Advice needed.

[Dutch]

Folks,

I am modelling a small OO layout (16"x48") quayside. Will have one industrial setting served by rail, as well as the barge. Can you folks suggest a good steam shunter to be my workhorse. Period is the 1930s-1950s.

Thanks in advance.

[armchairmodeller]

Dutch

Something with only four wheels is probably a good option. it means you can use tight curves as were often found in dockyards. It depends upon which area or region you are focusing on, L&Y pugs for the north west of England for example or small four wheelers as appropriate for other regions. If you know your "area"/"region" then a bit of research about the docks in the locality will guide you as to which specific type of shunter to use.

Some docks, Mersey Docks and Harbour Board for example, bought locomotives "off the shelf" from locomotive builders(Hunslet et al) rather than railway companies and painted them in their own livery so this would give you a lot of freedom to "freelance" your docks. This is a hobby after all so please yourself.

As a further bit of information, if you do use a small wheelbase loco it may be an idea to attach a "shunters" wagon or van fitted with electrical pickups and wired to the loco. This will prevent "stalling" on points

Good luck and above all enjoy the hobby

[kfz]

You dont say what region or how big an engine you want? Adults, kids? What load?

I like the Hornby/Dapol Pug, lovely little model, nice runner, lovely detail. seems suited to your needs. Im sure they did in LMS or at least a pre BR scheme. EBAY has plenty of repainted ones. Ideal.

http://www.hornby.com/search.html?q=pug

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%26YR_Class_21

You have the bigger Hornby 0-4-0's , pretty common and easy to adapt to your needs, run ok.

Kev

[armchairmodeller]

The response from Kev cites the following link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%26YR_Class_21

The wiki entry has a photo caption ". Note the spark arrester over the chimney for operation amongst flammable goods in sidings near Liverpool Docks"

This is not the case. The "disc on a stick" was fitted not as a spark arrester but as a device to deflect blast from the chimney. The pugs working Liverpool docks ran underneath the Liverpool Overhead Railway. It was believed that the blast from the exhaust was damaging the decking upon which the track for the LOR was laid. A search of tinterweb will reveal other ex-L&Y pugs working a goods yard in Salford with no "disc on a stick" fitted but the locos were just as likely to be working amongst flammable goods.

All the pugs allocated to Bank Hall MPD were fitted with the deflector as were some other shunting classes used at Liverpool's Docks

The pugs were replaced by Yorkshire 0-4-0 diesels (class 02) in the early 1960s. DJH do a very easy to construct kit of the 02 shunter as a starter kit.

[kfz]

AM,
Well spotted, I post link to Wikipedia at risk. It makes a good start point, but should never be taken as a reference. Good Pedantry!

Anyhow how could resist an engine with a rating of 0F. Superb!

Kev