writing. I knew Albion would have a story, it was already shape shifting, quite literally with interchangeable buildings that allowed a completely different appearance to be generated quickly, particularly useful for capturing peoples imagination with a different take on the same footprint and track plan. I didn’t realise that story would be a constant though.
Albion Yard
The picture above was a popular one, the background a mix of Howard Scenics houses, and an HO scale Berlin apartment block. But the core layout was a small, out of the way yard that only local people would know was there, the sort of thing that was hidden in plain sight behind a factory unit or row of houses. Shelfie2 at the NEC drew similar comments, it caught viewers imagination that it was a plausible small coal disposal yard tucked away down a rural back lane in Northumberland. That was my intention of course, but looking at the picture above and the one below there’s a common theme, even though they’re ten years or more apart. OO, off the beaten track, a backwater, 08’s, the dying embers of a railway system, once busy, now becalmed before the final closure.
Guyzance Shelfie 2
I look at future plans, Shelfie2 above has a broken promise. Do I spin the viewing side 180 degrees, why not? It is a view I know works better than the one I ended with. The lighting rig and the control system can all be changed, relatively easily. While it will be the same layout I do wonder if it will ‘give’ me a second layout. Being so used to seeing it from the existing viewpoint will it light any fires seeing it in reverse? The thing is, I know it looks better in some aspects that way round. Some copicing will need to be done, the back wall of trees will need attention with gaps built into them to open views down into the yard. And thats an interesting bit, looking down the hill instead of up it, blocking the shadows onto the backdrop trying to capture the depth of the landscape and the Cheviots in the middle distance. How to get that Housman ‘Blue remembered hills’ feel quoted by Iain Rice and so effectively captured in Geoff Forsters Welsh Marches layouts.
Shelfie 2 Guyzance
The layout can of course evolve, its one that I’d considered ‘finished’, its done what I needed it too. Thoughts are that it can drop into a Forest of Dean system I want to build. Not as a location as such, but as a ready to run section to run trains to and from to start with. A planned visit later this week to a good friends rail system will no doubt provide further inspiration for its future.
If I spin it I still haven’t left the Hotel of course, just swapped the room furniture..
Well it’s here, the Accurascale 57xx, and spoiler alert, its definitely been worth the wait. This release really brings the Pannier family up to date with a contemporary high quality and detailed model of this iconic and promiscuous family, nearly 900 of them! A question that might be asked is what’s taken so long for an updated model to arrive over and above Bachmann’s 2004 release. An answer maybe that Bachmann in fairnesss to them actually got the 57xx varieties they tooled very right indeed all that time ago, with a well detailed and mechanically sound model. So much so that the kit manufacturers like Malcolm Mitchell and Martin Finney would have had a job getting people to buy into building a kit whilst the Bachmann version was extant, I’ve got fourteen of them….
Accurascale 57xx ACC2890-EXLDCC
Well some twenty two years later Accurascale have taken the next step with their version, and has set the standard which is unlikely to be surpassed for a considerable time to come. They also have tooled versions not previously available, riveted tanks, boilers without top feeds immediately spring to mind, and have tooled the bodies in such a way that the ability to produce a mainstream version of any member of the class is just a tool slide change away. Whilst not as detail varied as their other recent model the J67/8/9 classes, there are plenty of subtle variations to capture both in locomotive details and livery variations.
Accurascale 57xx ACC2890-EXLDCC
Accurascale have kindly lent a DCC sound fitted model for review, from the production batch, not an EP or decorated sample. As Shelfie2 was at the NEC show and running in its normal DC configuration we wondered how well it would work running on DC as its bimodal so to speak. Well the answer was surprisingly well. Using a Gaugemaster model W controller the sound worked and the locomotive works as expected. It does need turning up to maximum speed to activate the decoder, once. it starts moving turn the speed down and the model moves prototypically and has a bit of a momentum feel to it. It rapidly became second nature, and the exhaust beat matches the wheel revolutions even in DC operating mode. There’s no volume control operating like this, but in the environs of the NEC the relative loudness wasn’t in any way obtrusive. Subsequently at home it was loud, but thats not really a problem, If I were buying a sound fitted version, I’d bite the bullet and buy a DCC system anyway.
