Can You Have Too Many Models? All my A4 Pacifics

[@AlisterMcDonald-s1q]

Thanks Jenny! Fantastic way to sit and have a coffee on a Saturday morning down here in Australia and enjoy the tour of your A4s. Probably my favourite Gresley loco and I have a few in my collection that features a lot of Gresley/LNER locos on my fictitious Sottish 'Heritage' railway here in Canberra. I grea up a stones throw from the East Coast main line so I tend to collect LNER and some LMS locos.I remember getting on the footplate of Union of South Africa at an RAF Leuchars Battle of Britain Day air show many years ago and was completely smitten by the engineering and aesthetic genius of the design. My wife's late Uncle Hugh Arnott drove Sir Nigel Gresley on the North Yorkshire Moors railway when he was a driver there many years ago and as far as he was concerned, the only modern loco that surpassed the A4 for good looks was the HST 125 that he drove out of York Shed on the East Coast line. I share your love of the BR lined green livery, it complements the iconic shape of the streamlining beautifully. Thanks again.

[@stephendavies6949]

Can't fault your taste, Jenny, A4s & Gronks: both ends of the scale catered for! Excellent video.

[@CoppingJ]

For a "what if" way to utilise all the A4's why not assemble rakes of MK1 coaches and add one A4 to each end, and you can have a "Retro" steam version of the 125! 🙂

[@stephendavies6949]

I have a few A4s, which are a mixture of split chassis & later Bachmann's and more modern Hornby models. My favourites are a rather nicely finished garter blue Hornby Mallard, a wartime black Golden Shuttle and the Hornby Experimental Purple example. They truly are extraordinary locomotives, both in model form and in real life.

[@steveevans6241]

A fascinating curated tour of your magnificent A4 collection. I hope you complete the full set with the missing rarities one day. And give them all a regular run - nothing like an A4 in action to cheer one up! My other fave loco is the unrebuilt Bulleid spam can Merchant Navy & West Country / Battle of Britain pacifics, another beautiful & iconic design that looks particularly good in the BR lined green livery. Gresley & Bulleid - you just can't go wrong really!

[@trainfan998]

I only have 1 A4 being Walter K. Wigham. I would have more A4's but I live in America and they're very hard to find here.

[@jamesgilbart2672]

Great tour of your A4s! My favourite locomotive models are the rebuilt Bullied pacifics but so far I only have 3 of them.

[@warrenlehmkuhleii8472]

To determine the acceptable number of anything in model form, simply apply the Rapido Coal Wagon Formula: n+1 where “n” stands for the number of that thing currently in your collection.

[@Phil-oj5nr]

As a “Southern” man, the Bullieds are my favourite express passenger locomotive. I am, however, tempted to get an A4! However my other favourite locomotive is the 0-4-4 M7, of which I have three, one being the original Tri-ang/Hornby version. Thanks, Jenny, always enjoy your videos. If I get an A4 it will have to be Dominion of New Zealand, as I live in PICTON, South Island, New Zealand!

[@wamgoc]

A4s and 9Fs are my favourite Locos. I've not too many in OO, but in N Gauge I have 25 with only 1 duplicate, that being Mallard in Garter Blue and wartime Black!

[@mattjackson8226]

Hi Jenny. I can't resist the urge to correct one of your descriptions. 60011 Empire of India never had a non corridor tender and I also believe no A4 ever had a tender with spoked wheels. You and me have somthing in common when it comes to A4s as I have 16 so seeing someone with more makes me think my load isn't that bad so thanks for that

[@jonathanturns1713]

Brilliant collection. I do like A4s, but only at the beginning of my journey with them. My penchant is for Pannier Tanks, one of them was my first engine, a long time ago, and I've collected quite a few since, and I like them (-:

[@paulredding5864]

I seem to have 13 Jenny since I came back into the hobby in 1995. Ranging from early Hornby (Nigel Gresley with red wheels) to split chassis Bachmanns despite them allegedly having flat noses ;-) My latest is Hornby Empire of India which will be one of the 5 Coronation allocated locos I have to be used when the new Coronation coach sets come out later this year...Counting the months now ☺️

[@4everdc302]

Great A4 hoard Jenny. Im still rocking my Hornby Tender Drive A4 Dominion of Canada alongside my CN U-1-f Mountain #6060😊🚂🇨🇦🇬🇧

[@chehalisvalleyrailproducti8913]

Very nice video, and excellent job on collecting the entire A4 class. For steam locomotives, I love Bachmann's USRA 0-6-0 and 2-6-2 lineup and they come in a wide variety of configurations and parts like boilers, tenders, and trucks are interchangeable, making customization super easy. For diesel, I'm a sucker for the Walthers EMD GP9 lineup from their "Trainline" budget range, They come in so many roadnames and they're some of the cheapest HO scale diesels you can buy new, making them a good choice for newcomers to the hobby or modelers like myself who are on a tight budget.

