gc4946

A few 50s appeared in Kent https://theisleofthanetnews.com/2021/07/30/thunderer-locomotive-scheduled-to-pass-through-the-district/ "Class 50s never worked in service on Kent Coast Services, but two class members did a round trip through Thanet back in the 1990s – 50032 COURAGEOUS and 50034 FURIOUS carrying the infamous Network SouthEast livery. 50025 was noted at Dover having hauled the Manchester – Dover Western Docks Intercity service from Mitre Bridge, whilst 50008 THUNDERER worked to Dollands Moor, Folkestone, with a stone blower for European Export via the Channel Tunnel and worked back to Derby light Engine on August 2, 2018" Double header near Luton, Chatham https://www.flickr.com/photos/semmytrailer/3279857972

Hornby are planning to model classes 73 and 800, however no release dates are given on page 25 of the latest catalogue https://d63oxfkn1m8sf.cloudfront.net/6617/1447/1661/2024_Hornby_TT120_Catalogue_40pp_Ediiton_24.3_WEB.pdf

A class 50 Sir Edward Elgar could be my birthday treat if the production examples look and perform as well as the sample displayed at various model railway events, will wait and see ...

My preferences in rank order: 1. Class 86, 2. Class 87, 3. Class 92, 4. EM1 (class 76), 5. EM2 (class 77) The 86s, 87s and 92s are also working overseas. Prototype of EM1, Tommy, ran in the Netherlands 1947-1952, the EM2s worked over there from the early 1970s.

I remember seeing mixed coloured sets of HSTs at West Ealing in the 80s. Hornby's ex-LNER brake van and ex-GWR vans would have been in departmental (engineers' use) service by then, long since withdrawn from normal traffic, usually painted in olive green but often well weathered

Former Night Ferry stock. Always been an issue in other scales, because of British and European preferences, but doable in TT:120. Specially built CIWL sleeping cars, SNCF fourgon (luggage van), specially built Southern Railway luggage van https://sremg.org.uk/misc/nferry.shtml https://www.shapeways.com/product/84L4C8QGR/o-160fs-sr-night-ferry-passenger-brake-van

That was also my experience so I'll hold off buying the 57 foot carriages, as much as I would have liked to own them

May is already an expensive month for me with the expected arrival of 5 x Mk2fs. A class 50 will have to wait a little longer, my preferred choice is Sir Edward Elgar.

Problem is, you don't know when the green 08 will next appear in stock, it's highly unlikely it'll be the exact version which you just cancelled. The next green 08 released could be in allover green without yellow/black stripes and with different detailing from D3986.

Dictated by availability and likely Hornby plans. 1950s West Riding, 1960s West Germany, 1980s southern England

Their PN166 inter-war semi detached homes are unfortunately discontinued https://www.pufferwillies-stm.co.uk/metcalfe-pn166---n-gauge-semi-detached-houses-13546-p.asp

The 1920s-30s style bungalow looks very generously proportioned, needs a large garden with driveway for effect. Hornby's chosen a small parish church

What are the bungalow's dimensions, please?

I'm pleased to see the J50 appearing on Hornby's stand, will buy one once they're released

I hope Hornby in future will release 50s in Network SouthEast livery. Some years ago I asked on another forum which class 50s visited the Portsmouth area, where I lived in my childhood https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/59398-did-50025-invincible-ever-visit-portsmouth-area/

Incidentally the Gresleys are corridor 3rd (TK) and corridor brake composite (BCK) with post-1931 angle iron underframe trussing. Hornby lists them in the 4th edition of their brochure as Gresley composite and Gresley brake 3rd https://d63oxfkn1m8sf.cloudfront.net/6417/0490/2723/Analytics_1_uk.hornby.com_Pages_20230220-20230306.pdf

That's a drive shaft linking the centrally mounted motor to one of the bogies

I haven't preordered any of the longer (57 foot) versions yet, will wait for reports on running qualities before committing to buy. My 50' carriage has marks on the underside where the wheel flanges are rubbing against the plastic. It's not been modified in any way from when I first received it some time ago.

Hornby's been good at recreating Pullman and other prestige trains. So for, there's been no Southern Railway or Region stock in TT:120. I suggest an Bulleid unrebuilt streamlined Merchant Navy, a Lord Nelson 4-6-0 and/or a class 71 to accompany Hornby's exisiting Pullmans to model the Golden Arrow, with a gangwayed SR luggage van https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pics/gbl.html to complete the formation.

All their coach range (Mk1 57 foot suburbans, Mk2c and Mk5 for Transpennine and Caledonian Sleeper) would be welcome in TT 1:120

There's so many possibilities, just hope Hornby will release at least 3 variants per production run. If I had my way, first production run, it would be split headcode without yellow panels (D6700), 37/4 large logo, Scotrail, centre headcode and 37/4 EWS, centre headcode.

Deltics are probably the most likely locos coming from Accurascale. Hornby's only released the old Lima tooling with underscale bogies in their OO Railroad range, so they would need to work from scratch.

As things stand for now buying Pullman carriages is the best option. However you could imagine Mallard hauling a Newcastle-Liverpool train as far as York or Leeds with LMS carriages. Otherwise we'll have to wait for LNER teak carriages.

I've preordered 5 not long after they were announced so benefit from locking-in earlier, lower prices. They'll run behind class 47s once they're released.

Hornby's already released a North Eastern Railway cast iron footbridge. Could they downsize their OO Skaledale Goathland station buildings to complete the range?