The initial look over the model at the NEC certainly captured the look and mass of the 57xx class. Some models just don’t look like they capture the mass of the real locomotive, but this one does, adding subtley to its prescence on or off the layout. Getting it home means that a more relaxed look at the model can take place, and this has just confirmed the accuracy and attention to detail of this class act.
Arriving in the standard Accurascale packaging the model had no major defect and one lamp bracket missing from the bunker top. No superficial glue marks or assembly errors were evident and the paint and printing is all crisp and legible. The model comes fitted with standard tension lock couplings and NEM pockets on the chassis, they were removed for photos and video. The model was literally fresh off the aircraft so we received the same standard product that a regular purchaser will. Within the box is an outline of the class and its history with some interesting notes from their use in preservation, real lived life experience. Also is a detail package with a smokebox number plate and two locomotive lamps. There are tweezers to help replace the decoder, an instruction leaflet with spares listing and the DCC sound instructions with relevant CV’s and settings. So taking the measuring stick to it and dimensions published, it meets all of them without exception. Importantly the various shapes and radii of the fittings just pop, capturing the character of the prototype, possibly to perfection.
This was emphasised by the small delay in the production process when the dome top contour was changed, the original wasn’t bad by any stretch, (see above), but a change was made and definitely for the better. The above image actually shows some of the detail variation within the tooling suite too, note the injector through the running plate, the riveted tanks, and no top feed compared to the review sample.
Accurascale 57xx GWR Pannier
So what is on the man cave desk then? It’s an industrial version of the 57xx, and specifically 7754, which was sold from British Rail service with a few other panniers to the National Coal Board, and worked into the early 1970’s which is the detail and livery configuration this is portrayed in. Whilst many automatically associate the GWR Pannier with Swindon, this locomotive was built in a batch of 24 engines by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow in 1930. Does the detail on the model match published images of the locomotive? It does, I had thought the North British works plates should have been extant on the front splasher. After writing the review a friend advised his GW version had the NB works plates as a separate etched accessory. Leaving them off makes sense as the various builders had different shaped plates and this can accommodate those differences. A subsequent image search found this locomotive in 1970 without the plates fitted, so this is correctly reflected on the model. The other details for this are excellent with the correct type of whistle shield (short), injectors and pipe across the top of the running plate. At the front end of the welded tanks are the steps, these are correct angle plate types, others had a stirrup shape. The face is completed with the steam lance fitting and a convincing shape and diameter of the smokebox door, this being removable to allow easy access to the decoder.
Accurascale 57xx ACC2890-EXLDCC
The tank fillers are the correct screw type (another variation) emphasising the attention to detail that Accurascale have paid to these models. This version of the pannier has the top feed fitted and the separate pipework and topped casing look particularly good rather than folded as one piece integral with the body. Nestled underneath those tanks are the lubricators, another detail not featured on other models.
Accurascale 57xx ACC2890-EXLDCC
Handrails and tank lift rings are much finer than previous models like my Bachmann versions, and its this precision and detail variation that really lift this model and puts real distance between it and the (much) older Bachmann versions. The other big difference from previous models is the access to the decoder, seen below, the smokebox door is removable and tweezers allow access to to the decoder if required. The magnets are pretty strong so its unlikely that the door will drop off and go missing. Someone will though..
Other areas where there are significant improvements to previous models are the cab and its fittings. The models have sliding roof vents, but not separate cab roofs. This is because I understand making a viable component join across the tooling range wasn’t practical whilst keeping the fidelity of the models appearance. Different bunker step options are covered, this having the correct type for later in its life, early GWR versions will prototypically have them omitted.
Cab detail is excellent as illustrated, the bunker shape and panelling has the look of thin sheet metal and the characteristic GWR angled lamp brackets and fire iron hooks are fitted. The chassis is rigid with rigid coupling rods. My preference is for jointed rods, however both Accurascale and Rapid have released recent models with solid rods and there have been no adverse comments regarding their operation, so they’re not like to present any problems, certainly none were apparent in the tests I’ve done with this or other types. I’ve run this through Shelfie 2, and 3’s track which are Peco code 75 streamline and Bullhead (2 & 3 electrofrog) all work with no problems. The other types that I’ve tried are Peco set track 2nd radius points and Kato unitrack, where it has performed brilliantly. As its DCC with stay alive that makes sense, and judging from the J68’s performance over the same track I anticipate a similar result with a DC specification model.
