Hurricane - Reviewed Since Smith and Harrison launched “Scarab” last year, I’ve been eagerly awaiting their new loco “Hurricane” for a test run around the rails of the Chidham Light Railway.  So when Rob contacted me to say it was on its way I was like a cat on a hot tin roof. Unfortunately, our postal service let me wait for the parcel for a further 8 days before they deemed Rob and I worried enough as to the whereabouts of the wee beast to actually deliver it to me. Weather Permitting Needless to say that when I returned from work and saw the box I was more than happy to tear it open with wild abandon to have a look at the long awaited locomotive, and to have a play with it.  However at the moment I was going to go outside for a run with Hurricane fate decided to play its hand and for the next two days the wind howled, the rain rained and the weather was generally not very favourable for running anything in the garden.  According to those marvellous weather men on the BBC it was the aftermath of one of the many hurricanes hitting the USA at that particular time.  Being a dire chap I thought that the review of “Hurricane” being delayed by, well, a hurricane was somewhat amusing.  I was pleased that they hadn’t called the locomotive “Tornado”, “Earthquake” or “Meteor” however.  It doesn’t pay to tempt fate now, does it? Enough of this idle chatter I hear you cry, what does this beast look like, what does it do, and how well does it do it?  I’ll answer all of these questions in time, starting with what does it look like. Kicking the Proverbial Tyre At first appearance it looks very much like a Scarab with a full cab fitted.  It is only on closer inspection that you notice small differences around the bonnet of the locomotive, the rather nice Ruston style petrol tank and grills which gives “Hurricane” a very industrial look.  A closer look at the rear and side views makes me think more of a Simplex style locomotive, and when hitched up to my recently completed Perfect World coach it made me think very much of the lamented Camber Sand line of which I’m very much a fan.  The cab features a fairly good representation of a typical industrial diesel with brake throttle and the all important singular nondescript gauge.   The locomotives diminutive size – it is 5” long, 2 ½” wide and a shade over 4 ¾” high – compounds the locomotives industrial feel.  You immediately feel it needs a hunched up driver, cap pulled down over his face and with a donkey jacket pulled up to keep the chill wind from his neck.  Some tarpaulin down each side of the cab and a rake of rusty skips rattling along behind.  From there it is only a wee matter to think of overgrown tracks and a line on the edge of closure.       It isn’t very often such a picture springs to mind when looking at battery locomotive, and the more I look at it the more I’m  impressed with the detailing and finish of “Hurricane”. It is available in a variety of colours in the same way as Scarab, complete with options for the traditional chevron blazes on the buffer beams. Under the Bonnet For drive it uses the same arrangement as Scarab and actually utilises the same chassis.  Four AA rechargeable batteries sit in the bonnet of the loco, and a low revving high torque motor provides power to the front axle which is then transferred to the rear axle by a chain drive.  “Hurricane’s” pulling power for such a tiny locomotive is immense and will put many other larger engines to shame.  Recharging is achieved by a recharging socket situated in the cab, and the charger is provided with the locomotive by Smith and Harrison.  “Hurricane” can be run on 32mm or 45mm track, the wheels being moved to the required gauge by the assistance of the provided wheel gauge and tightened by two grub screws.  The wheels are fully insulated so that you can also run track powered locomotives if you so wish without having to remove “Hurricane” from the track.  Whilst I was talking to Rob about track power it came to light that it is also possible to supply “Hurricane” or indeed “Scarab” to run from track power if required, so if this is of interest to you, then I’d contact Rob and have a natter with him. Putting “Hurricane” on the track brings to mind just how tiny it really is, and so when I say that as an option this locomotive can be completely radio controlled I’m sure you’ll see just how much thought has gone into the design and electronics of this wee beast. For all of you modelling 2’ gauge industrial lines in quarries, dockside, treacle mines, or whatever else and you want a powerful, reliable and inexpensive ready to run battery loco, either manual or radio controlled, I can do little more than to point you towards “Hurricane” as certainly a locomotive to consider.