80s Nostalgia Alert! Classic Hornby Action Accessories Reviewed

[@TheseTwoRails]

I love the idea of making non-train stuff functional on a layout, really makes it feel more like world building. Great vid as always.

[@RG-Models86]

It would be great if Hornby could bring these back and put them into their Railroad range.

[@bentullett6068]

For a short time they brought back this range of working accessories in the 2000's. In the range there was side tipping wagon and the track side receiver bay, log tipping wagon with a similar receiver bay to the gravel one but timber yard based, saw mill with a log drop on it and these two items in the video.

[@RG-Models86]

@bentullett6068 Yeah, I remember seeing them in the Hornby catalogue.

[@BoxtankEngine]

Then they would nicely stand there. We could all buy them again. We would all go into debt and have no money for the rest of our lives but still. If they brought the items back as fairly priced things there wouldn’t be an issue.

[@RG-Models86]

@BoxtankEngine That's the only issue with bringing them back. The price would have to be reasonable in order for them to sell.

[@obvious2886]

Lionel does this plenty and they’re awesome

[@RodgerRamjet-s8g]

When I built a layout with my son a few years back we decided to control it with Hornbys Railmaster DCC. Both of these accessories are included in the Railmaster program. By fitted a DCC chip to each unit you could set each one to run through a complete cycle at the press of a button. They really brought an extra level of enjoyment to the layout.

[@LittleWicketRailway]

That's cool. I've never used rail master. Is it good?

[@RodgerRamjet-s8g]

@ As a bit of a computer nerd we got on with it fairly well and were impressed with what it could do back then running purely from a basic PC with a mouse. By today’s standards it is way behind the more modern systems, however it does still work. A lot of people suffered a lot of comms issues between their computer and controller and this may have scared some to look elsewhere.

[@HighOakJunction]

Hi Rob, Yes, I always wanted to have one of these as I drooled over the Hornby catalogue back in the day. Especially the old commercials with Bernard Cribbons.

[@davidhall7811]

Back when railways were to be properly played with. I have a couple of Lima action accessories too on my layout 🙂

[@AgenoriaModelTrains]

I can see these products hitting well with younger modellers. In the beginning kids may get bored with just running trains round in a circle and doing the odd shunt but things like this will keep them interested. If somebody bought me these back when I was a child I'd be full of excitement. I can't deny that having this would make any layout interesting.

[@bentullett6068]

I remember when Hornby re-released these items in the early 2000's and I have never understood why they don't make them again, as it can result in a interesting play feature for adult and younger modellers. I have always thought that if they released them again they could make them DCC ready and add sound provisions for DCC control.

[@PaulinesPastimes]

I have the older Tri-ang gravity unloading set, which I haven't installed yet. I love these action accessories, they add so much play value to the layout and are fun. I have the automatic mail bag car as well. The problem with the 'coal' going everywhere is because it is too light. I have an idea to use some crushed gravel or something, maybe small ceramic pellets? Glad you showcased these items. 😊

[@marcdempsey5850]

Hi Rob; they are both part of a great set, there is another coal tipper set where the load drops out below the wagon. Add that to the convey belt and it’s a great feature to play…. Although you do end up with a lot of spillage around the sets. All best and great to see these sets being used now. Marc from Leighton Buzzard

[@LawrenceTimme]

I wish they made these things today. Super cool

[@craker4658]

I had the Hornby mail coach. Picked up the mail bag from a hook in one part of the layout and ejected it into a trackside hopper (if the aim was good) on the other side of the layout. Great fun!

[@anthonylichfield3540]

Looks great fun happy modelling everyone 👍

[@Harp-House-Halt]

They definitely have got great play value for kids of all ages :)

[@LawrenceTimme]

These are amazing. This is peak stuff.

[@cedarcam]

I still have these. The conveyor belt broke on mine so that put an end to its working days. They made a Consett iron ore hopper with opening bottom door which is still on the layout and was all part of a works based on a real place. I called the stone Criggle Stone although the real works made None Slip paving and bricks. You say the motors are noisy but probably realistic. well if you have seen Thunderbird 2 taking off on Tracy Island, the sound of the launch ramp rising was recorded from a coal wagon tipper close to the studios.

