All
really interesting News this issue and especially the start of Brian Meldons series. I am really looking forward to the full story and know Brian is a forum member. Are the new Minitrains a completely new venture then with new moulds unconnected to the old Eggerbahn?
In a way its a pity that most old Egger that comes on the Sales stand and found in bits boxes at shows is pretty clapped out and often stuff produced at the low points. Hope Brian will comment on running qualities when new because ng modelling in our scale in the 1960s-1980s needed some perseverence. Now I am looking forward to a whole new era of "Egger(type)bashery". I have just posted pics of my first on the HOn30 Yahoo group site but have never uploaded pics here
Peter Smith
As far as I can tell the new Minitrains Egger stock is made from completely new moulds, very similar to the originals but very subtly different if you compare the two side-by-side. The chassis are completely different and much better designed and constructed. I have read posts from some people saying the quality is very variable in the new models, but I'm willing to bet even the worst of the new ones are at least the equivalent of the best of the old ones in this connection. Our standards have got much higher in the intervening period. Slow running is much improved, the originals didn't really do slow running fter a very short period. Of course now someone will post a message saying their 50 year old locos run beautifully and always have done.....
Rod
Yes indeed. Many thanks to you, Brian for taking the trouble to write this excellent article. I've heard some of the bits, probably in conversation with you but it's excellent to have the history put down. Looking forward to the next instalment!
Thanks for the comments; I am glad there is some interest.
The next instalment is all about the various chassis used in the Egger locos up to and including the 1980
Although many members here will have already seen Brian's Egger series on the NGRM-Online forum, this "complete illustrated history" is still a very welcome addition to the News and looks to ensure a couple of pages or more of good editorial matter for the new Editor when he/she comes on board for quite a way into the future. Well done Brian, a splendid and very interesting initiative indeed!
Mick
Hello Brian,
as ever, your contributions to all the forums you visit are factual and very useful, you must have a very good archive, and an even better memory.
Long may it continue to serve us all.
Kindest regards,
BrianT.
Thanks again for the nice comments!
I started the Egger-bahn topic on NGRM-Online simply because I wanted to get all the info I had documented and there appeared to be some interest.
The interest shown did actually surprise me a bit, as it has again with the article in the news.
For the 009 News articles I will try to make it far more concise, better organised and (hopefully) generally better written than the stuff on the forum, I am certainly taking longer to write them anyway.
It will be illustrated as far as I can, but I do not have every Egger item so there will inevitably be some gaps in the illustrations. I do not have a short two wheel drive silver 1963/4 diesel for example.
009 modelling has many aspects and for me Egger-bahn is just one of them.
Brian Meldon
It is of interest to me because I joined the hobby in the late 1950s/early 1960s (after a few years of gazing wistfully in our local bike shop window at Hornby Dublo at prices well beyond me) when interest in anything non-British was either symptoms of a disease or meant you were at the cutting edge of the hobby and could not talk much to a rookie like me
I well remember the ad. with the ladders, in MRC I think which I enjoyed and missed when it went. By the time I could consider Egger the quality had gone and it was when I developed my dislike of "the hand of god" and the constant need to give a helping hand. There was then a longish period when traders bits boxes were full of the stuff. It slowly disappeared and the next stage came when traders started to note a collectors value and put silly prices on the worst pieces. Now I am having fun with the latest offerings and degenerating back to boyhood in more ways than I care to think about
Peter Smith
forgive me if this known but the HOn30 Yahoo group has put a reference to this site which may be of interest to Brian Meldon and others http://trainsdefrancois.free.fr/eggi.php
The photos are excellent
Thanks for providing this link Peter.
Here is Google translate English version:
http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://trainsdefrancois.free.fr/eggi.php&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://trainsdefrancois.free.fr/eggi.php%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D922&sa=X&ei=ZQ9XUYf-Mcix0AWwqIHQBQ&ved=0CDQQ7gEwAA
There are a couple of comments.
I do not think Egger-bahn ever release the crane wagon in the form seen on the left of this photo:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftrainsdefrancois.free.fr%2Fimages%2Feggb46.jpg&hash=3f15ed9a4433802ec35696fa34a076ab8aed69d7)
(Originating web page in above link.)
In my opinion crane wagons that look like this have been made up using various parts including the base of the Egger bench wagon and the upper part of the Egger four wheel flat wagon. In fact in the photo you can see where the bench was previously attached to the base at the end and this has been the case with every one I have seen, clearly they have been made up using the bench wagon and are not original. I think that all these wagons have been made up to look like an original Egger-bahn item when they are not. It is easy and very tempting to do this as they will often sell for much higher prices than their component parts. (The seated man and the box are made by Preiser.)
