Britain's Ugliest Steam Locomotive | Hornby Q1 | Unboxing & Review

[@davidcoward820]

My father fired and drove these during the war,the tales were hilarious.Braking was dodgy with heavy loads.

[@legdig]

You should write some of those tales down! catalogue em for the next generation!

[@Ravaloxianthunderbird]

What's hilarious is because they didn't have splashers. Sticking the head out the window at speed during rough weather would absolutely soak them in water

[@ZainsTrains]

My great grandad drove I believe a 4F and a Q1 in the fifties. on the 4F the small line he worked on could repair the engines that well so the 4F was fitted with wooden brakes. the Q1 was new and never had to be repaired in it's life, but the 4F's brakes were constantly smoking.

[@jimmyseaver3647]

I'll admit, there's a certain charm to these things. Here in the US, the closest we have are the USRA "Standard"-type locomotives, produced to a handful of uniform designs that were expected to be used across every railroad. The hope was to simplify logistics for the First World War given that this was towards the tail end of the "Robber Baron" era of American railroading. It... didn't really pan out the way the government hoped, but most remained in service until the 1950s when GP9s and F-units began replacing them _en masse_ with a few in preservation. Eventually everyone began using the same locomotives with the same parts and controls anyway thanks to the mass availability of locomotives like the SD40-2s and later the GEVO series and it's now commonplace to see power from one railroad well outside of its normal territory.

[@rubennouta2406]

What a fun little snipped of American railroading history

[@daystatesniper01]

The sliding panel on the tender was for running tender first during WW2 ,the cab was sheeted over to cut out any light to avoid night fighters/bombers so the crew used this "peep hole" to view signals etc'

[@NextEevolution]

I find a genuine beauty in this locomotive, given it was designed and made in Britain's, and arguably the world's, darkest hour in the first half of the 20th century. It is definitely a shame there was no more than only one preserved. I definitely want one and it should definitely be re-released in model form.

[@bavarianbanshee]

Not to sound like a contrarian, but I've never understood why people think these are so ugly. I'm not saying they're the prettiest locos out there - far from it - but I think they look pretty cool, and the simplicity of the design paired with those indeniably fantastic wheels makes for a handsome package. I also didn't know the tidbit about the coach washers. That's hilarious and ingenious.

[@ianjeffery6744]

I remember these working in Kent around 1960 - reliable, free-steaming, powerful, and able to go just about anywhere. We loved them - no-one else had anything like them!

[@KennethMyers-h6h]

The Q1 is a masterpiece, it was so powerful, beauty is in the eye of the beholder

[@Thedclasstank]

I agree

[@RedShedNick]

And i agree, wonderfully design, and a nice tender too.

[@Thedclasstank]

Wish I had a n guage model

[@Cape_Cod_Steve]

Q1 is a handsome locomotive 👍👍

[@steffenrosmus9177]

Well, the Q 1 looksnlike it came fresh from a toaster , and yes, it is extreme ugly 😂😂😂

[@headsup2433]

This is a good model for putting together WW2 D-Day trains, pulling flat beds with tanks, vehicles and guns from Oxford models.

[@PatGilliland]

That's exactly what I'm doing on my shunting layout. Q1, Warwells, gunpowder vans, tank cars, and HRH's Tilly.

[@Citalopram40]

It's approaching the 80th anniversary of D-Day; Hornby have sure missed an opportunity to develop a WW2 Train pack with one of these. 😢

[@headsup2433]

@@Citalopram40 That would be a seller, they could make some serious money there.

[@masterv8775]

I unabashedly love the Q1's, looks, performance and all! Hope I get to see the last surviving one in person some day.

[@TheHoveHeretic]

I was lucky enough to see it in steam on tbe Bluebell. A few months later, shortly before it left Sussex, it was in the shed at Sheffield Park, it's number was followed by a chalked addendum, so it then read C1 "and you've seen 'em all"!!

[@masterv8775]

​@@TheHoveHeretic Wow! Sounds like a great time!

