Indiana-based Hartland Locomotive Works has been quietly laboring to build a good reputation in the large scale market. Its goal seems to be to produce well made, fun to operate trains made in the United States. The “Duchess” is the first Hartland locomotive we’ve have the chance to test, and we were very pleased.
This engine is a generic model representing the type of engine you might imagine on some impossibly small shortline railroad or a remote logging or mining line. Don’t try to combine this engine and big-time railroading in the same thought. Instead, think of the Mayberry Central Railroad, where the railroad owner is also the conductor, and the engineer and fireman are related.
The engine itself is as cute as can be. It measures 201/2 inches long and 61/4 inches tall and weighs 6.3 lbs. The plastic boiler has a textured gray coating, and on first glance (especially when you pick the engine up and feel the heft), you could mistake it for metal.
Brass-colored boiler bands, piping, and handrails accent the engine nicely, as do the cow catcher and elaborate old-time headlight with the number 3 emblazoned on the side. The engine also has a Hartland builder’s plate, a movable bell, and simulated whistle.
The cab has some detail and nice seats on which to pose the crew figures of your choice. The side rods are basic, but function smoothly and are quite eye catching.
The locomotive drivers are metal. Since the drivers don’t have traction tires, you can easily hit the gas, so to speak, and send the wheels spinning. The reverse unit is in the tender, and there is a tether to connect it to the engine. Hartland has thoughtfully put a dab of white paint on one side of the tether plug and socket in order to make hookup easier. There is even a small plastic latch that you press when you want to disconnect the tether.
The drawbar is plastic, and while CTT is sure it is durable, we could also envision it eventual cracking or breaking from handling or extensive use.
The cab and tender shell are maroon. The cab has the name “Duchess” applied on both sides, and the tender is marked for the Denver & Rio Grande (the engine is also available undecorated). The tender has a black plastic coal load as well as black simulated hinges on the tool kit and water hatch. It also features a brake wheel.
Performance was that of a light steamer. We tested this engine with an LGB Jumbo transformer and had very good results. The engine crawled at 7.5 scale mph, drawing just 4 volts and measuring virtually no amperage. At 18 volts the locomotive scampered right along at 76 scale mph, probably faster than any prototype 2-4-0 might have gone, but right at home with the light-hearted nature of this engine. Drawbar pull averaged .85 lbs., which equates roughly to 16 modern, free rolling pieces of large scale rolling stock.
The engine moved along in virtual silence in the lower power ranges, but there was a noticeable (though not annoying) whine in the upper power levels. The only glitch in our testing was that the engine’s elaborate plastic cow catcher would bump the top of our LGB track lockon.
Though the impact wasn’t severe enough to disrupt operation (even at slow speed), over time it might damage the engine. If you don’t use an LGB-style lockon, don’t worry about it!
Whether or not country of origin matters to you, you might want to check out this engine by Hartland. The Duchess is a cute locomotive that appears well suited for your Mayberry Central, whether it runs through the flower garden or circles your living room.
