Steam here!

Just revisited pages 17-18, thanks for your help LNER4479. The good news is I have a few of those locos, the bad news is somehow I think the jinty will struggle, will have to do some trial and error.

I just wanted to check regarding the daily duties of the "Coronation Scot" how was it done? I take it the Princess Coronation loco was prepared and left the shed, headed to the station, coupled up to its coaches and when ready it departed? Also could I further check regarding the empty stock movements, were the coaches kept in a carriage siding? Would a station pilot collect the empty coaching stock and bring them into the station, uncouple and wait for the express loco to leave with train? (Coronation Scot train departing) When the Coronation Scot train arrived at the other terminus loco first, would the station pilot couple up and take the empty coaches away to a triangle or put them back in the carriage siding? Just confirming the types of the loco hauling empty coaching stock would I be right thinking. The jinty, 5mt "black 5", 3f were there any other types of locos? Callum

I never thought about that, Hornby's other LNER Pacific's, when you put it like that it does make sense. I think I'll leave it for the time being, regarding the front nem bogie. Come to think of it all of the other express locos I have I never used the front nem pocket.

Hi Ray, thank you for clearing that up for me, that makes a lot of sense now, regarding 60513 and No: 500 this also makes sense too, really helpful, interesting about the A4s.

Just some colour comparisons of Hornby's LNER green. Hornby A2/3 no:b500 "Edward Thompson" (just Released) Hornby D49 no: 2753 "Cheshire" (1979-1981 According to Hornby guide.com) sits on the modern Railroad chassis (loco drive).

"Coronation" doing a hill start on the 2% gradient.

no: 6220 "Coronation" with the full set "Coronation Scot"

I forgot to ask in my previous post, if anyone is using kadees couplings on the A2/3s and is thinking of putting one on the front, please could you share with us. Also a futher question regarding the prototypes. Regarding the Hornby collectors club magazine page 31, theres a photo showing 60513 "Dante" with a branch line headcode, pulling just two coaches, unfortunately it doesn't give a location. It seems very unlikely, but were these ever used on branchline services? Also I noticed a photo earlier on of no: 500 "Edward Thompson" at Nottingham Sheffield Victoria station? On the front of the loco there are 2 white disks displaying express passenger headcode. Does anyone know why the LNER used these White disks? It just seems out of place. Southern region and southern locos I could understand.

PH, thank you for the link for the photo, that's now given me food for thought for what rolling stock I should be using. Robmcg, thank you so much for the info that's a great help, its given me a more of an insight to the class. I have seen a photo of one at York in the station from the Hornby collectors club magazine page 31. Showing no: 60524 "Herringboune" I must atmit, I know very little about the A2/3s and I do like them, I'm glad that they have been made and after the haulage test I put it through, I was impressed apart from the few niggles, it really is a lovely model and do look forward to using her on the future layout. zr2498, great to see the sand pipes, I must contact Hornby this afternoon, fingers cross I get the same result.

Just some of the areas I mentioned yesterday.

The detail/accessory pack.