[@James_Rivett]

The spoked wheel tender denotes it was one of the tenders that was originally built for the A1/A3's, But I was only aware of the corridor tenders being swapped between the classes in the 1930's. The A4 tenders had solid wheels. Flying Scotsmans tender is a A4 tender that had "modifications" to the tender front to make it the same as what A3 corridor tenders had. the 1928 batch of corridor tenders were modified over time to make them the same as the streamlined corridor types as built for the A4's (Scotsman's tender lost some of its history when rebuilt into streamlined spec by Rolland Kennington as it had been cut down to the Southern Loading gauges to allow a A4 to take part in the loco exchanges of 1948). The SNGLT has done a wonderful publication regarding the Gresley Loco tenders, called A TANGLE OF TENDERS but it would seem that EMPIRE OF INDIA only ever ran with Corridor tenders. It would seam the person who renumbered and renamed the loco may have made a mistake using that tender? I have a Hornby Union of South Africa and Mallard in BR green and a Bachmann Sir Nigel Gresley in BR Blue. I don't think Bachmann's A4 tenders do justice to the real thing, they just don't look right to me. My Favourite liveries for the A4's are either the BR Blue, or the few that were painted in LNER Apple green but with the parabolic curve as with the BR Blue and BR Green ones. I think its the lining that makes its more attractive to me that the Garter Blue, that is unlined. The A4 that was destroyed in 1942 at York was 4469 Sir Ralph Wedgwood (which was originally Gadwall) but in 1944 4466 was renamed from Herring Gull to Sir Ralph Wedgwood which went on to become BR 60006.

[@JenniferEKirk]

Thanks for the information!

[@fepatton]

Too many A4s? I don’t even understand the question. 😂 I’m a US-based British railroad enthusiast, and I only have one A4, the Hornby OO _live steam_ Mallard. I haven’t had it out in a few years, but it’s wild to run! My favorites are the Terriers and Small Prairies. I’m just about to add DCC sound to my new O scale Terrier “Fenchurch”. (Yes, I watched your video on this!)

[@djburland]

What a collection!

[@JenniferEKirk]

It has got quite big!

[@ausfoodgarden]

Good on you Jenny. I think for most people half of your collection would be too much. I'm an LMS (mostly LYR region) modeler and have 3. That's enough for me. 😁 Nice video and a truly impressive collection. Cheers!

[@anthonymizen9095]

I’ve got 2 which both arrived in the last month, the Dublo Union of South Africa and Commonwealth of Australia. I would eventually like all the commonwealth A4s plus SNG in BR blue

[@delphjunction1168]

Hi Jenny and Zoe. Wow what a collection. Do like the A4s. Only got two, hornby Mallard goes round my layout no problem. However my Bachmann silver fox won't, radius and flexi track big problems. Thank you for showing your wonderful collection. Stay safe. DELPH JUNCTION (Pete)

[@speleokeir]

