Right Sam, It was Aster and then Tom Cooper's Merlins who helped me into live steam. Tom needs a great deal of credit as a pioneer. His Merlin Hunslet was a terrific performer despite some minor defects. I had one for 18 years, some repairs of course but how it steamed! Big boiler, big butane tank, very accurate to the prototype, judging by some photos I had.
Geoff. It probably has more to do with what re-sparked the interest in garden >railways in both countries. > >In the UK it is commonly credited to Stuart Browne of Archangel Models >who made affordable 16mm 'scale' live steamers that WORKED in a garden >environment. He had his apostles who wrote in the various model mags >stirring up enthusiasm. Stuart's prices rose quickly, however the baton >was taken up by Roundhouse Engineering, who provided entry level models >at reasonable prices. > >An unsung hero is Tom Cooper of Merlin models who really introduced >radio control and gas firing to the 'new' garden rail fraternity. Most >of his products were sold as radio controlled and I believe that special >order or retro-engineering was required if you wanted manual control. > >The gas-fired boiler provided a halfway house between a plain boiler >and a 'forced draught' boiler. It freed the manufacturers from having >to accomodate flame shields in their designs and was less expensive to >make than an internally fired boiler (whatever the fuel). Roundhouse >followed Tom's lead and eventually dropped meths firing from their >range. > >Tom also introduced 16mm scale on 45mm gauge to the UK. > >In the US my understanding is that LGB provided the spark, particularly >when they started to make US prototypes. > >I stand to be corrected on any of this but I imagine it has a lot to do >with why both countrys went down different roads. > >Sam E > >Bede McCormack wrote: >> >> > From: Sam Evans <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> > Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> > >> > I am surprised a little bit that no Roundhouse clone has sprung up in >> > the US, you have a far greater potential market. In the UK we suspect >> > that high product liability insurance in your highly litigious country >> > may have put folk off. >> >> Actually, I suspect it has more to do with instant gratification. Setting >> the two-rail engine on the track and powering up beats fueling, watering and >> oiling 'round 90% of the time over here. Remember Medina OH. >> >> Bede McCormack >> Brooklyn, NY >> >
