Merseyside based model retailer and commissioner Hatton’s have announced today two new exclusive locomotives to their range. The one of most interest for followers of this blog will no doubt be the diminutive ex South Eastern and Chatham Railway, Wainwright P class 0-6-0T.

The P class locomotives were small both in size and numerically as only eight were built, there were a also number of differences between the members of the class during their lifetime.
The first two members of the class introduced in February 1909 numbers 753/556/1556/31556 and 754/557/1557/31557 had 4 and half inch taller cabs and side tanks than the remaining six members that were built in February and July 1910. Although only a small difference in height it is defiantly noticeable on the front face of the locomotive.

There were two distinct smokebox styles with differing rivet arrangements and also the buffers varied from the original tapered SECR style to the later SR stepped type, with some being fitted with Stroudley Round base type briefly at some stage as well. The Furness lubricators originally mounted on either side of the smokeboxes were removed during the 1920s. The last member of the class was withdrawn from British Railways service in March 1961, some also saw industrial use, and four have been preserved, including 1556 from the first batch and three from the second batch.

Hatton’s have tooled for both cab / tank height styles, the two different smokeboxes with different rivet patterns, two main types of buffers, alternative rear steam heating pipes, smokebox lubricators and number plates where applicable. Hatton’s have worked from the original works drawings for the locomotives and have also been working closely with the relevant preserved railways on which the remaining examples remain.

Specifications include: 5 Pole motor within the boiler and gearbox within the firebox, weights within the boiler for adhesion, RP25 wheel profiles, 6 pin DCC socket, NEM coupling pockets, separately fitted and blackened handrails, detailed cab interior, all wheel pick up, fluted connecting rods with oily cosmetic finish, separately applied drain cocks, oil lubricators, brass whistle, smokebox number plate (i.e. not moulded) on BR versions.

Also included for owner to fit will be etched engine headsignal discs, locomotive lamps and even an oil can, as the latter were often seen on top of the tanks!

More details and how to order can be found on the dedicated page on the Hatton’s website here. Delivery is expected starting as early as December this year with the balance in January 2018. They will retail at £99 each.

The planed, and at this moment in time only, twelve releases are as follows:

H4-P-01 No. 178 in SECR lined green, 1910-11 (as preserved) short cab, SR Buffers, smokebox with 1 row of rivets and lubricator

H4-P-02 No. 753 in SECR lined green, 1909-11 (as preserved) tall cab, SR Buffers, rear window bars, smokebox with 2 rows of rivets and lubricator

H4-P-03 No. 754 in SECR wartime grey, 1910-1920s, tall cab, Bottle buffers, higher steam pipes and smokebox with 2 rows of rivets

H4-P-04 No. A325 in Southern Railway lined olive green, 1924 to mid 1930s, short cab, bottle buffers, rear window bars, higher steam pipe and smokebox with 2 rows of rivets

H4-P-05 No. 1555 in Southern Railway black, 1938-48, short cab, bottle buffers, rear window bars, higher steam pipe and smokebox with 2 rows of rivets

H4-P-06 No. 1558 in Southern Railway black with Sunshine lettering, 1941-48, short cab, bottle buffers, rear window bars, higher steam pipe and smokebox with 2 rows of rivets

H4-P-07 No. 31027 in BR black with early emblem, 1949 to withdrawal in 1961, short cab, SR buffers, rear window bars, higher steam pipe and smokebox with 2 rows of rivets

H4-P-08 No. 31323 in BR black with late crest, 1959-61, short cab, SR buffers, rear window bars and smokebox with 1 row of rivets

H4-P-09 “Pioneer II” in Bowaters Paper Mill lined green, 1958-61 (ex 178/1178/31178) short cab, SR buffers, no vacuum pipe and smokebox with 2 rows of rivets

H4-P-10 “Pride of Sussex” in Robertsbridge flour mill green, 1961-71, (ex 53/556/1556/31556), tall cab, SR buffers, no steam pipe and smokebox with 2 rows of rivets

H4-P-11 No. 27 “Primrose” in Bluebell Railway lined black, 1961-63, short cab, SR buffers, rear window bars and smokebox with 2 rows of rivets

H4-P-12 No. 323 in Bluebell lined blue (as preserved) short cab, SR buffers, lubricator and smokebox with 1 row of rivets

One obvious omission from the list of proposed releases is a post 1931 Southern Railway lined green without the ‘A’ prefix and in the 1xxx numbering. Another option would have been No.31556 in BR black with British Railways in sunshine lettering.

Hatton’s as per the images on this post have received the first fully running Engineering Prototype and having had the opportunity / privilege to inspect it first hand and see it running, happily hauling four Mk1 coaches, their weight and performance match the good looks they have captured in the tooling. Hatton’s should also be congratulated on the amount of detail and toolong options they have allowed for especially the two taller cab / tank versions. Some of the engines did carry tool boxes in various positions on the tank tanks tops but Hatton’s have purposely not included for these, or the Stroudley type buffer, for reasons of the additional tooling costs, so it will remain a possible modeller / aftermarket opportunity depending on the chosen prototype.

Hatton’s have today also announced that they are going to produce, also in 00 the Andrew Barclay industrial saddle tank with eight versions / liveries of the 14″ cyclinder and four livery / versions of the 16″ cyclinder size versions. They will have similar specifications to the SECR P Class tanks above, with multiple tooling variations. Like with the ex SECR P class Hatton’s have a running first EP. They will also retail at £99 each, and the planned availability is late January 2018. Full details can be found on the dedicated page on the Hatton’s website here.