Hornby Dublo S.R. Electric Suburban Motor Coach and Driving Trailer Car-EMU

A quick look at the Hornby Dublo S.R. Electric Suburban Motor Coach 2250 and Driving Trailer Car 4150 (c1962-?) with catalogues and Tri-ang Railways/Hornby Dublo Amalgamation leaflet. Plus R.351 EM2 Class 77 ’Electra' (c1966-67) returning BR Electric Blue & Grey Mk1 Coaches to the station.

[@stevenpeaketrainsandstuff3682]

I never received a Dublo as a child, but I did wish for one. Looking at how they were made, I understand why it didn't eventuate. Over engineered, and marvelous for it.

[@oscarpaisley]

Definitely over-engineered, imagin the cost of a model/toy constructed like that today with those materials... Thanks again for watching. Oscar

[@NedPooleD818]

Hi Oscar, I love Sunday mornings- a cafetière of coffee, freshly warmed croissants with blackcurrent jam and settle down in the sunshine to relax with the latest Oscar video!! This model was always on the wish list- but being Dublo and tinplate the nearest I could ever get was pushing my greasy nose against the window of my local model shop. Brilliant detail and still looks great, fully capturing the character of the real thing. The pair are in great condition- I prefer to see the odd knock and scratch as it’s the imperfections that show the model has been played with and loved:-))

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning, I've just had the coffee, but sadly I seem to be missing the croissants with blackcurrant jam! You paint a great picture there Ned as with the toy shop window. Many others have indicated that these models were beyond the reach of most at the time, and only items to be dreamed of. Possibly why Tri-ang did so well with its range of models at perhaps more affordable prices. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave this excellent comment. Oscar

[@TheDaf95xf]

Morning Oscar. Another fantastic classic video on what was a great EMU of its day 👍🏻

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Stevie thanks again for watching great to hear you enjoyed the video. Stay safe. Oscar

[@russellbenton2987]

Lovely looking model. Love looking at these old catalogues too. That diorama in the 67 catalogue showing Triang and Hornby Dublo had me spellbound spotting all the trains .

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Russell, it certainly was some picture. Thanks again for watching. oscar

[@barryuk676]

Thanks again Oscar another interesting look back at what was not only a toy but engineering in miniature.

[@oscarpaisley]

Good afternoon Barry, glad you found the video interesting. Thanks for watching. Oscar

[@andrewjditton]

Another very enjoyable trip down memory lane... well, Memory Main Line perhaps? Thanks Oscar! 👍

[@oscarpaisley]

Thanks, Andrew great to hear you enjoyed the video. Oscar

[@GaryNumeroUno]

I was born in 1962, I think the train looks like it is in better condition than I am after all these years!

[@oscarpaisley]

Surely not! Oscar

[@andrewr2825]

I think you nailed this EMU in your narration Oscar - “a beautiful thing”! Beauty of course is in the eye of the beholder, and this Hornby Dublo product is a beauty. And, thankfully, parts are still available for the motor as well as the side frames. This was pure engineering, and maybe nowadays considered “over engineered”, but the fact remains that for its time, it was a wonderful product. I’ve managed to hang on to one I was given by a long departed relative, boxed and virtually unused. I’ve also managed to purchase two intermediate trailers, and it sits well compared to the Hornby 2-BIL and even the Triang 4-SUB. I’m (as you can gather!) really happy to see you feature this unit Oscar, and given me the urge to roster mine on duty for today’s peak hour on my small layout!! Brilliant!!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@oscarpaisley]

Good afternoon Andrew, great to hear you have these very beautiful models from Hornby Dublo and that you have two of the intermediate coaches. I've been on the lookout my self for intermediate coaches since I acquired the two-car set. I'm sure you will enjoy have them on the layout. They are very satisfying to operate. Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching. Oscar

[@flippop101]

A lovely way to round off a Sunday here in Germany. I was especially interested in these beautiful tinplate models, reminiscent of the old Hornby 0 gauge era for which I have soft spot. Thank you very much for sharing this with us!

[@sylphil51]

When I view Oscars videos it's Sunday afternoon down under - a very nice way to finish the weekend!

