Overall Summary of The 2009 Loco Survey

by Brian Macdermott

Very many thanks to all who contributed. I set you a hard task to present a balanced investment case for what you would hypothetically invest in. Many of you entered into the spirit with both enlightening and informed comment.

The Survey was based on:

1. 1959 allocations of steam locos in the Modelmaster books (except Part 12 - ‘Odd Men Out’).

2. How far those locos lasted into the ‘60s (related to Bachmann Era 5).

3. What 00 steam locos would likely attract a six-figure investment from the main manufacturers.

4. What 00 steam locos would prove to be of most value to most modellers.

In other words, the archetypal ‘win/win’ situation. If nothing else, it shows what a difficult job our manufacturers have in deciding what to produce.
In the past few years, there has been a tendency for ‘The Big Two’ to make steam locos that are:

1. Publicly popular.

2. Long-lived, providing opportunity for multiple livery.

3. Have multiple tender/body arrangements.

4. Have an example preserved.

5. Have generally (but not necessarily) broad geographic spread.

6. Have generally (but not necessarily) large numbers in the class.

Of course, it is very difficult for us – as MREmag contributors – to make ‘commercial judgements’ without the plethora of data that is available to the makers. However, I do believe that (with one or two exceptions) the following list represents a fair view of what is most likely to meet most needs and attract investment money. That is not the same as a ‘wish list’.

Interestingly, eight of the locos listed are ‘existing’ Hornby products. I don’t think I’d have the courage to invest ‘head to head’ against them, as they seem to be upgrading many of the older types year by year.

Please note that the running numbers in brackets are to help identify the classes in question. In many cases, there will be gaps in the number range, so these should not be taken as ‘quantity in the class’.

Eastern, North Eastern & Scottish Regions (14)

0-6-0:     J6 (64170-64279)
                J15 (65350-65479)
                J27 (65780-65894)
0-6-2T:    N7 (69600-69733)
2-6-4T:    L1 (67701-67800) Announced by Hornby in 2010 programme.
4-6-2T:    A5 (69800-69842)
2-6-0:      K1 (62001-62070)
0-8-0:      Q6 (63340-63459)
2-8-0:      O2  (63922-63987)
4-4-0:      D11 (62660-62694)
                D16 (62501-62620)
                D49 (62700-62775)
4-6-0:      B16  (61400-61468)
                B2/17 (61600-61672) B17 variant announced by Hornby in 2010 programme.

London Midland Region (4)

0-6-0:      3F (43174-43773) Announced by Bachmann in 2010 programme.
               4F (44027-44606) Loco drive version introduced by Hornby in 2010
2-8-0:    7F (53800-53810) Announced by Bachmann in 2010 programme.
4-4-0:    2P (40563-40700) Loco drive version introduced by Hornby in 2010

Southern Region (6)

0-6-0:      C   (31004-31725) Announced by Bachmann in 2011 programme
               Q    (30530-30549)
               700 (30306-30701)
0-4-4T:  O2  (14-36, 30177-30236) Announced by Kernow Models during 2010.
4-4-2:    H2  (32421-32426) (Spin off to GNR Atlantic possible?)
4-6-0:    S15  (30496-30847)

Western Region (6)

0-6-0T: 64xx   (6400-6439)
              94xx    (3400-9499)
2-6-2T:  41xx  (4100-4179)
2-8-0:    28xx (2800-3866) Announced by Hornby in 2010 programme.
              47xx (4700-4708)
2-8-0T: 42xx  (4200-5264) Announced by Hornby in 2012 programme (plus 52xx & 72xx)

Total    31 locos (six named)

It’s amazing that we have come full circle to where The Survey had its roots – the ‘humble’ 0-6-0! If we add tender 0-6-0s to tank 0-6-0s, we get 10 out of the 31.

As you can no doubt see, there is a clear emphasis on freight and local/secondary passenger classes. Broadly speaking (bearing in mind some classes are ‘mixed traffic’ or could often be seen on passenger/parcels trains), the list equates to 17 freight, 11 local/secondary passenger and three express passenger types.

Finally, many thanks to Bachmann and Hornby for their efforts in providing us with superb models. We’ve never had it so good – and it’s looks like it could get even better!

I hope you have enjoyed the Loco Survey. All the best for Christmas Day and a Happy Modelling New Year!

On behalf of everyone who has enjoyed this survey, I should like to thank Brian for the work he has done.