Both of my LNER versions Arrived yesterday from Collett Models with mixed views. I almost pre ordered the br geen versions as well, after careful thinking I decided just to order the LNER versions only. Sadly R3833 no: 514 "Chamossaire" will have to be returned due to the valve gear issues, giving the loco a limp motion and won't go round 2nd radius curves unless it was going really fast. As for R3832 no: 500 "Edward Thompson" That will be staying, hoping this overview will give others an insight/ an idea of what to expect from the model. My View On The Loco no: 500 Overall it has a smart and clean appearence, the paintwork is tidy, there's no blemishes, neatly apllied black and white lining all add up. The builders plate on the cab sides is crisp and clear, the font used on for L N E R on the tender and the 500 on the cab sides is applied neatly and crisp (you can make out the writing). The red lining applied along the running plate and axel boxes again is very clean and just helps enhance the model. Sprung buffers at both ends, removable coal load with a blank space beneath it, with real coal added it won't be noticed, there is a gap at the front of the tender to add real coal in the cab area, which is a nice touch. Overall its a very quiet and smooth engine and looks like a promising loco. One thing to be careful off, is the flangless wheel, if there's any sudden dips, especially when leaving a straight and entering a 2nd radius curve it may cause the loco to made a nudge, nothing drastic, but just noticeable. However though there are some drawbacks regarding the model. •1st off, the cab detail whislt its painted and detail, its not one of the best we've seen, solid gold painted water gauges, plain white gauges with no dial details. •Looking from above along the top of the boiler you have noticeable seam/joint running from the front of the cab all the way to smokebox. The smoke delectors are made out of plastic and seem fragile (there's no upper supports). Coming down to the front bogie, there is no nem pocket, just a solid bar in front. I don't know if there's a suitable Hornby nem pocket bogie available as a replacement for this. Is this way things are heading? Newly tooled locos with the front nem pocket omitted example LNER A2/2 and A2/3. Looking side ways on the front bogie there is a very minor gap. The running plate feels very fragile, if you were to pick up the loco (it not as strong as you may think). •Also it appears there are a pair of sand pipes misding on the rear brake shoes. Under the cab the flangeless wheel, there's no alternative flanged wheel in the accessory pack, I don't understand why Hornby have done this, I will of course contact Hornby with my concerns. Accessory pack consits off: •Loco brake rods •Drain cocks •Front loco steps Pulling Power: The loco pulled with ease from a hill start at the bottom of a 2% gradient followed by 2nd radius curves, whislt pulling 9 Hornby railroad LNER Gresley coaches and 2 Southern railway GBL luggage vans. Overall I'm very pleased with this model and will be adding the extra details later. I hope that has given those who are thinking of ordering one/ who has pre ordered one an idea of what to expect from the model. Callum

Hornby LNER A2/3 no: 500 "Edward Thompson" A quick question everyone, regarding the protypes, did these locos only operate on passanger trains? On the back of the back of the box it shows 8P7F and i'm just unsure. Callum

Thank you 69843 for that something new I've learnt

Well folks, I've weighed the GT3 and it weighs an impressive: 502Grams Heljan Kestrel weighs: 587 grams So the model itself, what do I think to it? Considoring that there is no prototype surviving (in preservation) except a 5inch gauge model. Overall KRModels have captured the model extremely well, when comparing photos from google, I must say KRModels have nailed it. The model consists of the following that I have found: •Sprung buffers •Seperately applied details including hand rails. •very high built quality (feels very robust). •Very heavy, strong loco. •Nem pockets •Loco/cab lighting •GT3 badge •Optional Extras (accessory pack). •Headcode disks (can be rearranged for the moddellers requirments). •Paperwork with exploded diagram Running qualities: The loco overall is very quiet and smoothe. After running in there is still a faint squeaking sound coming from the tender alxes, I did have a look and it does look dry, I do have some Gaugemaster lubrication oil (the tall but narrow type. The shape of a pen if that makes sense). Itd the only fault I have discovered on this model). Livery application : To me it looks spot on, very neatly applied, the extra little details that you may not notice straight away at first glance. On the tender you've got these two gauges on both sides, picked out with letters and numbers which are minute, you may need a nagnifying glass to see the context of those gauges. The warning flash labels (overhead wires?) on the sides of the tender body stands out crisp and clear, its the same english electric logo that's been neatly applied and the text is neatly legible from a distance. You've also got the SKF picked out in white, which stands out on the green chassis axelboxes. You can see the rivets on the chassis itself, with the springs although the same colour do stand out. There's also seperayely applied footrail that's just beneath the indetntations of a set of steps in the sides of the tender, have been captured really wheel. On top of the tender you've got a black grille that's been seperately fitted, looking from the right angle I think you cann the blanking plug? Towards the end of the tender looking from above there is two squarish indentations with a rectangular one in between them. As for the glazing on the rear of the tender you've got this silver surround, which makes the windows stick, the same is also applied to the cab windows and doors. The door between the cab and tender though is plain green. The loco cab steps have a indentation of diagonal cross pattern, at the front of the cab looking from the loco buffers (head on) you'll also notice you've got of black wipers on the fron windows that are seperately fitted. The running plate is also neatly applied with very ridges on the surface (you'll have to tun your finger left and right). Its the same effect on top of the buffers which are attached to the red footsteps. The front bogie as well has this SKP (not sure what it stands for) with the green behind it, with the springs, axelboxes and rivets picked out. There is also a long horizontal bar above the bogie (not sure what this for?) You even see the extra details beyound the grilles, with these horizontal green bars. On top of the loco at the front you've got this raised green unit with the gold bars, moving futher up the loco, looking from the correct angle and looking down you can see what appears to be two hatches, with two black airducts/vents? The loco also comes with a close coupling method between the loco and tender, keeping both units close together even on 2nd radius curves, which is one of the best mothods I have seen. Ussually the moddeller has to guess how close the get both of units together on their layouts. Here the work is done for them. The length (loco buffer to tender buffer) = 27.4cm The working lights DCC Ready (analogue users) At the back there are just two (one either side of the door). When going backwards, there is some flickering, going forwards they are continuously red. For the cab you get this sort of evil red glow from the light in the ceiling. For the front of the loco (going backwards) its only the two lights in the brown headlamps that come on. (Going forwards) all six lights come on including the two brown headlamps. Cab Detail: In the cab, you can see a red/burgendy floor, two light grey seats an above console at the front but in the centre. Looks like a panel with a door/grill on it? Haulage power from a 2% start, followed by 2nd radius curves, you'll be pleased to know it was able to pull up hill and pushdown backdown 8 Hornby Southern Maunsell coaches with wheel slip, I did try it with 9 coaches the wheels just spun and it wasn't going anywhere. I still think that is still impressive though for a 4-6-0. Kadees on minum 3rd Radius No: 19 tender end No:18 loco end I've not added the detail parts yet and won't be doing till I get the new layout up and running, but that is something to look forward to. Thank you for reading this post, hope you've found it intersting and most useful and has given you an idea of what to expect from the model. Callum