[@joshslater2426]

As someone who’s seen the real thing at York many times, I’d say wait a while. It’s a nice loco, but as of present it still isn’t connected with its tender for some reason.

[@k1ngt1g3r]

i had one of these pre owned and honestly say was a beautiful runner, very quiet and a superb runner.

[@paolomargini7904]

Not only for being a wartime locomotive but also for its peculiar shape a newly tooled Q1 should deserve a full metal jacket, meaning also for the tender. It could fit all Sam's requirements so becoming for a house as Hornby the standing banner of its possible Renaissance and a precious hommage to Oliver Bulleid.

[@asteroidrules]

One of few steam locomotives that can proudly be called machine washable. One of the benefits of the simplified design was it could be cleaned in a pull-through coach washer rather than requiring a crew to wash it by hand. I always love seeing locomotives that break from design conventions.

[@DerekWalsh-l4i]

Mr. Bulleid boasted that his air-smoothed Pacifics could also be taken through the carriage-washer, but it is never known to have happened.

[@mrobertson-cook2602]

The Southern was a good place to see the unconventional.

[@azuma892]

Hopefully Hornby will bring this tooling back soon! The 0-6-0 tender engines by Hornby are such high quality models, same with the J15 and J36. :)

[@SamsTrains]

I think they should too - they are awesome! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@terencepriestley1608]

Hi Sam. I bet you wish that your new Hornby 'Black 5' would run as well as the Q1 does.

[@TheHoveHeretic]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder ... although I concede those brakes weren't too "beautiful" on unfitted freights. Stanier's reported first reaction to Bulleid's design was "where does the key (to wind it up) go?". BTW ... shout out for Lawson Billinton's superb LBSC K Class, which showed what they could do during those dark war years. Truly a design which didn't deserve extinction due to a book keeping withdrawal timetable. 😟

[@Madonsteamrailways]

Mine is Q68. She’s got exactly the same details as yours, but is fitted with a DCC decoder fitted. She may be silent, but she’s a lovely little locomotive!!

[@drecksaukerl]

The Nissan Juke of steam locomotives. They may have been excellent machines technically, but man, they made the DR class 52 Kriegslok look beautiful!

[@roycspary8923]

-coming from anengineering background this is beautiful it is devoted to practical performance in the purest sense and looks so right as something that is un ABASHEDLY A TOOL FOR A JOB

[@markwood4194]

Personally I think they have a charm about them, so much I have two, a Hornby and a Keyser

[@levidarling5107]

I am very happy to see how far you have come from your first video back in 2013, I love the work you do.

[@Stuingtion]

This is one of my personal favorite engines. Not just because it was used to create Neville, but its such a cool looking engine.

[@johnwood346]

Self adhesive wheel weights used for balancing car wheels would be perfect for adding to locomotives

[@dakshanbalaramesh]

A re-review of the Q1? Yes please! It is one of my FAVOURITE Southern Locomotive (Yes IK, quite controversial)

[@SamsTrains]

Awesome! Hope you enjoy it! :D Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@Enzo_The_Magnificent]

I have one of the original releases from 2003, R2355. It is still a great runner. My version is not DCC ready so the tender connector is significantly different. The tender can be uncoupled simply by lifting it away from the engine. There are still pickups in the tender though. The model is very robust indeed. I dropped it down the stairs once 😮 (not something I would ever recommend) and it sustained no damage whatsoever. Not even those apparently fragile steps.

[@Shinyspddmn]

for the weight issue mentioned at 19:45, I've seen a few people use some hobby weights to get more out of their models

[@andrewcutts3197]

I only ever saw one in action back in the 1960s. Our train down to Bournemouth overtook one on a freight down on the Southern Region. A mini-spamcan. ❤️

[@kookaman6095]

It’s Neville!

[@SamsTrains]

It sure is! :D

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

​@@SamsTrains INDEED!!!

[@ScarfNJam2]

The bulleid that was bullied!

[@kenjimaurerfromdisneyland2001]

@@SamsTrainsSam, what happened to the other video!

