Great Quality From Heljan! | New ES1 Electric | Unboxing & Review

[@kevmc291]

The "steam whistle" is actually air powered, similar to those used on the Underground. The filler caps are for sand. Doubtless, the sanders got a lot of use on the steep gradients

[@davidballoid2118]

Thank you for helping Sam out today, I try to as much as I can about little details like Sand Wells and Air Compressor apposed to steam power components. I just hope he realizes that we are trying to help and not badger him.

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks a lot Kevin - yeah that makes a lot more sense, really appreciate the info!! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@little_britain]

On the issue of price - I would point out that as a very unusual prototype, run only in an extremely limited area (only a single short line), this may not get a lot of sales among modellers. That would mean the high development costs of such a detailed and accurate model would have to be born by fewer customers than say - a very popular model with widespread distribution or long mainline careers such as a Class 37, Peak, Deltic or 9F.

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah that’s a fair point - but the manufacturers decided to go ahead with it, and passed the costs onto their customers at £220 each. Regardless of the reasons, expectations have to be high for a small loco at that price, and as a reviewer I tried to decide whether it’s worth the money for potential customers, Cheers, Sam

[@CustomiZe_]

A high quality heljan loco?!?!.......Next you'll be telling me unicorns exist! 🦄🦄🦄🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Pinatattadvantjer]

Bruh sam wen i vas watching you and i switched to a noder KZbinr 🍞

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@NWRJ_WStudios]

I'm not really a fan of electric locomotive, but this one looks like an American engine. It's a very unusual one. Sorry about that Sam ;) Cheers Jasper & Willow

[@SamsTrains]

haha that's okay - I don't bite people's heads off for calling electrics diesels, haha! ;D Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@bryantan863]

Hey Sam, the new Heljan ES1 electric locomotive looks very nice. Plus, it was also very nice of your mother and grandfather to buy that model for you as a Christmas present. I have to agree with you about the model. It is too expensive, its instructions are not clear and the engineering on the model from Heljan is confusing along with its quality being a bit poor. The only positive side on Heljan's new model is that it is much better than their other products.

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks Bryan - yes it was lovely of them to help me out like that... such a bonus to have been able to review this one! haha confusing is the word I'd use too! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@pokeprime94]

Really wish we could get another dark running session with headlamps, always so nice to watch

[@railsofontario3029]

Looks like Heljan is finally getting better at making models! The thing looks great as well! Nice review Sam:)

[@SamsTrains]

It's definitely a step up for sure - still room for improvement, but overall decent quality! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@formidable38]

I note that they have used the same split axle and pick-up and bearing system as Athearn Genesis and Kato locomotives (not Athearn blue box or RTR, as they are different again). In my experience of those, they tend to run very well but sometimes the wheel spigots can slip in the axle gear causing gauging issues. All in all though, its a far better mechanism than the usual Heljan we know. The advantage of this system is that they don't suffer from dirty pickups like the usual wipers can.

[@gilbertporter4992]

What about the 07? Is Heljans class 07 good quality?

[@railsofontario3029]

@@gilbertporter4992 I’ve heard good things about the 07. But I’m talking about certain models not the 07. Like the 1361 or Tango.

[@dtb2654]

how can you say that when they hide body screws behind the bogies? having clear access to the loco for servicing and DCC fitting, even DC is an essential part of model railways and it's design is clearly unacceptable that even a poor third rate manufacturer could overlook this.

[@timbervalleyproductions]

Omg. High quality Heljan. Never thought that would happen!

[@SamsTrains]

Yep!! Not quite at the standard as others in my opinion, but it's the best I've had from Heljan! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@NWRJ_WStudios]

Over here in the usa, we call them is box cabs. Cheers Jasper & Willow

[@SamsTrains]

Very cool - thanks for the fun fact! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@josephbrandtner7713]

Filler caps are for sand. Sand is for tractions assist on slippery rail.

[@NWRJ_WStudios]

electric and diesel engines look almost the same, maybe it's because there all box's on wheels. Cheers Jasper & Willow

[@SamsTrains]

haha yeah - you can tell with this one though as it has that pantograph on the top! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@andrewpalm2103]

This type of electric loco was known as a "steeple cab" in the US. They were used in the first half of the 20th century primarily on electric interurbans (somewhat beefed up tram lines that ran between cities). Most of them were fitted with trolley poles on the cab roof. They were used as freight locomotives on those systems which typically did not have a heavy freight business. As a former electric traction modeller I would snap up an HO undecorated US prototype version of this loco in a New York minute and would add overhead wire to my current layout just to run it. Thanks so much for this review, Sam, and cheers from Wisconsin!

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks Andrew, yeah I've heard them called steeple cab too - a sensible nickname! Really appreciate all the extra info, Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@paulcaswell2813]

Not unlike the German/Swiss 'Crocodiles'.

