Legend

I think we would all want items released a little quicker. To get that critical mass into the scale . As I’ve said before I’m waiting for the 37 and 47to go with HST and 08 . But I think 18 months in you have to give credit to Hornby . They have succeeded in introducing 4 new locos , with the HST being the 4th with the 50 one month away (5th)and the Duchess (6th) following behind . To me one of the most successful launches was Mainline railways in 1976 , but even there the two steam locos were available only 1 year in (J72 and 4MT ) . It took until Jan 78 , so 22 months from launch to get the 45 .So I think Hornby are not doing too badly . Of course this is a new gauge and not a new range in an existing gauge like Mainline was .

Is this an April Fool ? Seriously pacers on Fort William to Mallaig . How to lose the market in one go

The Barrhead line formerly operated by 156s went over to electric in December . East Kilbride trains are currently 4 car only because of platform alterations - so I’m hoping 156s are available . To be honest my idea of a heritage train is compartments so the Jacobite with its SOs wouldn’t have done much for me ( neither will mk 2 or 3s unless done to Pullman standard) so I’d be happy with extra Scotrail services in WCRC paths .

I think yes . My thoughts are that Simon Kohler looked to see what sold in OO and simply thought he would do the best sellers . A3,A4 and an 08 . Totally dis functional . While I’m looking forward to the Duchess and Staniers it’s a bit left field having introduced eastern models . These are going to be outliers in the range for years . The J50 will bolster the Eastern side and fill in need for an 0-6-0 that should have been recognised from the beginning . The designer said today that the 37 was scanned and CAD CAM done from fresh as although these models exist in OO there was no CAD files . That perhaps explains the reason why we are getting a 50 first instead of 37/47. If you look at Farish extension of their modern range in 81 it was HST, 37,47 and 08 . I would have thought that sensible for TT too . Certainly when it reaches that critical mass I’ll have a look at TT120 as a secondary layout . I love that HST . But their models are all over the place at the moment .

hi Ryan . It’s in the official launch video from Hornby , about half way through

I’m puzzled as to what people expect. This is not OO . I thought the announcements were fine . There’s a previously unannounced loco , the J50, some container wagons and renders of the new 37 . A few re liveries . Looked pretty good to me . I do like the signals . the HST may well be the clincher for me to start a new layout with sound , although still would like 37 and a 47

I do believe in such a thing as personal responsibility . Trouble is we seem to be legislating this out in everything we enter into . It’s always someone else’s fault . That bag of nuts should have contained a warning saying “may contain nuts”

Aye . I have to say I’ve changed my position on this . I was originally of the view that people should know how to open and lock doors . I remember in the seventies as we ran onto the platform into Paisley Gilmour St if on the Ayr dmu, that I had the window down and hand on the lock opening it before the train stopped - mainly because my main concern was not getting the door open and the train departing taking me to next station . I had never swung the door open before we stopped though . But times have changed . People are used to sliding doors and just don’t know how to deal with these doors . And I do remember sitting in a restaurant watching a couples kid as he ran and bounced off glass Doors . They thought it very funny while my heart was in my mouth . So always remember there really are stupid people out there that need to be catered for in rules and procedures . It may well be that we need to do something on heritage railways too

Good point . I always think of them as GWR celestories , as I’m old enough to remember them described as that in the catalogue , I think to go with the Lord of the Isles . But I had forgotten they’ve appeared as LNER , Midland and even Railway Children liveries . The later GWR celestories have been available in Midland livery too

I have to say on this particular stretch of railway I think the risk is overblown IF the stewards are in place . People die climbing Ben Nevis every year , but I note there is no proposal to put handrails up or flatten the mountain . However , these are the rules ! They have been in place for 30 years with various exemptions where it was also stated back in 2019 that these exemptions would end . So WCRC have known about it . And everyone else is complying . Do they really think they are above the law ( a rhetorical question because I genuinely think they do) and if they think this about CDL what else are they not doing ? We have seen examples of their running and practices in the past which caused near disaster . So like others you just want to tell them to get on with it ! However given their attitude I’m now thinking do they deserve to be on our railway at all, maybe it would be better if someone else took it over , even Scotrail running extra 156s in the paths created .