Also I think Jouef started selling the Egger-bahn Western loco and coaches in France in their own
Quote from: B.Meldon on March 30, 2013, 17:17
The German Egger-bahn made western locos sold by Jouef before they purchased the moulding dies have the Minitrix motor in the chassis, a gold EB on the tank side, a larger bell on the roof, darker green plastic, separate rear coupling and they do not have the moulding fault in the plastic under the boiler that all the 1960/70
Hi Mick, it is always interesting to hear of unusual combinations in Egger locos.
I do have a couple of questions.
Does your loco have the 1960/70
Hi Brian,
Well that cleared that up quickly!
It's definitely a 1980's item from your comprehensive descriptions. Moulded rear coupling, Mabuchi motor and no moulding fault linem on the boiler moulding. I think I can safely return it back to the queue for future bashes then!
Thanks for your in-depth descriptions. Although I am not a collector as such, it is very interesting to learn of all the variations and backgrounds to these fascinating little models, very much an education.
Mick
I do like the stamp collecting analogy Mick.
Most of the time it is easy to identify the date of the Egger locos once you know what to look for and the idea of the articles in 009 News is to enable members to do just that.
Brian Meldon
Brian
This is indeed a fascinating series on the Eggerbahn locos. Most enlightening.
I have only 2 Egger locos, both acquired in the 70's then stowed away in a box until recently. These are steam Loco No 5 and the contractors diesel No 4.
These both appear to have the 1970's Jouef chassis with the normal black plastic magnet yoke and contact holder as per your photo on p16 of April 009 News ("the worst in terms of build quality, smooth running and longevity"). Neither were running particularly well due to the chassis retaining screws becoming loose in the threaded hole in the plastic bodies. I am presently trying to fill and rethread them.
Sadly on reassembly I have lost one of the minute screws holding the con-rod to the wheel. I know exactly where I put it but it wasn't there when I went for it, I dare say it's in the Dyson now. Do you know what size this is, where I might get one, or suggest an alternative? I have nothing this small in my bits & pieces.
Keep up the good work, looking forward to episode 6.
Regards Keith
Quote from: kebo66 on June 26, 2013, 21:39
Brian
This is indeed a fascinating series on the Eggerbahn locos. Most enlightening.
I have only 2 Egger locos, both acquired in the 70's then stowed away in a box until recently. These are steam Loco No 5 and the contractors diesel No 4.
These both appear to have the 1970's Jouef chassis with the normal black plastic magnet yoke and contact holder as per your photo on p16 of April 009 News ("the worst in terms of build quality, smooth running and longevity"). Neither were running particularly well due to the chassis retaining screws becoming loose in the threaded hole in the plastic bodies. I am presently trying to fill and rethread them.
Sadly on reassembly I have lost one of the minute screws holding the con-rod to the wheel. I know exactly where I put it but it wasn't there when I went for it, I dare say it's in the Dyson now. Do you know what size this is, where I might get one, or suggest an alternative? I have nothing this small in my bits & pieces.
Keep up the good work, looking forward to episode 6.
Regards Keith
Hi Keith
Thank you for the feedback and I am glad that you are enjoying the Egger articles as quite a lot of work goes into producing them.
As to the screw you need it is steel Metric M0.5 with a cheese head.
However I am sure that I have used a BA replacement in the past by drilling out the rod and the hole in the wheel slightly.
I will have to have a look this evening for the size.
The 1967/68 Egger-bahn and the 1970
This is perhaps not the place to write this, but I hope the gap is not to provide for more prototype articles. Historic yes but current stuff I can read about in a myriad of mags. How many pics of the 4 "Princes " can I stand. Having said that overall our mag is great so only my view, not just criticism
Peter Smith
Peter
I made that very point to our editors. Can I suggest you write and say the same thing otherwise I will be the only one to be sniped at by the Festiniog lovers. I want to see model articles in the News. If I want prototype stuff I would buy a prototype magazine. I think the News is in danger of being hijacked, like NGIRM has been. Sorry, thread drift.
Rod
Quote from: petersmith1942 on June 27, 2013, 13:54
This is perhaps not the place to write this, but I hope the gap is not to provide for more prototype articles. Historic yes but current stuff I can read about in a myriad of mags. How many pics of the 4 "Princes " can I stand. Having said that overall our mag is great so only my view, not just criticism
Peter Smith
Quote from: rod335 on June 27, 2013, 16:07
Peter
I made that very point to our editors. Can I suggest you write and say the same thing otherwise I will be the only one to be sniped at by the Festiniog lovers. I want to see model articles in the News. If I want prototype stuff I would buy a prototype magazine. I think the News is in danger of being hijacked, like NGIRM has been. Sorry, thread drift.
Rod
Have not sent the next instalment in yet so there is no way the editors could have included it anyway!
But yes please do let the editors know your thoughts on this.