Accurascale 57xx Chassis
The chassis is a tidy well designed and built assembly. It’s fixed to the body with two retaining screws, one at each end of the chassis. The chassis has all wheel pickup with wipers on the rear face of the tyre and the motor wirings hidden within the chassis assembly. Wheels are nicely profiled with the correct number of spokes and appearance. The metal chassis core has a plastic baseplate with separate ashpan and etched brake pull rod assemblies, the axles have enough lateral movement that they don’t foul the brake gear, and axles appear to be 2mm in diameter. The brake shoes are aligned with the wheel treads and the stretchers between then are plastic ensuring electrical insulation. It doesn’t look like there’s any significant hurdle to converting these to EM/P4 but without pulling this loaner apart (not going to), I can’t say for sure. The running plate is metal so there may be some work needed there to ensure clearances.
The drive is to the centre axle via a vertical gear housing. This has allowed excellent cab detail to be shown and left the area underneath the boiler open. Sitting on this is a representation of the internal valve gear and this is a notable feature as the area otherwise looks odd with no detail there.
Accurascale 57xx Chassis
Prominent at the front of the chassis are twin capacitors for the stay alive function, these are hidden from sight in the smokebox when assembled. On top of those lies the decoder, which normally is accessed by the front of the smokebox, and Accurascale provide tweezers to remove or replace the decoder if you wish to do so. immediately behind that are two vertically mounted sprung electrical connectors. These are the speaker pickups and compress against strips within the body that provide power to the factory installed speaker. The speaker is situated in the left hand side of the tank and is a neat and tidy installation.
Spinning the chassis round the rear of the gear housing has the LED for the firebox flicker which is subtle and not overpowering. The compact nature of the design and tidy wiring loom has left the room for the cab details too.
Accurascale 57xx speaker installation
So what does it sound like in DCC? Unmodified out of the box, in a word, eleven. See Spinal Tap, I’ve not altered any settings as this is a loan item, but it’s loud. At the NEC it wasn’t noticeable due to the size of the venue, at home in the mancave it’s loud, but having said that, the sound quality is excellent. The functions using an NCE power cab are easy to use and the controllability is excellent. This is the first model that I’ve had with F2 as the brake function, and I’ve been really impressed with it, it rapidly becoming intuitive. The difference between a heavy exhaust beat F5 and a light locomotive F6, is very marked and I really like the list engine sound. Several whistles are programmed too, it’d be nice to have a few more, for example dropping the shovelling coal sound. A retailer friend tells me the coal sound is one of the most popular functions, so I guess that isn’t going away any time soon.
The sound is unsurprisingly a very big improvement over the sound fitting I did way back in2007 with a Bachmann 37xx and 57xx. They were good for the time, the difference of the sound files and speaker quality then compared to today is an immense leap for the better. The twin stay alive capacitors which give 4 seconds overrun on a fast speed setting, are also a very big factor in the running and acoustic qualities of this model.
Downsides? Well there are really very few, this particular model had a missing bunker top lamp bracket. The join at the base of the chimney could be tidier, this one isn’t quite flush. On the sides of the buffers the tooling slide join line is quite visible, it should be a smooth sided cylinder. On this example thats about it, and if all thats I’ve got to whinge about, thats excellent. None of those are insurmountable if I wanted to go crazy and do some modelling to resolve them.
