14 February 2023
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Phil Parker shares footage of this diminutive locomotive for OO9 on test, which comes in colourful liveries.
We received a sample of a Bachmann Quarry Hunslet for OO9, in the livery for the Dinorwic Quarry, home to several tunnels with clearances that prevented cabs being fitted to locomotives. Other lines were kinder to their staff, and the Bachmann models for those provide shelter.
At only 51mm long, measured over the small buffer blocks, and 23mm wide, each model is a marvel of miniaturisation. Powered by a coreless motor, there's space inside for a six-pin micro DCC decoder, although not for a speaker.
As soon as the models appeared, someone found a way to fit sound in the cab of a Britomart. The little space inside is filled with a die-cast chassis, to which is screwed a metal footplate and plastic body. Access is excellent, and the two are held together with four screws in the corners of the footplate.
On track, the model runs well, but benefits from gentle running-in. We tested it on our OO9 layout, as can be seen in the video, below:
Read Phil Parker's review of these models in the Spring 2023 issue of BRM, available to purchase from World of Railways in print or digital formats from February 17, or from stockists from February 23.