[@dragonfly7308]

Yeah I always thought Neville was a fancy locomotive, I’m confused by people claiming the q1 is ugly

[@stuartburton1167]

I bought my Q1 in 2003 it's the BR weathered version and according to the price sticker it cost me £51.99 from Hattons. It's still the best running of any of my steamers.

[@TrainFan_95]

I've never thought of these locomotives as ugly. Their uniqueness is part of their charm.

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

One of my favorites, had a ride behind the real one when it was at the Bluebell! I don't find them ugly at all :)

[@mikewoods4177]

Hi sam i don’t know if its just me, my eyesight or a fault with the way the model was assembled but i have noticed the piston valves below the smokebox seem to droop a couple of degrees from horizontal; I think noticeably. So I checked a valve gear drawing on the net for the Q1 class and it seems that the valves actually point up from horizontal a similar amount. They were driven on the centre axle by a modified Stephenson link gear. This would not have been possible with the valves positioned as they seem to be

[@t9south]

Thank you Sam, I own five fabulous Q1s. However your video got me thinking about when was the last time I actually purchased a brand new Hornby Southern Railway locomotive? I can’t remember. I feel the Hornby Q1 represents a time when Hornby would unveil a new locomotive catering for a different region each year.

[@Jetthehawk1994]

68472 is the odd one out. It's the only tank engine on the layout, all the rest are tender engines.

[@YoLo-bb2vc]

i dont know if im alone on this or if there are others but i actually like the Q1's design its quirky to me but damn the history of this loco if you go deep into it is really something else.

[@billywindsock9597]

Not ugly, brilliant. Love the Q1.

[@Citalopram40]

Hi Sam, As there is room in the Loco for added weight, would you be willing to do an experiment where weight is added incrementally, and pulling power measured, to see if there is a max weight to add, before no further power gain is achieved, or even lost? Regards, Phil

[@gillian9178]

I remember these loco''s as a young train spotter in the early 1960's, they were nicknamed by train spotters as coffere pot's.

[@henriknilsson7851]

Hey now, I love these things! They show the resolve and determination to make whatever sacrifice to win WW2, they are British toughness in steam locomotive form!

[@SamsTrains]

haha it's okay I love them too!! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@stephendavies6949]

Oddly though, only 40 were built, whilst many hundreds of other, prewar, types were also built, including Bullied's very own Battle of Britain Pacifics.

[@1maico1]

The wheels are Bulleid Firth Brown castings. American Boxpok wheels are a built up design with open not closed webs.

[@benj.kerman609]

Is the odd one out the 0‐6-0 at 28:26? I'm not great with British steam locomotives, but I think it's a J83?

[@pikachuthebananasplit9061]

"Cinders and Ashes!!!" cried Thomas "Neville's heading for the broken bridge! I must stop him!"

[@jeanpalmer141]

Nice review. Is it just my old eyes but the cylinders were slightly inclined on this engine, but the ends of the overhead piston valves at the front of the loco look to be horizontal or even below the horizontal. John.

[@Steve-jx3mh]

Hornby need to have a look at these and how well they are built and use this as a template for all their locos. I think most of us want a loco that runs well firstly before detail. Im not too fused about the plastic finish, in fact I think Hornby should use plastics in their cheaper ranges and the die cast in their better quality, that way you always know what you are getting. but if you can guarantee good running and a good mechanism thats half the battle.

[@andrewphippsphillips1455]

I had an unboxed C8, a bit rough, missing a few fine details & only cost around £45 S/H from a friend back in 2010. I repainted the number to C1 and the only reason I sold it was because I had far too many models in the collection and traded it in a couple of years ago. Brilliant model & totally bulletproof

[@darrenmccoy]

Great review, did you consider adding extra weight yourself?

[@matthewbaker1621]

I have cnc machined one of these out of aluminum with the same amount of detail

[@niceaardvark4899]

Beautiful engine the Q1. I occasionally saw them on the North London Line on my way to school in the 1950s. In fact they'd turn up in unexpected places all over the London area. I loved that about them.

