Fairliewell

On 16/05/2021 at 13:43, Edwardian said:

 

But NG almost has to be freelance in a way that SG doesn't for the simple reason that there is no NG national network. Yes, you can model a prototype NG line, or an imaginary extension thereof, but if you want create fresh territory by putting a railway in a town that never had one, or make up a town, you cannot imagine it as a line built by an existing company as you could in the case of SG. No, you are creating a standalone NG line, so by necessity, you need to create a company to run it.  

Oh for the French system whereby large corporations could gain concessions on a number of different lines. Also, manufacturers were churning out fairly standard locos on a large scale. Then, some standardisation might have happened and stock moved around from one line to another. Muche easier to create a fictitious, but authentic line. No chance of that here in the UK.

Historically, NG modellers have had to use whatever commercial N gauge chassis were available for locomotives in OO9 modelling, as no British-prototype RTR NG stock was available. Body kits, often freelance or semi-freelance became available to fit these chassis. The alternative was to adapt continental models. Either way, a freelance model railway was the only sensible option.

On 22/10/2020 at 21:34, rue_d_etropal said:

I had wondered about the J70 chassis, but how many locos are there with wheelbase  3ft 9in and 3ft 9in, and with 3ft 6in diameter wheels which is what it works out in HO,

 

some standard gauge double fairlies were very close - though not built for British railways