Hornby Class 73

[eric709]

Hi,

 

Just wondered if anybody could shed a bit of light on the Hornby Class 73 please?

 

Are the version released by Hornby the exact same chassis / motor as the original Lima loco's. I know they are DCC ready just wondered if any other alterations had been added?

 

Thanks

[craigwelsh]

Hornby fitted their new motor bogie in all the ex-Lima stuff and got rid of the pancake motors.

[johnb]

The Hornby motor bogie is a better runner at slow speed.

The first batches still retained the old style Lima coupling, the later issues have NEM pockets fitted.

[frobisher]

The first batches still retained the old style Lima coupling, the later issues have NEM pockets fitted.

 

And traction tyres. The very first batch didn't have these and are "haulage challenged" under quite a few circumstances.

[NickL2008]

Detail wise the Hornby re-release is unchanged, same crude air horns, moulded roof grills, stepless bogies, incorrect and flat looking headlight and 2D underframe which carriers several Hornby weights in it to aid traction instead of the steel slab Lima used, the Hornby motor is wired up to an 8 pin DCC socket also. The model still has no lighting at all

 

NL

[chris bales]

The Lima 73 body will fit streight on to the Hornby chassis if thats what you wanted to know my friend. I have done this to four of mine. C

[SRman]

Ditto here! I bought several cheap Dutch or NSE liveried ones from Hattons and placed my older Lima bodies on them, as well as DCC-chipping them (one with sound). A useful way to update the chassis and running qualities while retaining valued/cherished older bodies and liveries.

[kintbury jon]

As said earlier they do not have much power behind them though I tend to run mine double headed anyway. I do prefer the artwork of the Lima bodies though there's nothing wrong with the dutch one. They do fly round though!

[SRman]

My reasons for picking the Dutch and NSE ones over other specials also available were that these versions have the NEM coupling pockets and smaller tension lock couplings, plus the traction tyres needed for reasonable hauling power. To aid pickup, I swapped one traction-tyred axle left-to-right so that three non-tyred wheels pick up on each side. Using DCC allows some fine-tuning of the running characteristics so I have no issues with their running qualities (and please don't think I'm trying to start a DCC against non-DCC debate; I'm emphatically not!). Before I chipped them they did have rather a high top speed.

[eric709]

Many thanks for all your replies, your input is very much appreciated. May start to try and find some cheapish Hornby models and get some "hybrids" sorted like some of you have.