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Philip it's great to hear you enjoyed seeing these modes. I'm hoping to see some tinplate models myself at a show coming up soon. I shall try and shoot some video. Thanks for watching. Oscar

[@oscarpaisley]

Thanks Phillip glad you enjoyed the video. Oscar

[@POUNCEMAN1]

Love them ,,,, Thanks for sharing Oscar

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi glad you like those they are quite a pretty set together, never managed to find myself a centre car go with them. Take care. Oscar

[@barryhumphriesinc.broughto3098]

Hi Oscar, love this video. I was so jealous of a friend back when these were new. He also had the two-car set, so you can imagine my joy when I recently acquired a power car in an antique shop job lot. A quick clean and it runs well. On the lookout now for an unpowered car ..... a few on the Bay of E.

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Barry they are loverly models and it's difficult to explain why they are so attractive, the mix of printed tin plate and plastic I think works very well. Terrific to hear you got yourself the power car hope you find the unpowered car soon and maybe the intermediate coach too, I keep meaning to get serious and find one myself. Thanks again for watching. Take care. Oscar

[@raymonderoma]

Great layout, find u very interesting 👍 brings back memories from my childhood

[@oscarpaisley]

Good evening, great to hear you are enjoying the videos. Thanks for watching. Oscar

[@iandunsford4338]

Thank you for the video Oscar. These Dublo EMUs have a charm about them. Hopefully there will be one running at the Amersham classic model train show on 26 oct. it would be good to compare withe the Triang emu and dmu

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Ian, thanks for watching. I hope you get to see one of these models running on the 26th. I wish there was a classic model train show in my area. Oscar

[@chorlton4]

Lovely Oscar; its worth pointing out that the actual prototypes modelled by this Hornby set ran on the LMR Euston Watford service. Why Dublo picked it for a Southern unit I dont know - it looks the part regards Paul

[@lfewell2161]

Beat me to it with that info, as I knew these units well, living not far from Dalston junction station, they were the first trains I travelled on, they were also introduced the year I was born. Many differences between these and the SR units, EG two motor bogies on one driving car, screw couplings between coaches, shorter 57ft underframe to name a few. The fact that they were shorter may have been the reason the models were based on this design.

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Paul, Hornby Dublo using artistic licence. Not the only manufacturer to do so I imagen. I wonder if Hornby Dublo had survived longer if they would have produced this set of models in LMR Maroon. Thank again for watching and taking the time to comment with this great information. Oscar

[@NorbertRoll]

Hi Oscar, again a really wonderful presentation.

[@oscarpaisley]

Thank you Norbert, glad you enjoyed the video. Oscar

[@WS-1]

Well presented and very detailed analysis of these classic models . Worse for wear as they are to a limited extent , they are still incredibly smooth runners , and a credit to all that was great about Hornby Dublo . Whereas Tri-ang was to beat Hornby Dublo largely through pricing , the better quality and detail that went into these models is abundantly clear from this video . Well done Oscar !

[@oscarpaisley]

Glad you enjoyed the video William. Thanks for watching. Oscar

[@trainsontuesday]

Hello Oscar, That is a wonderful model. It would not have ever been on my wish list as a child as I never had an interest in Suburban stock and the price would have been prohibitive so I would have skipped by that quickly when browsing and dreaming my way through a catalogue. Thank you for another interesting and informative video. Regards, David.

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning David, I think the cost of these and other Hornby Dublo models was one of the reasons Tri-ang had such strong success in those early years. Great to hear you found the video interesting. Thanks for watching. Oscar

[@clivecobbold6815]

Hi oscar I had the 1967 catalogue at the time it was out it was a great catalogue and great photos in it mate clive

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Clive, it's a great catalogue. Terrific to hear you had a copy. Do you still have it. Thanks for watching. Oscar

[@clivecobbold6815]

@@oscarpaisley hi oscar no I donot have the catalogue now it got lost in 1972 in a house more with the 1967/71 catalogues mate my first train set was the tri-ang blue Pullman in 1966 I wish I still had it today have you seen the price of the Bachmann blue Pullman mate I cannot afford the price they are looking for it goodbye for now oscar clive

[@paulsinnick7656]

wish i could get it at that price if am working it out right ruffly 52 p nice video nice to see the oldstuff.

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Always liked these, wonderful!

[@oscarpaisley]

Thank you Mike. Oscar

[@Hazel584]

Great models, however, they are actually modelled on the Watford/Broad St. - Richmond DC units, (BR class 501), very similar to Southern region units. I did have one that had been repainted in BR green with the door window bars added. Still lovely to see them though.