[@lindaoffenbach]

There is some beauty in the loco Sam, but we agree about its oddity. The beauty is its rather basic looks, the boiler and wheel arrangement. Overall, perhaps she needs to be your cup of tea but she does have her charm. Cheerio.

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

FANTASTIC REVIEW ON A MODEL OF THE WELL-KNOWN THOMAS & FRIENDS CHARACTER KNOWN AS NEVELLE'S OWN OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL REAL-LIFE LOCOMOTIVE COUNTERPART KNOWN AS THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY O-6-O Q1 STEAM-DRIVEN RAILWAY TENDER LOCOMOTIVE FROM HORNBY RESPECTFULLY!!!!

[@lapiswake6583]

I have 33006 in BR late crest black, from 2005 so has the earlier loco-mounted socket and drawbar. It's a fantastic loco, very powerful. They aren't Bulleid Boxpok wheels, which are several sections fixed together to make a hollow shape. They're Bulleid Firth Brown wheels, which are a single casting.

[@tbrooke3016]

I do love the Q1 weirdly. I'm a diesel fan and this loco looks like you asked AI to make a steam train look like a diesel. It's very boxy and you can just feel the power from looking at it

[@williamsquires3070]

Hi Sam. Hopefully, if Horny (oops, Hornby) decide to retool this, they’ll move the gearbox up one axle so there’s space for a flywheel; that’ll add a bit more weight to the engine. Either that, or include a pre-fitted speaker where the old DCC socket went, and go to a 6-pin plug for the two extra wires for the speaker. This way, the chuffing sounds will come out of the loco instead of the tender; it always seemed weird that the locomotive sounds came out of the tender. 🤔

[@thomastrainzfan4444]

Bro had to leave it in 😭🙏

[@Maurice_Moss]

When I visited NRM a few months ago, Q1 was missing its tender 🤔

[@caw25sha]

I haven't been there since 2019 but apparently they're doing a lot of work at the moment so things are in a state of flux.

[@Alpha-oo8]

I’m rather fond of these engines, and I don’t think they are ugly. A bit of a shock because of how different they are, but I think they are clean and impressive. Personally, I find a loco ugly when there are tons of attachments sticking out all over the place, especially on the smokebox. But this has nothing sticking out on them, so I think it’s quite pleasing

[@JustBobo-67]

new experiment video "how many 00 gauge locomotives will it take to haul 1 real coach?"

[@ALouisae]

a third Q1 video?? yes!!!! i adore this engine so much. great video, sam!

[@ahirschfeld1974]

I remember seeing that loco on my first visit to the National Railway Museum in September 2019. It was prominently displayed on the turntable.

[@granddadtony]

C1 has coupling rods stamped 550 making it part Maunsell Q. It does not have a rocking grate hence the enormous fireman’s shovel for disposal: it’s a long way to the front of the box. There is an interesting detail on the front sand box on the model. The diagonal line represents a weld produced when a piece of steel plate was fitted to the bottom of the sand box. Shed staff apparently had a dangerous habit of riding on the coupling rod and getting their feet trapped between the rod and the box as the loco moved. Not a pretty thought.

[@Louie-WanKenobi-og4rk]

I love the many rivets on this engine; it's so detailed.

[@caw25sha]

It might be interesting to speculate how things would have turned out if Bulleid got the job of designing BR standard locomotives instead of Riddles.

[@DaveAtLittleton]

I have this model, I love it and also loath it. Despite the fact it was designed to go through a coach wash, as you say, the model is really really delicate, mine is missing lamp irons, has broken cab doors and broken ladders. To be honest, I would rather the lamp irons were part of the moulding and the ladders and doors omitted, or done as an accessory bag.

[@terrier_productions]

Going on whether Hornby should bring back the Q1, there are a few older models that are in desperate need of a re-tool. These including - Hornby J94/Austerity 0-6-0, Hornby 14xx, Hornby Jinty, Hornby L&YR Class 21 'Pug' & Bachmann Ivatt Class 2 Tank.

