Help choose the next Roundhouse loco

Having owned several models of Accucraft, Regner, Aster IMHO Roundhouse are the best Garden Railway livesteam locomotives. Their construction shows an almost 30 years of improvement in reliability. The chesehead screws are not imported to that.

Tom Rolt seems a model which will gain interest in the Tall -y- lyn.  I do like the twin buffer arangement. Looking forward to how to connect with coaches.

tallylyn nr. 3 (Edit :4) with Hackwort valve gear like Carrie

LGB
Massoth Dimax
Live steam

funandtrains

stevedenver

tagorton

funandtrains


I would of said that many minature live steam locos were a lot more toylike than the detailed electric models. Only when you get to the large scales you ride on are they anything like real locos.

 .


Interesting isn't it? What it points up is that all of these little railways are toys, but different people find different aspects of modelling more important than another. Now to me the sight of a real working small steam locomotive pulling a train through the garden is very satisfying indeed, albeit that the loco may not be that heavy on detail. The sight, sound and (with coal) the smell, I find very evocative of the real thing. Others will prefer the instant controllability and the high level of detail on some of the electric models. All of us filter out the inconsistent bits and use our imagination to add the missing elements. No-one however, gets on or off when we stop our trains at stations... When I say I like live steam locomotives this is not meant to imply that any other way of modelling a locomotive is somehow inferior to my own

i think this perfectly states my own thoughts,and is a brilliant statement regarding filtration- used to resent the fact that i had to do it when i wanted scale LGB-now its not an issue

live steam is a ceremony / process and involvement and a bit more of a planned 'ordeal' albeit pleasant

electric is immediate and no fuss

i agree regarding super detail and additional  costs-and fumbling/handling the little overheated darlings  -i think this is whyLGB kept things simple too-all the little stuff breaks off 

I would love a nice little US outline loco-like a 2-4-4t, 2-4-2 t , something quaint like a Olomano style plantation loco or the one that ran at Ft Wilderness in disneyworld-just a beautiful little loco  -thought is might be versatile 'among the nations' not a per se US only loco 

- or a tiny 2ft shay as used on the Gilpin County Narrow gauge- roundhouse does several 2ft prototypes


i imagine either might lend well to variations in superstrutures -ie german, US, colonial etc


my ultimate bank breaking wish would be for a mason bogie-one that runs, is bullet proof  ie is a Roundhouse-but since another maker already has done it i imagine the market is saturated -but if they can make the darjeeling, such a loco may not be too esoteric-but probably way too detailed to produce

I would of said that Accucraft make all that you have said and much cheaper than Roundhouse could make them. If you want a small 2 truck shay for 32mm gauge I think there is a company which sells conversions of the very nice Accucraft model.

Roundhouse already make a plantation loco with the excellent Fowler but I wish they would bring the Forney back.

quite right steve
but nothing runs like  Rundhouse!!!

I am willing to pay for quality and non fiddly

i dont want a Ruby -
i want a small jewel that i love to run-not curse

'frinstance
the accucraft Mason was leaking steam right out the front of the clyinders and at the underside flex hose -brand new -2500 -rather spend a bit more and have something nice

i am pretty capable at tinkering but would rather have something nice-and i hate having to fix new toys 

From the RH site

We do get a lot of feedback from our UK customers through meeting you at exhibitions, so we are particularly interested to hear from those of you in the USA, and mainland Europe

Wake me up by noon please.

palmerston


snip<
tallylyn nr. 3 with Hackwort valve gear like Carrie

That's number 4 'Edward Thomas'.....no. 3 ' Sir Haydn' has inside stephenson valvegear.

A steamy fan from the Isle of Man

ross dont you like kafeklatch?

no matter how many times ive posted to RH, i never get as many fun replies or as thoughtful replies as here



-in fact, unless i call/email  RH (and i have for spares)  i get no response-and yes i sent my wishes directly so you dont need to worry about misdirected energy on my part 



the idea is to simply share dreams-like when we were kids
oooooooooooooooooh THAT WOULD BE SUPER

remember when dreaming and sharing was the best one could do for fun if one didnt have the money ??? 

funandtrains


I would of said that many minature live steam locos were a lot more toylike than the detailed electric models. Only when you get to the large scales you ride on are they anything like real locos.