Just finished running in the GT3, overall I have to say so far I'm very pleased with it and like the loco tender connection it's very revelutionary only seen something similar on the Stirling Single. I haven't had a detailed look at the model due to time constraints and with the model running in. I will tomorrow take a more detailed look tomorrow and hoping to add kadee couplings to it. The loco itself is very heavy, the tender is also heavy. I will have to compare this with the Heljan Kestrel (weight wise) which I'd imagine is roughly the same if not, not too far off. Having found a section on the test track there is a 2% gradient. I'll be interested in what it can pull. I should have some more info and photos tomorrow.

Thank you pre grouping fan, that now makes a lot of sense.

More photos of unboxing. (Sorry about the quality of photos). The loco comes with a nice badge of GT3. There is also an accessory pack included. Which consists of the following: Pipes Screwlink chain 4 X folded headcode disks ( 2X brown and 2x green). 6 X green circle things (not sure what these are)? Vacuum and steam heating pipes? I've yet to get it onto the test track.

Well folks, the GT3 is here! More photos of unboxing and contents to follow. Callum

One thing I have noticed since I've changed my points to where possible from Peco set track to Peco streamline and having given the loco release a more realistic length. Is that the maximum length for a rake of coaches has gone from 4 to 3. The maximum rake of short Hornby private owner wagons is 9 plus the guards van. I have also marked clearence lines. So I know they'll never been a collision, the points should help as well reduce of the swing effect on locomotives, when travelling on any curve.

As for the goods shed it will stay some where in this corner having a narrow board, means I don't have much choice but to place it parallel with the carriage sheds.

For those who are either returning to the hobby or who are new or are interested. I thought I would include a couple of photos of Peco Medium code 100 streamline and Peco Medium code 100 set track

You'll notice I have included a storage siding at the front, this was originally for the TPO, having played around this moring seeing what's best for what should go where, does seem very unlikely. I may use this siding however for putting together goods trains another carriage siding? Again I'm not sure on this.

Elsewhere I've been pottering the idea of how I want the station to function what i'll represent. Nothing's yet finalised, however I am tempted to keep the bay platform.