Silver Sidelines

Yes I had been pondering this issue. I had come to the conclusion that the provision of suitably large stay alive capacitors does away with the need for fly wheels. Watching the 'bargains' on the box shifters web sites and the prices of second hand models on eBay has me wondering how long before the buying and selling of steam outline models becomes a niche occupation with the bulk of the market devoted to modern image. I will let you think about the definition of modern image remembering that green liveried steam engines and marroon lined coaches dispeared off British Railways around 1964 - sixty years ago. Cheers Ray

It always puzzled me why Heljan thought we needed a new Peak. I was equally baffled with the Accurascale Deltics. Then if we look at the Manors there is much to puzzle over and to question why Bachmann never updated their model. As to Sam I am puzzled by his statement that the Hornby model will haul 20 coaches. His coaches look like trucks to me. Have I missed something? He does say the haulage is similar to the new 2MT so 20 trucks would be about right. I doubt there are many steam outline models out there that will haul twenty coaches. The Accurascale Manor is quite impressive but not that good.... Cheers Ray

That is very interesting - are all the blanking plugs faulty? I 'reached out' to you in January (terrible phrase should be reserved for the Four Tops) and exchanged two or three emails and videos with your man Simon. No mention of faulty blanking plugs. I have a number of these models which on and off all exhibit the same rough start. So what's the story. Regards Ray

Thank you for that confirmation. I suspected that Hornby would have used a standard design and there must be many more coaches out there with similar problems. The use of the 'lip' or step on the cam seems an unnecessary complication but might mean that Hornby can use the same close coupling mechanism over their whole range of coaches. In contrast Bachmann had to make different couplers for their Mk1 and Mk2 coaches to accommodate different thicknesses of coach floor. I started off by trying to smooth the inside lip of the cam. It was only then that I realised that the rubbing 'post' on the close coupling mechanism was no where near touching on the cam because the tooth was poking out too far. Regards Ray

Thanks for the interest. It's great isn't it. Even my sister commented. It is such a smooth runner, quite a contrast to the 15xx from thoses other people. Cheers Ray

I bought a rake back in 2021. The detail is very impressive however they have been parked up in a siding because they wouldn't stay on the track . Well actually just one kept leaving the track. I have finally got to investigate and have had to remediate the close coupling mechanism. I needed a suitable rake to go behind a Bachmann 94xx. The offending coach I have written a Blog Post here:

It would be January 2021 when Bachmann introduced their 94xx models. I bought the basic version. It had a lovely copper cap to its chimney and it ran perfectly without any trace of a wobble. Three years later and I have just purchased a sound fitted version. Bachmann 9479 – 32-27SF I have titled this Post ‘The Long Haul’ in recognition of the time that I have spent in recent weeks changing CVs to enable the engine to run on analogue. It would help if I knew what I was doing! The 94xx has a coreless motor which is super efficient. As a result the engine needs a whole different range of CV values to the ones I would usually apply. I would say it is still a work in progress. However I would say work is sufficiently advanced that I would give the engine a run around the layout. Hornby Bow Ended Colletts What carriages might be suitable? I had rake of Hornby Bow Ended Colletts parked up in a siding. These arrived on the layout in June 2021, so not long after the Bachmann 94xx. Why were they parked up? Ah well a quick trip around the layout reminded me that one of the coaches had a tendency to leave the track. After exiting a section of curved track the leading bogie was reluctant to rotate and would jump the track. The offending Bow Ended Brake Coach These Hornby coaches are super detailed models. Perhaps a little light weight. I have close coupled my set using Roco 40270 couplers. Now why don’t they stay on track? Hornby Coupling Mechanism Exposed! Removing the suspect coach from the track confirmed that the offending bogie did not always rotate smoothly. With the coach upside down on the kitchen table the bogie could be popped out of its housing with the blade of small screw driver. To fully investigate the close coupling mechanism it is then necessary to remove the keeper plate which is held in place with two screws. Bogie and Keeper Plate How straight is your Keeper Plate? On first inspection my keeper plate was bent in the middle and rubbing against the underlying close coupling mechanism. A quick massage to straighten the plastic and ‘all sorted’ – so I thought. Well it was nearly very good, especially after I had smeared it all with Vaseline. Sadly a little later and the leading coach was still leaving the track. The coach and the Close Coupling Mechanism was given a further closer inspection. Studying the mechanism at the opposite end of the coach suggested a possible cause. Stepped Close Coupling Cam Operation of the close coupling mechanism relies on a ‘Cam’. I have retrofitted such a mechanism to a Mainline Buffet car and simply cut a Cam shaped opening in the coach floor. Home Made ‘Cam’ for Mainline RB Hornby however have made a stepped cam to accommodate the protruding ‘tooth’ which is used to hold the mechanism up against the coach floor. Hornby Mechanism with tooth. Comparing the two mechanisms from opposite ends of the coach showed that the faulty mechanism had a much larger tooth which was presumably interfering with the smooth rotation of the bogie. A few quick cuts with a craft knife to shorten the ‘tooth’ and the issue was sorted. Now how does the 94xx perform with its rake of Bow Ended Colletts on analogue? I would say rather well!

