scottrains29

Hopefully the EWS coach pack uses the same tooling as the EWS Train pack. Annoyingly, their fairly recent Northern Belle Train train pack used Airfix mk2s whereas the coach pack used the newer design clever mk2s. I'll probably try and get a set to recreate the Fife circle Train but I'd have preferred if Hornby had gone for coaches that are actually needed to complete previous Hornby release. For example more Northern Belle coaches (mk1BG, mk2s, mk3 sleepers) all of which would sell well and wouldn't require any new tooling. Or Caledonian swoosh and First group mk2s to complete Hornby's previous mk3 sleepers. After waiting for Hornby to tool up the mk2 rfb I've finally done what others have and bought the Bachmann one to finally complete my Hornby Virgin rake. Talking of missing Hornby Virgin coaches It's now over 23 years since they released the scale length Virgin HST mk3 (with silver window frames) yet they have still never produced a matching TGS (with silver window frames) needed to complete the rake despite having the tooling.

The HST pack is only £20 more per powercar for sound. Although I think the non sound HST is vastly overpriced for what it is

I don't think Hornby even know. Their previous Strathclyde 101s were main range!

Definitely Maybe!

It says it works with Hornby e-link, but does the e-link actually have an expressnet port? Perhaps the dongle is meant to plug into the pc.

Is the EWS coach pack the same coaches that were used on the Fife circle Scotrail services when it was operated by EWS?

I've got a couple and regularly see them on eBay or Hattons pre owned (including the blue Strathclyde one). On the other hand my Scotrail/Strathclyde suggestions are even harder to get as Hornby haven't actually produced these!

Montana goes through all the Railroad models and states each one has a 3 pole motor, including the class 67. Has this always been the case? I thought the Limby motor bogie, and the Railroad class 67, had 5 pole motors. Also seems a bit of a strange choice for another Strathclyde 101 (albeit now in the Railroad range), as Hornby have already produced this same model. A different livery (eg ScotRail) 101, or a ScotRail/Strathclyde 156 would've been better.

Still no XC power cars to haul my XC SD MK3 rake. These go for crazy prices on eBay and are in high demand. It's interesting the sound fitted HST pack is only £20 more per powercar than the non sound HST packs.

The email even told us to set our alarms for 8pm. I think Hornby are just trying to get us used to disappointment! ;)

Last month I purchased some HYAs packs for £51.15 (£25.57 a wagon) from TMC. They regularly post discount codes on Facebook so worth keeping an eye out. Accurascale were also selling them direct for £54 on black Friday so the price is comparable to Hornby if you shop around. I'd say the Accurascale ones are better as they have more added detail parts (much of the Hornby detailing is moulded on) they also have extra features such as sprung buffers and working tail lights. Admittedly, they need a little mod to go round sharp curves but otherwise they're great wagons. The Hornby ones are still fantastic value especially when comparing to other Hornby models. Even the latest Bachmann HTA (now quite an old tooling) has an RRP of £63.95 per wagon!! I do wonder if Hornby made a mistake somewhere by producing packs of two rather than two single packs. It wouldn't be the first time a Hornby factory has messed up. It'll be interesting to see if there is any mention about them at next week's 2023 range launch.

I'm not so sure we will see more released anytime soon. The fact that these tier 1 exclusives have been such a success will be an incentive for model shops to remain/join tier 1 and therefore good news for Hornby. It would be foolish of Hornby to release them in the main range so soon as it basically suggests all future tier 1 exclusives will quickly join the main range if they happen to be popular. They could release them again as tier 1 exclusives but I'd wait a few years first. Keeping demand high for all future tier 1 exclusives will only help these model shops. Had these wagons not been in such high demand I probably wouldn't have bothered buying them, afterall the Accurascale biomass wagons are far superior and have been available for months now at around the same price for a pair (TMC, Rails sales etc). I've even had to resort to rule 1 to run the Drax wagons on my Scottish layout! I suspect we will see more tier 1 exclusives announced next week but I'm not sure it'll be the biomass wagons this time.

Details, details...

Sawyers advent day/weekend has various Hornby mk4 coaches for £30 and mk4 DVTs for £60. Both cheapest I've seen. https://sawyermodels.co.uk/?product_cat=advent-calendar&paged=1

Try this link: https://railsofsheffield.com/products/oxford-rail-or76dg005xs-gwr-dean-goods-2534-with-snow-plough-dcc-sound

Perhaps it's the long awaited Railmaster Loco Detection System! How many years now since it was first announced? A demo layout at Warley would be perfect to showcase it.

Nice. I wonder if I can get a discount for guessing correctly? 😀

I visited last week and 43102 was in the front lineup. Would be nice to see someone else do the hst. The Hornby model is vastly overpriced for a now dated model. I suspect Heljan are more likely to produce something niche eg the NER class ES1.

Will that be TTTTS? Let's hope Oxford don't then bring out a sound fitted Audi TT. That would be a TTTTTTS!

Perhaps Accurascale could sell single sleeper coaches for those of us on a tight budget or just simply lack space for a typical full rake. A single car formation ran up to Aberdeen last Sunday. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:74874/2022-09-04/detailed#allox_id=0

I assumed that's what he meant. The Bachmann model is well past it's sell-by date and should be retired. It still has painted-on sidelights!! The Hattons model is far superior in every way once the few (easily fixable) issues are sorted.

I wonder if they'll do an OO SPT 101 if/when the new Farish Collectors club model sells well. It's been quite a while since they've done any Scottish DMUs suitable for the 90/00s period. The limited edition SPT 107 and Swoosh 150 models sold very well. I'm sure a tatty ScotRail 117 would also be popular. Nice to see more HTAs, but at £70 each I'd rather buy more twin packs of Accurascale's highly detailed HYA for around £30 a wagon.

TMC currently have a few sound fitted 90's for £237 using the code "PAYDAY". They currently have Freightliner green, freightliner grey (weathered), and InterCity. Only one or two left so will probably sell out soon. https://www.themodelcentre.com/32-620sf

Doesn't look like it'll have opening cab doors anymore, unlike the existing Bachmann 37/4. I always thought Bachmann executed this feature better than Hornby. It's also a shame they've gone for EWS Cardiff Canton as the Vitrains model isn't too bad once fully detailed and weathered. There's plenty of other EWS 37/4's that have never been done yet. The new tooling is definitely welcome and gives the modeller more choice. I suspect I'll end up buying both AS and Bachmann models.

I suspect it'll either sell out very fast or end up in the bargain bins. It'll be interesting to watch. I would have preferred if they had just produced one fictional jubilee loco and used the spare capacity to produce something that people actually want. We are still crying out for more XC power cars to run with all those SD coaches that ended up in the bargain bins last year.