Railpassion

I think Hornby is presenting itself like the 1970s but the market is far demanding and sophisticated with determined competition. Why did I return to model railways? Because I bought Bachmann diesel locos that work and don't have to be pushed like the old Hornby ones. All around Hornby circle competitors who are motivated by Hornby's inability to produce what the hobby wants. They are successful because they are good and Hornby remain tone deaf to the customer. TT120 was a bold new start but even here, with a blank sheet and no competition, they manage to repeat their old mistakes, releasing inconsistent items rather than a coherent range of engines and carriages/wagons that work together. On top of that, mentioned by previous posters, they fail to exploit the variations possible in a model run to maximise their return on the initial outlay.

Sound is the game changer for me. Shunting and running round is now such a pleasure with sound. From realistic acceleration to locos idling whilst the driver has his tea break, the sheer presence and heft which sound gives has transformed my experience. The ability to switch off the sound is also an essential feature when needing to concentrate on wiring or trackwork etc. I'd agree with the OP that buying sound fitted locos (new or second hand) rather than just DCC is sensible in order to save money.

The Mk1 inbetweeners power the MK2 kit from their dynamos.

Thanks @Kaput I shall get onto the shop.

In Switzerland, on the same stock, the doors often begin to close as the train moves off, finally locking as the train hits around 15kmh It seems those travelling on the Jacobite will be enjoying a heat free experience. Will WCRC provide blankets and complementary hot drinks?

I bought an Imperium decoder from digitrains at the York show. An 8 function 21 pin for a Dapol 22 in 00. I took it back as the cab lights flashed and it wouldn't address from 3. They helpfully readdressed it and told me to reset the CVs for lighting. Having done this the loco now runs erratically, stopping every six inches then suddenly racing off on full power. The cab lights still flash on when addressed. My recommendation is not to touch any Dapol Imperium decoders.

Thank you. So, basically forget steam and run diesels. Lol It's a lovely model but maybe it has to go?

Looking good. The cab windows look just right. Have you any advice for Kadees on a layout with radius 2 curves behind the backscenes? Do the Bachmann Mk1s need adjustment for Kadees due to coupling height?

Thanks, I'll try it tomorrow. I'm on a dynamis system bought new for Xmas.

Thanks, The chip is a recent-ish 36-557 bought in January. It's an ESU lokpilot. The 3F is a newish model with tender pick ups. On DC it runs faultlessly with a blanking chip.

I've just installed a 21 pin Bachmann chip in my 3F. On DC the running is superb but on DCC it's hopeless. Very uneven and sets off too quickly at 1/28. Is there a solution? I'm using a Dynamis system.

The new Moorsline is a lesson in how not to do it. By all means have a new title with a brochure style, but to wipe out the entire existing format was stupidity. Has the Arts Council grant paid for the new Moorsline?

I liked the 3mm at York. The blue diesels looked the part. Chunky and not too small. The class 76s were very neat.

Pannier and B set would, perhaps, be most likely.

Yes, I spoke to him at York and he told me the sheer number of different types made everything more time consuming. He's a stickler for detail, I agree and I'm delighted with my class 24. Very tempted to order a 25 in blue.

I think there's a large number of variations in the 25s, unlike the few types of 24 first issued. I thunk that's the problem when sending and checking each order.

Talking of Whitby

If you want sound at a future point, I think it's pointless buying a loco without it. The sheer cost of fitting sound to a DCC model is off putting. With sound there is an entirely new dimension to operating. It's also possible to switch off the sound and run the traditional way.

I should say I'm an enthusiast for TT and support Hornby. Alas, the launch strategy seems to have lost direction.

How many Pannier tanks could they sell in the first year? At £120 each, could they sell 5000? 20,000 over 3 years?

Journey times are extended. Pickering to Grosmont used to be 50 minutes but now is 1h10 minutes with a lot of waiting around. The 1200 departure to Whitby takes 1h50 minutes!!!

Hornby seem determined to miss opportunities and deny themselves sales. The range needs to be coherent. Flying Scotsman is all very well but nothing steam for GWR or Southern is crazy. A Pannier tank would sell like hot cakes. And then this text describing a home signal on today's announcements "The red arms are often seen before signals with yellow arms, which signify 'distant' or 'caution'. A semaphore signal is used as per early GWR and LMS operating days" Are they paying these people?

Is it me, or is the choice of models utterly chaotic?

I must say all the 25s I saw this afternoon at York looked stunning. The blues look particularly attractive.

An excellent show with something for everyone. I feel I need to go again on Monday. Not as crowded as it has been but nicely busy. A stand out layout for me was Sherton Abbas, a 7mm GWR branch terminus, set at eye level, with inspiring scenery and brass domed locos.