The Bear

Time for a new loco! In the Summer we tried to get the green version of the Roco electric but the order fell through (and got Tango instead). To be honest it was the brown version of the electric I wanted more anyway so it was good to wait until it was available. The Bear (as it obviously will be known as it has teddy bears on it!) arrived today. Once running in is complete it will look good pulling it's rake of matching coaches. Ruby will go into the reserve fleet in a few days, at the start of 2019 Jam will return to the layout so both electrics will then be working alongside each other.

New loco

After a slight delay we have a new loco! Originally we were going to get a Roco electric but that purchase fell through, so instead we have got a Minitrains Ns2f. We wanted a non-Liliput loco to widen the "gene pool" a bit. "Tango" (temporary name unless we can't think of anything better) runs great. Despite being tiny it is relatively quite heavy and thus can handle a decent sized freight train easily.

Black Beauty close-up

Close-up of Black Beauty working a train near the station. Liliput have done a very fine job on the model.

Into reserve

Percy performed it's final duty bringing two wagons into the backscene and then went into reserve, joining Jam and Maria in the reserve fleet (in reality a big box). Spare rolling stock has also been put away as the backscene was becoming a bit crowded. Percy will return in about six months and will likely alternate with Ruby as the layout shunter. In other news one of the goods sidings has been relaid with the remaining HOe track and the spare catchpoint.

Old and new

Black Beauty has continued it's proving testing and will be handed over to the Operations Dept. by the Integration & Testing Dept this weekend. It is running well, of course the technology is pretty well proven. After all it is the same loco type as Falcon and Growler - the former being the oldest loco on the layout with over five years service now!

The Infrastructure Dept. meanwhile has completed the underlay for the tramline, something more permanent can be laid now.

Black Beauty

A new loco arrived today, and the first new mainline loco since Jam, presenting D15 Black Beauty. What a splendid looking locomotive! D15 is a sister loco to Falcon and Growler. Once running in is complete it is likely Percy will go into reserve.

Loco Profile #7 : V13 Ruby

V13 Ruby is another small shunter, helping with pilot duties at Maüsestadt station as well as trip workings and local passenger services.

The arrival of Ruby

The Birches Green Light Railway is proud to announce the arrival of its latest locomotive, V13 Ruby. Ruby is a small shunter though will also find use on trip freights and local passenger services. Its all change around for the BGLR as Falcon has returned from the reserve fleet replacing Jam in the ready fleet. Maria unfortunately continues to have serious problems with its motor and is unlikely to return to service any time soon.

Loco Profile #6 : Motorbahnwagen

A recent addition to the BGLR fleet is the Motorbahnwagen engineering trolly. This handles engineering trains on the line.

Loco Profile #5 : W5 Maria

W5 Maria is the sister locomotive of Percy. Unfortunately Maria picked up a running fauly thought to be with it's motor. The problem did seem to have fixed itself but Maria failed while hauling a passenger train and is now withdrawn pending attention.

Loco Profile #4 : D13 Growler

D13 Growler is the sister locomotive of Falcon. It runs well though does make a lot more noise than Falcon hence its name! At the moment Growler is the main locomotive on the line.

Loco Profile #3 : 1099 Jam

1099.013-3 (though the BGLR tends to just refer to it as 1099) Jam is a C-C electric locomotive. Jam is a good performer and can handle any train on the railway.

Jam has now entered storage at the start of 2018 as part of the BGLR's rotation policy though will return later in the year!

Loco Profile #2 : W2 Percy

Percy is an 0-4-0 shunter but is capable of hauling most trains on the BGLR and often takes secondary passenger trains and trip freights along the line.

Percy arrived in the Summer of 2017 and has quickly established itself as one of the railway's most useful locomotives.

Loco Profile #1 : D16 Falcon

D16 Falcon is the flagship of the Birches Green Light Railway. It was the first locomotive to arrive at the BGLR and has always been the locomotive chosen to test new lines and launch special events.

Falcon is a B-B diesel hydraulic and can handle any train on the BGLR from express passenger to heavy freights. Falcon runs very smoothly though did have some problems with its lights which required attention in the Summer of 2017.

Falcon was out of service in the second half of 2017 as part of BGLR's rotation policy but has now returned.