Beattie Well Tank in N

[CaptainBiggles]

Afternoon all.

 

I'm considering embarking on a layout of Padstow, my first layout since childhood. Having laid it all out in 00 using Peco templates to a layout I'm happy with I realised it'd just be too big, so am considering N instead. I can get it & a fiddle-yard behind, joined by a single curve at the end of the board (to form a large U-shaped layout) in a space that is 9' x 2'6". Much more manageable.

 

However, I'm not sure there are the locos for such a layout available in N, unlike those produced by Dapol / Kernow in 00. I'd need an O2, Beattie Well Tank, Class 51xx pannier, West Countries / BoBs and maybe an N / U class.

 

The layout would be in the latter years of the station's life, 1950-60, so BR but still steam, with ex SR & GW stock prevailing.

 

Has anyone got any info they can pass on about these locos, or ones that'd pass off as suitable alternatives? Or, come to think of it, any advice at all?

 

I'm tempted to start a layout blog, more as a way of giving encouragement to those just starting out in the hobby...

 

Many thanks,

Cap'n Biggles.

[Karhedron]

Light Pacifics are coming out from Dapol and the N class from Farish. Dates have not been given but both are in the current catalogues.

 

For tanks engines you will have a harder time. No O2 or well tanks on the radar in N gauge. The only suitable SR tank loco is the Dapol M7 which is now out of production (although not hard to find on eBay).

 

I am not sure which class of Pannier tank you are interested in. The 51xx class were large Prairies so probably not what you are looking for. The GWR 1366 class pannier tanks replaced the Well tanks in the 1960s but are also not available in model form. Dapol make the more common 5700 and 8750 classes of pannier tank but the 1366s were quite distinctly different with their outside cylinders.

 

Maybe the very end of steam when diesel shunters replaced the panniers?

 

It is a lovely area to model but you will struggle with the rather specialised tank locos that were used.

[Kris]

You can also get the 45xx and 55xx from Dapol. These are older models (for Dapol) and are out of production at the moment I think.

[Donw]

As others have said it will be more difficult to find suitable small locos. However I would go for it. You should be able to find an M7 and a West Country either from Ebay or from dealers.I think Dapol may do their version of the West Country. You need an SR goods loco. The Q1 doesn't seem right but there is not much else around. Farish do a standard tank I can remember similar ones at Bideford. For the GWR the 4575 and the 57xx would be fine. My advice on the Beattie well tank would be to use a Dapol Terrier as a stand in for now and hope something turns up in furture.

Don 

[Karhedron]

For SR goods locos, consider the range from Union Mills. Not quite as detailed as the latest Dapol and Farish models but very good models and several Sr locos in the range.

[CaptainBiggles]

Cheers for the useful info guys. I guess the upshot is I can't get prototypical locos but I can get a good approximation.

 

I think I'm leaning ever harder towards N then. I've just started a Blog (called "Padstow", predictably enough, first post is "Starting out" if you're interested in what I have in mind. I'd definitely value the same input there as you've been kind enough to provide here!

 

Biggs.