My Standard Goods Fleet Part 1. The D53 Class

In this series of articles, I’ll briefly give an overview of how I converted various Eureka Models r-t-r HO scale D50 class locomotives into members of the D53 and D55 class, as well as a 50 and a 53 class with Laird crossheads. Firstly, I’ll start with the D53 class.

When Eureka announced that they will be producing the r-t-r NSWGR 50 class, the old grey matter went into overdrive, as this was a model that could be easily converted to a 53, my favourite class of NSWGR steam power. Basically, it needed a new footplate made from styrene, a slight shortening of the height of the cab, new air tanks on the footplate (again made from styrene), and a turret tender (kit from AndIan Models). I like the 5000 gallon Commonwealth turret tender; to me, this type of tender really suited the looks of the Standard Goods engines. I ordered my