One of the remarks made several times decades ago about LBSCs designs, many were good working, but not attractive.  A trade off for sure.
 
Another bit that always bugged me about SM32 modelling was may of the locos are WAY overscale, there were not many Welsh/contractors/2' gauge engines that were nearly 8' wide?

Garrett

Neustadter-Lokalbahn/Novomestské místní dráhy (NStLB-NMD)

Spule 4

funandtrains


I would of said that many minature live steam locos were a lot more toylike than the detailed electric models. Only when you get to the large scales you ride on are they anything like real locos.

One of the remarks made several times decades ago about LBSCs designs, many were good working, but not attractive.  A trade off for sure.
 
Another bit that always bugged me about SM32 modelling was may of the locos are WAY overscale, there were not many Welsh/contractors/2' gauge engines that were nearly 8' wide?

you dont need to worry about that, you jsut need to know its the one and true gauge
*runs for the hills and hides

Spule 4

Another bit that always bugged me about SM32 modelling was may of the locos are WAY overscale, there were not many Welsh/contractors/2' gauge engines that were nearly 8' wide?

I don't thinks it's SM32 that's the problem.  It's that manufacturers need to maximise sales.

So RH make their "16mm" ish locos adjustable to 45mm gauge - and they are bought by G scalers.

Accu make models of 3ft(ish) gauge locos, sold set to 45mm.  They can be adjusted to 32mm so 16millers buy them.
These are way over scale width, as I've found from experience.  Yes - I have three Accu and three RH.

The nearest scale model I have is Maxwell Hemmens "Ogwen".
She's tiny, but on my 2'6" curves pulls the same load as Lawley or Wrekin, because of the drag of the longer loco.

Rob Guinness
Stout Controller
Madog & Mersey Railway Co (SM32)

In my Father's roundhouse are many loco sheds.
 

How about Thomas the Tank, Percy and James?
Their own Thomas range!

Scott
Holy frijoles! That thing runs faster than me
GCR - Rothley Station - CFR
http://charnwoodforestrailway.webs.com/

Casey's mate

How about Thomas the Tank, Percy and James?

No to mention Ivor!!

Rob Guinness
Stout Controller
Madog & Mersey Railway Co (SM32)

In my Father's roundhouse are many loco sheds.
 

palmerston


Having owned several models of Accucraft, Regner, Aster IMHO Roundhouse are the best Garden Railway livesteam locomotives. Their construction shows an almost 30 years of improvement in reliability. The chesehead screws are not imported to that.

Tom Rolt seems a model which will gain interest in the Tall -y- lyn.  I do like the twin buffer arangement. Looking forward to how to connect with coaches.

tallylyn nr. 3 (Edit :4) with Hackwort valve gear like Carrie

Agreed – but is ha'porth of tar territory here. I find it annoying to have to replace all this stuff on a new locomotive. Accucraft are improving all the time in terms of reliability and are already better in terms of appearance and detailing. Once, as is planned, they have their spares available by return. I would be likely to use their models more for my personal conversions. Roundhouse would be wise to look to their laurels. Tom Rolt it seems, has not sparked much interest. Not sure why, it looks good to me. Still the usual changes to make however.

Tag GortonEditorGardenRail magazinehttp://www.atlanticpublishers.com/gr/Skype name 'tagorton'AIM name 'tagrailway'iChat name 'tagrailway'

Rather than introduce new locos, based on ever more obscure prototypes, RH could consider improving existing popular models. I am thinking of the Fowler, Russell and Billy/Katie.
 
Tag, do you know if the Silver Lady upgrade of Lady Anne was a success for RH?
 
Regards
Peter

agree completely- i think they have done this comparing old SRRL and the new-the ponies on the new are brass-my old are white metal

Casey's mate


How about Thomas the Tank, Percy and James?
Their own Thomas range!

That's more like it. Blue sky thinking. Absolutely marvellous.