Most people love A4s, I suspect that overall it's the most popular class of loco due to the combination of their speed, looks and Mallards legendary record. They also have a great variety of liveries with some interesting differences. I did have 21 A4s in my collection, nothing like as many as you but still far more than any other class. However I'm in the process of thinning my collection. I've recently sold five A4s on Ebay and have another six listed. This is partly to pay for new purchases such as some of Hornby's Dublo Great Gathering collection and partly because too many spend most of their time sat in boxes. I've decided to have a smaller collection of quality models which get run on a reasonably regular basis instead. One of each of the seven liveries, plus a few others that stand out for various reasons, such as different coloured letters/numerals or name plates, coats of arms on the cab side or animal/bird badges on the side of the boiler. Mine are all Hornby DCC Ready. My father was a keen bird watcher and naturalist. On my childhood holidays he always had a pair of binoculars and a field guide with him in case we saw anything interesting. Having inherited his interest in nature I prefer A4s named after birds (especially birds of prey) and animals, plus I like the 5 commonwealth A4s with their coats of arms and of course Sir Nigel Gresley and Mallard. N.B. A Golden Plover is a medium sized wading bird with long legs and webbed feet. In summer it's back has a speckled gold plumage, hence the name. In winter the plumage changes to light brown and white speckled. The eight A4s from my collection I've decided to keep are: - Silver Fox in LNER silver grey. Of the 4 in the original livery this is my favourite due to the name and fox badge. - Osprey in LNER apple green. - Bittern* in LNER garter blue, red name plate and gold letters/numerals. - Dominion of Canada* in garter blue with bell, silver letters/numerals and coat of arms on the cab side. - Sir Murrough Wilson in wartime black. - Merlin in BR experimental purple with Merlin falcon badge. - Sir Nigel Gresley* in BR experimental blue. - Union of SA* in BR green with red name plate, Springbok badge and coat of arms on the cab door. *Four of those are from Hornby's recent Dublo Great Gathering collection. Fortunately I got very good deals deals on most of them at an average price of £265 (inc P&P) instead of the RRP of £321. I also got reward points worth a further £108. If you take that into account it works out as £238 each. It's still a lot of money, but selling off some of my other A4s has paid for it. I'd really like Empire of India in BR green due to it's unusual blue nameplate. Unfortunately it doesn't come up often and tends to go for a premium. Hopefully I'll see it at a more affordable price one day if I'm patient. After much pondering I decided against getting the Dublo Eisenhower or Mallard, partly down to the expense and not being able to get a deal on them. However I'm hoping at some point Hornby will bring Mallard out in BR Green with firebox flicker, 21 pin DCC socket and diecast, or possibly with smoke. I like the idea of smoke, but will wait until I see one of the new smoke fitted Hornby locos in a review before deciding on whether it's worth it. I also love the Coronation class locos of which I have six and have a soft spot for small steam locos with tenders, so have a number of those of various classes, such as the K1, J15 & J36, etc.

[@Decrepit_biker]

No wonder I can't get an A4 at a good price... Jenny has cornered the supply and inflated the price on the market 😂😂😂 (I kid obviously, and actually model N and O and have an O gauge one)

[@JenniferEKirk]

Still many out there, and I try never to buy the same loco twice.

[@barryjohnson2901]

60004 was the only post-war A4 I did not ‘cop’ as it was an infrequent visitor to the south. I only have 60016 and 60022 and both are Hornby Dublo.

[@TallboyDave]

Also, the A4 that was destroyed by enemy action during the war was 4469 "Sir Ralph Wedgewood", formerly known as "Gadwall"; the name was later given to 4466 "Herring Gull", which you have in your collection as 60006 "Sir Ralph Wedgewood".

[@BrianSanders-tn7pi]

Hi Jennifer. I like yo have to many A4s. I have fourteen in total. One that I have that your missing is Sir Ralph Wedgewood in wartime black livery. I tried to collect pairs in diferent colours but I also managed to get the four loco's in the silver grey livery. My personal favourite steam loco is the streamlined Duchess class, 2in red 2in black and 3in blue. I probably have at least 80 steamers and about the same number of diesels plus rolling stock. Its far to much but once you get the bug you just can't stop. But thats it, I don't buy anymore now. I have enough. Nice video,very interesting.

[@peterheath9002]

LLove all the As including the tank engines alsoB16s and B17s,D16sC12s D11 and D11/2,E4s plus all remaining G.E./LNER classes waiting for rtr E4,F6L3etc.

[@ano.1425]

Oh my...what I beautiful beautiful locomotive collection ❤❤

[@JenniferEKirk]

Thank you very much!

[@wyvernmodelrailway]

Like you Jenny, I love my A4's and I have quite a few (not as many as you though) I do have Sir Ronald Matthews in 3 different liveries. The first one that I ever bought was Seagull which I imported from Hawaii, how it got there I do not know, but it was brand new. My favourite colour way is the experimental blue followed by the purple followed by the silver.

[@ellisredjohnstrains2371]

Nice collection of A4's there. My main interest is diesels ( though I do have a few steamers). Class 50's are my all time favorite of which I have 15 at the moment, a mix of both Hornby and Lima, 13 class 47's and 11 class 37's. :) 😀

[@stephendavies6949]

I have just 1 Lima 50, a NSE livered version. However, I have 11 Lima class 37s, all with different liveries, plus 47 Merddyn Emris in the special rail blue. But my favourite Limas are a brace of Special Edition early BR Green class 20s that run perfectly in tandem. Lima locos are no match for more modern models, but they still bring me pleasure when I run them, and from 3 feet away, it's not easy to tell them apart from similar Hornby & Bachmann examples, especially when it comes to Lima's later diesels.

