Bar Knight

(Glasgow, Scotland, UK)

A few comments from the Train Collectors Society Yahoo Group :

First comment "Bar Knight (gauges 0 & 1) c1915 - c1935 (cannot be certain when train production started...or stopped, they began steam toy production in late 1914 and their products were still listed by Clyde in the mid 30s)"

Second comment "The "Baltic" wheel arrangement for tank locos was not too popular with British locomotive designers and so does not figure much in the world of model railways with the possible exception of 0 gauge. One of the more long lived was the LBSCR 4-6-4 tanks. Marklin made a splendid 0 gauge version, carrying the name "Stephenson" in both LBSCR and Southern liveries. Whitelegg's "Baltic" tank for the GSWR was modelled in 0 gauge by Bar Knight but as a 4-4-4 tank. I doubt the designer of the real thing was flattered. His "Baltic" tanks for the LTSR have appeared in 0 gauge but only as scratch built models. The L&Y "Baltic" tanks, which were not built until LMS days, were not modelled commercially that I know of. However Norman Eagles on his "Sherwood Section of the LMS," the subject of recent discussion on this group, operated 0 gauge clockwork models in LMS livery of both the L&Y loco and its Furness counterpart. Both run on my "Lock's Siding " layout nowadays. The Furness "Baltic" tank has often appeared on 0 gauge layouts in recent years. These are mainly scratch built or constructed from Gladiator kits."

Third comment "The Bar Knight 4-4-4T loco, although so obviously based on the G&SW baltic was not described as such, rather it was first sold as, to quote: 'No340, our latest model of the new M.R., now L.M.S.R, "Baltic" Type Express Passenger Tank Locomotive.' At first one might suppose that this is a confused description is referring to the Hughes loco (actually L&Y); but, in fact Bar Knight pitched at an English market and given the MR were in such close cahoots with the G&SW that the latter were almost the Scottish division of the former, I guess they saw it politic to sell what was a G&SW loco as Midland to the Sassenach. It was first introduced as a clockwork 4-4-2T in 1923-4, then electric from c1924-5 (when Bar Knight ceased making clockwork) and was converted to a 4-4-4T in 1927 by inreasing the bunker length by an inch."

"Anyone who has studied one of these locos will have noted that other than the rather high cab (something shared by the 'splendid' rendition of the LB&SC loco that was turned out by Marklin), the Bar Knight loco is quite a creditable representation of the G&SW loco with all the key elements being faithfully reproduced in heavily enamelled soldered tinplate (something shared also by the 'splendid' Marklin loco). Had it had a six-coupled mech it would have been quite magnificent, but it is pretty good as a 4-4-4."

Bar Knight electric 4-4-4 Baltic tank loco, number 1357

Bar Knight 4 volt electric 4-4-0 tank loco, LMS number 1357

Bar Knight LNER 4-4-2 electric tank loco	Bar Knight LNER 4-4-2 electric tank loco
Bar Knight LNER 4-4-2 electric tank loco	Bar Knight LNER 4-4-2 electric tank loco