HornbyinNC

For me, it's been attempting to recreate the many captivating and alluring scenes, particularly from the Tri-ang and later Hornby catalogues which date back to my formative days of interest in the hobby. The layout, every boy ever dreamed of... Never tried to 'copy' any of the images directly. In fact, quite the opposite; it's been simply to take the inspiration and capture the best elements of the many wonderful studio layouts and scenes represented through the years. Hence, I am still comfortable running and photographing many of my older models from the 1960's and 1970's on my layout.

The extension kit you have has nothing to do with the old Tri-ang R.140 signal gantry. It was introduced in 1979 for use with the junction signals, that remain in the range to this day. Sadly, Hornby dropped the extension kits in the early / mid 1980's. Today the extension kits are quite sought after, as there has been no gantry signals in the range since the demise of the old R.140 set.

About ten years ago, Hornby America had good stock of UK products. Trouble was, it was cheaper to buy from UK retailers, such as Hatton’s, due to the VAT deduction. The Hornby USA prices were essentially catalogue list, plus the exchange rate. Hatton’s and the like were 30%, or more less costly for the same models. Eventually, the surplus stock was sold off on eBay, of all places, at very reasonable cost. I picked up a number of hugely discounted bargains at that time. Sadly, they have attempted, but never realised the potential of the Rivarossi brand here and as for the core UK ex-pats, as me, it remains more feasible to buy from UK sellers, including directly from Hornby. Sadly, Hatton’s might be gone, but there are others to fill the void.

Two earlier track systems were produced prior to 1971, Series3 and Super4 track. The Series3 track system was phased out in the early 1960’s and was replaced with Super4. In turn, quickly after 1970 that too was replaced with a what was to be known as System6. The components where made to the same geometry of its’ Super 4 predecessor. Many useful track components, such as curved and express points have been added through the years. As with both earlier systems, original components where made from treated steel and if not stored properly, exhibit rusting issues, which in turn affect running of the trains. Since the late 1980’s, track rails are now fabricated of superior nickel silver. A converter rail, R.476 was listed in the annual catalogues in order to join the two systems. In early years, vast numbers these were produced and sold and these frequently show up today on the used market at places such as eBay. However, track is relatively cheap and because there will be noticeable running differences between plated steel and nickel silver rails, I personally suggest that if you want the grandchildren to enjoy your old treasures, put aside the older track and run only the newer rails. That advice might well be taken with not using the old transformers, either.

What bothers me about this issue, is the fact that spare parts aren’t available. Over the holidays, I took out a never run model of BoB “17 Squadron”that I brought brand new in 2005, put it on the track and guess what? Motor spins, but no gear movement. Took it apart to find the split gear. Looked up the part number and checked all the normal sources for parts just to find, not available anywhere. Contacted Hornby, who told me to contact the same sources I’d already looked at. Put body back on, breaking off all sorts of the fine detail bits. Ugh! I then took out another model, Schools “Brighton”, that was used occasionally back in 2009, when I brought it. Surprise, similar issue, this time on the axle gear. Again, no spares available. I’ve heard others moan of the availability of parts, but until now, this has not been an issue, although I have experienced two rotted Mazak chassis. There is much to be said in favour of the old Tri-ang KISS principle!

Both cancelled. If you search carefully through the years, these are not the only R catalogue numbers that never made production.

I have several of the later Hornby released models and not had any issues.

Thanks for your suggestions. After re-examination, it appears that the culprit is the wheel set, but not the axle bushing. The pins that hold the connecting rods on both sides have considerable slop and evidently provide enough room for the rods get out of symmetry and jam-up. As the model is in nice shape and otherwise runs well, after I cleaned it up, I shall look for spare set of wheels, or a scrap / parts loco.