[@derekmcginn9335]

Much enjoyed the A4 video. I am collecting all the A4s with Birds Names. Searching for 60005 Capercaillie: 60003 Osprey:

[@bentullett6068]

You must have pretty much all of the A4's built in model form. I seem to have the opposite issue to yourself as I tend to buy GWR Pannier tank locomotives of all ages including some of the older Triang/Hornby models.

[@hamshackleton]

I'm a 9F and 66 collector (not deliberately!) but I have two A4 'birds' that you dont! I have Sea Eagle 600039, and Sparrow Hawk 60418, both manufacturer's sound-fitted. Sparrow hasn't been out of it's box, yet, except for programming, (and the 4 might be suspect, as it isn't to hand to check. I've used the last two digits for the i/d code, except where were was a clash, in which case I've used the last three). I had forgotten that I even had it until I checked my loco list just now, as they are all put away while the layout is beng re-done. (The boards are being used as a convenient flat surface, at the moment!)

[@TallboyDave]

I too am not immune to the allure of the A4's- indeed, as an LNER fan, I'm almost honour-bound to have at least some; and thus I have two; 4484 "Falcon" in LNER Garter Blue, and 4482 "Golden Eagle" in the standard LNER "Locomotive Green" that some of them carried for a limited time.

[@antonymore9296]

I love the a4s

[@jeffheins6624]

For me I am a sucker for Princesses and A4s, though my merchant navy's are catching up. My friend has it worse with his fixation on Big Boys going from n to g scale. I have a photo of me and my OO Eisenhower on the footplate of the real one😊 cheers from Wisconsin

[@petergrossett6763]

Is the A4 that never had windows, a Hornby railroad version? Great collection and video. 0-6-0 tender engines are faves on my small layout. I

[@andriesgrabowsky2717]

It was Sir Ralph Wedgewood 4469 that was destroyed in the Baedeker raid during the night of 28/29 April 1942.

[@shnorth888]

I have 10 VIA Rail Canada GMD F40 locomotives in my HO collection, made by Rapido. All are from different ears. I have two in the as delivered scheme, two in the 90's era large Canadian flag scheme, two of the rebuilt ones in the current livery, plus the special liveries like Kool Aid, Canada 150, VIA Rail 40th anniversary, and CBC TV 50th anniversary. Rapido did other special schemes but i stopped at those. I also have two Ksto Amtrak F40's. While the EMD/GMD F40 is not my favorite diesel loco im a big VIA Rail and Amtrak fan.

[@carolinerogers1057]

A great collection

[@hermitageroad4713]

my favorite is the class 37 I have 45 of them so far still a long way to go

[@andriesgrabowsky2717]

Sorry, your 60007 is not experimental blue but BR blue. Experimental blue was more purple and had red boilerbands.

[@exarkun42]

My brother teases me about my having 8 A4s. I should show him that I've got nothing on you 😂

[@gajp0192]

Terriers, you can't have too many terriers, I have 4 in OO and three in O. I need some more

[@MartinsTrainsAdventures]

even more beautiful in person and your missing spencer from thomas and friends

[@ano.1425]

I would love to buy a 1/87 British passenger set but no idea where to purchase in the states. My favorite locomotive is an EMD GP7/9 ...

[@JenniferEKirk]

British outline stuff is generally only available in 1:76 (OO)

[@modelrailfan37]

Some stores do stock Hornby stuff in the states, but not many, you may need to import from the UK. There is a place in Canada called My British Model Trains that sells Hornby stuff as well.

[@ano.1425]

@@modelrailfan37 Thank you 😊

[@peterheath9002]

the more, the merrier

[@paulgodwin604]

One or more!

[@johnoneill5661]

I know I have way too many trains but it’s my hobby and unfortunately for my bank balance I don’t want 1 or 2 examples of a train or a locomotive I want the full set, my German ICE trains addiction being the worst at 12 full trains. 😁😁😁

[@hollyruston2444]

35 A4s would be too many 🙂

[@PeachyTT120]

Silly question 🤔😂

[@user-sv4pj5jl8n]

Too many, do you think?

[@jasonstevens7957]

I know you mean well but if little people are watching this there probably feeling a bit sad they only have one or two locos

[@chuckoster8221]

No.