Hornby Locomotion Number 1, Era 1 & Era 11 - A follow up Video!

[@tedrobberts3093]

Thank you for the video I'd be scared stiff to running it at those speeds!

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

It one of those models that need to be run very lowly, but is so light it has very momentum, anyway many thanks for watching and taking the time to message.

[@colinwykes1833]

Many thanks for video, I had the same squeak, I oiled all the points as it stated in the instruction leaflet and still it squeaked. I did think the problem may be the con rods, each time I looked there seemed enough clearance, anyway a spot of oil and it's all good. I did not get any running issues and did the thirty minute each way run in, it was the squeak that drove me barmy however, with your perseverance to find out what was wrong solved it. Hornby have done a fantastic job with this model and well done to them. Take care and stay safe.

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

Hi Sorry for not responding sooner, I am so please it fixed your loco as well, indeed now that are running at a suitable slow speed, truly wonderful and well done Hornby! Many thanks for watching and taking the time to message.

[@MalcolmParry-j2o]

thank you so much for your two videos on locomotion they have enabled my to get my members locomotion engine running properly. It ran great on an oval test track on DCC and ran in as instructed but when I fitted DCC did not run well. Fitting a decoder (not a sound one ) was a nightmare but not there in the end. I oiled as you suggested but I think the wheel clean was perhaps the main problem as the dirt that came off a new loco was surprising. Now got to fit one of the fittings for pulling the coal trucks. The magnet one came with the magnet end off and not having much success getting the standard one in but no doubt will find an alternative method. Thanks again for such an understandable video and yes I have had what I call put in the tray answer from Hornby i.e ask a question that seems at odds with the problem Keep up the good work.

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

I a please the videos were of use, I don't think I will venture into DCC with Locomotion, I run mostly analogue anyway and you are not the first to say its a nightmare. Anyway many thanks for watching and your kind words.

[@JerseyBill-x9r]

That was very interesting Mr. Holms. I'm glad Hornby said you could oil them without voiding the warranty but then gave themselves a disclaimer with the over oiling comment without any way of determining what constitutes over oiling. I half expect Hornby to want you to send in the locomotive that needs the step, so you don't void the warranty, lol. It is a shame that we live in an age when trust can no longer be earned nor even expected. Great video and Merry Christmas Matt to you and your family, Jersey Bill

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

I could not believe the disclaimer from Hornby, I was nearly as pedantic to right back for clarification at which point is over oiling achieved as you say. Well the loco without the step, I asked for just a step and I would fix it, but Hornby cannot do that even though I've spent time getting it running ok. so I am not waiting on a replacement- oh well, as always many thanks Matt

[@markcale7034]

Great info video as always. Thank you

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

Hi Sorry for not responding sooner, Many thanks again for watching and your kind words.

[@colleenthurlow370]

Thank you for the video Matt - very interesting! Great models. On the National Railway Museum KZbin channel there are a couple of good videos done by the curators on the various changes made to Locomotion since 1825. Some is known and some is speculation, but they do talk about the chimney, wheels, cylinders and other features.

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

Thanks for suggesting, I have been watching the curators with a camera series but yet to see the one with locomotion, I will take a look, anyway many thanks for watching and taking the time to message.

[@jeffreysmith156]

Excellent work.

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

Many thanks for the king words.

[@markweightman3805]

Had the same problems with mine.. I spent yesterday discovering it was con rods also rubbing the walkways. The poor stuttering running I handled by a bit of contact cleaner on the axle spring pickups as I felt there was too much oil on them. Quick blast with it and small amounts of fresh oil on the bearings only. Also cleaned the wheels, and hey presto running quality is now very high... 👍 You just beat me too it with the video on KZbin.., hope you enjoy your models.. It really looks cracking with a rake of Chaldron wagons..

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

Sorry for not responding sooner, glad you got yours running! Thanks for the message.

[@James_Rivett]

Both locos are as preserved, and this is explained on the info card inside the box The Era 1 is a is as preserved by the S&DR in 1856/7. The Era 11 model is as she is displayed today in the museum, but the bell and number plate date back to 1925 when she underwent another cosmetic restoration by the LNER (who also fitted a petrol engine in the tender so the loco could move) for the centaury of the S&DR celebrations. The replica Locomotion(s) are slightly different in that she has a water gauge and and pressure gauge to correspond with modern boiler regs. With the exception of the top works, there's hardly anything of Locomotion that ran in commercial use, but as Era1 covers the years prior to 1869, its both preserved and a era one. The loco gained a single name plate at some time in the 1860's, and the bell was not fitted until 1883 when it visited the USA as a static exhibit. It underwent some more work before going to Paris in 1889/90, painted NER green with a new brass nameplates fitted. In 1896 more extensive "repairs" were carried out where she was painted "blue, red, yellow, white and black". In 1924 she underwent another restoration by the LNER, and repainted into the current black and varnished wood. In 1961 she underwent another restoration by BR to replace much rotten timber and corroded ironwork. The Era 11 is a faithful model of how the loco is now preserved at Shildon, but is very similar to how it would have looked in 1925.