Casey Jones Snr

If it looks right, it is right.

I think Tom Rolt is a rather ugly little job, when I go to the TR I try to avoid it!  ergo, I'm not surprised it's not doing very well - I was a bit shocked when Roundhouse announced it.

A steamy fan from the Isle of Man

funandtrains



They therefore need to find alternative markets to enable them to keep growing without trying to do too much too quickly. It would seem with the low value of the £ that they are missing a trick not making more locos that appeal to the German and US markets.

Or the French,a  Corpet 0-6-0 would sell over here.Well one anyway

Cheers Van
Limousin
France

funandtrains


I think Roundhouse are in danger of becomming a victim of their own succuss in a limited market like LGB was

1. They have tied themselves too closely to the 16mm Assoc. and ignored the G and growing Fn3 markets.
2. Their locos are usually built to last and so there main competitor after Accucraft UK is the second hand market of their own products which had built up over the past 30 years which will become more and more an issue.

They therefore need to find alternative markets to enable them to keep growing without trying to do too much too quickly. It would seem with the low value of the £ that they are missing a trick not making more locos that appeal to the German and US markets.

Well they could do with a new US loco, but all their generic locos are available in 45mm and most of the others as well. I am interested to note that you see  their market as limited by 16mm scale because Roundhouse generally and correctly don't quote a scale for their models. What do you base this perception on? Of course it is difficult to get definitive figures on this, but they may be looking at the growing 16mm membership and the shrinking G scale Soc membership. I have no axe to grind here other than a commercial one ) and I am, like several people I know, a member of both – but I am baffled as to why this is so – perhaps the decline of LGB???. Are  45millers in live steam joining the 16mm Assoc rather than the G scale Soc??? Even so the market for actual 45mm gauge is certainly growing, particularly 1:20.3 scale. They could try the German market of course – but Germany is fairly well covered by several live steam suppliers who concentrate on German models. Certainly the Stonleigh event is larger than any other, and I have long been an advocate in having more than just 16mm there – and this has already started. Anyway I suppose Roundhouse must invest their own money where they see fit.

Tag GortonEditorGardenRail magazinehttp://www.atlanticpublishers.com/gr/Skype name 'tagorton'AIM name 'tagrailway'iChat name 'tagrailway'

fm12

funandtrains



They therefore need to find alternative markets to enable them to keep growing without trying to do too much too quickly. It would seem with the low value of the £ that they are missing a trick not making more locos that appeal to the German and US markets.

Or the French,a  Corpet 0-6-0 would sell over here.Well one anyway

make that two....

RULE *8*

The most important rule...........
ITS MY RAILWAY, I WILL RUN WHAT I WANT, WHEN I WANT, HOW I WANT, AND IF YOU DONT LIKE IT..........
BUGGER OFF!

funandtrains


I think Roundhouse are in danger of becomming a victim of their own succuss in a limited market like LGB was

1. They have tied themselves too closely to the 16mm Assoc. and ignored the G and growing Fn3 markets.
2. Their locos are usually built to last and so there main competitor after Accucraft UK is the second hand market of their own products which had built up over the past 30 years which will become more and more an issue.

They therefore need to find alternative markets to enable them to keep growing without trying to do too much too quickly. It would seem with the low value of the £ that they are missing a trick not making more locos that appeal to the German and US markets.

But there companys already doing German stuff, and TBH they are probably doing to do them better detailed and cheaper than roundhouse,
its not really Roundhouses style,  they are a 16mm scale model company, and thats how they started out, for 16mm, and 16mm  in the main is British moddelling, and i think there would be a few displeased faces if they started doing more g scale style stuff.


they havnt ignored the g scale side completely,  they included a very nice looking big slot on the buffer beams so g scale tension lock couplings can be fitted

One problem is that they like to stick to the idea of using the same cylinders and valve gear for anything they do, perhaps if they broke out of that habit for a few locos, then they could do somthing a bit different.

andysleigh

funandtrains


I think Roundhouse are in danger of becomming a victim of their own succuss in a limited market like LGB was

1. They have tied themselves too closely to the 16mm Assoc. and ignored the G and growing Fn3 markets.
2. Their locos are usually built to last and so there main competitor after Accucraft UK is the second hand market of their own products which had built up over the past 30 years which will become more and more an issue.

