New Hornby wagons - picture

Looking at the pictures, it seems these wagons have sprung buffers. Is that correct?

Ian J.

"Ian J." wrote

They have indeed. The pattern of buffer used is correct for the CDA China Clay Hoods, but the HAA and HBA wagons are incorrect as they should have Oleo pattern buffers. Another Hornby gaff?

John.

I notice R6123 is called "BARRY" .....;-)

Colin.

"Colin" wrote

You're only jealous because they didn't name it *Colin*! ;-)

John.

Got to give the detail freaks something to do >;)

They didn't call it John either...;-)

Colin .... (From Wales, who intends to complain to Hornby)

In message , Colin writes

Does that mean it was made from metal recovered from all those scrapped steam locomotives?

It's incorrect for the CDA as well, don't be fooled by the fact that the CDA has chunkier buffers - they're not that chunky!

Basically you're looking at a grossly overscale and crude buffer just to allow springing for the toy market. The irony is that nobody running with tension lock couplers will be able to benefit from the springing as the buffers can't touch. Those who fit instanter couplings who could, in theory, benefit are highly unlikely to put up with such a naff, gimmicky lump and will most likely replace them anyway.

These new wagons are better quality toys, great news for the collector and train set markets. But they're in no way the new generation of diesel/electric era products some of us were expecting - they've added details but not fixed any of the errors from the previous model, indeed they've introduced some new ones. If something like the Black 5 had been as half-hearted and had as many errors there would have been an outcry.

There are some more pics at

It's not supposed to be a comprehensive review, in fact I've not mentioned most of the errors - I don't have the time ;-)

-- Regards,

Steve Jones, Shropshire, England

Big Trains:

Trains:

The message from John Sullivan contains these words:

Can you remind us just how many locos were scrapped at Dai Woodham's place?

In message , David Jackson writes

Er, none. They were all sold on into preservation :-)

"John Sullivan"

Only two or three I believe.

-- Cheers Roger T.

of the Great Eastern Railway

Didn't a load of them get butchered though by certain "preservationists" getting a little ... should we say ... over-enthusiastic in their pursuit for parts?

"Chris Wilson" <

Many were stripped of parts, either with, or without Woodham's consent.

When I was last there, July/August 1968, many of the locos still looked as though they could be steamed with little effort.

There were a couple of Warship diesels, I think as I don't have the photos available, that looked as though they'd just come out of service. When my friend and I climbed into the cabs, the all the glass was still intact, as were all the gauges in both cabs and in the engine rooms.

There were also a couple of interesting 6 wheeled carriages of ex GWR vintage, with Great Western lettering still faintly visible under P-way markings. Again, if memory serves, they were breakdown crane riders from somewhere in Wales. Too bad they slipped through the preservation net which, at the time, was mainly interested in steam locos.

In fact, AFAIK, too much emphasis was, and still is for that matter, aimed at the locomotives, and even then at the more unusual rather than common place engines. Too bad passenger carriages weren't high on the list. There should be many more non-corridor coaches preserved well as passenger brake vehicles. In steam days, almost every passenger train over three coaches had a brake at both ends. These days, on preservation railways, and steam excursions, passenger trains never look "right" with a lone brake marshalled in some odd place in the formation.

Guess that comes from the present day trains being marshalled by people who were to young, or not even born, to recall how real railways used to marshal passenger formations.

-- Cheers Roger T.

of the Great Eastern Railway

The message from John Sullivan contains these words:

Give the man a Mastermind prize. Perhaps the wagons should be labelled "Colin" after all...

The message from "Roger T." contains these words:

Ideal razor-blade fodder! There's far too many diesels preserved anyway. ;-)

Yes.

-- Cheers Roger T.

of the Great Eastern Railway

About time somebody came up with an idea I agree with..... or should that be the other way around... ;-) Colin.

For once Dave, I agree with you!! Cheers, Mick

The message from "Mick Bryan" contains these words:

Hi Mick!

Get well soon...! (Not sure I can cope with you agreeing with me.)