Broad Gauge ... ??

[atom3624]

I've mentioned elsewhere I think Hornby missed a trick or 3 with the relaunch of the previously hallowed names 'Bassett Lowke' ...

 

They could / should have been used to launch a halo peripheral product group, and perhaps warp into Steampunk.

 

IBK was definitely highly active in the early Victorian years typical of Steampunk, but even if not, there's a possibly burgeoning interest in Era 1 and 2 items ...

Broad Gauge is totally overlooked, but could be considered, and 'though perhaps a little specialised, I think there are enough fascinated to see where their hobby can take them - OO9 perhaps into a slate quarry is an option ...

 

I think a Broad Gauge could be an interesting product option.

 

Al.

[walkingthedog]

Very specialised, don't think it will be a big seller. I suggest if you want it, build it yourself. 😉.

[atom3624]

That is true, and fair comment, but would be interesting nevertheless ...

 

Steampunk could build on that .... 

 

Al.

[walkingthedog]

You never know. Would be a very expensive exercise to produce track just for Steam Punk.  

[LCDR]

Broad gauge in 4mm scale comes out at 28mm between the rails, 4mm narrower than gauge O! Now OO gauge is 16.5mm which is 2.33 mm too narrow anyway.

 

The main problem with modelling Broad Gauge is that most of the GWR was laid in bridge rail on continuous baulks so realisically a whole new trackage system would be needed for it. Neverthless a model of North Star and some carriages running on 28mm baulk track would have some curiosity value at the very least.

 

Then why not replicate Brunel's attempt at Atomspheric traction as well?

 

Some (many) years ago I worked at Turner & Newall in Manor Road, Erith. The factory had abandoned its internal railway system although in many places the rails could be seen in the roads. The factory also had a wharf on the river Thames and to transfer goods between ship and shore there was a pair of travelling cranes running on rails. One was a diesel Coles type crane (like the Dinky Supertoys one, but with a railway chassis) running on standard gauge rails, but the other was a steam crane which had a vertical boiler, and which had a cab made from corrugated iron. This ran on 7' 0" gauge instead which shared one rail with the Coles. Neither crane had been used for many years. So there were still traces of broad gauge surviving into the 1960s!