...The 64xx and 74xx classes are the prototypes selected for Lionheart Trains' first ready-to-run engine. This has caused quite a stir, and you only have to look at the picture to see why...

 

...Models of this quality are rare, but then Lionheart Trains is the idea of Richard Webster who started working in his father's business, Ratio, many years ago and is responsible for much of their quality rolling stock. He then went on to design and manufacture a small range of highly-detailed Great Western injection moulded wagons under the name of  Websters, and these are still available through Peco. With a pedigree like this, it is not surprising that qaulity and a fidelity to the prototype are something we should expect from Lionheart Trains...

 

Lionheart Trains has just released this Great Western Railway auto-trailer as a companion to its superb '64XX' 0-6-OPT. The model is based on a batch of six trailers built under Lot 1126 in 1906 and delivered to the GWR in January/February 1907.

 

Nos. 36-41 originally had windows at the luggage compartment end as well as the driving end, but these were later removed. They were found on branch lines from Cornwall to Wales, and retained their gas lighting until withdrawn between December 1956 and November 1957.

Lionheart Trains may be a relatively new name in the hobby but owner Richard Webster certainly is not, having been involved with model railway design and production for more than 40 years. Starting at Ratio, his late father's model business, Richard then went to GWR plastic wagon kits under the 'Websters' label in the 1980's, then ran Kader's model train factory in China for five years.

 

Ready-to-run manufacturing for 'O' gauge is on the rise and one of the latest names to appear is Lionheart Trains. This new name may be familiar to those who have seen Lionheart's stand at exhibitions, but to many it will be completely new.

Lionheart Trains is run by Richard Webster and it currently produces a range of ready-to-run 'O' gauge GWR pannier tanks covering the '64XX' and '74XX' series locomotives. To keep the cost down, but the standard of detail up. Lionheart has used die-casting technology for the majority of the bodywork coupled with lost wax castings and turned brass fitting for the details and plastic for the cab.

Lionheart Trains is a new name in the British 'O' gauge market, but its first ready-to-run model displays a quality that bodes well for the future. The company's founder, Richard Webster, previously worked as a design engineer for both Bachmann and Lionel Trains in the USA and has many years experience of research and development in the model railway field. The subject for Lionheart's first model is the Great Western '64XX/74XX' 0-6-0PTs – not seen previously in RTR form in any scale.

Outwardly, the locomotives are virtually identical, titlehough the '64XX' was passenger-only and the '74XX' was a more powerful general-purpose machine.

We have been pleased to be able to examine the new Great Western panniers from Lionheart Trains, thanks to a recent visit to our offices by the firm's proprietor Richard Webster. Early samples of the models were seen at Warley last year, and duly reported upon in our February 2009 issue. In terms of features for the prices, they represent excellent value for money.

In all, three versions each of the 64xx and 74xx will be produced, each with accurate details to the prototype (provision or omission of, for example, fireman's side bunker steps whistle shields, topfeed and so on).