Review: Hornby Class 50 Range from 2003 to 2020

[@petertate5741]

I've watched this review 4 times since you uploaded it.Fantastic job mate, insightful and knowledgeable.👍

[@EuviRail]

Thanks Peter

[@dinmorejunctionmodelrailway]

Great to see a list of the Class 50s Here are two additions. Hornby / Kernow R3673 50 007 Also Hornby / Kernow R3672 50 010

[@EuviRail]

Cool, thanks!

[@tracydavis4471]

Very good runner, reliable at shows,for the period built 2nd only to the hornby class 60, sounds like they have gone backwards with the GBRF versions. Good review.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks Tracy. The older models were rock solid and I still retain one of them, selling off the other to make way for an Accurascale Class 50.

[@bjoe385]

I have 50010, it’s not without its faults but I love it.

[@Olivers-trains]

The hornby models are decent and this video highlights this, but I've got an Accruascale one on pre order which I am looking forward to

[@EuviRail]

Yeah, though dated, they're still decent models. Looking forward to comparing them with the Accurascale 50.

[@Crepello100]

Excellent review though it set my alarm bells ringing because of the high weight. I had a problem with a similarly overweight Heljan Class 47. With that the main issue was it lacked the power to wheelspin if it's train derailed, so it frequently got too hot and pretty soon burnt out. Also, as my layout is mainly outdoors it's top heavy design caused it to overturn at every opportunity, like the smallest twig on the line would do it. The weight gave it so much momentum that bits of it would break off as it hit the concrete base. The coupling also broke for similar reasons. I recon they should reduce the weight on these models and provide weight packs to add if you need them. Anyways I scapped it, my first ever rightoff in 45 years. So I'll stick with Lima for now. How about the Railroad version of a Class 50 if there is one? I wonder if they improved that over the Lima version? I really have no idea because very few people do serious reviews on things like the wheels, how many are driven, tyres and the loco weight. So your reviews are really useful even if they suggest I should avoid a loco.

[@EuviRail]

I'm not aware of a Railroad Class 50 which would effectively have been the Lima version if it existed. I've had a few Hornby 50s over the years and they were always solid runners. Accurascale are coming on the scene now with their Class 50. I would expect that to be bit heavier though not by that much as the Hornby model is already heavy enough.

[@robd2184]

My suggestion for a 2023 model - somebody who isn’t Hornby make a class 50 !

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

Nice video .Like it very much thanks.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for that. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

@@EuviRail Look forward to next one.

[@warrantm]

I've ordered a V5 Locksound to put in mine. Can you post the link in the comments to check the DCC Plug orientation please. Great little video by the way.. very professional and well put together.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks Scott, I have added some links into the description which should help. The V5 should give you some good speaker options so I've added a link on that as well. Best of luck with your upgrade.

[@kingslandie3539]

Someone at Accurascale may have seen this video? From looking at the features on their announcement, looks like they tick if not all, most of the boxes on the wishlist.

[@EuviRail]

LOL. Well Hornby don't appear to pay much heed to my wishlists for their models, so good luck to Accurascale for addressing the main shortcomings in the Hornby model. I need to pre-order one now.

[@DugmerJunction]

@23:00 On the older ones which have a few resistors on the PCB board, i think you find them in 50018, 50045 & 50002... Maybe others. Just put the decoder in back to front and it will work fine.

[@EuviRail]

Yeah, I was able to get the motor control running. I didn't check but I believe I may still have had some problems with the lighting. Hard to believe a manufacturer would let a model out the door like this though.

[@DugmerJunction]

@@EuviRail no QC at Hornby. 🙄

[@jwpalfrey]

Very informative, thankyou. As a great fan of the 50 but a returning collector my collection is of Lima locos from the 80s and 90s. Great to see what Hornby have done with the model. I think I’d love a Hornby version but I have a small mainly 1st radius layout and I’m not sure a Hornby version would go round the bends. The price is also prohibitively high, 3-4 times a Lima model, is it 3-4 times the model? Talking DC only.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for that. The Class 50 is one of the Hornby locos due for a refresh in terms it's DCC and lighting support. Would expect to see a dip in the prices of the current locos when the new models appear so there may be a good buying opportunity on the horizon. Current prices are excessive for what is an older model now.

[@jwpalfrey]

@@EuviRail Thanks, I’ll keep an eye out for one. I must say that the Lima models still hold their own with one exception. The underscale HO bogies. However I have been modifying a number of my fleet to fit Lima 37 bogies which are lower gearing improved pickups and to scale length and wheel size, IMO a vast improvement and almost as good as a Hornby model.

[@geordielad9636]

I have a GBRf class 50 and am very pleased with it. Colour is VERY important to me and when I found out before my pre-ordered one arrived the blue colour was wrong, had me concerned. When loco arrived sure enough blue was too light and had shiny plastic sheen, I used some black weathering powder lightly over all the blue, masking off all areas that were not blue and now it matches perfectly my Revolution JNA GBRf, Dapol MJA GBRf and Hattons MEAS GBRf wagons and NO plastic sheen. I know this loco never ran with these wagons? but it's my railway and I run what I like, plus everything has to match colour wise. I have had numerous class 50s over the years and all had a problem with the spring return type coupling derailing the coach/wagon next to loco, I have NOT had this problem with this latest class 50, has Hornby improved coupling? or am I just lucky. I have had no problem with bits falling off and it runs superbly. Thanks for your very informative review which I really enjoy and I look forward to more with that fantastic Irish lilt voice, Bill.

[@EuviRail]

Excellent. Thanks William for sharing your experience with the GBRf Class 50. I haven't encountered the derailing issue you mentioned though in the main I've been running on Rad 3 track with Bachmann MK1 coaching stock which is a pretty safe combination. Thanks for sharing though and I'll be watching out for it. Any sort of derailment is a big no no for me.

[@DIDCOTTWIST]

Ark royal sounds much better even the horn is more true

[@EuviRail]

Yeah, it's definitely better than the factory fitted sound version which I've since sold on but kept the Ark Royal.

[@formidable38]

Desperately needs a re-tool. The front of them is way off and too flat.

[@EuviRail]

100% Needs a full refresh with a 21-pin decoder and upgraded lighting.

[@jwpalfrey]

Interesting you say that, I saw a post somewhere comparing the Hornby tooling to the Lima tooling and the differences (while minor) were noticeable. Have Hornby gone too far then on the cab ends?

[@formidable38]

@@jwpalfrey The 'ledge' under the windscreens has been modelled flat whereas there is a pronounced curve. This curve allows the windscreens to be dropped down at each outer corner giving a pronounced droop effect. The bottom of each windscreen is sloping down by about 7 degrees and each screen is not perpendicular, they only fit one way on the real thing, I know this as Ive actually done it!😄 Neither Hornby or anybody else have managed to get this right thus far and spoils the face of and character of the prototype.