Robin Brasher

My model of Metropolitan No 1 at Corfe Castle Station which the locomotive visited in 2014. I am glad that I chose it in the correct 2013 - 2020 condition

In retrospect it seems more sensible to order items directly from Hornby because Hornby honours the original asking price whereas the local model shop is usually unable to do so.

Hornby are offering a free 2024 catalogue for all in stock orders over £50. It looks like there has not been much demand for the latest catalogue.

I am sorry that I did not notice that there was a front coupling in the parts pack that can be fitted with a screw. I thought the video in the last post was excellent and there was useful advice about how to make the Stanier coaches free running.

Hornby's TT:120 does not have a front coupling and I don't think it would be easy to fit one. I would like to see front couplings on all steam locomotives. Meanwhile I ran in my "Duchess of Montrose" on my layout at Furzebrook Village Hall last Sunday and then ran it with a couple of crimson and cream coaches. "Duchess of Atholl" with a couple of maroon coaches is in the background. They both ran very well.

You will be pleased to see that my Metropolitan E Class has arrived at the Swanage Station shop. I have now run it in for an hour light engine and I am very pleased with it. I was also pleased to see that Rapido test there locomotives before dispatching them and that the locomotive fits in the box with its couplings on. Unfortunately I will not be able to run it on the Hornby Railway Collectors Association layout as they use Hammond and Morgan controllers. Mine is a Gaugemaster controller. I don't know if it is a feedback controller or if it is over 30 years old.

Some pictures showing the evolution of the TT:120 Duchess of Montrose: 1. The relative size of the packaging has increased considerably since Hornby Dublo produced the original Duchess of Montrose. 2. A play worn Hornby Dublo Duchess of Montrose in matt green livery that was introduced in 1954. A friend who serviced it wrote that it was the most dirty and neglected model he had ever seen but, surprisingly, it runs very well. 3. A Hornby 00 gauge version with a plastic body. I prefer the TT:120 model with a partly metal body.

The nostalgia market may have inspired Hornby to make the Duchess of Montrose as the locomotive was Hornby Dublo's flagship model in the 1950s. A comparison of the models shows significant improvements over the years. This has culminated in the TT:120 model with a mainly metal body at a reasonable price. I have not been able to run it yet.

After waiting over 70 years for an updated model of the Hornby Dublo EDL11 Silver King in British Railways cycling lion livery the Hornby version in a Hornby Dublo box has arrived. I have not yet had an opportunity to run the new model but the pictures show how the original Hornby Dublo and the new models compare: 1. The new R30349 Silver King. 2. A Hornby Dublo EDL11 gloss green version dating from 1953. 3. The new Hornby Dublo Sillver King box. 4. A Tony Cooper reproduction EDL11 Hornby Dublo Silver King box. The tender had a separate box. d

A picture of my Hornby Dublo Duchess of Atholl which is still running after 70 years for comparison with the TT:120 model. I am pleased that Hornby is reverting to a metal boiler which aids adhesion. The new model is in a richer crimson lake livery and it looks better in the correct gauge. The track also looks better without the centre rail electrical pick up.

I have not had a problem with the rear pony truck wheels dropping with my Duchess of Atholl but like Sam I am not a fan of the rigid pony truck. All the TT:120 layouts I have seen have been train set layouts and the rigid rear pony truck looks ridiculous when the locomotive is running round curves. The rigid pony truck may look more authentic for modellers of the West Coast Main Line but to date I have not seen any TT:120 layouts based on this railway.

The Hornby TT:120 site is getting a bit cluttered due to the interest in the new scale so I think it is a good idea to post a new topic for the Duchess of Atholl. Producing a model of Duchess of Atholl has its roots in Hornby Dublo days and recently Hornby has produced one in 00 gauge. I have all three models. I am very impressed with the TT:120 model's appearance and its running. So far I have just run it for a couple of circuits forwards and backwards on my portable layout.

I ran my Duchess of Atholl last evening. It ran very well. Although I did not have the issues with the rear pony truck wheels dropping as in Sams Trains I share his views about a rigid pony truck. One of my friends wondered how many people are modelling the West Coast main line. I am just making a train set that I can fit in my hatchback reminiscent of the Hornby Dublo train sets.

City of Wells has arrived at Swanage for the strictly Bulleid weekend. I am looking forward to reproducing the scene in model form with my Hornby model.