They’ve been like that for a while . We had one follow us on a Royal Caribbean. We had a nickname for it , the XXXXX of the Seas , which it won’t allow me to type here , owing to the tadpole like thing along the hull ( it rhymes with perm)

They’re are a few things here . Firstly Hattons announced first and were taking orders before Hornby jumped in . While Hornby had theirs out first , many people would have already ordered from Hattons Secondly the quality of the Hattons coaches are superb , and they really do stand apart from the Hornby ones . I have the LMS 4 rake and they really are beautifully assembled and decorated . Third there is the value for money . I can’t remember the pricing of each item now but I don’t think Hornby were that much cheaper , if at all . What you get with the Hattons models in terms of quality, paint finish , lighting is superb value for money Will this translate to bogie coaches , possibly but I’m not sure ? You’d be up against some actual models like GWR top lights , which appear to be going down really well . Also at the super cheepo end of the market ( where I usually exist) there are the old , but still available through eBay , Farish OO coaches in both corridor and non corridor formats . These are nicely decorated models that possibly were the original and forgotten generic bogie coaches - as opposed to Mk1s in the colours of the big 4 . I suppose it depends on features and value for money .

Completely agree . WCRC seem to be being completely pigheaded on this , and it’s a fair point if they have this attitude towards CDL what other laws don’t they think they should be adhering too . You really want to grab them and say for goodness sake (or worse) just get on with it . i think we now have to figure out ways of getting rid of WCRC completely and replacing them with another operating company . Won’t save this year , but hopefully we can get something better next year .

I do like the front/back lighting effect as they emerge/disappear into tunnel . Might have a wee trip to capture the old and new stock . I believe they are both running at the moment with the new stock being phased in I remember doing the full circuit when the new trains came in in 1980 . Makes me realise how old I am . I really like Geoff Marshall’s films

I’ve always been interested in the SLW 25 , I think it will genuinely be a superb product. However this drip feed of product , it’s had a huge gestation period , just puts me right off .

I thought they were both plus , but it’s irrelevant to me as I wanted one . Still very happy , but looking at it I do wonder if Hornby has got the livery details right . It has the Scotrail Whoosh which means it’s no longer British Rail but part of the privatised NatEx group . That puts it around 1998 , but by that time the Met Camm were having their front roof painted black down the the orange cantrail stripe . Also the Strathclyde Transport map logo had been replaced by the bold SPT around this time . I’m happy this has the full yellow end but wonder if it shouldnt have the good old BR arrows of indecision in black .

Interesting , is the new Queensferry crossing , which now takes most of the traffic ,similarly protected? Although there aren’t container ships going under the bridge , the Aircraft Carriers certainly do to get to Rosyth , and I think there’s still traffic to Grangemouth There was a YouTube excerpt from the Bay Transit Company ie San Francisco about the safety of their bridges . Apparently the supports are protected by Dolphins and indeed it showed damage to one of the dolphins and to a container ship where they had come into contact . While it’s easy to be wise after the event it does seem that this bridge was relatively unprotected in comparison , and in some very busy waters with bulky ships I’ll bet one of the outcomes of this will be a risk assessment of these bridges in busy waterways and possibly the provision of some deflecting dolphins added protection .

I must admit to being surprised there were no tugs . I’ve been on cruise ships with triple bow thrusters azipods etc which means they can turn in their own length . However there are certain ports where the use of a tug is compulsory even though the ship really doesn’t need them . Given that this was a tricky manoeuvre , ie a 180 degree turn close to critical infrastructure I’m surprised they weren’t required . I’m only a cruise person, I know there are lots of master mariners on here that will know the regulations

Is it me or has it all gone quiet on the KR front ? Shouldn’t the Leader and 4DD have arrived or be on their way ? Don’t seem to have had any announcements for a while - I think the last was the WD 2-10-0 .

And reasonably priced

I’ve just run it . Lovely and smooth . Intend running it with my Bachmann 108(masquerading as a 107) . Not sure it really needs the tyres .

Thanks for the replies guys . Kind of backs up what I was told about a Bachmann sound 37 barely making it round a layout it was crawling so slow . Would be interested in how an Accurascale model performs though , especially a Deltic . Again the plea is gor someone to review one on YouTube . I’m just surprised no one has done it yet

One thing I’ve never seen on YouTube is someone doing a review of a DCC Sound loco controlled on analogue or DC . Yes I know you won’t get all the functions but it would be interesting just to see how these locos do run . I’m analogue and with a huge fleet of trains I’m going to stay that way . But I do fancy having a sound loco I could use from time to time . Something distinctive like a Deltic , for instance , or the clatter of a Sulzer27 . Now I know Bachmann sound loco will run on analogue but I have heard speed very compromised . Would love to see how Accurascale and the new Heljan 47 locos run on DC Just a thought . A video showing what actually happens if you turn the controller up , when sounds kick in , what actual sounds you get, what the max speed of the loco is

Good point , well made

Yes it has traction tyres on diametrically opposing sides of the motor bogie . You also get a spare set of traction tyres and some boards to fit on under frame . The body is a click fit per the instructions and that looks to be correct . Can run a finger nail between body and chassis which seems to loosen it . Haven’t tried it though . It’s an 8 pin chip if you want to fit . I’m analogue do don’t need to bother . It is a nice wee unit