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

Hi, apologies for not responding sooner, Thanks you so much for sharing your in depth knowledge, very interesting to read. Both Hornby models have one wheel different, I believe this is correct to the modern day but was this correct for era1? Anyway many thanks for watching and again thanks for the information.

[@James_Rivett]

@@dustyshelfcollectables its correct to when the loco was first preserved in 1856. Locomotion as new was a very different machine. Its plug wheels were first fitted by Hackworth to replace the failed cast wheels. According to historical studied, between 1825 and its withdrawal and conversion to a stationary pumping engine in 1850, Locomotion had several boilers, including domed ends, return flues, and double flues before it got its current one, as well different motion. The reason for the odd wheel is due to when preserved and cosmetically restored in 1857, to keep costs down to the £50 donate by Joseph Pease, the engineers used what was available and age appropriate. at least One of the wheels had been damaged during its conversion to a pumping engine. The Era 1 model is a model of its first restoration in 1857 and not how it worked prior to 1850. Side note, Lion also has odd driving wheel sets, with the crank axle, having a different number of spokes and cross pattern of spoke to the trailing driving wheel.

[@stevejh6630]

Well done on detecting the squeak source!

[@rogerking7258]

Agreed, but why should he have had to?

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

Thank you Steve!

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

It is a very complex model, but technical new out the box we shouldn't need to - service should come down the road not at new.

[@tallytalbot7150]

Well done for your perseverance! I would imagine you will now have to make a servicing schedule for both locomotives depending how long you run them and if they spend any length of time on the bookshelf display, In fact a little bit like like the real thing regarding oiling and such. I am happy that at least you solved the main problem of a bad/not running locomotion.

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

Thanks so much for the kind words, I think you are right on the service side of things - just like the real thing and as temperamental!

[@georgethomas7814]

Good to hear you have fixed the squeak . Given the price and redone this review.

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

Hi, I am working my way through the comments so just got to this one, I did reply to the earlier message, thanks again for the feedback.

[@stephensonsdynamometer6747]

Historical facts Active (Locomotion’s first name) was constructed in 1825. It entered the books formally in ~1832 as Locomotion, and numbered as #1 This locomotive underwent several serious modifications during its early working life. Records indicate Locomotion worked as a locomotive into the 1840s and was converted into a stationary engine towrds tge end of its working life. Locomotion was put into preservation in 1857. That is era 1, and the club model. The name plate was added, sometime after preservation The bell was added in the 1880s. That is era 2. The locomotive underwent rebuild in the 1920s Hornby based R30346 model on what is in the museum, hence era 11.

[@stephensonsdynamometer6747]

Re: the motion on the central vertical rods in the motion. Those rods must move, as they are connected to the cross slide bar at one end with vertical motion and to the other at a pivot point. They are required to move, otherwise, the mechanism binds. It is essentially the grasshopper mechanism found on many a stationary beam engine.

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

Thanks for the clarification and also the follow up of the explanation of the mechanism, if in 1880 the bel and name plate were both present the could Hornby's 346 model be considered era eleven as well as era 2? Either way a wonderful model. Thanks for watching and sharing your knowledge.

[@James_Rivett]

@@dustyshelfcollectables no, as during what would be "era 2" the loco only had a name plate on the drivers side, later on the name plates had "Locomotion" with "1825" underneath. These were replaced later on by the ones she carries today. Have a look for "Locomotion report part 1" and "Locomotion report part 2" on google, its a report published by the NRM and has some fantastic information and some very old photos of Locomotion. During Era 2 the loco was also painted in some colourful livery's, around 1889 it was painted Green, and 1896 painted "blue, red, yellow, white and black" (not sure what bits where painted what). the model would be very close to what the LNER had her restored to prior to 1925 for the S&DR centenary celebrations (Era 3 and hence era 4) albeit without the petrol engine in the tender used to propel No.1 and her train. The current guise of Locomotion is correct for her post 1961 as BR funded a restoration, completed in 1961, which replace a lot of rotted wood work and iron work. (the report mentioned above has some good photos of this), so the loco seen today is as restored in Era 5 and displayed through til era 11.

