Stubaggieboy

Here’s a novel idea why not use a buffer stop!!!!

Somebody correct me if I’m wrong but I thought Hornby as we know it today was started by Lines brothers in Richmond as a cheaper alternative to Hornby Dublo which then became Triang who then merged with HD to become Triang Hornby in 1965 I think, then the Triang was dropped in the 70’s to become Hornby. So I just wondered what Frank Hornby had to do with Hornby as it is today, apart from the name ??

Hi John I have just had the same problem with one of my King class locos. I failed to find a replacement gear so I purchased a new wheel set from Peterspares. With the postage it cost me around £13.00. Just find the part number from the relevant service sheet. Regards Stu.

I still run a seven car set with the ringfield motor version of the HST as Hornby never produced the Barbie liveried version in the super detailed range. The dummy power car is not very free wheeling as it does not run on pin point axles so the first thing I done was remove the weight from the dummy car as it is not required, then remove the wheels and clean the axles and the axle journals then lubricate and reassemble. Make sure your coaches run freely and definitely replace the traction tyres. Make sure your track is clean and oil free then providing the motor magnet is good you shouldn’t have any problems. As I said mine pulls seven coaches and dummy car very well. I am pretty sure the weight I took out of the dummy car I fitted in the power car. Hope this helps.

These magnetic couplings are supplied with the latest Midland Pullman coaches and In my opinion are very good. My local model shop has them in stock so I have brought a few packs for my HST Scotrail set. No problem with uncoupling even with a ten coach train. In my opinion they are a very good alternative to the awful NEM couplings.

Hi Brian, I purchased some decent metal pantographs from eBay at a very reasonable price which I fitted to all my Eurostars, Pendolinos and class 87’s. They are not prototypical but are far better than the awful things that are factory fitted. They are functional and very easy to fit to the Eurostars. Regards Stu.

On my layout I have fifteen trains running simultaneously so I tend not to leave them unattended. I have done and you can guarantee that a derailment will occur which only seems to happen when I am not there. Derailments on my layout are normally caused by stock separating due to the overrated NEM couplings.

Hi Al, I checked both power and dummy cars before I left the shop and yes they are both fine. The only slight moan I have is that the working fans are a bit erratic but I am not particularly bothered as you can’t see them when the train is moving. Regards, Stu.

Finally picked up Midland Pullman. I have been critical of Hornby in the past but this is another level. Runs beautifully, paint work is top notch. Stunning.

You are comparing that Airfix class 31 with a super detailed class 31 which would not be in a set, it would be a Railroad quality loco which is half the price!

Well spotted, I therefore apologise to Hornby’s quality control . I agree any attempt to remove that paint mark will definitely make it worse. If it is not possible to return the model I would respray and replace the decals providing the exact paint colour is available, or try flattening the blemishes and air brushing just that area. Last resort would be to try and obtain a replacement tender body. Regards Stu.

That is disgraceful! and typical of Hornby’s so called quality control. Do not attempt to repair it yourself as Rog says send it straight back. Mod edit - in view of your later apology the associated text has been struck through.

If you are replacing the wires it is critical that you find the exact size of the original wire that Triang used. If the replacement wire is to small the droppers will not grip the wire, to big and damage could occur to the droppers especially as they are very old and probably already brittle. Could you not clean up the old wires?? Hope this helps. Regards Stu.

My thoughts exactly long distance. If you don’t like it don’t order it, simple as !!!!

I used to use these on my layout and I have to be honest They were useless so I removed them. I have tried every method of track cleaning and personally the best I have found is the Gaugemaster axle hung track cleaners. Just make sure your track and rolling stock wheels are clean to start with. My layout is roughly 40ft x 30ft with 15 loops so you can imagine what a task it would be to clean the rails by hand. On each train running I fit 2 track cleaners to on coach or wagon and as they are running they keep the track clean. As they are inexpensive it may be worth you giving them a try. Also you need to remove them and clean of the surprising amount of dirt they collect. This is just my opinion, hope it helps. Regards Stu.

Also I believe there was an 040 pocket rocket named Iron Duke, a couple of photos may help .

Two totally different locos JJ! The Iron Duke was an even more basic version of the Triang Brittania. I would look on eBay for early Triang Brittania chassis or wheels or visit train fairs where you will find plenty of old Triang bits and bobs.

If the loco is an old Triang class 31 then there are no internal wires unless as previously stated dummy bogie pick ups !!!! Simply turn the magnet 180 degrees and that will change the motor direction.

When the class 800 was first released there was a design fault with the coaches, unless your track was perfectly flat then they would derail. This was caused by the gap between the top of the bogies and the coach bodies being to small. Hornby acknowledged this and mine was returned for repair. When it came back all Hornby had done was to crudely insert some spacer washers on the bogie pivots. This cured the derailing but unfortunately when you pick up the coaches the bogies fall off. I am not sure if they were redesigned for the later class 800’s but in my opinion due to the length of the coaches unless any incline is very gradual then possibly they will not handle sharp gradients.

@Colin B. The pantographs you mention are an excellent product. I fitted them to 4 class 87,s 3 pendolinos and 2 Eurostar sets. They look the part and work well on my catenary and as I have mentioned not prototypical but look a lot better than an electric loco running with the panto down.

@Colin B. Totally agree with everything you say. All my points are Peco Streamline and I have no problems with any locos clunking over them including my W1. Let’s hope Hornby sort it out as the 91 is a fine looking loco apart from the pantograph. Regards, Stu.

It is well documented on UTube that the new class 91’s are poor runners especially over points, according to some posts I have read it is due to excessive lateral movement of the axles . I purchased two of these locos and as usual total disappointment with the running qualities and the awful plastic pantograph so they were returned. I can confirm what Atom says about the class 87’s they really are superb models.

They are actually very realistic looking when suitably painted and weathered and definitely not s-t-u-p-I-d !!!

Sorry gents I have to disagree! I own nine of the class 31’s was ten but one fell victim to the dreaded masak rot. I always apply a tiny spot of suitable lubricant to the axle ends as the last thing you need is dry metal to metal contact which will definitely cause a squeaking noise and wear the softer of the two metals. The poor design again from Hornby where the bogie side frames splay out causing to much side play of the front and rear axles doesn’t help so I always straighten them. All my 31’s run smoothly and very quiet with no adverse affect of lubricant on the axle ends.