Middle Earth Model Railway

The network's railway companies operate a varied range of locomotive types and classes. The majority of engines are the only ones in their class, although recent years has seen an increasing trend of specific classes being used on particular services (multiple HST sets available for use on InterCity services, for example).

Different railways have a preference for different locomotive types and, with a few exceptions, the Shire Railway operates steam locos and the Buckland & Bree Railway operates diesel locos.

Click on the links at the top to find out more about the locomotives.

Numbers and Names

Locomotive numbers and names are assigned by the railway companies. The Shire Railway uses a one or two digit number, the Buckland & Bree Railway uses a number preceeded by 'B' and the Bree-Rivendell InterCity Konsortium uses a number preceeded by 'R'. Numbers also represent the order in which locomotives were purchased, with new arrivals assigned the next consecutive number.

NOTE: The first locomotive owned by the Buckland & Bree Railway ('B1') was broken up in the 1980's and all that survives is one boggie now used for hauling trucks in and out of the mine at Hobbiton. Therefore, the locomotive numbering now starts at 'B2'. 'B3' was transfered to another railway in 2007 and was replaced by 'B26'.

Electric Locomotive Power

All electric locomotives have Quantum Point Hydrogen (QPH) energy cells fitted as standard to enable running over non-electrified lines. Between Bree station and the Rivendell sector the locomotives switch over to the more efficent overhead 25 kV AC supply.

Plans to extend the overhead supply across the network were shelved a few years ago and are not expected to be reviewed.