From Miniature to BIG

My, Nigels! What a complete and utter masterpiece you've found, and only for 60% off. That livery is special to me since it inspired the livery for 69420, my first fully scratch built cardboard engine (though I used a GWR like outline for it). This makes it look sloppy and cheap by comparison. I've had a look at the Hattons website, and they apparently do numerous other top notch O gauge models. Do you think they might work on three rail track like Lionel makes, or would they get stuck on the middle rail? I can only hope it performs well enough to justify its incredible looks. Too bad you don't have the room or money to set up a layout and run it. Another wonderful purchase, indeed.

Thanks Dala, it is indeed a beauty whether I ever get to run it properly or it becomes just a display piece.  The size really does give it some presence when you see it in the flesh, also all the little details really add to the overall beauty of it as well.  It's a heavy beast as well, nearly 2kg in weight so it should never have any issues with traction even if pulling a rake of coaches or whatever.

It would fit on the Lionel 3 rail and I doubt if the middle rail would cause it any issues.  The biggest problem you may have is it is only 2 rail when it comes to power pickup (i.e. one rail is live the other is negative) I'm not sure if you could wire up Lionel 3 rail in this way as I don't have any and will likely never get any as its not very popular in this country.  I couldn't believe their sale prices, they are lower than some versions of an OO gauge A3 locomotive.

You definitely need to get some coaches for it while you can. Xmas is coming.

Funny you should mention that, over the weekend I placed an order for 3 coaches, two 3rd class corridor models and one composite brake coach all in original LNER teak finish.  To be fair with that liveried A3 I should probably have got the BR Crimson models, but I prefer the finish of the teak ones and I prefer a nice looking train to a historically accurate but boring looking one.

The only really annoying thing is that the 3 coaches add up to a higher price than the locomotive, but regardless they are still a bargain for O gauge models

These coaches to be precise;

https://www.hattons.co.uk/219431/hattons...tockdetail

https://www.hattons.co.uk/219425/hattons...tockdetail

https://www.hattons.co.uk/219418/hattons...tockdetail