[@brianartillery]

My favourite of all. The epitome of raw power under control. Not ugly, just different. Love it! 👍👍👍

[@colinmeredith7114]

Nice one Sam, cheers! It just proves that Hornby Can produce a really good model...with some improvements and refinements! Weight can be added and, as you state, will improve greatly. Hornby B2B is quite often a tad on the tight side!

[@Evaunit98]

I’ve been wanting a Q1 for ages, it’s one of my favourite locomotives and it’d be a brilliant addition to my railway

[@davidcoward820]

One of fathers stories was a coal load for Readings gas works completely over loaded over ran the siding it took 2 GWR 28xx locos to pull them out,the flames from them all made them a sitting target from enemy aircraft.

[@robinbrowne5419]

I love watching the linkages whirl around as it flies along at 22:26 A good performer though and a good crawl at 24:40👍

[@Madonsteamrailways]

The Bulleid Q1 was built for hauling heavy freight trains between London and the Channel ports. It was built from 1935-1945, when the Second World War ended.

[@kellyashfordtrains2642]

I kinda agree with the title, because I'm not a lover of Southern steamies. However, I have a scary proposition to put by you. Dapol are going to release a scary new N Gauge Closed Van this Summer. I dare you to purchase it if you're brave enough: the GWR Gunpowder Van. That is, if you can cope with yet another loud explosion erupting in your face. Bet you'll be screaming in terror.

[@MayoHosko]

The Q1 may not be an austerity class but it is the most austerity engine I can think of. Can’t believe the better than you expect 2003 Hornby models are now 21 years old

[@Over_Aviation]

Question:Did you get your money back for that Black 5?I know that video was posted only a week ago.But I’d just like to know if you are getting a new one and make a fair review

[@WTT_321]

I've had quite the fascination with this locomotive since I guess the uniqueness actually appeals to me, plus learning that this can rival any strong goods engine makes this even more intriguing to me! I hope I can find an OO model of this one day...even if purchased secondhand...

[@terryjacob8169]

I used to love it everytime I saw a Q1 as a child growing up in 1950's Sussex.

[@terrybrett467]

I love this loco and I sincerely hope Hornby produce another. I have a second hand one but as Sam says they can be a little fragile and mine was lacking a few details.

[@CaptainLegend]

Contrasting this to the newest Hornby loco you reviewed, the Black 5, the difference is astonishing. This is a great loco that I wouldn’t mind paying £124 for (or more if it were to be brought back to the range), and the Black 5 was such a disappointment that it leaves a massive stain on Hornby’s reputation imo. Loved seeing this loco, Sam!

[@Gatherleymodeller.]

Please review Hornby class 153 in fgw livery. 10 minutes ago I was praying that you would upload and yay 😀😁

[@TannithVQ]

It's a briefcase on wheels both aesthetically and functionally.

[@Jude-72]

Whilst I love the Q1 when are we going to get the Q class? We need the Q class!

[@AllensTrains]

I was born shortly before the end of steam, and I remember watching steam trains going by as a very small boy. I always hated the Q1, and I agree it is the ulgiest loco! These locos were very heavy on coal. Only one was ever preserved. It was on the Bluebell Railway for a while, but heavy coal consumption makes it unsuitable for use on a heritage line. The Q1s were used almost exclusively for goods trains, mostly foodstuffs. Thanks for uploading.

[@GRay-pp7px]

What heavy coal consumption are you talking about. Its a class 5 locomotive its consumption was no worse that a stanier black 5 and I drove it on the Bluebell and my firemen always thought it was a very economical engine.

[@AllensTrains]

@@GRay-pp7px The story of the heavy coal consumption was what they told me on the Bluebell Railway and was their explanation for getting rid of it! Your milage was obviously different!

[@maringarvanovic8011]

I don't care what you are running and what era you model. You must have one of these. I just love them. They look so good with 15 of so wagons behind them.

[@johnjinks4972]

Well done Sam, an excellent review yet again. Did I really count 22 wagons on the Q1? if I did that’s very good. I also thinks this version is much better than the older one, as I’ve had to renew the coupling /connection between the loco and tender a twice on my older version.

