SECR 4 and 6 wheelers

[Peter Stiles]

Not that I'm disappointed, but I was hoping to see SECR coaches too, giving my Terrier and H Class (and the P and C and one-day incoming D) class something shorter (and more affordable) than a Birdcage to pull.

Or maybe They knew I'd spent time pimping up a couple of railroad 4 wheelers for my Terrier and decided that I should run those for a year before replacing them.

Or maybe I'll visit the milliner's.

 

[LCDR]

I already have SE&CR liveried 4 & 6w carriages on pre-order, and have done so for nearly a year

 

I am a little curious that Hornby have come out with these a year after the Genisis range was advertised. I wait with interest to see how the Merseyside offerings compare to the Margate ones!

[Bulleidboy]

One difference is that the "Merseyside" coaches take their power from the track, whereas the Hornby version has a battery and a magnetic wand. I placed a magnet just inside a tunnel portal ages ago to operate a reed switch in a carriage - so nothing new there. Another webside does suggest as far as timing goes, Merseyside were first across the line. It will be certainly interesting to see the outcome.

[The Doc]

You mention lighting powered by track versus battery powered.  I think Hornby have probably made the correct decision to go battery powered, since a 4 wheel coach can only have a maximum of four pick-ups, two on each side.  I have some 8 wheel pullman coaches that tend to flicker because of unreliable pick-ups (which I really ought to try to rectify).

 

The alternative for manufacturers would be to still use four wheel pick-up but also install a stay-alive capacitor on their LED lighting strips.  There is presumably a rectifier in the electrical circuitry that powers the LEDs, so a stay alive capcitor should be an easy addition for a manufacturer to include.  It wouldn't need to be very big since LEDs don't draw much current (especially compared to an electric motor in the loco).

[The Doc]

Replying to myself!  A recent video I saw from Hattons suggested that their lit coaches may well have a stay alive capacitor included, so only 4 wheel pick-up might not be such as issue after all.