Garden Railway Forum

I have managed - sensibly or not - to aquire a couple of Cheddar's Samson engines - and would love to read a test report from when they were introduced.

Would anybody have one in an old issue they could photocopy for me, please? Happy to reimbuse your costs, naturally.

I have taken out an online subscription to Garden Rail - including back issues going back to 2006 - but I think any report would, maybe, be in an earlier issue!!

Hopefully, Mike

I haven't got a copy, but I'm sure Tag Gorton did a review in Railway Modeller many years ago- he's certainly did some of the other cheddar locos (0-6-0T and 0-6-0 tender) locos in another review in there, but I'm sure Samson had a review earlier.

Just to widen your search even further

I do remember a write up in Garden Rail but i do not remember when, try emailing Tag directly at the editorial email address.
I remember that there mechanical spec was highly regarded with sprung axle boxes, bushed motion and ceramic gas burners, cheers Rob

Thanks, guys - I have emailed Tag as suggested - will wait and see if anything transpires.

I had assumed any report would have been in "Garden Rail" - haven't had any dealings with "Railway Modeller" - can't afford too many subscriptions!!!

Mike

I've run Tag's "Riesa" (same mechanicals essentially) and they are brilliant.

The introduction of the Cheddar locos may actually predate Tag's editorship of GR, I can't remember when he started- he had a semi- regular slot in Railway Modeller for some time before that.

UPDATE

Well, Tag contacted me, but he no longer has a copy of that report - but he did say it was in issue 102 of Garden Rail - so guess who will be searching at Shepton Mallett this weekend for back issues!!!

The furthest back I can go online is No. 137, which is January 2006 - so working back one number per month, it looks like it will be sometime near the end of 2002.

The search commences.............

Mike

They're brilliant locos. I know someone who has the last one built by them which is R/C and I don't think I've ever seen a loco be so controllable and so smooth, ever! The gas tank wasn't even full and it went for well over an hour as well!

Yes, the factory r/c is very neat. The burners are all but silent and very frugal- it's a shame they stopped making them.

UPDATE 2

Well, we had a very good day at the Shepton Mallet show on Saturday - and we were quite impressed with it, our first visit to this show.
Loadsa lorries - cars - boats on show, and being demonstrated - model aircraft display(we were too kn***ered to view these)!!
Very little live steam - our Cheddar Club stand had 6 or 7 on display - and I spotted a couple on another stand - but none in steam.

Didn't find ANY s/h magazines on sale - so the GR 102 quest continues...!!

Did get seduced by an amphibious Willys jeep unfinished project, which now lives with me - so what with that, plus a Kirk "Grimmershorn" shed find pilot cutter to refurbish, and another boat to finish, looks like I shall have no reason to get bored this year!!!

Mike

The issue you require is 101 and can copy the article if still required.
How are you finding the Samson loco?
are they a good buy? and how much are they these days?