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National Railway Museum 'Midland Compound' - Photo review


Andy Y

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Midland Compound becomes third “Exclusive” model locomotive for National Railway Museum

 

Compound_fitted.jpg

Note: All images open up to full resolution on clicking

 

Bachmann Europe Plc and the National Railway Museum have teamed up again to produce the third “Exclusive” model – this time featuring the Midland Railway 4-4-0 Compound locomotive No. 1000. This locomotive was preserved in 1951 and is currently on loan for 3 years to The Scottish Railway Museum at Bo’ness. The first model produced in 2007 featured the iconic Prototype DP1 Deltic diesel locomotive (32-520) which was followed in 2009 by the Great Western 4-4-0 ‘City of Truro’ locomotive (31-725NRM).

 

 

No.1000 the Midland Compound was one of a Class that eventually totalled 45 locomotives. The first 5 to the design of S.W. Johnson were built in 1902. Deeley, Johnson’s successor built a further 40 locomotives between 1905 and 1909 to his own design. This resulted in the original five locomotives being rebuilt to the same design, No. 1000 receiving attention in 1914. The Class saw service with the London, Midland & Scottish Railway from 1923 – 1948 who went on to build a further 195 examples to a slightly different design. No. 1000 was withdrawn from traffic in 1951 and set aside for preservation. It was restored at Derby Works in 1959 where it regained Midland Railway livery. This locomotive is currently non operational and recently moved from the Severn Valley Railway to the Scottish Railway Museum at Bo’ness where it is on static display for up to 3 years.

 

The standard 'OO' gauge model is available from 11 October at £140 (2500 pieces). The exclusive edition will be available from November which includes a Platinum box, with an acrylic plinth and numbered certificate at £170 (500 pieces) .The model is produced exclusively for the National Railway Museum and will only be available through the NRM at York and Locomotion, Shildon (whilst stocks last) or on-line from

www.nrmshop.co.uk (Customer Services telephone 0151 650 6062 open 8am to 8pm to Christmas, then from 10am to 4pm afterwards)

 

Graham Hubbard, Managing Director of Bachmann Europe Plc said: “We are delighted to be able to produce another of the iconic locomotives from the National Collection. We feel sure its arrival will be welcomed by many modellers.”

 

Steve Davies, Director of the National Railway Museum, said:

 

“We are really pleased to have produced another quality product through our partnership with Bachmann and we hope the Midland Railway 4-4-0 Compound locomotive No. 1000 will match the success of previous models which have been extremely popular with collectors and modellers. We’re also thrilled to be selling the models exclusively from our Museum shops and online store as every purchase will support the National Railway Museum in its vital work in preserving the National Collection."

 

Each sale will support the NRM in its vital work in preserving Britain’s railway heritage, and providing public access to the national collections.

 

Stocks are expected to be available shortly after the order line opens.

 

The National Railway Museum have exclusive rights to the model of Midland Compound 1000 for a period of time in the same manner as the previous 'Deltic' and 'City of Truro' models. It is emphasised that the model is as in preserved condition and would require further tooling works to recreate either 1000 in original condition or other class members in service. There are currently no plans for either of those options but it may be possible that it could happen in years to come.

 

The model was created from original drawings held within the museum's collection and measurement and photographing the preserved loco. Work started on the project over two years ago to develop the model from scratch to currently achievable higher standards. The National Railway Museum are working with Bachmann planning options for future 'Exclusive Editions' but will be kept similarly under wraps until any project comes to fruition.

 

Compound1r.jpg

 

Review:

 

Within the standard box the livery looks quite muted but the vibrancy is there when unleashed and seen in good lighting. The model is accurate to all main dimensions including the 7' driving wheels which are larger than the standard LMS 6'9" drivers.

 

The model is robust in terms of all factory fitted details and needn't be handled with any particular levels of caution caution. The loco itself feels well weighted and balanced although there is no substantial weight to the tender. The total weight is 312g.

 

Compound1a.jpg

 

Compound2.jpg

 

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The livery is particularly well applied, the lined wheels are superb and the complexity of the Midland crest is shown in the cruel enlargement below which in reality is only 4mm in width on the cabside.

 

Crest2.jpg

 

The only discernible omission is the 'MR 1000 Derby' printing on the side of the lamps on the front, if that's as bad a criticism that could be levelled then it's exceptionally good!

 

The between-frame detail beneath the front of the boiler is simplified.

 

Compound_smokebox.jpg

 

The cab detail and paint application is probably Bachmann's best to date which is pleasing given the visibility of the footplate.

 

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The tender front is similarly well finished with full lining.

 

Compound_tender_footplate.jpg

 

The rear of the tender features finely printed works plates.

 

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The frontal view of the smokebox reflects the proportions of the prototype.

 

Compound_smokebox_front.jpg

 

The tender body is removed by two screws at the front of the tender baseplate and one screw at the rear which is the reverse of the supplied comprehensive instruction sheet. The body and tender are semi-permanently fixed with the four PCB to loco wires and adjustable drawbar. Current collection is from the four drivers and six tender wheels.

 

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The 21-pin decoder socket is mounted within the tender along with mounting points for a speaker for anyone wishing to fit a sound decoder.

 

Compound_tender.jpg

 

Any moulding lines on the top surfaces are barely visible.

