New loco for Staple Hill Railway - Roundhouse Bulldog

[James from Devon]

I decided to bolster the electric loco fleet at Staple Hill. While steam is the usual motive power of choice, there are those days when you want to chill out in the garden and watch the trains go by without having to be driving a steam loco (not that often but it does happen!)

I have electric locos from Accucraft and IP engineering and they are all OK in their own ways but I had wanted to add a Roundhouse electric loco and I am so glad that I did. The quality of build is fantastic, for it's small-ish size the Bulldog is very heavy and very powerful. On the Roundhouse website they state the locos match the performance of their steam models and this is certainly true.

It will run for two hours solidly, with a heavy train and recharges in around 2 1/2 hours.

If you are in the market I can thoroughly recommend this model. This also was my first dealing with Andrew at Garden Railway Centres who supplied the loco. He was very friendly and helpful and provided much advice and a very fast service...thanks Andrew!

Here is a youtube video of the first day in service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EcsWh2 ... e=youtu.be

And some pics:

Right out of the box and onto the workbench


Doing what it was meant to do... a train of skips.


Next comes a driver, sound and the painful process of ruining the lovely paintjob with some decent weathering.

Happy steaming!

[LNR]

A very attractive loco James, congratulations on your purchase. Whilst it does look great in its present livery, "ruining it" with a good weathering job will suit it far better me thinks. Your well laid track is certainly a joy to watch trains run over.
Grant.

[Peter Butler]

A lovely line you have there James, the Gulls are a nice background addition too...... and not pre-recorded either!