[@stephensonsdynamometer6747]

@@dustyshelfcollectables The entire problem with the era system is the unnecessary pigeon holing and arbitrary cutoffs. It becomes ridiculous when there is a preserved example. Locomotion No.1 suffers from the "restoration" in 1857. Very little, if any of the 1825 locomotive was present. Certainly not the boiler, the chimney and the wheels. We aren't 100% sure there were coupling rods, it could have been chains like the Hetton Colliery engines also by Robert Stephenson and Co. Even the entire valve gear (motion) was different from the 1825 locomotive. The National Railway Museum will tell you that themselves. So Locomotion in the museum isn't the 1825 locomotive. Full stop. Locomotion then suffered a series of modifications over the years. Hornby is somewhat stuck here. Much like Lion and the preserved reproduction LMR carriages, these are all just interpretations of the real thing, that no longer exists as it was. What Hornby are saying is "there is no right answer", the locomotive has been modified by well meaning people who ruined the original fabric of that locomotive. Hornby simply says "This is what is in the museum, today" and that is what makes it era 11. Don't get too focused on this era stuff. It is a way to sell models. The entire railway system is one long continuum of development, unsuitable for mincing into compartments. I am not bothered by your previous video, you were incredibly excited and you misinterpreted the writing on the box. I would rather see an enthusiastic review, perhaps with a minor error, than a dull dry review that is letter perfect. Do not fuss!

[@gpnorman9453]

We need to find a Spokesman to solve the riddle.

[@monsvillerailways5736]

I think that the quality control these days is pretty poor Matt. Tri-ang used to check every Loco was runming correctly before packaging. No excuse for Hornby not to do the same. Glad yours are both running now. Happy Trains

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

Hi mon, I cant see why they are not checked, It wouldn't take much and I would think it would save the manufactures a fortune. Anyway all the best Matt

[@bluebellModelrailway]

A useful video... Unfortunately for me I had mine a day ran ok cured my squeak and then cam to try it today and it was dead... And had a dead short .. despite working fine 48hrs before hand. So oh dear back to Hornby

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

oh dear, sorry to hear you got a major fault, will you be getting a replacement r is that it?

[@bluebellModelrailway]

@dustyshelfcollectables luckily the guys at Derails had one left and they have replaced it, the new one is a lot better out the box 😊 so far.

[@DaveAtLittleton]

If you want to know more about the history of Locomotion No. 1 and how it's changed over the years, the National Rail Museum did a series called curator with a Camera, you would be astonished about how much it's changed, wierdly it is preserved in a non functional state, also interesting, the boiler on Locomotion No. 1 is from its sister if I recall correctly,bur it's fascinating, it's where I learnt about the wheel differences

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

Hi Sorry for not responding sooner, thank you so for the pointer, finally enough I have been watching the series, Ive not got to locomotion yet so something to look forward to, Anyway many thanks for watching and taking the time to message.

[@MySteaming]

I'm trying to imagine how the driver & the fireman kept their balance standing on that low sided truck behind the engine, trying to drive the thing & fire it! I wonder how many fell off.

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

I assume even at the low speeds it was a wild ride! Thanks for watching and taking the time to message.

[@martinpattison1567]

I do not I do not understand why a loco from 1857 can be called Era 11? it is a model Era 1 with the addition of Nameplates and a slightly different shade of colour. Martin. (Thailand)

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

If I have done noting else it certainly opened a debate, nice to hear form you and thanks again for watching!

[@RobA500]

As the number is written as 11 then it is era eleven otherwise it would be II I.E. two capital letter i not number ones because roman numerals don't use number digits

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

Well if nothing else my error and recovery has raised debate....thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@rogerking7258]

I spent £160 on a new watch which turned out to have a missing second hand, lost about 20 minutes every hour and made horrible grating noises. It also failed to make proper electrical contact with its battery, so only ran intermittently. Then I noticed that the makers name was Hornby (the reality is that it's not made by Hornby, is actually a nicely made analogue watch that cost just £25 and has worked perfectly for five years). Why on earth do we accept shoddy products in the model railway world? Effectively you've been sold a badly assembled and faulty product and are then expected to repair it yourself. I really think Hornby should change their name to British Leyland seeing as they already seem to have a QA department that doesn't give a toss. Seriously, are there any other brand new products at that sort of price where customers would just accept that they are unlikely to get a proper working example? Oh, and please keep us informed about your progress with the missing step.

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

To be fair to Hornby, I think it is great they have attempted to push the boundary's of mainstream model making, but as I said before, I shouldn't have to service a loco from band new and QC should have picked up the missing step. The step saga continues, the step can not be replace so the loco has bee returned and I await a replacement which I am assured will be inspected. Anyway many thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.

[@sawnoff2]

consider the numbering as the same as WW1 and WW11 or as WW1 and WW2 so era 1 and era2

[@damianinCanadaTT-OO]

The numeric symbols for the world wars are Roman numerals I and II not Arabic numerals. So these are not the same thing. It’s clear from Hornby’s website they considered it Era 11 as currently shown in the museum

[@modelrailwaynoob]

Except it's WWI and WWII if you are British..The 1 and 2 and American naming.

[@dustyshelfcollectables]

Either way I covered myself, I initially felt daft for saying era 2 in the video, but its given us something to debate if nothing else.....

[@modelrailwaynoob]

​@@dustyshelfcollectables We know what you meant