[@swiv99]

interesting, i like it..and that crawl speed is sweet.well built and the brake lines are a nice touch. Like u say not much detail on the boiler, they saved it for the underside and the extra accessories which is hardly ever offered with US products very often...looks great Sam.thanks

[@bow-tiedengineer4453]

How does the mechanism and performance compare between the older and newer versions of the model? This might actually be something worth picking up on the used market for me, and you have both versions, so I'd love to know how they compare.

[@marrrtin]

I have one of the very early ones and I have to say this review is accurate, a lot of the detail has fallen off it but it still runs very sweetly and I put this down just as much to the simple austerity design of the prototype, as the quality of Hornby's innards. I did see C1 in the main shed at York which was a thrill. What do you do when you suddenly need to transport tons of war stuff and your network is all electric commuter trains? I'd also rate it as Bullied's best design, it didn't need rebuilding.

[@spajdude]

That's a loco with personality! I read that only one was preserved, which is a shame. Germany also built simplified locomotives during this period to save on materials, which shouldn't surprise anyone, but they built about 6000 of the heavy freight locomotive Br 52 alone, and then almost 2000 after the war. And planes: Over 20000 of the Spitfire were made. Over 34000 of the Messerschmitt Bf 109... It's mind boggling.

[@ChickenNoodle]

One of the best performing 0-6-0s in BR is definitely one of my favorite locomotives! Something about their ugly duckling design makes me feel so happy on the inside I really want to see the preserved one in the NRM one day. Oh well

[@eggballo4490]

I've always been a fan of wartime steam engines.

[@martinpook5707]

I remember these in the early 50s. We could barley stand to look at them, but my memory does not include paint, they were brown rust from end to end.

[@idiot-cd6pl]

To add some weight you could try some liquid gravity; found in most good modelling shops; after building a plastic box to fit onto the chassis.

[@lukegreen5341]

8:04 It's Neville From Thomas And Friends. X

[@Planestrains-d5e]

What a contrast to the brand new Black 5. I have one of these with the earlier drawbar and I really like it. At very low goods train speeds it can be a bit jerky, though, sadly. Nice model, however.

[@hassamhayat6033]

FINALLY, ive been waiting for this review for a long time! Though, I would rather see a new tooled version of the loco.

[@dannyvanstraelen3273]

I think this was actually originally an Airfix molding taken over by Hornby , perhaps a bit improved. Airfix had a BR version, not sure if they also did it in Southern…

[@johnd8892]

Any reference to an Airfix production RTR one ?

[@beh1972]

I’ve always wanted to find one of these, nice size for smaller layouts like mine. But the history behind their ugliness is fascinating

[@OlivierGabin]

One of my favorite UK engine : I LOVE the "f*** the aesthetics" of this one. I have one, of course. A good runner and a nice model. And I can't find a set of wheels and coupling rods for a second one I have, which is a non-runner due to problems with them.

[@Madonsteamrailways]

LOVELY!! It’s a Bulleid Q1!! It was born in 1938 during the Second World War. I have one in her box in the loft!!

[@xavierluthenumberblocksfan2424]

I know this is an old model, but finally Sam has reviewed a good Hornby loco this year, also is the odd one out the J83

[@davidstrains4910]

Decent review overall, I wouldn’t say it’s ugly to be honest, still have my hornby model of the Q1 and mine is quite old now.

[@SamsTrains]

Ahh excellent - yeah they've been round a while now but still hold up well! :D Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@grahamebradford1028]

I recently bought a new old stock Q1. I'm very pleased with it except it always derail over one particular set of points going forward, no problem in reverse. I've Also found if I run it without the tender it runs fine in both directions. All my other locos have no problem. I've checked the back to back on all axles and can find nothing to account for this problem. It's the older design with the decoder in the loco. I also tried removing the weight in the tender but the issue persists. In all other respects it runs beautifully. Can anyone think of something I've overlooked.?

[@umbreon0017]

I think the odd one out was Evening Star the 9F in the siding Great model and great review Sam! ❤

[@paulcaswell2813]

There's a J72 there right at the end ;-)