On test: Hornby magnetic couplings

We gave Hornby's new magnetic NEM-mounted couplings to Tony Wright and asked for his thoughts while testing their tractive limits. Its new magnetic couplings are designed as a more discreet and easier to operate alternative to standard NEM-mounted tension-lock couplings. Find more reviews like this on our website, www.world-of-railways.co.uk.

[@kennethmaney914]

Great test on the most level track I've ever seen on KZbin. Well done. It actually looked like a real railway.

[@MrDavil43]

I've tried them on my trains, which on my layout are 4 coaches long at most, and I'm very happy with them. As an end-to-end there are no sharp curves, let alone a 180 degree bend, so the couplings are not under any major strain. "Well done Hornby" is my view, a phrase I didn't think I'd ever say after my new Schools Class fell to bits upon unpacking a year or two back.

[@tjfSIM]

Let's be honest - very few people have the space to run 10-15 coach trains in OO, and even fewer dabble in building metal coach kits. Hornby seeks to cater to mainstream modellers, not the specialised kit building fraternity.

[@CZ350tuner]

I've never kit built a carriage, but lots of wagons & locos. Sod's law states that if I build a kit of something, a RTR version will soon appear on the market.

[@tjfSIM]

@@CZ350tuner Yes that's always a risk. Although RTR versions rarely have the detail that you can achieve with kits.

[@greatchesterfordjunction]

G`day Tony, I create my own magnetic couplings and they give the same results as your test Hornby couplings. The point where maximum load is applied, or the coupling under the most stress, is the one between the loco and the first coach or wagon. There appears to be no way around it.....the couplings have a load limit. Fortunately, most people have layouts that run shorter coach trains than what you have on your beautiful layout, so generally it won`t be a problem. For myself that will be five coach ( max ) trains due to fiddle yard length, and my couplings can handle that load easily, even up a gradient. So ...as modellers we have to compromise sometimes....but it`s still fun Stay safe Cheers Gormo

[@bernardrichardson3189]

One thing I did notice is how rough the wheels sound on the 1st two hornby coaches compared to how smooth the older coaches sound. Hornby going backwards and cutting cost again with cheap materials.

[@michaelricks1618]

Fascinating and and lovely models on a super layout, too!

[@StormmyStormmy]

Hi, great testing, thanks for sharing.

[@donniblanco5239]

Great experiment - Beautiful Rakes of Carriages 👍🏻

[@1BCamden]

Hi Tony, insightful visual acknowledgement of the capability of the Hornby magnetic couplings, much appreciated. Very tidy solution to 'in train' coupling. It can be assumed that Hornby are including these in the the range for completeness, and are not intending to compete on price and with the extensive range of Hunt Couplings. Always good to see the Little Bytham layout too.

[@jimrobinson6362]

I doubt many modellers have space on their layout for more than a dozen coaches in a rake. Even the two clubs I am associated with who have large exhibition layouts rarely have more than fourteen so I suggest these couplings are more than adequate plus the close coupling is an aesthetic bonus

[@user-eb8ld6kn8t]

This video was more than adequate

[@andrewdking]

I've got a full rake of Hornby's new Class 43 Midland Pullmans. They all came with the new magnetic couplings, so I've fitted them. I haven't run them yet, but they will be going up an incline, so that should be interesting. What you should have mentioned when fitting them, is the Buckeyes are not just polarised end to end, but also top face to bottom face i.e. the Buckeyes have to match. It's very easy to fit them wrongly !

[@richardarcher3435]

The trouble with magnetic couplings is they do not provide a realistic coupling and uncoupling action, as shown with coupling at the beginning.

[@para2440]

so, just when 00 couplings begin to achieve so semblance of standardisation, Hornby go off at a tangent, perhaps they should focus on build quality?

[@Roo63]

Many thanks for the review.

[@jagman84]

It’s adequate for their off the shelf sets but for such hard core layouts, such as yours, it has limited applications. TBH, a smaller version for n gauge would be a far more suitable application. Have you ever tried assembling a n gauge voyager consist with its fragile, micro pin and socket design?

[@flyingtardisOfficial]

is there really a need to be like "plastic rtr stock" and "metal stock, heavy metal stock" as if metal is the be all and end all, you could have just said "RTR rolling stock" and "Weighted Rolling Stock" which would have done the same job without sounding biased, plus, considering some people add more weight to RTR rolling stock at times it includes them alongside the kit builders again without sounding biased also, i get you have a load of stuff you've built yourself, but 12+ coaches on one train isn't feasible to most, i get this is a stress test but like, none of us doing british outline are going to be trying 20 coaches, nor american style length trains, just trying it on the "flying Scotsman" set or the other metal set seperatly would have sufficed as a test to show heavier trains will struggle to stay together, 10-14 is a good enough stress test for normal configurations, as with seeing it work at the end that gives those who have heavier stock but limited running space so maybe only able to do say 6 a good idea on what they can just about do either way, what i'll say to everyone else in the comments is, if you are getting good use out of any manufacturer's magnetic couplings, good on you, and i hope they serve you well into the future

[@eamonnoconnor6664]

Is there a polarity issue with these Hornby couplings, Hunt had an issue with polarity when first batch came out but fixed this problem with there Elite couplings?

[@mels1811]

Amazing video

[@bazza3643]

But how do you un-couple. You still can’t beat Kadee couplings for coupling and uncoupling. Buckeye couplings were fitted to LNER, SR and BR mainline coaching stock and A4 locomotive tenders.

[@RogerPhebey]

Two questions come to mind immediately, so they work with carriages but what about goods wagons and how do you decouple them when shunting?

[@1701_FyldeFlyer]

The idea of magnetic couplings is basically to keep carriages in rakes and freight together. If you want to shunt with magnetic couplings, your options are dont, hand of god or fit electro mechanical couplings as shown on McKinley.

[@MervynPartin]

@@1701_FyldeFlyer You have answered the question that I was about to ask- uncoupling? I was hoping to find something better than the awful Hornby tension-lock couplings on my stock, but impressive as these magnetic couplings are, they would not be suitable for my layout. I will have to choose something else.

[@ModelRailwayShed]

I think those Hornby magnetic couplings look good, all of my coaches are plastic and I only run 4-5 coaches at once but still a great video thanks for sharing

[@peterkazmierczak7273]

I wonder if magnetic couplings, of whichever firm, retain their strength over time, or do they gradually get weaker?

[@TheWGLOVER]

They are rare earth 'permanent' magnets.

[@KevTheBusDriver]

A quick Ecosia Search result: All magnets will lose some of their magnetic strength over time. Rare-earth magnets, however, aren’t susceptible to the same age-related loss of magnetic power as other magnets. A standard magnet may lose about 5% of its strength per 100 years, whereas rare-earth magnets lose just a fraction of this amount.

[@chrisvaughan159]

Impressive haulage "sticktion". Think about using the to mount my TV on the wall!!!??? 🤣

[@little_britain]

So for Tony Wright and maybe Pete Waterman, they could be a problem. Fine for everyone else.

[@NathanielPiscian]

Oh so thats what the used in tatmr

[@derekryan4299]

boring boring boring

[@highdownmartin]

I’m sure you are, but you don’t have to go on about it

[@derekryan4299]

@@highdownmartin ok big man how do they un couple for a run around at a station