LIST OF UNION MILLS MODELS MADE

Production of the range of Union Mills 'N' gauge model locomotives began in the autumn of 1994 with the first version of the J39. This was fitted with my first design of tender drive in which a can motor drove a longitudinal shaft via a spur gear step down, the shaft having a worm at each end which drove the front and rear axles. This proved noisy due to the initial stage of spur gears and was not fitted with traction tyres. In 1995 a new tender drive was designed in which an initial worm reduction via a steel worm drove a series of nylon spur gears to all three axles which had traction tyres. This continued in use until around 2002 when a new design of tender drive was created using a double shaft motor with a worm on each end driving via an idler shaft to a spur gear on the front and rear axles. The centre axle was not driven. In the first instance Japanese motors were used, but then I went on to custom made Korean Samhongsa motors. Initial experiments were made with carbon brushes but in the end I settled on the metal brush motor that has proved very reliable if used with an electronic controller like Gaugemaster. Brass worms were used with the initial lot of double shaft tender drives, followed by nylon worms. At the end of 2014 another tender drive was designed, this took advantage of modern developments in motor technology in China and used a smaller motor with excellent characteristics for slow running and I reverted to brass worms. This new motor is lower and mounted in an offset position and has enabled the lower GWR tenders to be modelled although it has also been adopted for all the other tender drives.

Below is a list of all the models I have made over the years, but not in the order in which they were made. Some of the older models like the J39, D20 and B 12 have either been partly or wholly re-tooled to bring them up to the latest standards.; All models were made in both B.R. and Grouped liveries apart from the City of Truro which only had one livery.

UNION MILLS – THE UNION MAN By BILLY INGHAM www.ngaugemodelling.co.uk

HEAVY FREIGHT: L.N.W.R. G2 0-8-0 in early crest B.R. plain black livery

LOVERS of 2mm steam locomotives are now reasonably well catered for by Dapol and Graham Farish, with most of the main line steam classes and many of the most popular mixed traffic, goods and tank designs of the post-war era now being offered in N Gauge RTR form in both British Railways and 'Big Four" guise.

But steam locomotives were, in the main, very long-lived creatures, and as late as 1960, B.R. could still muster more than 100 distinct classes of loco, including many antiquated designs dating back to the pre-Grouping era and even a handful which first entered service while Queen Victoria was on the throne.

A few of these historic designs are offered in white metal kit form from small-scale manufacturers like Langley and P & D Marsh But several others would probably be lost for ever from the N Gauge scene except for the amazing efforts of one man - Colin Heard of Union Mills Models.

Colin has been beavering away in his tiny workshop on the Isle of Man since 1994 almost single-handedly turning out a succession of RTR N Gauge versions of historic L.M.S., L.N.E.R., L.N.W.R. and Southern Railway locos in B.R., "Big Four" or pre-Grouping liveries. All are tender locos with cast metal bodies and chassis using Colin's own unique tender drive mechanism.

Colin started out in the railway modelling business as a toolmaker for Peco in Devon. In 1976, he began his own business based in Somerset making the Cooper Craft range of 00 plastic kits which were marketed through Peco. But his true ambition was to make cast metal N gauge locos, so in 1994 he moved to the Isle of Man and set up in business in the centre of the island on the Union Mills Trading Estate in the village of Union Mills - hence the name.

He started out with just a couple of models to test the market but they went down so well with modellers that his range has steadily expanded - by about one new model per year - and currently stands at 16 locos, or almost 40 different models when taking livery variations into account. He admits he has concentrated largely on L.N.E.R. prototypes because they are a particular favourite of his. but he also offers some iconic L.M.S. designs and two L.S.W.R. stalwarts, the Drummond/Urie T9 4-4-0 and the Adams "0395" 0-6-0 which first entered service back in 1881.

MOST are freight or mixed traffic workhorses but he has produced two "namers", the first of which proved very popular and is now sold out. This was Robinson D11 "Large Director" 4-6-0 of Great Central vintage as class leader 62660 Butler-Henderson or in L.N.E.R. Green as 6397 Lady of the Lake.

His most recent design is the LNWR Bowen-Cooke Prince of Wales 4-6-0, available in three liveries.

