Olivia's Class 76 LE (inc earlier Blue Pullman content)

[Roy P]

I recall mention of a BP on a chartered run on the WCML to Wembley for an FA Cup Final in a Colour-Rail slide catalogue. I will try to find more detail ASAP.

[Pixie]

Make of that what you will.

 

One of Olivia's 'services' seems to be buying up Limited Editions when they're first released then offering them for an inflated price, having a look round their site shows that they've got a large number of exclusive models from a number of shops. Whilst the morality of it has been discussed here before I don't think there's anything untoward about it and they've been quite useful to me before when trying to find one or two things without going via Ebay (Usual disclaimer).

 

Their website now refers to a which to my mind infers that possibly the Midland Pullman is to be produced as these two vehicles were marshalled together in that unit. The accompanying photos, however, illustrate both the WR and MP units.

 

I don't think mentioning the "Blue Pullman Power Cars and Kitchen Car Set" offers any hint to what is on offer as both region's types had both.

 

 

Pix

[D605Eagle]

Not according to the Railcar website - NBL/MAN L12V18/21BS Power Units so that kind of knocks the NBL "corner cutting" on the head!

 

 

Haresnape - usually a reliable and well informed source - quotes them as NBL/MAN and they definitely came wIth some of the 'characteristics' of engines from that source. But they did - in early years at least - have the benefit of an on-train fitter to keep an eye on them.

 

(But I have wondered over the years if the oil throwing and messiness was a trait of the MAN originals? The only engine compartment I have ever seen the inside of on a DB MAN engined loco was very clean even if it was doing its best to fail in traffic. BR ones could definitely get very 'messy' indeed.)

According to the book "The British Railcar" by R. M. Tufnell although the engines were supplied by NBL with Napier turbos and Ardleigh governors the engines themselves were infact built by MAN. As D600-1 had MAN built the L12V18/21S engines with MAN turbos its easy to see how confusion could arise. Also an aquaintance who worked building diesels at NBL said that NBL had so much trouble with the first A/S spec engines that it built, it bought in quite a few engines from MAN but fitted them out with NBL built parts like fabricated manifolds instead of cast, turbos, governors etc.

However I have no definite proof that the blue pullman ones were MAN built.

Jim

[Steve K]

Credit Card purchases are only covered over £100, you wouldn't get the £60/75 amount back.. If you paid the whole amount (when we find out what it is) you could then claim via credit card even if the remainder was done via something other than that card.

I bet credit card companies must gnash their teeth at this kind of situation. The protection offered by paying by credit card was surely never intended to settle this kind of dispute. In effect, they are giving you an additional warranty on whatever you buy.

 

This is a classic Catch-22 situation - OT wants to sell a BP, there is a manufacturer willing to support the project, there appears to be sufficient demand, OT asking for a deposit and there are reticent punters because they unsure of what to expect overall.

Have you read Catch-22? That's not really what it means. Dan from OT used the phrase more accurately in describing their own dilemma - they'd like to do more units and extra coaches to save money long-term, but the more they order, the larger the deposit Heljan want, and the project becomes less affordable, not more. Sadly, that means that, whichever version they do first, it won't be a complete set, so all those who agree with:

I really wish OT well. However, I feel that if they are doing the Blue Pullman, then they need to do a complete train, rather than only the power cars, which is one of the mixed messages I'm getting on this project at the moment.

... are likely to be disappointed, at least to begin with.

 

As has been mentioned, good intentions are always admirable, but perhaps the Bo-Bos alone would have been a better starting point for a newcomer to the world of commissioning. Otherwise, even if everything goes to plan, by the time the Woodhead electrics and the BP are done, we're likely to be at least a couple of years down the line. By the time the other cars are commissioned (from whomever) to add to the power & kitchen cars, we could be looking at 2013 before anyone has a complete set.

 

Still, the fact that someone from OT has chosen to post on this thread must be seen as encouraging. If our feedback is kept polite, there's every chance that RMwebbers can give this project the greatest chance of success.

[Michael Delamar]

Just to try and lighten the tone of this thread for a minute, some of the Blue Pullmans appear to have been used for prestige weekend charters, when not needed for the normal M-F Pullman service.

 

There is certainly one account and photos of a football match at Villa Park (Aston Villa) where a BP was used, this going empty to Walsall's Ryecroft shed for servicing while the match was played. There was obviously also a Coventry vs Liverpool match too :

 

http://western-champ.../p45549733.html

 

Here though is a far more "off the beaten track example" and something for the "apple green" boys and girls to get their teeth into. I'll let the caption do the talking ;

 

http://51a.fotopic.net/p62206909.html

 

Western region set went to Aintree for the grand national

http://philhughesaintreeandbootlerailphotos.fotopic.net/p45727525.html

 

http://philhughesaintreeandbootlerailphotos.fotopic.net/p45728775.html

 

Mike

[Guest dilbert]

Have you read Catch-22? That's not really what it means. Dan from OT used the phrase more accurately in describing their own dilemma - they'd like to do more units and extra coaches to save money long-term, but the more they order, the larger the deposit Heljan want, and the project becomes less affordable, not more. Sadly, that means that, whichever version they do first, it won't be a complete set, so all those who agree with:... are likely to be disappointed, at least to begin with.