They therefore need to find alternative markets to enable them to keep growing without trying to do too much too quickly. It would seem with the low value of the £ that they are missing a trick not making more locos that appeal to the German and US markets.

But there companys already doing German stuff, and TBH they are probably doing to do them better detailed and cheaper than roundhouse,
its not really Roundhouses style,  they are a 16mm scale model company, and thats how they started out, for 16mm, and 16mm  in the main is British moddelling, and i think there would be a few displeased faces if they started doing more g scale style stuff.


they havnt ignored the g scale side completely,  they included a very nice looking big slot on the buffer beams so g scale tension lock couplings can be fitted

One problem is that they like to stick to the idea of using the same cylinders and valve gear for anything they do, perhaps if they broke out of that habit for a few locos, then they could do somthing a bit different.

Hmmmmn. The valve gear is different on quite a few locos Andy. Apart from the obvious one such as Carrie (which did not sell well) the Ffestiniog locos have different running gear to their satndard semi Walschaerts.

Tag GortonEditorGardenRail magazinehttp://www.atlanticpublishers.com/gr/Skype name 'tagorton'AIM name 'tagrailway'iChat name 'tagrailway'

funandtrains

andysleigh

funandtrains


I think Roundhouse are in danger of becomming a victim of their own succuss in a limited market like LGB was

1. They have tied themselves too closely to the 16mm Assoc. and ignored the G and growing Fn3 markets.
2. Their locos are usually built to last and so there main competitor after Accucraft UK is the second hand market of their own products which had built up over the past 30 years which will become more and more an issue.

They therefore need to find alternative markets to enable them to keep growing without trying to do too much too quickly. It would seem with the low value of the £ that they are missing a trick not making more locos that appeal to the German and US markets.

But there companys already doing German stuff, and TBH they are probably doing to do them better detailed and cheaper than roundhouse,
its not really Roundhouses style,  they are a 16mm scale model company, and thats how they started out, for 16mm, and 16mm  in the main is British moddelling, and i think there would be a few displeased faces if they started doing more g scale style stuff.


they havnt ignored the g scale side completely,  they included a very nice looking big slot on the buffer beams so g scale tension lock couplings can be fitted

One problem is that they like to stick to the idea of using the same cylinders and valve gear for anything they do, perhaps if they broke out of that habit for a few locos, then they could do somthing a bit different.

My whole point was that they have got themselves trapped in a rut by only maming mostly 2' gauge prototypes to 16mm scale where as to get a larger market they really need to produce Irish and other 3' gauge at 15mm scale or models which would appeal to colonial /continental markets. When they started out their models had no specific scale and they have produced both colonial and continental style locos in the past. If they only concentrate on the small UK 16mm market they stand the risk of going the way all the other 16mm loco builders have gone in the past. 16mm has a big presence in the UK because the Assoc is better run and better at publicity than G Scale, Gauge 1 and Gauge 0 but is only a small market, not big outside the UK and is unique in that it has inherited the small scale model engineering following from 2.5" gauge and is a fusion of the British model enineering tradition and model trains which is not common in other countries. Compared with G scale the off the shelf ready to run 16mm market even in the UK is smaller and much smaller than 0 gauge.

 


I take your point here in that I do think that the 3ft prototypes are an area to be carefully exploited – as Accucraft are doing with IoM in 1:20.3 (15mm). Now that there are more people who model live steam/45mm the Irish Railways I believe, are a route worth investigating closely for several reasons. First of all they are railways that are attractive to the greater proportion of UK NG modellers thereby providing a base of purchasers – although if there are not enough 32mm gauge modellers to produce 32mm only, one has to ask if there enough 45 Millers for Roundhouse to consider 45mm only?They tried it once with the Forney.  AccucraftUK seem to think there is a market – but theirs is a different business model. The Irish prototypes take full advantage of the extra loading gauge space without the need to resort to 'rubber scale' and they will be attractive to many modellers in the US – although the live steam market in the comparatively huge USA can hardly support a tiny bi-monthly magazine (Steam in Your Garden) let alone be a significant market. Marc H of Garden Railways magazine says Americans mostly like things easy and so prefer just to buy, plonk on the track and switch on. He made this comment ten years ago whilst we were running on a garden railway in Cornwall and I have not seen anything to modify his opinion. Live steam is not as common in the US or Europe as here and the UK/worldwide G scale market continues to be largely track-powered.

