Collett 6400 / 7400 Pannier tank locomotives
The Prototype
The 6400 class were introduced in 1932, whilst the 7400 class followed in 1936, with a total of 90 being constructed.
G.W.R. Classification: Group A, Route-Yellow
B.R. Classification: 2P for 6400
B.R. Classification: 2F for 7400
All forty of the 6400 class were fitted for auto-train working, and with their smaller driving wheels, were intended for the more steeply graded lines of the Welsh valleys and Cornwall, although they became more widespread in later days.
All of the 7400 class and the last ten of the 6400 class can be distinguished from the original thirty by the intersection of the cab/bunker which is square.
The fifty locomotives of the 7400 class were not auto-train fitted and had higher boiler pressure, which increased the tractive effort, but otherwise identical to the last ten of the 6400 class. They were more widely distributed and were found on branchline passenger, freight and milk traffic workings, as well as station pilot and shunting duties.
Numbers 7430-7449 built after the war came out with the new top feed, which had begun to appear on earlier engines of both classes. Steps were put on the Fireman’s side of the bunker from 6430 onwards and earlier engines brought into line by about 1945.
Last of class withdrawn: 7439 in 1965
Preserved examples: 6412, 6430, 6435
The Model
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Construction
Great care has been taken to produce an as accurate as possible model of the prototype locomotives, collecting many photographs of the working engines, sourcing official works drawings and visiting preserved examples.
The main construction of the chassis is die-cast metal, which is strong and reproduces details well. This material is used for the frames, wheel centres, gearbox casing, motor support and ashpan, while the wheel tyres and axles are steel, running in brass bearings. Plastic is used for the brake shoes to avoid any electrical short circuits.
The locomotive body is again mainly die-cast, being used for the footplate, complete with valances and buffer beams, boiler, smokebox, firebox, tanks and buffer shanks.
The cab is moulded in plastic to show fine rivet details.
The lower boiler/tank moulding houses the PC boards and speaker for the sound equipped versions.
Details such as the chimney, dome, safety valve casing and buffer heads are turned metal components, vacuum pipes, screw couplings, handrail knobs and handrails are all metal parts.
Cabside number plates are photo-etched brass with black background.
Electrical
The motor which has a skewed armature and balanced, drives the rear wheels via a toothed belt to a separately fitted gearbox. The two front axles are connected by equalising beams to provide better tracking with electrical current being collected via the wheel bearings, whilst the rear axle uses the more conventional sprung plungers.
All locomotives are fitted with a PCB that includes an 8 pin socket for decoder installation by the customer to upgrade to DCC
NOTE: For best results for sound and lights we recommend our DCC factory fitted products, which have a 21 pin Zimo motor & sound decoder and high bass speaker provided for the sound system.
Three extra PCB’s are also provided for the front and rear lamps, which are directional, and firebox flicker, which operates with ‘shovelling coal sound’.
The sounds for the DCC fitted locomotives were recorded from number 6435 now resident on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway
Detail Differences
All 64xx locomotives have the auto coach control gear added to front/rear buffer beams and screw reverse handle assembled in the cab. All 74xx locomotives have later cab with bunker steps and handrail to cab roof. A lever reverse handle is fitted in the cab.
All Great Western decorated models have their pannier tanks showing weld seams All British Railway decorated models have top feed added to the boiler, and large whistle shield fitted.
The following models will be available during July 2009:
Product Numbers: |
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| DCC ready | DCC fitted | Locomotive Number | Colour | Lettering/logo | Shed No. Allocation |
| LHT 6410 | LHT 6410S | 6410 | Green | GREAT WESTERN | Abercynon |
| LHT 6421 | LHT 6421S | 6421 | Lined Green | B.R. Early crest | 83D Plymouth |
| LHT 6437 | LHT6437S | 6437 | Lined Green | B.R. Late crest | 86J Aberdare |
| LHT 7400 | LHT 7400S | 7400 | Green | GWR Monogram | Carmarthan |
| LHT 7427 | LHT 7427S | 7427 | Black | B.R. Early crest | 83A Ntn. Abbot |
| LHT 7404 | LHT7404S | 7404 | Black | B.R. Late crest | 81F Oxford |
Model prices
DCC Ready - only £498.00
DCC Fitted - only £658.00