 

Yes I have - many moons ago. Whilst OT have their dilemma, they are not alone - others have a dilemma (or have decided otherwise) and for differing reasons.

 

OT should be managing the BP project forward - their influence and ultimately their success determines their destiny (amongst other things)...dilbert

[the fuzzler]

Compare and contrast with the Kernow ltd editions........they're taking orders for their Class 41 Warship. No deposit being taken.....

 

I wish Olivias well, I really do, but their approach seems a little amateurish. I thinks they've bitten a bit more than they could chew. Please prove us wrong.

[The Stationmaster]

Compare and contrast with the Kernow ltd editions........they're taking orders for their Class 41 Warship. No deposit being taken.....

 

I wish Olivias well, I really do, but their approach seems a little amateurish. I thinks they've bitten a bit more than they could chew. Please prove us wrong.

 

 

It would be interesting to compare the rate at which orders are being taken for the two different products with potentially broadly similar delivery dates. Knowing exactly what is intended (and Kernow's record on commissioned models) I have just quite happily placed an order for two D6XX locos at, thus far, no greater cost to myself than a 'phone call.

 

The EM1, and possibly the EM2, might also interest me but I'm sitting on my hands, and plastic, until I know a lot more although some of that is due to the manufacturer's past record.

[johnd]

Was in Howes on Monday and mention was made of the EM1,EM2 and BP.

 

The comment was made that only the EM1 and BP was going ahead, but as it was the 8 Car or 6 Car BP set was not known. I also note that on the front page of the web site only the EM1 and BP are mentioned.

 

http://www.oliviastrains.com/pages/296/home/model_train_specialists

 

But go to the link and the EM2 is still there. Getting very confusing.

[The Stationmaster]

Was in Howes on Monday and mention was made of the EM1,EM2 and BP.

 

The comment was made that only the EM1 and BP was going ahead, but as it was the 8 Car or 6 Car BP set was not known. I also note that on the front page of the web site only the EM1 and BP are mentioned.

 

http://www.oliviastrains.com/pages/296/home/model_train_specialists

 

But go to the link and the EM2 is still there. Getting very confusing.

 

And the OT website allows you to place a deposit on the EM2 should you so wish - indicating, to me at least, that it is still planned to go ahead.

[woodenhead]

Hi,

 

No the ' big announcement' did not include the D6xx loco's for Kernow, nor a B.P. ( as more than 1 company is looking to produce that, ditto a class 76 ), i'm afraid you will all have to wait until Saturday 11.00am for the info.

 

cheers

Dave

 

 

Dapol Ltd

 

This just adds to the overall confusion to what is going on, are these other's N gauge or another potential commission that could kill any chance of Olivia's trains commissions seeing the light of day.

 

Wondering if GW locomotives ever worked across Woodhead or did I miss the thread on Hawksworth wiring up the Honeybourne route for 1500 DC

[DaveF]

A bit off topic, but the question was asked...

 

This just adds to the overall confusion to what is going on, are these other's N gauge or another potential commission that could kill any chance of Olivia's trains commissions seeing the light of day.

 

Wondering if GW locomotives ever worked across Woodhead or did I miss the thread on Hawksworth wiring up the Honeybourne route for 1500 DC

 

Hall class 4-6-0, 6990, 25th June 1948 during the loco exchanges. Source "The Locomotive Exchanges, C J Allen, log of run.

 

David

[Francis deWeck]

Continuation of lightening the tone:

 

GWR loco on the Woodhead Route - well at least as far as Penistone, thence to Huddersfield.

 

On Saturday, 15th August 1964, 6858 Woolston Grange traversed the Penistone Branch on the 0855 Bournemouth - Bradford. It was only allowed to go as far as Huddersfield Hillhouse shed after being taken off at Huddersfield.

 

It was out of gauge, and had scraped the platform coping stones at Denby Dale.

 

Cheers,

 

Hugh Williams

[steve fay]

I think we should be thanking Olivias and Heljan for taking the plunge and producing models that have been wanted in RTR form for a long time. I hope they get it right and looking at the spec for the BP on Olivias web site we might get a complete train up to european spec finally.

Looking at some of the other special commisions that are coming out there wont be a great deal of new models left to produce in a few years.