Colin is proud of the fact that every loco he produces will pull at least 14 coaches or 50 wagons up a standard N Gauge gradient and at the same time they will easily negotiate a 9in radius Peco Setrack curve. The cast metal bodies are weighty enough to give good adhesion and current collection, while the tender drive means there can be daylight under the loco boiler and accurately-scaled firebox details.

Loco wheels on split steel axles are profile-turned from brass and nickel-plated for maximum electrical conductivity, while coupling rods are photo-etched from nickel silver sheet. Each loco is permanently coupled to the tender by a Delrin drawbar and link wire.

Colin is particularly keen to point out that his locos use no parts sourced from any other manufacturers. All components, down to the separate buffers, are made in-house and have been the subject of exhaustive development and refinement over the years. Even the Rapido-style couplers are made by Colin to his own design.

Each model is individually spray painted with a grey undercoat before being finished in a semi-matt cellulose paint with lining, lettering and crests applied by stroke pad printing, not transfers. No model goes out from the Isle of Man until it has been fully tested. oiled and "run in:'.

Despite the care and attention which goes into every Union Mills model, they are very reasonably priced from £69 for his original L.N.E.R. 0-6-0 designs to £82 for his most recent model, the L.N.W.R. Prince of Wales 4-6-0. Colin points out that he only sells direct to enthusiasts who respond to an advert (he has no website or internet presence) and he has deliberately kept the business small for him to run practically single-handed (he has help from just one other model maker).

He makes 200 of each model design but he is keen to stress that there is no guarantee that any model will be remade when sales are exhausted. As he says: "If you want a particular model or livery and you see that I have it in stock, it is wise to buy while it is available."

N Gauge Now - Issue 1 2014

UNION MILLS MODELS Ltd. READY-TO-RUN BRITISH 'N' GAUGE MODEL LOCOMOTIVES

Dear Mr Ellis

Thank you for asking about Union Mills 'N' gauge model locomotives. Since I began making these models in 1994, they have been bought by enthusiasts and collectors in Britain, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and indeed everywhere people build British model railways in N gauge.

In making these locomotives my aim has been to produce a model with realistic appearance, reliability, long life and true hauling power. Before N gauge locomotives I started in 1976 the Cooper Craft range of 00 scale plastic kits and before that worked as a toolmaker for Peco in Devon. Every loco of mine will pull at least either a 14 coach train or 50 wagons up the sort of gradients you find on real model railways and at the same time go around 9" radius Peco Setrack curves and points. This is because my models use my own unique tender drive in which an efficient can motor, using as little as 0.2 amps at full load, drives two worms and wormwheels via Delrin acetal plastic gears to drive the front and rear axles of the tender. On one side you have two silicone rubber traction tyres (which can be easily replaced) which give superb grip with very long life. The precision cast metal bodies of the loco and tender give enough weight to ensure adhesion and good current collection. A big advantage of tender drive is you can have daylight under the locomotive boilers and scale sized fireboxes instead of having to stretch the width of the firebox to fit a motor into the boiler when there is really not enough room.

Likewise, the locomotive chassis is cast in a metal alloy similar to that used in vintage motor car big-end bearings. The superior wearing properties of this metal gives your loco long bearing life with low friction. The wheels are profile turned from brass bar and then nickel plated for maximum electrical compatibility with the nickel silver rail commonly used on model railways. The wheels are then forced on to steel axles, splined to preserve the quartering. Coupling rods are photo etched from nickel silver sheet. One polarity of track current is collected from the locomotive via the chassis and live wheels while the other polarity is collected from the tender in a similar manner. The loco is permanently coupled to the tender by a tough Delrin drawbar and a link wire. Those familiar with the Peco Jubilee will recognise the system as being the same as Rivarossi used on that loco, which is admired for the smooth way insulated point frog gaps are crossed without loss of current collection plus you have no wiping collectors on wheel backs to pick up dirt and oil or get out of adjustment. Realistic detail is cast into both loco and tender bodies with the buffers fitted as separate parts for easy replacement in the event of breakage. To get good running in N gauge I say you must have a heavy locomotive, this is why I make mine with a cast metal body. Lightweight plastic bodies used on Chinese made N gauge models might work well enough when they are new and used on perfect track, but as soon as they start picking up a microscopic layer of dirt on the wheels, you are in trouble and the slow running quality deteriorates.

