SRmike

I think motorising the Hornby signals will be a bit of a problem as a motor or solenoid would need to be mounted vertically. I have electrically operated signals but they are all Hornby Dublo and the base is very bulky so I mount them in the baseboard. They are very difficult to get hold of now.

This is test that will not tell you much. If the controlled is connected then you will get the output device of the controller, probably a rheostat or transistor. If tthe controller is not connected then any engine or carriage with lights on the track

You are not strictly right 'going spare'. As you said, Hornby Dublo trains were produced by Meccano. They went bust in 1960s. The 3rail models were discontinued and their 2rail models were purchased by Wrenn. They were purchased by Triang and the models sold under the Triangle Hornby Brand. These were later branded as Hornby as it is today. Hornby acknowledged this when they produced the current Duchess of Athol.

judging by the age you have suggested, this is a HD 3 rail model. It would be EDL12 which was produced between 1958 and 1961. You will need 3 rail track where the loco picks up from the centre rail using a 'shoe' under it. It will cause ashort if put on modern 2 rail track.

This will depend on how far you want to goback. For example all Hornby Dublo locos were diecast to start with and I think that only the R1 had a plastic molded body. HD 3rail models: N2 tank in LNER, SR, GWR and LMS. liveries A4 Sir Nigel Gresley, Silver King & Mallard Duchess of Athol, Duchess of Montrose Standard 5 tank Rebuilt West country Dorchester Deltic Cl28 C0-B0 deisel Bristol Castle Class 20 8F HD 2-rail (as 3-rail except) N2 only BR West Country Barnstable HD went to Wrenn when they went bust and then to Triang as Triang Hornby. They produced models with molded bodies like the 3F. Diecast parts were included to improve traction after Mainline and Airfix started to produce superior detailed models. I dco not have a list for Hornby that includes this detail.

I think they only produced the following locos in 3 rail O-6-2 tank LNER N2 in LNER, BR liveries, but they also produced them in SR, GWR and LMS liveries. 2-6-4 standard tank 4-6-2 Pacific in LMS maroon as Duchess of Athol and then in BR lined green as Duchess of Montrose 4-6-2 Pacific rebuilt WC as Dorchester 4-6-2 Pacific A4 as Sir Nigel Gresley number 7 in blue Co-Bo diesel 08 diesel there could be more but these are the ones I remember.

The older HD wagons had metal bodies on metal chassis with the wheels held in by metal clips which was not a problem for 3rail. When they produced a 2rail system they produced 'super detail' wagons with insulated wheels and mounts.The bodies are excellent and look good and I prefer the 'Peco' couplings to the hook and bar fitted to modern model.

The thing you have to be careful with is the valve gear on steam locos. When you take them out of the packing it very easy to bend it as it is very flimsy. I have 2 locos, an air smoothed WC and a Q1, that got bent be someone when on the club layout at an exhibition which now live in my display cabinet.

I see that a 2-HIL is being offered by one of the big retailers. Can anyone tell me where they were used by BR(S) and when as I have not heard of them before?

I would like any of these: SR 4-4-0 like an update to the L1 LMS 2P LNER hunt/shire

It it depends on the model. If it is loco drive and early (1960s -1980s) loco then it could be possible if you can get an XO4 motor but they are becoming harder to find. Tender drive and later locos then the answer is no

I have replaced all the wheels on my 3 rail wagons with spoked wheels from the rail packs. This is relatively easy as long as you take care with the lugs that you have to bend straight

I have a loco with this type of tender coupling. It is R3071 Nunney Castle. I was worried about this and so it stays connected and is either in a display cabinet or plastic box for transporting to run on my club layout

The LBSC has been reasonable served with locos as there has been an A1, E2, E4, and H2 but there is virtually no rolling stock to go with them (I think there has been brake van and a cattle truck) so I have had to make freight trains up with private owner wagons from the LB region. Even the 4 and 6 wheel coaches previewed at MK last week are not planned for LBSC so I have had to report turn birdcage coaches in SR for my SR H2

As has been said, the problem goes back to the 1930s when Hornby decided to use continental HO track and 4mm/ft so today our OO trains run on narrow gauge track. I remember when Trix produced a good looking HO model of Royal Scot and coaches that did not sell because they were small compared to Horbynby OO and Triang models

As has been said, the problem goes back to the 1930s when Hornby decided to use continental HO track and 4mm/ft so today our OO trains run on narrow gauge track. I remember when Trix produced a good looking HO model of Royal Scot and coaches that did not sell because they were small compared to Horbynby OO and Triang models

How old are the locos? As Tony57 says make sure they are 2 rail then remove the body and look at the connections to the motor. I would then use 2 bits of wire to connect the supply directly to the brushes of the motor. Then turn the power up, if it runs this will point to connections from track. If it doesn't run then it is the motor/ brushes

I agree it would be better to change to the 30s as there has been few locos, E2, H2, A1 & A1X, no coaches and only 2 wagons that I am aware of for LBSC in RTR. SECR had running rights so C class loco and birdcage coaches could be used but again no wagons.

could Hornby do these as 3 coach sets with an M7 loco (or similar) shown on the box in the same way as they did with R4534 push pull coaches. It was frustrating having to go through the boxes to match set numbers

WC/BB were often seen in the West Country and fill in turns elsewhere. I have a picture of one running tender first with 2 birdcage coaches on an Eastbourne to Hailsham train having arrived on an inter region train from the Midlands.

I have 3 GF SR OO coaches that I got in the 70s second hand. They are excellent externally (far better than Triang or Hornby Dublo) but the internal detail is basic. I used them on my layout until the new Maunsell ones became available so they are in my display cabinet as I don't have boxes.

In my experience back to back is only a potential problem if you are using fine scale track (code 75) rather than hornby track (code 100) as the track standards are finer especially on points. This means that I can run new purchases straight from the box on my layout but have to check the back to backs before running them on club layouts

I agree with previous posts, if you are DC fine (but generally noisy) but to be avoided if DCC. I have 2 Collett goods which are very good, 2 4MT which are very noisy, a J72 which is a non runner and a warship deisel which is a poor runner. So my advice is proceed with caution and only buy if you are running DC.

I have 2 of the original green units and have had no problems with the couplings once connected. The only problem is getting all 4 carriages connected (best done withe carriages on their roof) as they then need to be inverted and put on the tracks

In my experience tender drive is fine when the connection between loco and tender is checked as the electrical connection (under the draw bar) can cause poor running.