These engines were ordered from the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, a 4-6-0 design probably based on the Hunslet locomotive design selected by the War Department. Locomotives were ordered from the USA as British building capacity was insufficient to deliver enough locomotives fast enough under wartime conditions.
Following the armistice hundreds of new or barely used locomotives lay at military dumps and these were sold for further use by railway companies, construction contractors and on industrial sites. The Welsh Highland Railway, Ashover Light Railway, Glyn Valley Tramway and Snailbeach Railway all used these engines in the UK. Many more saw further use in France, Belgium, the middle-east and India.
The Bachamnn model has been carefully designed to incorporate a high level of detailing with very fine valve gear which has proven surprisingly resilient through testing. The chassis has been designed as a 2-2-6-0, the inner axle of the bogie being part of the fixed wheelbase, avoiding problems with the bogie fouling the cylinders and controlling the overhang offset of the front coupling on curves. Testing on exhibition layouts demonstrates the engine will still easily negotiate curves tighter than 9in. Weathering on sample models is also very well done and realistic in appearance.
Baldwin Class loco features:
- 8 wheel pickup
- coreless motor
- Next 18 DCC socket
- speaker chamber for DCC sound located in bunker
- runs on 9 inch radius curves
- NEM coupling pockets
- detailed cab interior
- prototypical daylight under the boiler
- 4 cab styles
- 3 chimney types
- 2 styles of vacuum exhaust pipe
- 2 styles of vacuum train pipe
- with or without water lifting apparatus and hose
- with or without Ashover style balance pipe