So is this a worthy successor to the ubiquitous Bachmann 57xx? Undoubtedly, with an emphatic yes. Above you can see one of my modified sound fitted locomotives from 2007. Will I replace my shed full of Bachmann versions? Nope. Thats because over the years I’ve done quite a bit of work to them, and once you’ve spent that time they do stand up reasonably well against this release. That is a testament to the design team of the early 2000’s and the production values over the years. They do need quite a lot of work and I’ll cover that in the future. I did ask the Accurascale team if the etched details would be available, and they said they would be widely available, as an incentive to purchase them they would supply a free fitted painted body and working chassis included too. If starting today, then the Accurascale version would be the ‘go to’ model almost without hesitation. Within their range there are the core different detail differences, and with the opportunity to ring the changes with livery and detail variations across the lifespan of the class, what’s not to like? If you want a model of one of the last panniers working for a living, buy this! I do hope that perhaps in the future liveries they might consider one of the 96xx high cab versions that also ended up in the South Wales coalfield eaking out a living in the late 60’s.
Where can Accurascale go with this tooling in the future? My money is on the missing link in the late pannier family. A condensing London 97xx, and my cheque book is ready and waiting.
This time next Saturday I’ll hopefully be anticipating a cool one, it being the NEC model railway show hosted by Warners Publications. I’ll be taking Shelfie 2 there, Guyzance disposal point, and I’m thinking its only its fourth exhibition appearance, it having been to the Define show, Larkrail and Railex. Thats not really a surprise as I’m not a regular exhibitor, work life often taking weekends up.
Shelfie 2 Guyzance
This week will be concentrating on ensuring the layout is functioning and from Monday, checking that all the support equipment is packed, the tools and any spares required. Stock wheel cleaning will be a priority too, and coupling adjustments, ensuring as best I can to have a trouble free weekend, making it enjoyable for viewers and operators. There’s no new items of note for shelfie2, though it’s tempting to set an Accurascale 31 up with Dinghams to see how it performs.
Accurascale 31 on Shelfie2
When I say that I’m referring to the couplings, not the Accurascale model, which is the equal of anything else I have in terms of running qualities. As I write this and looking at the image above I’m thinking thats a good idea, I do like having something different at shows and this modified 31 fits the bill, It does need a bit of weathering though to drop into its 1968 guise effectively. What happens after next week for Shelfie2? I’m not sure, its had a life of modifications and I like the idea of turning the viewing aspect 180 degrees, it does literally look better from the other side. Much of that depends on how well it performs and if I want to keep exhibiting it. I have been looking at different elements of the layout scenery and may try a bit of enhanced forced perspective again, we’ll see.
The roster is primarily Bachmann 08’s and a Heljan Class 11, the wagons 21t hoppers and loco’s all configured so we can do hands free operation. That bit is really satisfying and does capture the viewers imagination especially as its analogue rather than DCC. Shopping list? As always there’s bound to be something that catches the eye, one of the benefits of the show is that there’s plenty of varied trade there, and this year I’ll be interested in what’s new in TT120, and in particular the EFE class 313 which is likely to be a bit of a catnip model for me having spent years commuting on the GN stock!
If you’re there, do drop by and say hello, thanks for reading!
This, ^^ this ^^ is how it started. A chance find on Facebook, advertised fairly as damaged and a poor runner. I wasn’t looking for one but the price vs condition made me think this is worth a punt.
Split buffer beam
The images here show what arrived, an early release 08 with missing steps, a broken buffer beam, no glazing, one set of brake rods missing, badly fitting body, some handrails broken and poor running. In particular it was reversed from normal polarity. That last nugget was the clue that should have lit a spark, but it didn’t..
Steps broken, glazing missing
These things are pretty basic models (no offence Bachmann), so the first tasking would be to get it apart and see what I’ve bought. I already know it’s got some screws missing (as do I), as the cab isn’t sitting flush therefore at least one is missing. Looking closely at it there’s a reason the body doesn’t sit flush and thats because there’s a wire trapped under the left hand exhauster boxes, a further clue someones been inside. Also, that little annoying little wire conduit, (the one you forget to remove), that runs around the bottom front of the bonnet, thats broken too.
