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Winning Streak

A live-steam A4 in 0 gauge

By David Pinniger

 

Arguably the most evocative steam locomotive design ever built in the UK, Gresley’s streamlined A4 is also one of the most desired in model form. I will admit to a weakness for A4s which was nurtured by many happy school holidays spent train spotting on York Station. You would hear a distant chime of that distinctive whistle and a shout of “streak” would go up from the grubby throng of notebook-clutching spotters. There would either be a disappointed sigh as “Sir Nigel Gresley” coasted round the curve past the shed or a loud whoop if it was a rarer cop from Haymarket, such as “Union of South Africa”. Whatever the engine, I always got a thrill from seeing an A4 heading up a crack express and I am very thankful that so many have been preserved and still can be seen in action by those a lot younger than me.

 

There have been many model A4 variations available in 00, from the crude but effective Hornby Dublo casting from the 1940’s, to the superbly detailed Bachmann offerings of today.

 

 

However, in the larger gauges they are much rarer beasts. The Aster Gauge 1 steam A4 was a very good looking model, but they were made some years ago and now all the versions, silver, blue and green, are very collectable and expensive.

Even more expensive are the 0 gauge electric, and not very accurate, versions made in very small numbers by Bassett Lowke in the 1930’s. I was therefore very interested to read some years ago when ACE Trains announced that they were going to produce a series of batches of electric O gauge A4s at a very affordable price. When I saw the first one, I was hooked! Although “coarse scale tinplate” and rather derided by many fine scale modellers, I think that this model is one of the most charismatic production O gauge models ever made. ACE have made batches of A4s with various names in silver and blue with side skirts and in black and green without. I bought a green BR double-chimneyed “Silver Fox” which looks just like the engine I remember when it was storming up the East coast main line on the “Elizabethan”.

 

It runs well on track power, but if only it were steam! However, I was not the only one to think like this, Alan Levy, the owner of ACE trains, commissioned steam guru John Shawe to build a prototype steam version using the ACE bodyshell. The intention being that if it was successful, to eventually put it into production overseas. I have seen the prototype “Mallard” perform on John’s test track and more recently, it has graced the tracks of my AVR. It is stunning, there are no other words to describe this engine. Not only does it look wonderful, but it performed faultlessly pulling 8 Gresley bogie coaches. John wound up the regulator so that it was lapping regularly at a scale 80mph and everybody at the January steam-up just stood and watched in admiration. I was a little apprehensive, as my line is more suited to a sedate narrow gauge ramble rather than a main line thrash. However, “Mallard” also ran beautifully at lower speeds with a really pronounced chuff. For the technically-minded, the engine is internally meths-fired and therefore needs an electric blower and a five pence piece to raise steam. The meths tank and water tank are in the tender and there is a hand pump in the tender and axle pump on the loco to deliver the water to the boiler. The two outside cylinders have the valves operated by slip eccentric gear between the frames. The wheels are to a finer standard than the electric versions and look a lot better. John has also worked very hard to ensure that the model will safely negotiate 6 foot radius curves, which fortunately happens to be the ruling radius on my line.

 

I understand that the target price should be under £2K and hopes are for a production model in late 2008 or early 2009. I hope I will be one of the first to get to run one, maybe for a review for Garden Rail?

 

ACE trains have produced a nice flyer [A4 sized!] and if you want more information on availability and price, then contact ACE trains on 0207 727 1592 or 0116 239 2370.

 

www.acetrains.com or e.trainsw11@aol.com for those on the web.