Now then that 's a good answer. Where is it recommended? I tried discussing this matter with your Patrick and Simon and they never mentioned 14v. You do realise that this is an analogue layout? Cheers Ray

Design clever or just a mistake. Sadly like dogs they are only allowed one bite. I have to admit to not reading this thread before purchasing 48518. It is a nice model now... When D0G first arrived I had to fit sprung buffers and a smoke box dart. Move on to 2024 I was not expecting to find another model with a moulded smoke box details. I think I was so taken aback by the gap between the engine and tender that I didn't notice the smoke box, What were Hornby thinking about with nearly an inch gap between engine and tender? I estimate that as supplied the engine to tneder coupling is 7.5mm too long. As said it is a nice engine that runs and starts off smoothly - unlike the Accurascale Manor that it is deputising for in this little video. Cheers Ray

Cheers Al, I don't know - but my Bachmann Manor will 'just' haul the same rake but it makes a bit of a fuss. Note that ex Mainline Lydham Manor is fitted with a later Bachmann mechanism. Regards Ray

There was an article in Model Railway Constructor in April 1964 with drawings for the Thompson coaches. https://flic.kr/s/aHsjDyfNFf There is an aside about some windows being square conered and other round cornered to minimise damage from condensation. As regards painting the article states: Later, the B.R. crimson lake and cream livery was used on this stock, but, unlike other regions' coaches, there was no top band of crimson lake, the cream being taken up to the roof on most vehicles. Some at least of the full brakes, however, did sport a top crimson band on a level with the toplights. Most, if not all, coaches are now in the B.R. maroon livery. Nevertheless, "teak', livery survived for a long time on a few vehicles. One, a full third, No. 1499, was still in teak in 1957. The "L.N.E.R." had been painted out but the L.N.E.R.-style numbers had been merely supplemented with Gill Sans "E" prefix and suffix.

Just buy one - it would be sixty years ago. Lots happened. If you don't want to spend +£150.00 then the Bachmann 2MT Ivatt is an equally good model on eBay for a fraction of the Hornby price. There are pictures of 78028 and 78029 in their later years on Flickr. Cheers Ray

Fifteen Up! I feel I need to share this video link: I made this video to confirm the haulage capacity of the model. It is rather good. The shots have been carefully selected to show a smooth start. On other occasions the model will jump into life, something that Accurascale appear to be not willing to know about. Cheers Ray Fifteen Up! by Longsheds, on Flickr

As usual I am late to the party. I have been attempting to run these models with the lid off. This removes a lot of weight. It is soon apparent that the springing in front and rear pony trucks is mega strong with a tendancy to lift the driving wheels off the track. Without the body on mine cuts out in all manner of places. It is a rigid six coupled mechanism and the cutting out issue may simply be down to a loss of rail contact. As an aside the springing arrangement for the front truck is hardly fit for purpose. There is a small diameter 'washer' that is supposed to fit inside the spring. My spring is too large a diameter to grip the washer and the whole spring arrangement has a tendancy to jam up inside the bogie. I have removed the Sonic washer and replaced it with a standard shiny steel washer on top of the spring and between the spring and bogie. It seems to work fine, the bogie rotates perfectly and I think there is less tendancy for the bogie to lift the driving wheels. Cheers Ray

After not a little bit more time I have changed some more CVs and I have a better controlled sound fitted model running on analogue. Apologies for the ex GWR influence as the engine seems to have been transported both in time and place. Cheers Ray