Gearing up for Garratt release
Heljan’s standard gauge Beyer-Garratt on course to be available in time for 2025 celebrations.
HELJAN expects to have working samples for review of its new standard gauge Beyer-Garratt loco model in the coming weeks with the first releases planned for early 2025. The LNER’s unique ‘U1’ 2-8-0+0-8-2T Beyer-Garratt was the largest and most powerful steam locomotive ever to run on British rails. No. 2395 (BR No. 69999) was deployed on arduous banking duties on the infamous inclines at Worsbrough near Barnsley, and the Lickey Incline near Birmingham. The OO gauge model is the result of in-depth research supported by the National Railway Museum, the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry’s Beyer Peacock Archive and the Gresley Society. Heljan is working with Rails of Sheffield and Locomotion Models to produce an exclusive edition for the Railway Icons collection. Celebrating the centenary of the ‘U1’ and 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR) opening in 1825, the model will depict No. 2395 in works grey, as it appeared at the LNER’s S&DR centenary cavalcade shortly after completion in 1925. This special collectors’ edition will feature bespoke packaging plus DCC Ready and factory-fitted DCC Sound options and production will be strictly limited. Early ordering is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment. See www.locomotionmodels. com/railway-icons and railsofsheffield.com for more information. Other variants of the loco will cover the loco throughout its 30-year life working life. Using original works drawings and photographs Heljan has created a collection of museum-quality models covering the entire career of the locomotive and the various modifications it underwent. These include changes to the smokebox, water tank breather pipes, coal bunker, handrails, cab and additional vacuum tanks. Also included is a model depicting the locomotive after conversion to oil firing, which saw modifications to the former coal bunker, the addition of a turbo generator for the electric headlight and associated pipework/cable runs. Features delivered as standard include: Twin motor/ flywheel drive; working LED lamps; sprung buffers; removable cab roof; NEM couplings; and separate pipework and cable runs.