[@paulisnotonfire]

On the price, I'd guess because it's an exclusive model (thus a limited run) and it's a prototype of two. Heljan would have had to re-coup their investment in it somehow. Personally, I'd really like to get one (as the line it would have ran on) is local to me. Price is really off putting and I don't know if I can justify it, but I may just get one. Cheers

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah that always puts the price up doesn't it... though I do feel it wouldn't have cost them any more to be more thoughtful in their design and more generous in the features offered for £220. Yeah the price is hugely off-putting, but it's also a good model of an interesting prototype... a lot to weigh up! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@hawnyfox3411]

Sam, I've GOTTA ask you an important question, for me, as regards to your "Lighting", please. I also have a Nikon DSLR with the "Expeed.4" like yours (750), but I was also wondering deeply.... How DO you get that SUPERB "White Light Background" seen at 09:33 onwards ???? Do you use a light diffuser (?), or a "Lightbox" when filming those sequences ?? What IS the lighting & power source, it looks SO good, I'd love to know.... I've numerous diecast model aircraft & I'd love to use a technique like yours ("if" only I knew how !) Thanks in advance, "Hawny"

[@Sebi1963]

The next ncim loco should be the prototype hst

[@Anamelessbrit5938]

I think the Heljan class 128 aka the railcar might be the odd one out I’m not too sure though

[@tomdg13]

Sounds right to me. Though ... for a moment I thought I spotted a Leader in the siding by the crane, which would be a very odd one out

[@robertlucido3686]

Hey Sam, about I mentioned that I write, I made one of my characters (who's a volunteer steam locomotive fireman) where he's into British OO electric trains just like you

[@SamsTrains]

Oh wow that's awesome - I'd love to see some of this stuff! :D Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@PorcyMane]

Those screws are a doddle to remove once you've popped off the collector shoes. Heljan designed them that way. The bogie sideframes can stay as Heljan intended.

[@Charmaster04]

@SamsTrains I assume the unforeseen cost is that this is a model of a niche, two-of prototype. Few modelers with want one for their layout, and none will want more than two (unless they want to collect every road number and livery?), even if they model that line. The fewer of a model you can produce, the more you have to charge for each sample, until eventually manufacturing dies is no longer cost-effective and the manufacturer commissions a hand-crafted brass model instead (we have seen this a lot with most American steam locomotives that are not USRA standard, world famous, or Pennsylvanian). Piko's new Krauss Maffei diesel in HO scale is an excellent example of this principle, being so niche they charged $280 for it, the equivalent of £220... what the model in this video cost you, in fact. Both are beautiful models, but it's the niche niche they fill that makes them cost what they do. (P.S. I can't remember which video this happened to, but there is a comment under one of your videos saying a Hornby washing machine would cost £50,000. A funny joke, but misleading, considering the demand for washing machines is exponentially higher than the demand for model railroad supplies as a whole, much less locomotives. One market has a captive national audience, the other rarely has much of the public's ear, much less much of the public's savings.)

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah that's true - but it doesn't make the price any more palatable for the customer, as demonstrated by this model. Rails have since had to slash the prices of these, and even today over a year later, they still haven't sold them all.

[@azuma892]

Haha luckily the damage is easily repairable, have you ever stepped on any model trains?

[@SamsTrains]

Yes it shouldn't be too bad! I can't recall doing... maybe years ago?? Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@romanpomroy7626]

Is the Pennsylvania odd one out because it’s the only US one

[@crocowithaglocko5876]

Ok here’s my guess for the odd one out The GG1

[@SamsTrains]

I don't believe it was!! Good guess though ;D Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@nigelcole1936]

I have see the full size prototype at NRM Shildon and its a very interesting locomotive. I may order one but my past experience of Locomotion Models service has not been great. Great video as always thanks Sam.

[@andrewdking]

My experience with Locomotion has been excellent. First occasion the staff ran around looking for a City of Truro which they thought they had all sold out but found one deep at the back of a cupboard. Therefore probably the last one sold at that time anyway. Then last year my V2 Green Arrow was as dead as a Dodo. They sent a man in a van to pick it up free of posting charges and sent me another one 🙂

[@nigelcole1936]

@@andrewdking I my case the City of Truro never arrived and it took 6 months of awful, poor communication with them not replying to emails and phone calls to get the problem sorted out and never even an apology from them. Guess you were lucky.

[@SamsTrains]

It really is an interesting locomotive! Sorry to hear you've had a bad experience.. poor communication is definitely inexcusable. My experience of Locomotion has been like Andrew's though - I've not ordered much from them, but when I have it's always arrived and quickly! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@timbervalleyproductions]

Odd one out is the tram?

[@NWRJ_WStudios]

Hi Sam I don't know if you read this but I found some more information on your GER 0-6-0 (GER Nr. 552 was the first of ten 0-6-0s built by Kitson in 1882 (K 2430-39). Initially used on the coal traffic, in later years they hauled ballast trains. All ten locomotives were withdrawn in 1904-06). I hope this helps you Cheers Jasper & Willow

[@SamsTrains]

Fascinating - thanks so much for the extra info! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@Pennsy6755m1b]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay I'm so excited 😊

[@SamsTrains]

Me too!! :D

[@TidmouthSheds]

“OMG it’s G A T O R”-Thomas and Friends fans

[@datguymiller]

Looks more like Stafford

[@traintimeboy]

@@datguymillerexactly

[@adamwilliams192]

Interesting loco, glad Rails / Locomotion got some decent quality out of Heljan. Odd one out: Spotted a Class 128 (Diesel) at the bottom of Gordon’s Hill?

