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Pig grunting noise is a bit harsh - it's one thing I like about them, more a 'lubricated guttural rumble'. I was brought up with Black 5's going over the local railway bridge across the main road, to become Class 40's for years, and years .... basically until I moved out .... !! 40 has got to be my general purpose diesel favourite, or equal with the 47, which replaced them 'on the bridge' - there's a nearby power station, presumably coal fired, and it also seemed to be a route to the Liverpool container terminal, so I remember loads of container trains going over ... Al.

Shouldn't there be 2? Anyone see the Deltic being 'moved' last night - some tight squeezes there!! Fantastic beast of a locomotive and can't wait to see the AccuraScale one .... Q2 2020 still? Al.

I reckon it's about time Bachmann start going to etched (see-through) grilles, working fans and opening doors. Perhaps even have the driver bobbing up-and-down, like some items I've had for my lads in the last 10 years .... OK, I'm going a little 'overboard' - and should be left there as well - name's not Bob ... It looks a great model, and I'm glad there's continued development of an already excellent locomotive. The small antennae look more robust than my 37 - fairly recent, older model - Ben Cruachan. What surprises me is the 37's popularity, not just as a model, but in real life - it's active longevity has been quite astounding in view of others which have fallen by the wayside. Al.

I like Sam's Trains' reviews, but this one was a tad negative I thought - not saying he's wrong, but does discourage thoughts of purchase - wife will thank him one day !! Al.

It'll get interesting once the first 'accelerated delivery' first arrivals start landing on contributors' layouts .... can't wait!! Al.

Thanks.

It's nice they're showing some imagination and initiative to please the enthusiastic modeller, and is also true we don't know how many of each extra has been budgeted, nor at what charge / cost to Bachmann themselves. Having said that, 95% should already have been written off as far as development, moulding and chassis are concerned, just leaving the headcode and livery development variations to cover on top of the actual raw cost minus development for production. I think they're having a bit of a .... but we're all entitled to our opinions, as you have been by your response to my original concern. What I don't disagree with is that it is a superb-running model, very well detailed and a credit to the manufacturer. Al.

Damn that is one ugly locomotive!! https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/10100-fell-loco.1082602/ Al.

It is amazing they've managed to hang onto these locomotives for so long!! The Bachmann model is pretty decent I must admit, but it does smack of commercialism a little out-of-control re-iterating an 'older design' with a new paint job and little extra besides, then slapping an extra £30 on top ... Al.

Didn't 6202 have a double chimney? Al.

They look fantastic. Pity I've about 20 of the older ones ... Al.

I've an R3677 and it's perfect .... NOT REALLY! When I received it, it was shorting out, and Hornby took it back, DEcreased some of the excessive soldering which was shorting in difficult-to-access areas, beneath a contact plunger. It runs smoothly forwards, OK backwards, but does 'click'. I notice the valvegear is a little loose and will try a little gentle crimping - worked on a 'new-old' R2303 5000 Black 5 without problem. Beautiful model, but may need a little work to make 'perfect'. Having said that, here's an absolute GEM I have, not worth a lot, but I've tweaked a little here and there ... particularly as the 1:1 is so active. Apparently it's ex-set, and didn't come with a box when I purchased. It's as smooth as the smoothest lightly whipped cream - and fast as well - 6233 Duchess of Sutherland. I noticed on some photos I took yesterday it didn't have a smokebox door 'dart', and looking at older photos of it, never had had - I just hadn't noticed!! It does now - chromed as well. I didn't fancy my painting skills enough to paint the hinges, otherwise it's pretty good!! Al.

Nice call!! Happy Birthday ... in anticipation. Will it arrive in time? What's the issue date of these beasties? Al.

Hi John, it runs perfectly, just 'turbocharged' shall we say. It's safely in storage, and 'Plan A' will be to fit a blanking plate for any prolonged period of operation again. Nice to know it is chipped, sort of future proofed, when I eventually go DCC!! Sound doesn't work on steam from ALL videos I've seen except Dapol Black, and school trips, meals and uniforms come before that ... unless the lottery comes up ... Al.

Is that a slider aka A4's? Al.

Just as I was posting what a superb-running 'new-old' locomotive 5000 is, that dreaded 'click, click, click' started, and a bent piston rod ... !! Seems to be resolved again - only a little bent, alignment reset, slight kink onto the sliders, then I noticed the valvegear had REALLY loosened up ... so a VERY careful bit of gently crimping and all seems good again ... he writes! Had a run of several loops with a heavier train of 9 streamliner coaches and no problem - smooth again! Seems to be confirmed - 'dodged a bullet' as they say! Al.

It says I've already 'voted' so I'll just 'add a cheeky vote' ... as you do!! Class 40 is greatly overlooked I reckon. Al.

This had been 'a major problem' for me once purchased 'new' as it was shorting out. It had been sat in one of those foam holders awaiting a 'few spare moments'. All motion is perfect - very smooth at it is (was) 100% 'new' - as new as a perhaps 12 year old locomotive can be I suppose - no marks anywhere. Lifting the base plate I figured there might be a chance that tiny square of insulation had moved and the pickups were shorting out on the chassis, so I replaced with a larger piece of insulation tape. I also had a 'little scrape here and there' at the generous helping of solder on the 8-pin DCC mount ... and ... all appears perfect and has been ever since. I then fitted the detailing; front steps (forward position), brake rods, sand pipes (a pain!), then added crew, replaced the front hook with a silver-painted metal 3-link, and got a little 'creative' around the cylinders ... Al.

There's often mention of the Class 37 - which is an admirable beastie, still doing excellent service despite it's many years, but it's bigger, and more-familiar - for me as I'd see them working every day on local lines when growing up - brother, the Class 40 1-Co Co-1 seems to be becoming overlooked now. This is a pity. The 'whistling Willies' as our family called them were daily viewing around our way. Bachmann's is excellent, but it appears to be starting to fall behind 'latest modelling techniques and expectations'. I VOTE THE ENGLISH ELECTRIC TYPE 4, CLASS 40. Al. PS: A consideration for Stephenson's Rocket and LMS' Turbomotive as well!! (I suppose the latter would need to have 'normal' 'Lizzies' which would put you in direct conflict with 'another manufacturer' ...

Gears on MN - same as WC/BoB? - seems identical to the 'recent' - as in not retooled but during last 15 years Coronations - that's how I replaced the gears on a MN I purchased recently, which failed. Motor mounts are identical as well - as is motor. Al.

Perhaps contact Heljan direct? I've one and it's a superb locomotive - very smooth and powerful - but only run on DC. Al.

Just trying to decrease their carbon footprint .... !! They look stunning. Can't wait to see them with a bit of colour on them .... TPE specifically .... !! Fantastic project and 'glad to be part of it' as they say. Al.

A couple of Heljan locomotives - DP2 for example - actually have a manufacturers' note stating that to fit the NEM coupling you need to cut back the detailing. This detracts a lot from the impression I think, but do they state the same for this locomotive? Is it possible to carefully tease out one or 2 items, and even angle away from the coupling? Al.

Anyone still after Brutus, it is not advertised as 'out of stock', so short of testing by ordering then cancelling, it may be in stock here: https://www.addlestone-models.co.uk/acatalog/Dapol-4D-022-014-CLASS-68-68019-TRANSPENINE-EXPRESS---DCC-21-PIN---4D_022_014.html#SID=193 Apologies if this is 'too supporting' but I've no relations in any way - just assisting fellow modellers. Al.

Nice cinematography Rob. I seem to like Britannias as well .... !! I have 3 - Brit, Ollie and Thomas Hardy. Very smooth runners - later models (with the roof vent thing). Al.