[@kevinbrooks552]

Love this Rob, reminds me of my Battle Space set up trying to get rockets to fire, cap wagons to explode and helicopters to launch - great fun but deffo not for the serious modeller!!

[@LittleWicketRailway]

I was so tempted to buy a battle space set at key model world live. My dad has the rocket launcher and I've got the exploding wagon. So creative.

[@545iAR]

I got these for Xmas 2005 when Hornby rereleased them. They would have last been in the range early/mid 1980s.

[@richardsweeney197]

But clubs and more serious modelers might think of it to keep the interests of any young visitors. I can see how a range like that could get younger people interested in model railroads.

[@toucan221]

there are a few operating accessories, this one - The conveyor. TWO - the the lifting bridge THREE - ORE wagon set, there is also an automatic Coal under train set by Lima. what else is out there is unknown to me. Some trains with accessories can be fascinating, have a nice day 😀😀

[@LittleWicketRailway]

The lifting bridge sounds fun. Never seen that.

[@speleokeir]

The operating mail coach of course which is probably the best one IMO. The are LMS crimson, GWR chocolate & cream and BR blue & grey livery versions.

[@LittleWicketRailway]

@speleokeir we had the red royal mail ones as kids. Remember driving the class 47 full throttle and batting the mail bags across the room.

[@toucan221]

@@LittleWicketRailway imagine the usual girder bridge but with small counter balance added to one side that is what it looks like and it swings up and away from the other side.

[@toucan221]

@@LittleWicketRailway its actually called Hornby R195 Electrically operated lifting Bridge

[@limehuzki]

I'm still sad so many accessories just disappeared

[@damianinCanadaTT-OO]

The motors are incredibly noisy. I think part of the smell is probably because they haven’t been used for years although I remember my turntable motor being very noisy back then. Could never afford these but loved looking at them in the catalogue. Thanks for the walk down memory lane

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Thanks for watching. Pretty sure they use the same type of motor as the turntable.

[@jimmanyk]

I've got the Action Accessories from BITD, somewhere🤔 The train set purists among us want more of the same😁 & they can be DCCd😏

[@IainDavies-z2l]

What happened to model railways not being fun like that any more.

[@derekloudon8731]

What brilliant play value! I think that if Hornby brought it back it would sell well (I would by it).

[@ollychap1985]

Hornby did re-release these back in the early 2000s

[@LittleWicketRailway]

They might have been re-released?

[@ollychap1985]

R8132 Operating Tipper set and Operating Conveyor R8131

[@jkirk888]

Everyone would love a modern version of these in realistic colours. Compare these to the Beatles tat they are turning out now.

[@aleopardstail]

soooooo RFID Arduino project for working merry go round train?

[@LittleWicketRailway]

I thought about making a little layout with these, but I really don't need any more distractions. Plus, it's not really mine to play with, belong to my uncle.

[@ausfoodgarden]

Hmmm. I'm sure a working automated MGR has been done before, but my memory isn't good enough to know who by. if you want to do an Arduino-controlled version, add me to the interested list.😁

[@aleopardstail]

@@ausfoodgarden wish I had the space for it really, a working hopper unloading and loading point, with some underboard conveyor to get the "coal" back to the start would make for an amazing layout

[@bjmorley]

That still doesnt explain why they need removable sides, as the conveyer fits below... Unless you can set it up so you tip straight on to the conveyer?

[@LittleWicketRailway]

You can put the conveyor in 3 positions, left, right or straight. The instructions show how you can have the tipper connected to a siding and the conveyor taking the coal back to the mainline.

[@bjmorley]

@LittleWicketRailway yeh I saw that, but the conveyer doesn't look like one that can be vertical, so it's just from the hopper into a wagon; you don't need removable sides if the conveyor sits below, if you get what I mean.

[@jaimegarcia9944]

I am writing to you from Chile, a country where the model railroading hobby is almost unknown, with high taxes and considered a hobby for the wealthy. I have been watching your videos for some time and tried to follow your instructions to control switches with Arduino and JRMI. I followed your instructions in video 1 without problems but in video 2 I could not use your servo control program and I did not understand clearly what to do. I cannot open the screen where the calibration is done and I do not understand how to do it. I would appreciate if you could enlighten me.