Even Philly does not seem to know about these latest offerings from Bachmann Europe. Emily coach and brake coach with clerestory roof section. The cars have panelling at either end (no faces) and three axles (centre wheel is blind). Surprisingly, the wheels are solid centres, not spoked. Colour is a deep Pullman Green. At present they only seem available from England.
Any indication as to the engine to pull these? I doubt my son would care if his engine was actually a girl. On the other hand, I haven’t given James to my daughter yet, so maybe I could make the swap if the engine is coming soon enough.
Stand-alone, they are nice enough coaches though. Where did you get the pics from?
The obvious answer is the single axle Stirling, Emily. However, word on the street has Gordon as the next contender. No info at all from USA. All info coming from Europe.
I purchased the coaches from Steve at ‘Back2Bay6’ in England/Wales(?). Jeremy at ‘DragonGscale’ in Wales also has them. Steve deducts the VAT, so purchase price was 31 English pounds plus shipping to Australia (around 16 English pound).
Tim Brien said:Wonder how many people could have a lot of kitbashing fun with that one?
The obvious answer is the single axle Stirling, Emily.
Forrest,
I really do not see a single axle drive gaining acceptance due traction issues. Many run loosely laid track that would cause havoc with the Stirling axle. They would look nice, however, I see lots of wheel spinning and no drive. Bachmann would need to look to the Hornby solution with a powered tender drive.
Tim, any stab at “scale”? I suspect we will see a lot of non-Thomas buyers of these, they look very sharp.
Garrett,
these are just the Annie/Clarabel coaches modified with panelled ends.
I have the HO Emily for bashing into an On30 creation: don’t know the calculus they did to figure the gearing for differing wheel diameters but the driver - and - trailing axle - are both powered. Maybe there are things I don’t know, but why wouldn’t that arrangement work in G as well?
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/FSW4picts/Gn15/Emilymechanism.jpg)
Forrest,
did I not say a ‘single’ axle drive? You are talking of a two axle drive.
Best way to do a Single like Emily would be to power the front truck pilot wheels, like a diesel truck, and power the rear trailing wheel, as these are usually the same diameter wheel they would prove a good power outout, the large single driver would be a freewheel. the other way would be to do a powered tender and push the engine in front, works but think the former would be better than the latter.
I dunno, Victor, getting enough weight on a powered pilot truck while allowing R-1 curve swing could be a serious technical challenge.
From what I understand, and the very few OO I have, powered tenders are common in UK steamers in OO and HO scales - usually, not always, but more often than not, have 3 axles available to drive, same count as one SD truck, and plenty of room to add weight for tractive effort.
In the Hornby steamers I have, often only the end axles in a 3 axle tender are driven.
Be hilarious as all getout if an Emily 4-2-2 with powered tender would end up out-pulling the Big Hauler 4-6-0, which actually only has 4 drivers on the rail.
Tim Brien said:Bummer, I like spoked wheels. Blind center wheels make sense given model train's curves compared to the real deal.
Surprisingly, the wheels are solid centres, not spoked.
Tim Brien said:Wonder what they'd look like in LMS maroon? :) LNER teak? GWR chocolate and cream?
Colour is a deep Pullman Green.
Tim Brien said:Thanks for the reply Tim. Did anyone ever establish a "scale" for the Annie et al cars? Or, do they compare well to others such as an LGB 3050 or the like (pass the eyeball test).
Garrett, these are just the Annie/Clarabel coaches modified with panelled ends.
The paintwork is great on these, a whole different level than the others.
Garrett,
dimensions over the body - length 13 inches (does not include buffers). Width over body - 4 inches. Height from base of chassis moulding to tip of clerestory roof - 4.5 inches (does not include axleboxes/springs,etc.). Paintwork is excellent.
Thanks. My next question, I wonder if we will see any non-Thomas UK outline steam locos from Bachmann. Would kill for a plastic LBSC A1/Terrier…
Garrett,
the only non-Thomas derived locomotives to visit the largescale ‘Isle of Sodor’ will most likely be the Southern ‘Lynn’. Would be interesting to see how it scales out with the Thomas range.
If you want a Terrier then Garden Railway Specialists is about the only place. Kits are a little difficult (lots of clean up required apparently).
Tim Brien said:More prototypical, actually. By the late 19th century, very few, if any, British passenger coaches did [u]not[/u] have solid disc wheels. Including four-wheelers ;)
Surprisingly, the wheels are solid centres, not spoked.
Chris,
I was surprised that they already had their excellent metal spoked wheelsets (still fitted to latest release freight rolling stock), that they tooled solid centre wheelsets for tyhe Emily coaches.
Latest release cars (freight, passenger and James locomotive), come with very large hook and loop couplers. These are around 50% larger than 'standard' hook and loop couplers. I found on the freight cars that coupling was very difficult. I have retrofitted these later cars with standard LGB hook/loop couplers.Tim Brien said:Spoked wheels are entirely appropriate for most good (freight) wagons. Some goods wagons had disc wheels, especially if they were going to run in passenger trains or as express goods. Your common or garden open (gondola) rarely got up to 30 mph, unless they were running away. Loose coupled, unbraked wagons could get out of control too easily (Awdry had good reason to call them troublesome).
Chris, I was surprised that they already had their excellent metal spoked wheelsets (still fitted to latest release freight rolling stock), that they tooled solid centre wheelsets for the Emily coaches. Latest release cars (freight, passenger and James locomotive), come with very large hook and loop couplers. These are around 50% larger than 'standard' hook and loop couplers. I found on the freight cars that coupling was very difficult. I have retrofitted these later cars with standard LGB hook/loop couplers.
After some frustration with hook&loop couplers that wouldn’t stay coupled (the feeble plastic springs let the hooks droop), I’m investigating the installation of three-link chains on the hooks on the buffer beams. This evening I had a wagon apart to see whether I could remove the hooks to drill a hole for brass wire links. Couldn’t remove the hooks, but I did manage to loosen and remove a buffer at each end, so I can get at the hooks with a pin drill. So I forfeit “automatic” (ha!) coupling, but at least I won’t be leaving half a train behind with irritating regularity. And the hook&loops are hideous, whatever size they are.
The fusspot in me would like to do something about replacing those wretched handbrake levers that appear to run through the solebars and W-irons, but I’m not sure that’s worth the effort of grinding and filing. I doubt any North American child would notice anything is wrong. (Yes, I realize they were moulded that way to be solid enough for a toy.)