I still think its value for money though, none of the above are game changers, they can all be easily addressed. Another Brucie bonus is in the spares box are a few Bachmann 08 running plates given to me by a good friend of the blog. Even before getting it apart the replacement and refurbishment list is generating in the back of my mind. If the running plate is knackered then swap it out with the ‘new’ one, thats a quick fix apart from the repaint required, all I’ve got is BR green or rail freight grey. However, the idea of a repaired run down 08 is appealing, make the broken beam look like prototype damage with a new buffer fitted, perhaps still in primer. If it’s an industrial loco the functionality takes precedence over looking pretty. The windows aren’t an issue, the excellent Shawplan laser glaze will resolve that and really make the cab sing, as will a Modelu driver figure. They’ll disguise the half depth cab. Couplings? not yet decided, probably Dinghams, the steps? well Bachmann’s excellent spares section has provided those, they’d be a PITA to make and if the motor is on its last legs, I’ll head there for that too. Coupling rods, they’re the original style, in the past I’ve used Brassmaster rods and Markits crankpins, and this may well be a route I’ll take again, if I’ve got the crankpins in stock. Gibson pins are an option but much more work.
So getting the body off the penny drops as to why it’s running in ‘reverse’ convention. Sitting on a pad stuck to the front of the chassis weight is a decoder. An even better result as I can now run this as DCC without buying a chip. I’ve tried it in DC and it works so it will almost certainly run better with DCC applied. The decoder is clearly functioning if it weren’t the loco wouldn’t move in DC mode, remember that clue I missed? Well I don’t know if it’s a convention, or was, but in the past I’ve seen DCC fitted model running ‘Back to front’ when retro fitted with chips and used on DC systems.
Probably a personal fitting thing rather than a convention, but there ya go. Obvious thing then, put it on DCC and test it. I tried a couple of times messing about with variations of the loco number, but then reprogrammed it to 3. And it worked, I had a rough running DCC 08.
Top bearing pickups, note the black dirt
Before getting into the cosmetics I sort the running out, pointless having a shed queen. The first thing was looking at the drive train and removing some of the white grease that is typical of early noughts Bachmann lubrication. then upside down and a Peco wheel cleaner applied to get the obvious accumulated dirt off the treads, this thing might have twenty years worth on it. It did give an immediate improvement on the running, and the next thing was to clean the pick ups too.
More pick up filth and grease
This is a Mk1 chassis with tread bearing pickups and as I thought, those too had twenty years of shite clinging on for dear life. Revell paintaclean on a cotton bud very quickly removed that. It should do, it’s basically MEK so be extremely careful if you do the same. The later chassis had revised pickups bearing on the rear of the wheels and increasing the reliability of them. With regular cleaning of track and the original pick ups these 08’s run really well. Does it still run rough? No, but it does run slowly, and that could be a variety of issues but not worth digging through immediately. The wiring loom, well that looks awful there might be issues due to poor soldering, or it may well be the decoder has been ‘tuned’ to give slow running.
For the moment though I have a working DCC 08, looking at it, for the time involved, a leisurely hour or so for a full strip down and tidying the loom will be a good base level for future work. And that all it takes for this initial part of the makeover. The chassis is straight forward to disassemble remove the wheels first and then the running plate. To ensure I’d got a good starting point I removed the motor, and then the motor housing to get the gear train cleaned.
You often hear from some internet ‘experts’ that the grease solidifies and sets like concrete etc etc. I must be buying the wrong trains because not one of the models I’ve had over the years from all the key UK RTR players have ever had that problem. I don’t doubt some on rare occasions do gum up, it does remind of one model many years ago brought into the shop at Kings Cross in that condition. Tony Dyer got it all cleaned up and working, and when returning the model asked what the grease was. Margarine was the answer! Even this one, twenty plus years old, obviously having never been really cleaned the white grease was still, erm, grease like. There wasn’t much of it so I removed it and the chassis as I type now is running on bachrus rollers. It’s still not fast, but that isn’t really a problem, to see if its the motor that is the problem I may remove the decoder and just let it run plain vanilla DC, that will tell me if the issue is with the motor. The gear train runs smoothly and the motor revolves freely. Even if it stays as is on DC that won’t be a problem it can stay a slow runner as thats all thats required.
When I say slow I’m just comparing it to my other Bachmann 08’s, they’re faster. but it really isn’t an issue. So thats the first steps in this makeover completed, no doubt if I were putting this on Facebook to sell I’d advertise it as ‘serviced’ which seems to be a thing. A ‘serviced’ toy train, I do wonder what that actually means….
