[Doug]

Bachmann Europe PLC the distributors of the Aristocraft range of Garden Railway products today announced that the tooling for the Class 66 diesel locomotive has been completed and test shots produced.

394 Class 66 locomotives were built in America and Canada by General Motors (now EMD) for service in Britain between October 1997 and September 2005. All remain in service with the exception of Freightliner locomotive No. 66521 damaged beyond repair at Heck. Examples are in service with DRS, EWS, Freightliner and GBrf in the UK. Additionally a further 46 locomotives are in service with operators in mainland Europe and Scandanavia. Further locomotives (Class 66/9) to a slightly different design are currently being delivered.

The model which is to 1/29th scale and suitable for use on Gauge 1 and G scale railways is superbly engineered and includes ball bearings on all axles, 2 motors on each power bogie, interior cab lighting to show the cab interiors, DCC and RRC ports fitted, an operating smoke unit and bright LED directional lighting featuring both headlight styles. Four versions will be available initially and these include EWS and Freightliner versions. The model is expected to be available in the Spring.

Graham Hubbard, Managing Director of Bachmann Europe Plc said today "this model is very impressive and runs superbly. We have worked closely with Aristocraft to ensure that this model lives up to expectations. We believe its release in the Spring will coincide with the building of many new garden railways next Summer".

Intermodal twin container wagons are also being developed by Aristocraft to support the Class 66 locomotive.

 

[squeaky]

That's it I'm selling all my OO gauge, I want one of those

 

[Doug]

Funny how all these scales are produced.

G scale is Narrow gauge, 1:22, 14mm/ft, on 45mm track
British Gauge 1 is Standard gauge, 1:30.5, 10mm/ft, on 45mm track

This is 1:29, 14mm/ft, on 45mm track. Not quite G and more like Gauge 1. Is there much other stock like this?

 

[Brian Considine]

If it performs (& is likely to continue to do so) as well as my LGB (weathered by the real thing & left out 24/7) I want one.

Any idea's of the likely cost & minimum radius please ?

regards
Brian

 

[60134]

After all their work controlling emissions from these locos I would have thought GM might take a dim view of the smoke unit !

With regard to scale, Doug, 45mm gauge is assocaited with scales from 32mm/foot upwards. 1:29 is not British Gauge 1 scale, that's for sure!

60134

 

[squeaky]

The list price is i think £388, but if you shop around you should be able to get it for around £320

 

[dwilson9]

I've been waiting for one of these ever since they were announced a few years ago. Will look wonderful running around the garden!

Sadly, no wonder LGB went under - no British outline (standard German trait!) and pricing at strospheric levels compared to this.

 

[Doug]

A larger image of the Class 66:

And another image:

Some more details of the loco:

* Opening cab doors
* Sprung Buffers
* Dummy Knuckle Couplers
* Working headlights with switchable day and night running
* Etched metal radiator and body side grilles.
* Rotating axle hubs
* Fully detailed cab interior including stove and driver.
* Built in Smoke generator
* 2 motors per bogie with ball bearing axles
* Super detailing all round including windscreen wipers

Initially the following liveries will be available early in the new year

A23200 CLASS 66 Undecorated
A23201 CLASS 66 EWS Livery
A23202 CLASS 66 Freightliner
A23203 CLASS 66 German Railways
A23204 CLASS 66 Malcolm Logistics DRS
A23205 CLASS 66 GBRF Livery

 

[Dennis David]

QUOTE This is 1:29, 14mm/ft, on 45mm track. Not quite G and more like Gauge 1. Is there much other stock like this?

Yes

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (dwilson9 @ 3 Nov 2006, 16:22) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Sadly, no wonder LGB went under - no British outline (standard German trait!) and pricing at strospheric levels compared to this.

The reason why German manufactures don't do British outline is very simple - size of market - just look at the map & see how small the UK is to Germany & Europe - don't forget also that German NG locos & rolling stock were used all over Europe & beyound.

Yes, the Bachmann 66 looks great, but it just will not last like an LGB, & yes I started out with some Bachmann & LGB in th garden about 10 years ago. I still have all the LGB locos, no Bachmann locos & a mixture of rolling stock - nuff said !

regards
Brian

 

[ashleyh]

I think it should be noted that it is, in fact, Aristocraft who are producing this 1:29 Class 66, not Bachmann. Bachmann Europe PLC are the distributor of Aristocraft Trains, though clearly they have provided technical assistance in this case.

I have a few LGB items, and one Aristocraft loco, a Union Pacific Dash 9 Diesel. I suspect the drive mechanism is very similar to the Class 66. The Aristocraft is high quality, with excellent LED lighting and an effective smoke unit, but it does draw a huge amount of current.

All my LGB locos are happy with my 1 Amp LGB controller. The Aristocraft Dash 9 merely laughed at this puny amount of power

, I then tried it with a Gaugemaster 5 Amp controller. The loco runs, but the controller does get very hot quite quickly.

Aristocraft actually produce a 10 Amp controller and transformer for about £120, and I fear that the new Class 66 may also require such a unit to correctly power it. Still it will be worth it though!!

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (ashleyh @ 8 Nov 2006, 20:45) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>but it does draw a huge amount of current.

The Aristocraft Dash 9 merely laughed at this puny amount of power

, I then tried it with a Gaugemaster 5 Amp controller. The loco runs, but the controller does get very hot quite quickly.

Aristocraft actually produce a 10 Amp controller and transformer for about £120, and I fear that the new Class 66 may also require such a unit to correctly power it. Still it will be worth it though!!

Well if that's the case I won't be buying one, as I am changing by "outdoor" set up to LGB. I have a Lenz set 100 which is more that ample for running one loco at a time & coach lighting.

There is absolutly no excuse with todays technology not to fit decent motors which draw minimal current.

I really hope that this is not the case.

best regards
Brian