Tag GortonEditorGardenRail magazinehttp://www.atlanticpublishers.com/gr/Skype name 'tagorton'AIM name 'tagrailway'iChat name 'tagrailway'

Well put Tag, you really make the point. I whole heartedly concur.

Casey Jones Snr

If it looks right, it is right.

Belgian/french loco.

As the Tallylyn is a well know railway their Tom Rolt is an obvoius choice for Roundhouse as the W&L and L&B are done by Accucraft UK.
 
Even Accucraft UK will get difficulties in chosing new models in the not to distant future.

LGB
Massoth Dimax
Live steam

palmerston


Belgian/french loco.

As the Tallylyn is a well know railway their Tom Rolt is an obvoius choice for Roundhouse as the W&L and L&B are done by Accucraft UK.
 
Even Accucraft UK will get difficulties in chosing new models in the not to distant future.

 Doubt it – in the foreseeable future anyway. The Accucraft road map already contains the L&B Manning Wardles, the Baldwin and of course, rolling stock to suit – something that Roundhouse does not supply. The IoM locos (in both live steam and electric) will be available and again these have RTR rolling stock. I strongly suspect that after the L&B rollout Accucraft will look at further 1:20.3 prototypes on 45mm only. My bet is Irish locomotives – again in both live steam and electric and again with RTR rolling stock. Tom Rolt should sell – but given that the production models are not yet on the streets the jury is still out. Traders do not seem to have many orders but then perhaps people are 'waiting and seeing.' Accucraft UK have ideas in other areas not currently visited by Roundhouse as well, but I cannot comment about this at the moment. As I said, a different business model...


Like others on this group I would like to see more sophisticated versions of past and present models from the Roundhouse range. Improved bodyshells, hex head bolts, no whitemetal etc, etc. We will see. Roundhouse have not done a bad job over the years in judging the market, so things may well change... They are not daft in Yorkshire...

Tag GortonEditorGardenRail magazinehttp://www.atlanticpublishers.com/gr/Skype name 'tagorton'AIM name 'tagrailway'iChat name 'tagrailway'

tagorton

andysleigh

funandtrains


I think Roundhouse are in danger of becomming a victim of their own succuss in a limited market like LGB was

1. They have tied themselves too closely to the 16mm Assoc. and ignored the G and growing Fn3 markets.
2. Their locos are usually built to last and so there main competitor after Accucraft UK is the second hand market of their own products which had built up over the past 30 years which will become more and more an issue.

They therefore need to find alternative markets to enable them to keep growing without trying to do too much too quickly. It would seem with the low value of the £ that they are missing a trick not making more locos that appeal to the German and US markets.

But there companys already doing German stuff, and TBH they are probably doing to do them better detailed and cheaper than roundhouse,
its not really Roundhouses style,  they are a 16mm scale model company, and thats how they started out, for 16mm, and 16mm  in the main is British moddelling, and i think there would be a few displeased faces if they started doing more g scale style stuff.


they havnt ignored the g scale side completely,  they included a very nice looking big slot on the buffer beams so g scale tension lock couplings can be fitted

One problem is that they like to stick to the idea of using the same cylinders and valve gear for anything they do, perhaps if they broke out of that habit for a few locos, then they could do somthing a bit different.

Hmmmmn. The valve gear is different on quite a few locos Andy. Apart from the obvious one such as Carrie (which did not sell well) the Ffestiniog locos have different running gear to their satndard semi Walschaerts.

Yes, i know there are quite a few different valve gears roundhouse have done, but i think they prefer to stick to somthing they already have,  i dont see them doing a model with say Allan valve gear, or joy.

