A new name in ‘OO’ gauge ready-to-run has delivered its first ready-to-run locomotive – the Great Central Railway ‘A5’ 4-6-2T. MIKE WILD takes a closer look at this enticing new addition for Eastern Region modellers.
THE 4-6-2 wheel arrangement was an unusual format for a tank engine, but the LNER inherited four designs at the 1923 Grouping - three from the North Eastern Railway and what became the 'A5' from the Great Central Railway.
These substantial tank engines were Robinson’s last passenger tank engine design and were introduced in three batches between 1911 and 1917 with a fourth batch ordered by the GCR built after the 1923 Grouping by the LNER with a fifth and final order placed with Hawthorn Leslie by the LNER and delivered in 1925-1926. They were originally classified ‘9N’ by the GCR.
Above: Sonic Models’ first ever ready-to-run ‘OO’ gauge model is the Robinson ‘A5’ 4-6-2T. Our review samples were finished as 69804 in BR black with early crests and 373 in Great Central Railway lined green.
These 44 locomotives were built with passenger service in mind and they could be found on ex-GCR lines as well as on ex-North Eastern and Great Northern line passenger trains. The last was withdrawn in 1960 and none have been preser…
