I have always been intrigued by the Garratt design. Thus, a model of one of these locos has been very high on my wish list. For a long time, it seemed that only brass models and kits were produced. Both outside of my possibilities. I then kind of forgot the topic for a while. My recent search has now come up with a H0 model of an Australian AD60 Garratt, one of the largest Garratt types ever produced. It is a RTR "plastic" model, still rather expensive, but at least more affordable. Apparently, it's been available for a year or so. But how much do most of us know about the model railroading scene of the Southern hemisphere in general? Anyway, here are some links: Garratt That is the original page, announcing it to become available, with some fine sample photos. The final version seems to have a bit less weathering. The model can also be bought without weathering. And here is a review: Model Rail Forum - News, Reviews, Resources & Forums Looks like just what I'd always wanted. Needless to say that I could not resist ordering. And now I can hardly wait for it to arrive.
Eureka model Garratt arrived - a beauty! I got my Garratt model today. What a treat. It's a bit tricky to put the three parts together. But once that has been accomplished, it is a smooth running beauty. The prototype is Australian, one of their big AD60s. But I have no hesitation to let it run among my North American and European trains. It's just too nice not to have it, and not to see it run. It's particularly great on any curvy mountain layout, though I have to do without landscaping, myself.
Australian Garrett, I want a Pr HI there is a WRITE-UP about this engine in the CONTINENTAL MODELLER Dec 07, pgs 776-777, a friend on mine here in AU has a pair of them, lucky little boy au$845.00 each, weathering +au$25.00, Digital sound +au$90.00 there is a web site, www.eurekamodels.com.au
A good buy of an excellent modern steamer You appear to have got a lot for the money. The DJH kit goes for 395 UK pounds. Assembled for around 1500 UK pounds. It has less subtle detail, albeit more power than yours. That would be analogous to say BOWSER's metal kits for US prototypes versus Chinese versions in plastic from BACHMANN, WALTHERS, et al. In any case build a long enough mainline to enjoy it on, and if you can't ... join a club where you can see it strut it's stuff in an appropriate setting. Regardless, have a good time with your bargain beauty. Good-Luck, PJB
Nice looking loco. Is this a similar loco to the South African garratt? Maybe the spelling is different on these. Would they simply run these in either direction? It seems like turning them would be a hassle.
Garratt is the general term for any locomotive with this style of articulation. This is a quite different class, a standard gauge double 4-8-4. They were designed to be bidirectional.
The locomotive type is named after its inventor, so Garratt should be spelled the same everywhere. However one often finds it quoted with either only one r or one t. And as many of them were built in the UK by Beyer, one often finds the designation Beyer-Garratt. The South African Garratts look somewhat different from the Australian ones. They also had many narrow gauge versions. One of those is now in Switzerland. LGB offers a G scale model of it at a considerably higher price than the Eureka H0 model. Try here: 2-6-2+2-6-2 SchBB #60 BYERGARRET RATT NGG-13 W/SND RED/BLK F/P, ELECTRIC The SchBB stands for Schinznacher Baumschul Bahn. It runs on the private tracks of a large tree nursery near the village of Schinznach. They have other narrow gauge steam engines there.