I am often asked if the model contains Graham Farish wheels, Minitrix motors or Fleischmann gears. The answer is NO. I can assure customers that no parts are purchased from other model manufacturers. Even the standard type 'N' gauge couplers which are of the Arnold type (100% compatible with Farish, Dapol, Minitrix, Peco etc) are made here on the Isle of Man. All parts are unique to the Union Mills locomotives, and have been the subject of exhaustive development and refinement over the years. please turn over...

Each model is individually spray painted with an etching grey undercoat before being finished in a semi-matt cellulose paint giving a superb looking fine quality patina. Lining, lettering and crests are applied by multiple stroke pad printing to give a quality of finish only a few very skilled modellers could hope to get with transfers. Each finished model is carefully test run on our Peco test track to ensure they will run around 9 inch radius curves and over standard and fine scale points both Electrofrog and Insult rog of different radius before being first wrapped in protective plastic bubble film and then packed in a stout cardboard box (made for us in a workshop for the disabled) with a picture on the lid together with operating instructions and a potted history of the prototype.

I want to give good value for money knowing many people have only a limited amount of money to spend on their hobby. To make sure modellers can afford to buy these locomotives I sell only direct to enthusiasts themselves, not through shops. Shops add a margin of 33% to the price to cover their costs and profit. Think what this means. One of my £75 locomotives would have to cost £112 in a shop. I know people like to look at and try a model before they buy but I don't think it is fair to ask the modeller to pay so much extra on the price. Fortunately enough modellers agree with me and are willing to buy from me by mail order (or they are welcome to call in to my small workshop when they visit the Isle of Man) to make it possible for me to only sell direct. I deliberately keep my business small, just enough for me to run on a daily basis myself (there are only two of us making these models) and I am careful to keep below the VAT limit for the same reason. So there is no 20% VAT for you to pay on my models either. We find we have all the work we can handle without shop sales, as once they have bought, customers come back and buy again and again.

But I must tell you about one problem I have. Because my locomotives are made in small batches this means that regretfully I cannot offer special numbers or livery variations, it also means that because I cannot really make enough, not everything is available all the time. I know this can lead to frustration when you want something that has just sold out and for this I apologise in advance. But in the modern world of high manufacturing costs it is very hard to make a model locomotive at all in this country for an affordable price. So I must do all I can to keep my costs under control. It is usually impossible to keep every livery variation and indeed every type of locomotive in stock at all times. So this does mean that if you want a particular model or livery and you see I have it in stock, it is wise to buy while it is available. If you want a particular model that is out of stock at present, just let me know what you want, then when we make another batch I can let you know. There is no obligation for you to buy, but a stamp would be appreciated.

Up to now I have concentrated on L.N.E.R. prototypes, these being a particular favourite of mine. But I now also have L.M.S. locos available together with several Southern types.

My models give you, the N gauge enthusiast, with neither the time nor perhaps skill to kit or scratch build, the opportunity to own a hand made model at no more than the cost of a Chinese made mass produced product. Due to ever rising postal charges (far above inflation) I now have to make the small charge of £3 per order for post and packing, all models are sent first class letter post (Royal Mail).

With this letter I enclose my current colour photo leaflet in which you can see photographs of some of the models I have currently in stock. The prices of what is available are also shown on the list. You can send me a cheque, cash or postal orders. If it suits you better, I can accept payment by Mastercard or Visa credit cards or debit cards (but not American Express or Diners Club). Just tell me your card number, expiry date and security code.

Yours sincerely,

for UNION MILLS MODELS Ltd.

'N' GAUGE LOCOMOTIVES. PAINTED AND READY-TO-RUN ON YOUR RAILWAY.