I recently acquired a nice boxed R.077 Holden class 101 tank engine, from 1978, as part of a job lot, which contained other items of interest. I put it on the rails and it didn’t run… One of the problems appeared that the rear axle was seized. No surprise there, so I took it apart, including wheel and valve gear removal, cleaned everything and generally lubricated what I could and got it all freed up and running without issue. However, it takes only a few revolutions of the motor and the valve gear gets thrown out of adjustment and naturally freezes motion of the locomotive. I have tried requartering the wheel sets numerous times, but it continues to act up. I have several hundred locos in my collection and everyone of them works and is in top-notch operating condition; many, like this one, brought brought back from the dead. I have only two other cheap starter set locos, neither having ever been run and compared the valve gear of this one to their’s and see no issue for concern of the way they are set-up. Am I missing something here, or this one simply worn out beyond repair?

Without knowing details of the set you have, no one can provide an actual value. Assuming you have the original box and packaging, you can determine the R.XXX catalogue number and name of the set. With this information, eBay, is a good source to determine value by referencing "sold", or "ended" auctions. Most of the sets from the mid-1970's were assembled in large quantities and typically fetch modest amounts, reflecting their desirability.

Most everything that ever ran on Britains railways has been reproduced by someone. Perhaps, Hornby might like to do the Z class 0-8-0T Maunsell, a class of 8, that ran between 1929 and 1962, in mainline service on Southern Region metals.

Atom3624, is correct. I have many "new" unused models in my collection, some going back to the 1980's. Included in that category happens to be an S15, R3413 from 2016. Occasionally, I will sell off some of my excess models off on eBay. If they have been used, I'll test them, clean and lubricate as needed and list them as "used", generally C-8, or lesser, condition. If never run, it generally indicates that other than opening the box and looking inside, they are "as new" and sold condition C-9, but stipulated "new and unused". A few, none of which have been re-sold, are still factory sealed, but if I were to sell, would list as above.

The original post got me thinking and Tony57 comment only added to that thought process, so I did some research from materials I have in my possession. Tony 57 made a comment about the price quoted by the OP as being likely being discounted, as Airfix were no longer trading. Research absolutely proves his statement correct and that by the 1980's, the set was being offered at fire sale pricing. My 1979 price list shows the referenced set 54063-8 "Kings Cross to Newcastle Goods" set retailing at £30.95. At that time, the class 31 locomotive alone, retailed at £11.50. If you want to compare "similar" pricing to the 1967 Tri-ang RS.51 set, it retailed for 112/3 (approximately £5.60). The locomotive was 50/9 (approximately £2.50. So using that comparison, pricing increased nearly six times in ensuing 12-years. If that were the simple case, then the Airfix set by 1979 was quite exorbitantly priced! By 2005, the then new full spec model of the class 31 had an MSRP of £89.99, today (2023) Hornby class 31's list for £217.99, whilst a Railroad version, more equivalent to the Airfix model lists at £96.99 . My point is, people will pay what is appropriate with the times. For me, now that I'm retired, my spending power is down and therefore my desire to spend over £200.00 for a locomotive, while I already have over 350 of them in my collection, is not a priority. Also, as indicated earlier, the current batch of super detailed models from all manufacturers has less interest. There are enough nice models out there now from the past 20-years without needing to spend huge amounts to replace ones already in my collection.

No comparison at all. Locomotive prices started hitting the £100.00 range around 2005, as more super detailed variations arrived from Hornby and other manufacturers, including the current detailed version of the Hornby class 31. Even then, if one were to look at the price index, they’d say, “that’s ridiculous”, but people brought them anyway. Here we are in 2023, models have more than doubled since 2005, yet we buy them anyway, although there are definite cracks in the infrastructure. Perhaps the market is finally saturated and really no one manufacturer has anything special to offer anymore. I already have 10 class 31’s and could care less about another. Same goes for 37’s, 47’s and many others.

No scale for most of the range; most are even overly large by OO standards. However, the Budd rail cars and second series passenger cars are reasonable OO-guage facsimiles, as well as better portraying actual prototypes than the earlier models. When put alongside a modern scale HO model, or even more dated ones, the Tri-ang versions look totally out of place. That said, when run on a layout as a range of single brand models, as Tri-ang originally intended, they all look great.