Any manufacturer has to balance the cost of producing goods versus the price that can be charged -- elementary market economics.  Roundhouse cannot compete with cheaper Chinese labour, so they must economise by using common parts in as many models as possible, simplifying the construction process and not sweating the fine details.  This goes hand in hand with their design philosophy of making robust engines that are easy to maintain.  IMHO, any drastic change in direction away from those principles is a recipe for disaster.

That said, I do think that they could subtly change a few of their long-standing practices (those cheesehead screws, as we all agree) and incorporate some additional detail (scale rivet heads, f'rinstance) in cab sides, side tanks and the like.  I think that the market could absorb the relatively small increase in price that these improvements would cost.

What new engine to produce?  I've been prone in other fora to beat the drum for more generic prototypes.  How come no manufacturer has produced a model of the quintessential British four- or six-coupled industrial loco?  There were plenty of examples in both standard and a variety of narrow gauges.  In that vein,  what's wrong with mating Carrie's Hackworth valve gear with Bertie?   Get rid of those rivets, make it less toylike.  A good start, I would think.

My two cents' worth.

Tag points out that the live steam markets in America and Europe are pretty small but there is another active market....Australia. Roundhouse has two energetic distributors here, the "Rails in the Garden" group has about a hundred members and live steam/battery seems to be just as popular as track powered.
 
We also have a widely know prototype .....the Baldwin 2-6-2 NA class on Puffing Billy. It's 2' 6" gauge and RH could probably use some of the tooling they had for the L & B Baldwin some years ago.
 
Peter

Mmm Allen or Joy valvegear...not many UK prototypes with that......in outside format anyway, and if it's inside it doesn't show so there's no point.

Offhand, I can only think of Bellerophon, with outside Allen, or the odd O&K import, which takes us back to non UK prototypes. (edit - Cambrai??? still furrin made though!) Of course our Beyers have inside Allen.....  doesn't show though, and it could be Stephenson to look at it.

The Puffing Billy 2-6-2's though...what a lovely loco, and their colonial look crosses both the Atlantic and the Pacific in my view.  Inside valvegear too.....

How about Bagnall-Price.....as in, Sealion....

A steamy fan from the Isle of Man

Best thing with Bagnall Price valve gear is to give it plenty of oil, shut the cover and don't ask too many questions
 
Happy steamings,
 
John

Play: Groudle Glen Railway www.ggr.org.uk
Play: Isle of Man Steam Railway www.iomsrsa.com
Work: www.track-shack.com

New Haven Neil


Mmm Allen or Joy valvegear...not many UK prototypes with that......in outside format anyway, and if it's inside it doesn't show so there's no point.

Offhand, I can only think of Bellerophon, with outside Allen, or the odd O&K import, which takes us back to non UK prototypes. (edit - Cambrai??? still furrin made though!) Of course our Beyers have inside Allen.....  doesn't show though, and it could be Stephenson to look at it.

The Puffing Billy 2-6-2's though...what a lovely loco, and their colonial look crosses both the Atlantic and the Pacific in my view.  Inside valvegear too.....

How about Bagnall-Price.....as in, Sealion....

The l&B Mannin Wardles had outside joy valve gear, and Roundhouse did a model of the, tho with dummy joy gear, and inside slip eccentric.
I mean Allan if roundhouse were to do more continental engine.

well I think there is quite a lot they could do with the range they have got. Offer all locos with sight gauges at either point of purchase or as add ons to fit ya self, glass for the spectical rings, as said already use hez screws (please please please!), and offer a satin finish?

Maybe they could upgrade the basic range a bit? A nice saddle tank with bunker would be nice.

sorry about the spelling.

hornbeam
  glass for the spectical rings, as said already use hez screws (please please please!), and offer a satin finish?

 
Re: satin finish
 
Only the colored bits are in gloss, cab, watertank, bunker and bufferbeams. The rest is in satin.
 
The gloss finish is less sensitive to chipping of on the edges and scratches.

LGB
Massoth Dimax
Live steam

funandtrains


I think the idea that UK buyers would only want prototypes of British built locos a bit daft, a little predudiced and rather limiting although I could name many I woulkd wish to have if money was no object!

