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Griffstan Light Railway
Locomotives
An expensive item in New Zealand, my first was of course the LGB 0-4-0T Stainz which came with the set, what a solid little loco this is, it has one rubber tyre to help adhesion, if you give it full power to start, it will tend to buck up and only sometimes land back on the rails, not a problem of course running bunker first, I have not got enough rolling stock yet to test its pulling power, but whatever I put behind it, including the video camera, it just walks away with it.. Power pick up is from 2 shoes which after even a small amount of running show wear, but easily solved by soldering on a bit more surface. Amazing amount of detail including just about all cab fittings, cab light, outside fittings, sound and smoke.
Next was the Aristo-Craft 0-4-0 switcher loco, a quiet smooth runner, no rubber tyre but it does not seem to need one as it pulls away with good loads without any slipping. Not quite as solid built as the LGB but strong enough, comes with smoke and sound. A little bit top heavy and needs to be driven slowly into some tight curves, all part of the game, after all it is a switcher not an express loco. The wheels tend to pick up a coating of yak after a short while running which is a job to get off, but off it must come or the loco jerks along looking for contact.
Now after the sale everything I owned in 00 guage I am the proud owner of the LGB 0-6-2T Zillertalbahn loco, it is of 1992 vintage but i was lucky enough to get offered it by Grant at Squirrel Valley Railway.. Some of the valve gear on this earlier model is made of metal, these days it is all plastic, but I might add its good quality plastic and not prone to warping with age. Pick up is from the wheels and 1 wheel has the rubber tyre. lots of detail and even the smokebox door opens.