 

Compound_top_f.jpgCompound_top_r.jpg

 

The accessory pack which is included enables the owner to further detail the model. As supplied the model can comfortably perform on second radius curves but compromises had to be made in removing a quarter of the cylinders at the rear. This may be obvious in the low-frontal shot which is the second image in the post. The cylinder front can be removed by inserting a small knife blade and levering it off. The black quadrant sections shown in the image below can be inserted and glued to fill the missing quarter of the cylinder with a replacement cylinder front cover push-fitting back onto the cylinder itself. Piston rod covers are supplied and can be fitted into the replacement cylinder front cover. Draincocks are supplied and easily mounted into the bottom of the cylinder. An excellent dummy coupling is an easy push-fit into the buffer beam, one is also supplied for the tender.

 

If the modeller has exceptionally generous curves or is to mount the model for display front splash guards are included and mounted beneath the front buffer beam.

 

Compound_accessories.jpg

 

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Performance:

 

With any 4-4-0 the balance of the engine is critical. The model was tested for over an hour on a large oval, both smokebox and tender first with equally good performance. The loco capably managed a seven coach load. If the prototype were ever to tackle a more substantial load it would have surely been double-headed anyway.

 

The running is exceptionally smooth and quiet. The loco was tested on a DC layout which showed that ultra-slow speeds on starting may only be achievable through DCC decoder fitting, once the output starts to move the motor the large drivers are quick to getaway. Once underway there is no evidence of any waddling on straight and smooth track.

 

 

I feel this is the smoothest running RTR 4-4-0 to date.

 

Click here to visit the NRM Shop to purchase.

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Not on my list of stock to get, but a very nice model sure to please many. I particularly like the alternate parts for the cylinders. I wish Hornby could have done something similar with the rear pony truck on the rebuilt WC/BB locos.

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It certainly looks very nice and is probably a good representation of the preserved loco.

However in Midland days the handrails were body colour (Crimson and black in front of smoke box) and the cab roof was in part black. Also I am not aware that the front of the tender was Crimson either.

The cab is missing the roof strengthening sheet/plate.

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Dare I point out that the shed plate is crooked? Ain't she a beauty though. That's the second red loco I've been tempted by in the last month or so. Perhaps if I go without food and walk everywhere for a month or two.......

 

Ed

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Thanks for the review Andy.

 

I was open on what the NRM special was going to be, but am pleased they've chosen the Compound. As a predominantly freight railway it isd not much use to me but I'm sure there'll be plenty who will invest. Aston, Monument Lane and Bournville all had examples in 1959.

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Tender wheel pick ups by wipers on the axle stubs? Wonder why they didn't go for pick up from the pinpoints as on their various MU's, just that little bit less friction?

 

The inclusion of alternative cylinder heads and infill pieces is most welcome; that's very much a move in the right direction, hope it becomes a general feature for outside cylinder locos that have to be 'adjusted' in model form for set track curve negotiation.

 

I will be interested to see a model, just for the livery, as the on screen images suggest that the 'richness' of the Midland red so often written and discussed has been well caught. May it yield many sales for the NRM : a well lit display case will probably 'do the job' on visitors...

 

Now that Bachmann clearly have a good 4-4-0 chassis design suited to smaller prototypes, can we hope for a wider selection of 4-4-0s in their range?

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Looks very nice, thanks for the review? Can you confirm if it has traction tyres?

 

You can see from this photo of Andy's that it does not have traction tyres:

post-1-0-59603400-1317888338_thumb.jpg

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Now that Bachmann clearly have a good 4-4-0 chassis design suited to smaller prototypes, can we hope for a wider selection of 4-4-0s in their range?

 

 

What, like 40673 and 40692 you mean ? presuming Midland 2Ps have the same wheelbase as the compounds.

Would be very nice, and would probably considerably cheaper than the version in the red box, which I think has been announced

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This review is greatly appreciated Andy. The video clip is worth a thousands words as the model does run very smoothly without a waggle.

 

Meil :

........and the cab roof was in part black. Also I am not aware that the front of the tender was Crimson either.

 

Why did you say roofs were partly black and why weren't you aware of the tender fronts were crimson lake?

 

1) Tender fronts were crimson lake and lined out as per the model so it is correct.

 

2) The all-crimson lake roof on a Compound is correct too, as it was for all Derby-shopped red engines with Deeley roof before 1928.

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It's interesting that Bachmann have managed to make a 4-4-0 without traction tyres but able to haul 7 coaches when Hornby had to resort to them!

 

Let's hope that Bachmann will now enter the world of 4-4-0s which has many possibilities, although I doubt whether they would use the same chassis for another model. People keep saying that Bachmann or Hornby "can now use that chassis for such and such" but it seems that both companies have tooled bespoke chassis for each new model introduced in recent times. All the same, wouldn't it be nice if Bachy were to produce a "proper" 2P to go with this and the S&D 3F and 7Fs!

 

JE

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What, like 40673 and 40692 you mean ? presuming Midland 2Ps have the same wheelbase as the compounds.

Would be very nice, and would probably considerably cheaper than the version in the red box, which I think has been announced

 

The Compounds and the 2Ps had the same coupled wheel base: 9'6", Assuming that the mech. for 1000 is similar to City of Truro, ie, Coupled Wheels only, then there should be no problem

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Another comfirmed NRM order here. Anyone know where a shorter LMS Compound chimney and dome can be purchased....?

247 Developments list Fowler domes and chimneys - don't know as yet if these are what we'd need.

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