Sorry, I have to disagree on that one I'm afraid, Steve!
 
After more than 35 years in this hobby (bear in mind I also model American in HO, so do not consider myself prejudiced in the slightest) I find the average British enthusiast VERY insular, and precious little interested in anything from outside the shores of the British Isles.  This does not include me, as I say, but my experience of clubs and exhibiting tells me so.  Crikey, enough people won't look at anything without GWR (or insert the regions favourite) on the side!
 
It's not that I don't want more diverse models, I personally do, but I don't think Joe Soap enthusiast does.
 
Maybe ask Roundhouse how many Forneys they sold in the UK.....not that they would tell us, but it was hardly a big seller.
 
My HO Layout

Attached Image(s)

A steamy fan from the Isle of Man

andysleigh

New Haven Neil


Mmm Allen or Joy valvegear...not many UK prototypes with that......in outside format anyway, and if it's inside it doesn't show so there's no point.

Offhand, I can only think of Bellerophon, with outside Allen, or the odd O&K import, which takes us back to non UK prototypes. (edit - Cambrai??? still furrin made though!) Of course our Beyers have inside Allen.....  doesn't show though, and it could be Stephenson to look at it.

The Puffing Billy 2-6-2's though...what a lovely loco, and their colonial look crosses both the Atlantic and the Pacific in my view.  Inside valvegear too.....

How about Bagnall-Price.....as in, Sealion....

The l&B Mannin Wardles had outside joy valve gear, and Roundhouse did a model of the, tho with dummy joy gear, and inside slip eccentric.
I mean Allan if roundhouse were to do more continental engine.

Yup, spot on, the L&B's - I missed that one!  Not many though, are there!  The original VoR's did, I think, but it was between the wheels and the frames - eek!  No wonder the replacements had outside Walschaerts!

A steamy fan from the Isle of Man

New Haven Neil

funandtrains


I think the idea that UK buyers would only want prototypes of British built locos a bit daft, a little predudiced and rather limiting although I could name many I woulkd wish to have if money was no object!

Sorry, I have to disagree on that one I'm afraid, Steve!
 
After more than 35 years in this hobby (bear in mind I also model American in HO, so do not consider myself prejudiced in the slightest) I find the average British enthusiast VERY insular, and precious little interested in anything from outside the shores of the British Isles.  This does not include me, as I say, but my experience of clubs and exhibiting tells me so.  Crikey, enough people won't look at anything without GWR (or insert the regions favourite) on the side!
 
It's not that I don't want more diverse models, I personally do, but I don't think Joe Soap enthusiast does.
 
Maybe ask Roundhouse how many Forneys they sold in the UK.....not that they would tell us, but it was hardly a big seller.
 
My HO Layout

Think that you are probably right here. If LGB had done something for the buyers on this side of the channel then it most certainly would have sold. I have seen quite a few LGB layouts purporting to be British railways... I do think there is a fondness for US prototypes however – probably down to cowboy films and visits to Disneyworld ). 


Roundhouse have to find something that will sell in reasonable quantity – they are a business after all – and the UK is, for its size, a prime market for live steam. I do have to hold my own hand up in terms of garden railway insularity. I much prefer either UK prototypes or UK type generic locomotives. Don't really know why – after all I spent 20-odd years roaming round the world and so am not insular generally speaking. I like IoM and Irish railways, but not so keen on Continental types. It is how it is for me and, from my experience (and probably that of Roundhouse, for a lot of others.

Tag GortonEditorGardenRail magazinehttp://www.atlanticpublishers.com/gr/Skype name 'tagorton'AIM name 'tagrailway'iChat name 'tagrailway'

New Haven Neil

andysleigh

New Haven Neil


Mmm Allen or Joy valvegear...not many UK prototypes with that......in outside format anyway, and if it's inside it doesn't show so there's no point.

Offhand, I can only think of Bellerophon, with outside Allen, or the odd O&K import, which takes us back to non UK prototypes. (edit - Cambrai??? still furrin made though!) Of course our Beyers have inside Allen.....  doesn't show though, and it could be Stephenson to look at it.

