Скачать или смотреть GNR Steam "Rail Motor" Coach No. 6, OO Antique Scratch Build with Romford Motor Bogie DCC

This model is a true one of a kind. Through extensive research and examining the construction of the model, it is my conclusion that this was entirely freehand scratch-built, not from a kit or any particular instructions. The locomotive is lead-filled brass with assorted off-the-shelf parts like the buffers, chimney, wheels, and couplings, and the coach is all mahogany with early plastic windowpanes.

The construction and design alone is fascinating, but so is the power source. The coach bogie is an entirely self-contained motor unit made by Romford Electric. It's very heavy and incredibly well-engineered. The 5 pole open frame motor armature has a built in flywheel and two shafts, one for each wheel set, and the shafts are precision ground to pointed ends which rest into highly adjustable bearing races. I have found limited information on these units, other than that they were produced by Romford in the early 1950's for a particular Southern Region motor coach model, and that they were extremely expensive even then (more than a few week's wages at an average salary!)

The model is of a real prototype as well. The Great Northern Railroad had 6 of these units built in 1905-1906 for short line service. No.6 (this model) was built in 1905 by Kitson & Company, and withdrawn from service a little over a decade later.

I am greatly impressed by the original builder (unfortunately I have no information on who that may have been, as I purchased it from a seller who had purchased it at an estate auction), and their skill and vision in modeling this unusual and niche prototype. I am also humbled to be the new custodian of this unique model, and to be able to keep it running and visible by the public. Aside from some cleaning and touching up the "No.6" on one cab side, all I have done is to fit a DCC decoder across the Romford motor so I can more widely use this model on a DCC layout. I did a very sympathetic installation of the decoder, and it could be quickly removed and the motor wiring put back to original condition if desired.