Heljan Gresley O2 2-8-0 'Tango'

[kimballthurlow]

I am sorry if this question has been asked before, but does Heljan anticipate producing this model in GN livery?

regards
Kimball

[earlswood nob]

Good morning all

I think the O2's built before the grouping were painted grey, and were not painted black until 1923 and after.

Earlswood nob

[Brush53Falcon]

We do have plans to do an O2/1 in original GN grey livery although the cab shape will be slightly wrong for this as it will be as Gresley modified them for the LNER loading gauge.

However it should make an attractive model even with the compromise.

[1H was 2E]

Now I'm sure you'll all say I'm wrong but...
Several sources (particularly a reminiscences book by a retired GN/LNER driver and the RCTS GN loco history) assign the nickname 'Tango' only to the 2 cylinder 2-8-0s (GN/original LNER O1) only. The RCTS book ascribes this to the sound made by the motion combined with the co-incidence of the introduction of the O1 and the Tango - and I accept that both classes may have had similar outside motion.
I apologise if this has already been covered.

[earlswood nob]

Good morning all

The O1 had double slidebars and drove the third axle.

The O2 had single (triple) slidebars and drove the second axle.

In the O1; the connecting rods and valve rodding were considerably longer.

Earlswood nob

[Brush53Falcon]

"assign the nickname 'Tango' only to the 2 cylinder 2-8-0s (GN/original LNER O1) only. "

As the original 20 01's (later 03's) had all gone by the end of 1952 I think it is safe to assume that the name Tango was carried over to their successors the O2. I have been privileged to be in regular contact with several ex. Grantham enginemen who always refer to the O2's as Tango's and as non would probably be old enough by now to have worked on the O1's then I know this name, in the context of the Heljan model, refers to the O2. It maybe also that the name was a fairly local application.
As I work with buses (only for another six weeks!) I know some of the types have been given nicknames..................but I couldn't print them on here!!!

[Atlantic 3279]

We do have plans to do an O2/1 in original GN grey livery although the cab shape will be slightly wrong for this as it will be as Gresley modified them for the LNER loading gauge.

However it should make an attractive model even with the compromise.

You never know, somebody might decide to make an alternative cab that is the right shape for a GN-built loco.

[kimballthurlow]

Thank you Brush53Falcon for the information ref a GN version.
I myself am not too concerned about the shape of the cab. Models are compromises in so many other respects.
An after-market cab replacement (if the cab is removable) may appeal to some modellers.

regards
Kimball

[Brush53Falcon]

The cabs are separate mouldings which are detachable from the boiler. In the samples received there seems to be little or no adhesive used in final assembly.

Heljan O2 16 parts sprue.jpg

[Brush53Falcon]

Here are another couple of Tony Wright's excellent images showing how much difference a little decoration can make. This is the O2/3.

[Woodcock29]

Thanks for these additional photos Brush53Falcon. It looks to be a superb model but I do reiterate my question from a few days ago. The chimney on the O2/3 appears to me to be too tall - more like that of an original O2/2 to GN loading gauge. So I wondered if this model is still a composite of parts? In fact close inspection of the previous photos shows that the chimney base appears to be moulded with the smokebox - this might not be the case?

Woodcock29

[GeoffBird]

Knowing that my O2/2 won't appear until 2016 at the earliest, it gives me time to get together a suitable train of wagons for them to haul. My question is, what is the most suitable RTR wagon to use on the High Dyke iron Trains that they hauled in the 1950's and early 1960's?

[strang steel]

Bachmann make a model of the 27t tippler wagon. Cat number is currently 37-275F, although earlier versions with different running numbers will be available second hand. There are some good views of the trains on the Return To Grantham thread, and also on David Ford's Flickr pages. Close-ups of the wagons are not so common, and I could only find this one on Paul Bartlett's wagon pages - http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/ironor ... #h209b77b1

Most of the tippler wagons were later used to carry stone traffic, and there are many photos of them in this later guise.

[GeoffBird]

Thank You Strang Steel. I suppose that by the time I have weathered the wagons the numbers will be indistinct, so I can use the "F" Version for all. All I need now is the Tablet Catcher to fit to the side of the O2/2.

[Brush53Falcon]

There will be a Heljan 'Tango' performing on Grantham at the Grantham Model Railway show over the weekend. There will also be some painted bodies of all the planned initial releases available for inspection.