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Hazel, another example of a toy manufacturer exercising a litte artistic licence in producing their products. Thanks for the information and you say lovely models to see. Oscar

[@canberra678]

According to the History of Hornby book this model was originally to have been a 3 Car unit modelled on the Class 501 Watford units particularly the front end. But someone in marketing then decided a 3 car unit wasn't sellable and decision was made to turn it into a 2 car unit as the 501s were 3 car only they turned it into a southern region 2EPB unit .hence the coach numbers are for a 2 EPB but the front end are of Watford units.

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi thank for the information. Marketing is a powerful tool sometimes. But I imagen that this all happened at a very tricky point in the finance department for Hornby Dublo and they were after sales volume rather than accuracy. Oscar

[@rogerking7258]

That chassis looks like a proper piece of engineering in miniature, and as you say, it must have been expensive to produce. Perhaps the genius of Tri-ang was to produce acceptable models that still ran well but which were far less expensive to manufacture; in particular they were years ahead of Hornby in their use of plastics. At the time plastic (anything) was looked down on as being cheap and nasty, but as we know it today it is very often the best and most suitable material of choice (particularly for loco bodies).

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Roger, I think you right Tri-ang definitely went for a part of the market that Hornby Dublo did not serve at the time and fully exploited the new materials and advancing production techniques. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Oscar

[@mike59317]

Hi Oscar, another interesting video. The comments of a couple of wags down below had me laughing my butt off. Cheers.

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Michael, great to hear you found the video interesting and enjoyed the comments below. Thanks for watching. Oscar

[@martinpattison5110]

I do not remember this model, but it was at that time my Uncle Terry and dad built the first model layout. I think I have told you before, that I have the Diesel Railway Car from that period and it came in three boxes. Martin )Thailand)

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Martin, you must have great memories of that first layout. The Diesel Railcar is a lovely group of models its great to hear you still have them. Thanks for watching. Oscar

[@davidstrains4910]

Great video Oscar I could think that those are very rare as I haven't seen very many for sale, I have only seen one and I think it was about £300

[@oscarpaisley]

Good evening David, there are always a few for sale on that auction site. The price you mention seems to be around what's been asked for them at present. I'm not sure whether that's down to the scarcity or the beauty of the objects? Thanks again for watching. Oscar

[@lesbird2074]

It's a nice unit and now highly sought after fetching anything up to £400 for a two car train. I guess that Triang sold off any remaining stock after the takeover but didn't make any more. I believe that the tinplate printing process involved the use of some toxic substances so that is why only the pullmans continued in production being plastic.I have a spare motor coach underframe moulding if it's any use to anyone. I spent a few years commuting on these trains from Broad Street (sadly no longer there) to Camden Road. Despite passing the through North London suburbs, the line had a surprisingly rural feel about it with lots of trees and hedgerows.

[@oscarpaisley]

Good afternoon Leslie, I bet these items would have cost Tri-ang a fortune to keep in production. I've just been having a look at old pictures of Broad Street station on this website www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/broad_street/index97.shtml it was an amazing looking building. Thanks for watching Oscar

[@ldb281]

very nice to see, thankyou

[@oscarpaisley]

Thanks for watching Herb. Oscar

[@AllensTrains]

This EMU could be classed as the ancestor of the Hornby Networker which has a similar arrangement with a worm gear driving just one axle with traction tyres. The Hornby Networker also has a partly metal body which is unusual these days. Maybe you should add one to your collection?

[@oscarpaisley]

Thanks Allen, that's a great idea. Sounds like an interesting model. Oscar

[@muir8009]

To be honest Oscar, I feel a little bit that the EMU showed a little about what was wrong with Hornby Dublo at the time. I had a 3 rail unit running on my layout and it looked lovely. I could drive it out of the station. and back again. then back out again. it may have been lovely as a model, but for added value it wasn't that great. at least the triang version had the price advantage, but trying to sell it as a set wasn't really that great, and unlike the blue Pullman it wasn't that glamorous. it may have worked for hornby I think if they had enough motive power variance already. but with the excellent EE type 1 in highly detailed plastic off the market for 2 rail, then a rather plain looking unimpressive diecast co-bo being unsuccessful, a dubious looking deltic, a too late AL1, maybe there wasn't really a need at all for the EMU. they should've spent the money on getting the two rail bo-bo running acceptably to sell

[@oscarpaisley]

Thanks muir8009 you make a very good point. Oscar

[@foxhillrailway2252]

top video sir

[@oscarpaisley]

Thank you. Oscar