The Puffing Billy 2-6-2's though...what a lovely loco, and their colonial look crosses both the Atlantic and the Pacific in my view.  Inside valvegear too.....

How about Bagnall-Price.....as in, Sealion....

The l&B Mannin Wardles had outside joy valve gear, and Roundhouse did a model of the, tho with dummy joy gear, and inside slip eccentric.
I mean Allan if roundhouse were to do more continental engine.

Yup, spot on, the L&B's - I missed that one!  Not many though, are there!  The original VoR's did, I think, but it was between the wheels and the frames - eek!  No wonder the replacements had outside Walschaerts!

Didnt know that! always thought they had stevensons valve gear.
For all straight links, joy seems to be a difficult gear to set up, or so i hear..
it also reminds me that one of my suggestions to Roundhouse which was BLI BLI the fowler suger cane loco, has external joy, problem!

My personal opinion is if they want to expand they need to branch out of the narrow gauge only thing, as most people have noted if it ain't British outline it doesn't seem to sell as well. So Go for the smaller industrial Std gauge Loco's then if the demand is there into the gauge one mainline thing? Of course I think a Pannier tank is the ideal starting point!!!!!!!! theres lots of paint schemes that would apply to the type ooooooooo lets start with the LT livery???
 
I know I'm flogging a dead horse here...............................

"Most garden railwaymen are ordinary folk - Albeit as nutty as fruitcakes"...D. Rowlands

minimans


My personal opinion is if they want to expand they need to branch out of the narrow gauge only thing, as most people have noted if it ain't British outline it doesn't seem to sell as well. So Go for the smaller industrial Std gauge Loco's then if the demand is there into the gauge one mainline thing? Of course I think a Pannier tank is the ideal starting point!!!!!!!! theres lots of paint schemes that would apply to the type ooooooooo lets start with the LT livery???
 
I know I'm flogging a dead horse here...............................

Actually no Neil – you are not – the horse is fit and well. Roundhouse produced an 0-6-0 'concept' G1 tender freight locomotive, gas fired and radio controlled. The project AFAIK, is currently on the back-burner, partly because their G1 man left but also because they are keeping a close eye on what this market does. I suspect that it will come on stream when the first G1MRCo Accucraft built  Mk 1's arrive in this country and a few more of their wagons. 600 squid for a coach does not play well with those who want to transfer to standard gauge – particularly when a W&L coach is comfortably under 200 squid.

Tag GortonEditorGardenRail magazinehttp://www.atlanticpublishers.com/gr/Skype name 'tagorton'AIM name 'tagrailway'iChat name 'tagrailway'

Errrr, wasn't me Tag, it was Paul!

I was aware that R/H had a G1 project hidden away, but had never heard a squeak about what it was! Rog is very secretive!  It's a hard choice to know what to do for best in G1, as small everyday locomotives don't seem to appear very ofter, more the top link jobs.  The G1 line I visit locally has an awful lot of big power! A goods 0-6-0 though, well, it won't often be seen hauling Mark 1's, depends what it is though I suppose.  Thinking hat on...4F on the S&D? 2251? J39? Maude? Now there's wishful thinking, Dad was Scots!

Yes folks, I know about the Aster pannier, but it's no more a scale model than the oft maligned Roundhouse locos!  A pannier would be a good starting point for Roundhouse then, despite my north-eastern heritage I rather like them, and the GW types love em!  Another vote for LT livery then from me....or maybe NCB.....like, was it 7714?  Then there's the issue of what scale to use for G1, I think Tag dealt with this recently in an editorial.....

Andy, on reflection it might have been Allen straight link on the VoR's!  I need to get my book out and have a look-see.  I'll have a look tonight, my curiosity is aroused!  There was certainly a proposal to rebuild the original 2 with Walschaerts, but the GWR came along and built 3 new ones around the numberplates, and called them rebuilds for the bean-counters benefit.  They were of course entirely new locomotives. 

I'm rambling, sorry.  Nurse!

A steamy fan from the Isle of Man