Ex L.N.E.R. J11 1 0-6-0 LOCOMOTIVE

Robinson's first class for the G.C.R. and its most numerous, was an 0-6-0 tender loco called the 9J. It was an enlargement of Pollitt's 9H class which was still being delivered when Robinson arrived. With 18 1/2" bore by 26" stroke cylinders and a weight of around 100 tons, they were powerful machines. Their sharp exhaust beat when working hard reminded enginemen just back from fighting in the Boar War, of the rapid fire porn-porn guns used in that war. Hence the nickname "Pom Pom". After grouping in 1923 they were called the J11 and numbered into the L.N.E.R. series, they were soon to be seen on other parts of the L.N.E.R. where their qualities were quickly recognised, although not at first used on passenger trains. As the years passed, they came to be used on passenger services much more often and indeed many of us can remember a spirited ride behind a Pom Pom in a hurry, particularly in the Manchester and Sheffield areas where they were regularly scheduled on passenger services. They thought nothing of deputising on Manchester to Liverpool expresses where they ran at over 60 m.p.h. All were gone by the end of 1962.

Ex L.N.E.R. B12/3 4-6-0 LOCOMOTIVE

Introduced as the Great Eastern Railway Class S69 designed by S.D. Holden or more precisely the draftsmen at the Stratford drawing office. Although designed in 1908, the first five machines did not enter service until 1912. By 1921 seventy one locomotives had been built. Most at Stratford (where the writer's great uncle worked), 20 by W. Beardmore & Co. (of Glasgow) and 10 by Beyer Peacock, In L.N.E.R. days the design was perpetuated in 1928 by a further 10 locos designated B12/2 from Beyer Peacock but this time fitted with short lived Lentz oscillating cam poppet valve gear and without the pierced footplate valance over the driving wheels.

Ex SOUTHERN (L.S.W.R.) CLASS T9 4-4-0

Even while the C8 Class on the London & South Western Railway were being built in 1897 Dugald Drummond became concerned as to whether they could handle the increasing loadings on the route west of Salisbury so he prepared the design of an improved version called the T9. In 1898 he ordered 20 of the 4-4-0 tender locomotives to be built by the L.S.W.R. Nine Elms works followed by 30 from Dubs & Co. at Glasgow, ending up with the last 15 from Nine Elms again. Similar to the design he had developed for the Caledonian Railway some years earlier. The new class had many parts in common, like boiler, firebox, cylinders and motion and was really just an enlarged C8 with a better steaming boiler. They proved to be a great success and a credit to Drummond. They were powerful and they were fast. 30336 once brought the Plymouth boat express from Templecombe to Waterloo, 112 miles, at an average speed of 65 m.p.h.

Ex SOUTHERN (L.S.W.R.) CLASS 700

To relieve an urgent loco shortage on the London & South Western Railway in 1897 Dugald Drummond ordered 30 0-6-0 tender locomotives to be built by Dubs & Co. at Glasgow. Similar to the design he had developed for the Caledonian Railway some years earlier. The new class had many parts in common, like boiler, firebox, cylinders and motion with his class M7. C8 and K 10 locomotives. After a few initial teething troubles like axle breakages and jamming regulators, which caused several accidents, they settled down to haul the heaviest goods trains then found on the L.S.W.R. replacing the old Adams '395' and 'Jubilee' classes.

Ex L.M.S. 3F 0-6-0 LOCOMOTIVE

The classic 3F represented by this Union Mills model was the final development of the Midland Railway Johnson 0-6-0 single frame tender locomotive introduced as early as 1875 and built with but slight variation until 1902 by which time the class had 865 members. As the Midland Railway's traffic increased rapidly in the early years of the 20th century so these "Standard Goods Engines" began to be rebuilt by Richard M. Deeley in a major rebuilding programme after 1908 with larger 'H' type boilers and still later G6 or G7 Belpaire types after 1926. Deeley also raised the pressures of the superheated boilers to 175 psi. In L.M.S. days Fowler continued rebuilding these machines with such good effect that the last did not go until 1965, almost the end of steam itself. The Midland not only built their own locomotives at Derby but patronised private locomotive builders too. 260 locomotives of this class were still in use in 1958.

Union Mills Models

Unit 5 Union Mills Trading Estate

Union Mills

Isle of Man, IM4 4AB. British Isles

December 08

Tel: 01624852896 (+441624852896)

e-mail: colin.h@manx.net