Quarry Hunslets

 A few years ago - I've forgotten how many - Bachmann announced they would be making models of the little Hunslet saddle tanks that once worked the slate quarries of Wales, and many of which survive working on preserved lines around the UK. Of course, I wanted one, but the wait has been a long one. In the meantime other models have come - The Ffestiniog England, and Bachmann's own Double Fairlie - but the quarry Hunslets were still elusive. I even put some money aside following the sale of Awngate. Then a couple of weeks ago there were sightings of the first - Britomart must have got the faster boat from China, along with some surprise larger Penrhyn/Ffestiniog Hunslets. Finally, yesterday I saw Gaugemaster had some in stock, so today I went over to have a look. You see, I really couldn't decide between the more practical cabbed version, or the appealingly detailed cabless version...

...so I ended up getting one of each. For me, this is rather extravagant, but they are lovely and will look nice on any 009 layout. 

Dorothea has a cab making her more practical for preservation use, and in green will match many of my other locos, although the ones I built are not beautifully lined like this. The prototype now works on the Launceston railway, not so far from Hexworthy. 

Nesta is without cab, showing off the delightful detail of the back-head, and looks rather distinctive in lined Penrhyn black. The prototype Nesta works on the Bala Lake Railway. 

There is a seam along the cylinders, the couplings could do with replacing with something more discreet, and some gentle weathering would add to the realism (don't worry, they will stay pretty clean), but otherwise they look great and run well too.