Bachmann Junior LNER Saddle tank

[Colombo]

As new and an indulgent grandparent I have nurtured the idea that one day the little mite would want to follow both my own, and his father's, footsteps and develop a technical bent, or in my case slightly twisted. In accordance with the immortal Frank Hornby's maxim, "give me the child and I will give you an engineer," he has been encouraged to play trains since he first could lift his head off the pillow of his cot and this policy is beginning to bear fruit.

At twelve months, about the same time as he started to walk, I am proud to say that he was able to hold a controller and start, reverse and stop a train in no particular order or place. Eventually he began to learn about cause and effect, particularly about the effect of changing the points in the station as the trains go by. Oh what calamities, oh what carnage! At two years old he managed to shop lift an engine driver's hat from the bottom shelf of a book shop and I had to go back and pay for it.

And now at two and a half he can stand up on a chair next to the baseboard and grab a delicate plastic loco as it goes by. So having learned to destroy grandad's railway, he must surely be ready for one of his own, or at least, an indestrucible loco that he can run on Grandad's layout.

Bearing in mind that the Grandad prefers code 75 track and hand made points, something with RM25 flanges, 14.5mm back to back painted in bright colours and bearing a face in lieu of a smokebox door would fit the bill. Off to the shop with a coloured piece of plastic in my pocket that would possibly provide the requisite credit (not always certain in these days of pay now - live later), a bright array of Hornby's finest child resistant locomotives was laid out before my eyes - but alas a quick check on the chosen ones revealed a back to back of 13.5mm and instant gloom. The bright paint on some of the locos seemed to be hiding the fact the moulds that produced these bodies could possibly have been around in my own childhood which should have inspired confidence as some of them survived his father's tender ministrations as well.

I was forced to fall back on a faceless Bachmann Junior 6 coupled saddle tank finished in a delightful apple green and lettered LNER number 7. Later a quick check would reveal that loco was masquerading as an A4, Sir Nigel Gresley, or an EB1 electric loco. Inspection of the freelance body revealed it was nothing of the sort. On test later that day it proved itself to be free running and a sure starter able to pull twenty wagons or 5 corridor carriages with ease. And it says on the box DCC ready!

All this for a little over £20. Recent experience indicates that you can't buy many wheels and motors for £20 and so we may have a very useful and much needed donor chassis. So what will this chassis fit? The wheels are 18.5mm and the wheel centres are 24mm +24mm. Any suggestions?

If Bachmann are reading this, how about choosing a more conventional wheel spacing next time you design a freelance Junior loco - 32mm + 34mm for example.

Colombo