-RF-

Yesterday I received a package with a G2 0-8-0 from Union Mills. I really like this engine and it is amazing how strong it is. On my kitchen table I tested it with 80 wagons and I am very sure I could add even more. Which leads me to one more question... how many wagons could this engine haul? (Yes, I know, this is a classic example of "It depends...")

(Insert Luke Skywalker screaming "Noooooooooooo" here) I do not know why, but yesterday my gut told me that there might be too few preorders. So I listened to my gut and ordered another one - yes, I really want to have this model. Now I have to hope that this wonderful project is only temporarily suspended...

On a different note, am I the only one who gets an error saying "The resource you are looking for has been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable." when accessing https://www.hattons.co.uk/ngarratt or any other shortened links from hattons?

Today I learned that there is a German Railway Society.

I would like to point you Leipzig-Plagwitz: https://www.google.de/maps/@51.3139696,12.3140427,1281a,35y,39.12t/data=!3m1!1e3 (just ask Google for some more pictures) Also have look at Frankfurt and just follow this piece of track in both directions: https://www.google.de/maps/@50.1081769,8.7007734,88m/data=!3m1!1e3 and you will find a railway line in the middle of the road.

In the current Railway Modeller the Garratt is listed as a "Forthcoming Release". Should I celebrate or am I reading too much into this?

Yes, that yould be interesting. Might also mean would have to order more than I originally planned (and need), but these are the things you do such an engine...

Thanks for the update. I already have two on pre-order, what shall I do with a third one? Come on... :-D On a different note... are there - aside from the number - any differences between H2-BG-006, H2-BG-007 and H2-BG-008? Kind Regards, Rico

Hello Hattons, I am really tempted to buy this used, kit-built Garratt you put online today just so I then can tell you how fast it got sold and that therefore the demand for your models is so high you should really, really give us an update on the project. But then again I have no idea what to do with the model when the Hattons Garratts arrive... Kind Regards, Rico Aunt Edith says it took one and a half day to get it sold.

I have seen some of those on ebay but I could not find a website or anything. Do you have a link or a shop, where the models are listed?

Yes, an update, or even something like "It's not dead yet" would really be appreciated!

Better said something twice than never! :-) What is interesting about the Jinty in Berlin is the "Bremsuntersuchung Cottbus 5. Mai 1944". This means it was even farther east than Berlin, "Bremsuntersuchung" would translate to "brake system check". For everyone not familiar with German geography: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cottbus/@51.9338411,13.7406902,8.56z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x4708744259954a5f:0x50d42fb5e07fad3a!8m2!3d51.7563108!4d14.3328679 It is always very interesting what foreign crews say about foreign engines. After WW2 14 engines of the German class 44 stayed in France and 226 more were directly delivered to the SNCF. And while the steam engines designed Chapelon are without a doubt masterpieces it is said that French crewes loved the sturdiness and easy handling of the German engines. Also after the reunification of Germany the brand new Eastern German class 212/112 were delivered to (former) West Germany. And then something interesting happened... those drivers who had NOT seen the driver's cab of the engines did everything they could to not have to drive them - those who had seen the cab did everything they could to be allow to drive them. But this gets way off topic ;-)

Today I bought the July issue of "Steam Days" and as it happens they have some very nice pictures of Halls and Granges hauling long freight trains.

In the (recent?) issue of the BRM I saw the garratt advertised on the Hattons advertisement page. I count this as good news, maybe they are quite close to the needed number of pre-orders. If necessary, I would order a third one, but only if really necessary.

Thanks for the info. I do keep an eye on the timeline, but not so much on the geographical region. If I ever start my own layout these engines might even have to work on the same line as my German engines. (You may now judge me). However, I am also part of a module building group that is scattered all over Germany. We meet two to three times a year to run looong trains, enjoy each others works and trains and generally just have fun. It is not unsual to have a mix of all eras on the tracks and everyone is fine with it. In this picture you can see my Grange with a goods train, on a module that is based on Thuringian (middle German) landscape, set in the 60s in East Germany. The train passes a Diesel engine from West Germany, while in the upper station a DMU in a livery from the Deutsche Reichsbahn waits. Nevertheless - thanks for the information! And by the way, even though the British and the continental models have a different scale (1:148 vs. 1:160), the models do not look odd when next to each other. The fact, that the British models are slightly larger regarding the scale is canceled out by the smaller loading gauge of those models. That is good to know. Thanks! I actually have three of the Minitrix models (DR class 52), and they are very robust and strong engines. However, Minitrix also did not bother with the cylinders when using that chassis for the 9F.