With all the talk of Beyer Garratts lately and seeing Greg Hunters videos I got to thinking that I might try scratch building one for my RR.
There has also been talk about the 60% off sale Bachmann is having on their various 4-6-0 chassis. I checked their site and some are sold out but the 81088 caught my eye with all that cool metal gearing. Since it would be a custom build it doesn’t matter if the screw holes line up with anything right? I think that is one difference between the several chassis offered? That and the various valve gear and in some cases paint.
What do you guys think? would 2 of these chassis be a good start for a garratt? I already have 2 of the bug mauling shelf queens that I believe would gladly give up their bits if it meant a return to run the rails. They have the basic valve gears but I really like all those linkages moving back and forth and new motors and gears are appealing.
I just got a nice check from GR Mag and it is burning a hole in my pocket hotter than cinders out a steam engine going upgrade! So the time to decide is NOW !!
Any thoughts?
Thanks
Todd,
I thas definitely been done, and I see no reason why the Bachmann 4-6-0 chassis won’t make an excellent Garratt.
You might want to make it a 2-6-6-2 and get rid of the extra-long front pilot truck.
I went ahead and ordered 2 of the chassis today. YIKES now I’m really into it. I have scratch built buildings, rolling stock and that little Mac Speeder for the build challenge but building a Garrett is really going to challenge my meager skills. It will be a build for the Winter months.
Pete I already have a 2-6-6-2 and it is a lovely beast.
Todd Haskins said:
I went ahead and ordered 2 of the chassis today. YIKES now I’m really into it. I have scratch built buildings, rolling stock and that little Mac Speeder for the build challenge but building a Garrett is really going to challenge my meager skills. It will be a build for the Winter months.
In case you haven’t seen this website, this link has pics of most Garratts. You can choose a model to model!
http://users.powernet.co.uk/hamilton/pics1.html
Just be prepared to waste lots of time looking at pics.
One great thing about them is all the space in the two tanks, so why not try your first battery powered loco?
That is a nice site Greg. I saw a neat one that had a tank on the front instead of a square tender. It seems like the Garratts came in all different sizes and wheel configurations. I don’t usually model anything exactly but prefer to capture the mood or feeling the original conveys. I’m sure my shops will produce something believable and unique.
Greg you read my mind about the batteries. As you know I operate my RR with a single TE so when I press STOP they all stop or if I need to back into a siding all the trains on the main back up. Be nice to have one that would chug along on its own.
Ok Now you have my interest. Which if any is an anniversary drive? Or the best drive of what they are offering. Wont matter what shell it will go under.
Todd Haskins said:
That is a nice site Greg. I saw a neat one that had a tank on the front instead of a square tender. It seems like the Garratts came in all different sizes and wheel configurations. I don’t usually model anything exactly but prefer to capture the mood or feeling the original conveys. I’m sure my shops will produce something believable and unique.
Greg you read my mind about the batteries. As you know I operate my RR with a single TE so when I press STOP they all stop or if I need to back into a siding all the trains on the main back up. Be nice to have one that would chug along on its own.
You might have a world first Todd. A Garratt pushing a rotary snow plough. Don’t think there was a prototype for that.
You’ve probably already seen this, but here’s a neat video of an Australian Garratt.