Anyway, I can now look at the fun bits, the body and detailing and fine tune the running for me, at a later date. So thats how it started, just another Bachmann 08..
When TT120 was announced it caught my attention. A scale between N and OO/HO appeals to me particularly if the quality of products are good. My plan for a Forest of Dean system layout is one that at the moment is planned, or assumed to be built in OO, because that’s the best scale to get locomotives and stock easily, and I’ve been working towards it for a few years now. N wasn’t really considered, the Dapol panniers have been a bit hit and miss for running qualities, and until British Finescale started their point kits in N with code 40 rail, the track wasn’t of great appearance either.
So here’s another Shelfie, TT120 and based on an idea for Snowdonia North Wales, or out onto the Llyn peninsula. No idea what number this one will be, are we in double figures yet? The ‘problem’ with TT120 at the moment is a lack of ‘stuff’ to build a layout with. Had the scale started with a Pannier 9ft private owners and a brake van, I’d have been in, big time. It hasn’t though. The good thing however is the Peco Streamline track that has been introduced.
Peco Medium Radius TT120 points
Being quick off the mark Peco introduced set track and streamline ranges, I’ve not seen the set track but the Streamline is excellent with one issue. The plastic base on the track almost needs a gas cutter to cut it, its model railways cryptonite. The points are of the unifrog design with nickel silver rail, and jointed rather than one piece switch rails. It would have been nice for the blades to be one piece but possibly with this being a ‘new’ scale Peco took the tried and trusted route.
The build quality is up to Peco’s excellent standard and reliability, there are no surprises with them, the switch having an over centre spring so after throwing them manually, they are held firm against the stock rails.
Peco UnifrogPeco TT120 Unifrog
The unifrog crossing has neatly welded wires, and the V crossing being inert hasn’t given any issues with consistent slow running with a Hornby 08. Obviously a shorter wheelbase locomotive might require the crossing to be live, it’ll be interesting to see how the Hornby Terriers fare.
Tim Horn Photoplank
At Railex Tim Horn had one of his demo boards for sale and one found its way past the till and into the back of the car, and not for the first time. I must be standing too close or something…
So once home the planning started. I’d bought it on a flyer, knowing I’d find a good use for it, and three scales were under consideration, N, TT120 and OO/009. I pushed around my N gauge 08 some wagons and a couple of points from British Finetrax, but nothing grabbed the imagination vibe.
Light Railway Trial
I’d revisited a long lost 009 Muse, Snailbeach, and pushed around some 009 and buildings to no avail, no spark of ignition.
OO Shelfie Trial
I tried OO in it too, but there wasn’t enough twitching of the trigger finger to make it work, the design lacked something . Flipping through Facebook a picture came up which has subsequently eluded me finding it again, one of the most frustrating aspects of Facebook. But that image was the element that was missing, it was like Goldilocks and the three bears, for the volume of space N gauge wasn’t right, neither was 009/ OO, but TT120 was just right.
The design could be worked to retain the nuances of the original image, the physical properties of TT120, the 08’s and mineral wagons will work for this project, which is essentially a test piece.
Ms models TT120 slate cottages
I then found MS Models and their exquisite 3D printed buildings, that’s one of mine painted above, and bought a couple to try. That was the trigger pull moment.
MS Models Workshop
From them arriving in the mancave, track is formed, cut and painted ready for first fix. New point motors arrived, soon to be followed by switching gear, and then cutting the structure and backscene to allow trains to run on and off scene.
So from an impulse purchase of the board, pushing a few trains around, and the arrival of the fire starter buildings, this test project has gained traction quickly. It’ll be a relatively quick one too and an opportunity to try TT120 with a small layout, finescale mindset.
The only problem is, if it works like it may well do, and Hornby’s promised Pannier arrives, Peco’s 16t minerals, and the manufacturer who hasn’t yet officially announced the standard 20T brake van all turn up, do I change scale for the Forest of Dean project….
That’s the thing with making stuff, it opens up tons of opportunities!
Albion Yard 
You must be logged in to post a comment.