If you do not tell them then how do they know they are doing the wrong thing!
The same applies if you like the prototype articles, or anything else positive about the News, please let them know!
It is a thankless task if they get no feedback!
Personally I liked Alan Hamer
It's all just a matter of taste but I maintain that the News should principally be about modelling. If I want prototype information/photos, there are many other sources. There are not many other sources for narrow gauge railway modelling information.
Rod
Quote from: rod335 on June 28, 2013, 07:47
It's all just a matter of taste but I maintain that the News should principally be about modelling. If I want prototype information/photos, there are many other sources. There are not many other sources for narrow gauge railway modelling information.
Rod
Strongly agree with you on this Rod, with a limited page count each month, as far as I am concerned, multiple photos of the prototype, particularly of the UK ng railways are just wasted space, we do not need "My visit to the FR " or similar, there is plenty of that sort thing available elsewhere.
Garry
thanks for the support guys, I too liked the Corsica piece and think current prototype should only be covered if linked directly to a modelling project or to provide direct inspiration for a modelling project. I did say, and repeat, overall our mag is great and I would not want to be seen to oppose the new team or create discord in our generally happy band. I really like 009 Soc and this forum
Peter Smith
Perhaps this should be on a new thread? Or have all those that wish to comment commented already?
I endorse Garry's sentiments, my comments are in no way an attack on the new editorial team or on Patrick Collins but I feel that I am entitled to express my opinion as much as any other member. If the editorial team are not aware of member's feelings then they cannot react, in any way, to them.
Rod
I'm echoing that Brian. The story of the No 2 locos is again, a very thorough and absorbing article; many thanks for taking the time to unravel this lot and get it into print for us with some excellent photographs. When I get the chance I'll take a look and my No 1 diesel and No 2 loco to see what they might be and whether either of them looks like a mungrel!
Can I just add that I too have found Brian's Eggerbahn articles both interesting and informative and indeed have used the information to date the models in my collection. I look forward to the next instalment.
QuoteThis is perhaps not the place to write this, but I hope the gap is not to provide for more prototype articles. Historic yes but current stuff I can read about in a myriad of mags. How many pics of the 4 "Princes " can I stand. Having said that overall our mag is great so only my view, not just criticism
Peter Smith
May I also endorse Peter, Garry and Rods comments regarding 009 News. I too thought there was too much made of FR150 and I am pleased Peter can put up with the historic stuff especially as I have both feet nowadays well and truly stuck in the historic aspect of 009. That said our new editorial team is just finding its feet and as one might expect there will be a period of trail and error but they do seem to be full of ideas.
Now I think it is time for moderator Garry to tell us to start a new topic and stop hi-jacking Brian's topic. Apologies Brian.
Malcolm
Quote from: Malcolm on June 28, 2013, 17:06
May I also endorse Peter, Garry and Rods comments regarding 009 News. I too thought there was too much made of FR150...
I didn
Very sorry to tell you I DO think that. 009 News should be just that, 009 news. Not current prototype photofeatures, sorry the FR piece, though mildly interesting, gave no new modelling information and as such, to my mind, should not have been in a modelling magazine. In addition, photos such as those shown had already been widely published elsewhere.
Rod
Perhaps you should join Narrow Gauge Railway Modelling Online (which is free) which had already given great exposure to this event including a video link.
Rod
Quote from: rod335 on June 29, 2013, 18:48
Not current prototype photofeatures
And where do you get your inspiration from? I sat in another society before I joined here and the people there are so wound up in their own little world that they can't even suggest to newbies what the best combination of chassis/motor is for a certain concept even though they have hundreds of years of experience. (In fact they were downright rude and arrogant.) The sheer openness and diversity of this society and the willingness to help was and is a breath of fresh air. A few prototype pictures in my opinion help. They may not help you but that's your opinion but they help me so that's a win for the newsletter as it has helped someone. I daresay that there will be things that will help you but won't help me. I don't moan about it. C'est la vie. And given that the newsletter is in the hands of the volunteers who stepped up after months of calling and took it on then they have the final say.
I'll start a new thread for 009 News discussions as it would be useful for both myself and Steve to get feedback in a more logical place.
EDIT: the new thread is here: http://www.009society.com/forum/index.php?topic=1158.0
Hats off to Brian.. I found it very informative.
Question.. Anyway to get the passed ones? The down side with multi part, when you are new :)
Quote from: Scott Rixon on June 30, 2013, 20:39
Question.. Anyway to get the passed ones? The down side with multi part, when you are new :)
You could try emailing the mem sec or publicity officer. There's no harm in asking!
When I joined, they gave me a couple of years' worth of back numbers the next time I saw the Society stand at an exhibition. Ask them!
Frank
There well almost certainly be a month