Why did I sell all my OO and convert to O

If Heljan get it all pete tong like Dapols Pendelino Im sure one of the others will have a go.

[orcadian]

Hornby Mag No 37, July 2010 reports an interview with Neil Bishop on these, in which he states that the first train packs will be 2 power cars and a kitchen car (for around £300), with a parlour car coming at the same time (about £50 - same as the other (future) cars. Western Pullman power cars will be done first (in a limited edition) then changes made to produce Midland Pullman power cars.

 

He also says Class 76 will be first, immediately followed by the Pullmans, then Class 77 last. There will be two versions of Class 76 - 500 of each, later condition first, then after tooling mods, 500 in original condition.

 

Hope this helps - I'm expecting all the mags to contain similar coverage of these stories as they appear through the next few days!

But how much simpler it could have been had OT put this amount of detail into their original announcements!

 

Richard

[Peter Kazmierczak]

 

But how much simpler it could have been had OT put this amount of detail into their original announcements!

 

Richard

 

Here, here!

 

But it's meant there's been a great deal of publicity about OT's projects. Though whether it's been good publicity is open to question.

[Pennine MC]

I think we should be thanking Olivias and Heljan for taking the plunge and producing models that have been wanted in RTR form for a long time.

 

Sorry to p*ss on the proverbial chips, but anybody can *talk* about producing them. IMHO the time to thank them is when they've actually done it.

[The Stationmaster]

Sorry to p*ss on the proverbial chips, but anybody can *talk* about producing them. IMHO the time to thank them is when they've actually done it.

 

 

There's a truth (often overlooked in the frothing season ).

 

It will be interesting to see too what is meant by 'later condition' - I wonder if that means the boiler fitted variant (which they illustrate as a version they are doing) or the m.u. fitted ones?

 

No doubt time may tell.

[PaulCheffus]

There's a truth (often overlooked in the frothing season ).

 

It will be interesting to see too what is meant by 'later condition' - I wonder if that means the boiler fitted variant (which they illustrate as a version they are doing) or the m.u. fitted ones?

 

No doubt time may tell.

 

Hi

 

The ones with the boilers had these fitted from new and were not a latter addition. The ones so fitted were 26020 and the last dozen from the original number sequence 26046 - 26057 (the named ones). In later years some of the locomotives were renumbered out of sequence and at least one of the MU fitted engines originally had a boiler.

 

I assumed this to mean that they would be the MU fitted ones which from memory were converted in two batches 76006 - 76030 and 76031 - 76039 the latter batch being Air Brake only.

 

Cheers

 

Paul

[D605Eagle]

There's a truth (often overlooked in the frothing season ).

Does that run from the start of Winter 'till the end of Autumn?

[The Stationmaster]

Does that run from the start of Winter 'till the end of Autumn?

 

 

It certainly seems to nowadays - but when I were a lad.......

[orcadian]

Further to Mike the Stationmaster's query regarding OT's interpretation of 'later' version of Class 76, my earlier posting was a very brief precis of the article in Hornby Mag - perhaps too brief a precis! (An on-going situation with regard to BP, 76 and 77 news???).

 

The piece says the first type of Class 76 to be produced will be "in their later condition, dual braking and multiple working, no boiler and blanked in windows. After 500 of these have been produced, the tooling will be altered to reflect the Class 76 in as built condition."

 

So with only 500 of the 'later' version to be made, perhaps people who choose to 'wait and see' before ordering may find them all gone when they arrive in or after June 2011.

 

Richard

 

 

[craigwelsh]

Its amazing you have to buy a selection of different railway mags to find the information you'd expect on the website before you place a deposit!

[orcadian]

Its amazing you have to buy a selection of different railway mags to find the information you'd expect on the website before you place a deposit!

 

Ahh! But at least on THIS website, there's enough of us who have (collectively) bought probably all of the mags, and who are willing to pass on the gems!

 

Thanks to Andy's enterprises, WE know (or find out) what THEY haven't told us yet!

 

Going of topic - when was the last time you saw any of GEM's kits?

 

Richard

[The Stationmaster]

Further to Mike the Stationmaster's query regarding OT's interpretation of 'later' version of Class 76, my earlier posting was a very brief precis of the article in Hornby Mag - perhaps too brief a precis! (An on-going situation with regard to BP, 76 and 77 news???).

 

The piece says the first type of Class 76 to be produced will be "in their later condition, dual braking and multiple working, no boiler and blanked in windows. After 500 of these have been produced, the tooling will be altered to reflect the Class 76 in as built condition."

 

So with only 500 of the 'later' version to be made, perhaps people who choose to 'wait and see' before ordering may find them all gone when they arrive in or after June 2011.

 

Richard

 

Thanks Richard.