Sonic Models S4101-01 Class A5 'Robinson' 4-6-2T 373 in GCR green - Exclusive to Rails of Sheffield

Sonic Models S4101-01 Class A5 'Robinson' 4-6-2T 373 in GCR Green - Exclusive to Rails of Sheffield

THE 4-6-2 wheel arrangement was an unusual format for a tank engine, but the LNER inherited four designs at the 1923 Grouping - three from the North Eastern Railway and what became the 'A5' from the Great Central Railway.

These substantial tank engines were Robinson’s last passenger tank engine design and were introduced in three batches between 1911 and 1917 with a fourth batch ordered by the GCR built after the 1923 Grouping by the LNER with a fifth and final order placed with Hawthorn Leslie by the LNER and delivered in 1925-1926. They were originally classified ‘9N’ by the GCR.

Sonic Models’ first ever ready-to-run ‘OO’ gauge model is the Robinson ‘A5’ 4-6-2T 373 in Great Central Railway lined green.

These 44 locomotives were built for passenger service and could be found on ex-GCR lines, as well as on ex-North Eastern and Great Northern line passenger trains. The last was withdrawn in 1960, and none have been preserved. Read our full Reality Check class history on pages 72-75.

THE MODEL
Sonic Models announced its plans to produce a first-ever ready-to-run ‘OO’ gauge model of the characterful ‘A5’ 4-6-2T in August 2021 – an exciting addition for the scale and the manufacturer’s first step into ‘OO' gauge locomotives following the successful arrival of its first ‘N’ gauge models.

The motor is mounted at the front of the chassis and drives the centre axle. A Next18 decoder socket and 15mm x 11mm cube speaker are mounted in the bunker.

The ‘A5’ is available exclusively through Rails of Sheffield with a choice of Great Central Railway, London and North Eastern Railway and British Railways era locomotives. 

Both models are superbly assembled and have a very solid feel through the use of die-casting for the main body elements including the boiler and side tanks. Impressively, the tooling also caters for detail differences including original open sided and later closed cabs as well as different domes and coal rail styles.

The overall dimensions are close to the prototype with the locomotives measuring 171mm over buffers, ever so slightly under the 172mm they should be to model the 43ft length exactly. The height is correct while the proportions of the ‘A5’ are well captured by Sonic Models.