[@ivoryfields2631]

looks like bachman secretly traded employees with heljan for a bit i see

[@davidstrains4910]

Saw two of these in a display case at the York national railway museum the other day and from what I saw they looked really good, from my experience heljan has always been a great quality manufacturer making great models of the one off locomotives.

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks David - yes this is a particularly great loco! Glad you've had good experiences with Heljan ;D Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@elizabethmorgan9470]

Locomotive at exactly 30 minutes

[@azuma892]

Sam it's so nice to see a steeplecab on your channel, they are one of my favourite types of locos actually. You should do a Japanese steeplecab one day, the Tenshodo Toshiba 40T is pretty good. 😊

[@SamsTrains]

It is nice - I believe this is the first one!! I should totally do that :D Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@alanwatson5929]

Info on the ES1. The covers on the bonnet were for sand, the tunnels were notoriously greasy and sand was needed for the climb. The wobbly pantograph is also accurate as drivers had a been known to enter the third rail fitted tunnels with the pantograph up knocking these off the cab roof.... not a problem when fitted with the original bow collectors.

[@Alextrains502]

can you make a marklin review good vid

[@umbreon0017]

Hey Sam, the odd one out is the class 73 parked near the GG1. Cheers from Pearse

[@briandesens144]

Awesome video Sam's trains

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks Brian! :D

[@briandesens144]

@@SamsTrains you're welcome my dear friend

[@paulrb894]

Hello good videos, can you please review: : MEHANO 8854 T 277 VOSSLOH G2000 DLC Silver,. I got it from Amazon for £72: cheers

[@azuma892]

Aww this thing is so cute kudos to Heljan for doing a decent job on this beautiful prototype. :)

[@bobbybill6784]

Sam, what if you did a challenge with two of your other friends to see the best used train of a specific type you can find for the cheapest and best? I think id be cool

[@SamsTrains]

That would be cool - thanks a lot for the awesome idea!! :D Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@little_britain]

For what it's worth, the Peak was very good in my view, and a better price at £169 when I bought it.

[@SamsTrains]

I haven't tried that yet - I'm looking forward to giving it a go! It's certainly quite competitively priced! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@VFCproductions]

More cab lights that are on when running? That's fine if the driver doesn't want to be able to see the track...

[@mikeking2539]

The printing on the North Eastern Railway crest is not very sharp, which is a shame, but oddly the BR one looks perfect! Sadly for me it is far too expensive! So sadly I can't have an example in my collection

[@scrailwaylines8535]

Hope I find some good loot at the train show this weekend

[@dannyvanstraelen3273]

Hi Sam, I know this is already a year old topic, but this model must be a real finger burner for locomotion models, in a year time the price dropped to £99 for a brand new model at the London show, even with pre-order they have to sell it at dumping prices. This brings up the question, is it worth while to make these nice prototype models, out of a buisnes view. And it, stupid me, upsets me somewhat, that I payed full price for the loco, still find it a very nice model, but for £120 I could have bought an other new model.🥴 And I think a few other collector think the same about this…

[@alanwagstaff16]

To get the screws out to take body off you have to pop the collection shoes off either side of the boggies. See the review Jenny Krik did. But yeah it's a nice model.

[@GerardScroogeGoes]

Am I spoiled by the european manufacters (excl. Heljan)? The plastic cab has a complete differant shine to it then the metal around it. My Hornby Terrier has the same in its plastic wheels. Sorry but that shouts TOY !!!! to me. The prices of OO gauge keeps climbing towards H0 but the quality is still questionable. Lucky we have Sam to give us honest reviews. Never noticed the shine differance in any of the other publications.

[@Mariazellerbahn]

Chinese die cast? No thank you. I've had too many models fall to bits with mazak rot to get burnt again. For the ridiculous prices, I'd want them made from brass ... like the brass replacement parts I have to pay extra for to fix the Chinese garbage.

[@r.a.monigold9789]

But just look at the front of it. No, that's the back. I thought the back was up there. I really like this. Great gift !! Thanks for sharing, Sam.

[@eisenbau]

Generous scoring. The fact you can't easily get to the body removal screws and easily remove the keeper plates on the bogies shows absolutely appalling design. I would have knocked a star off just for that, plus another for poor instructions. The slow running, paint finish and the poor pantograph are also disappointing. Not acceptable for a model at that price, £150 would have been a fair price these days, but I suspect Heljan think the market will stand over £200 due it's unusualness.

[@nameless5413]

oh the odd one out is definitively the tramway just as Sam says that sentence. rest are trains .) and its sitting there in siding like nobody's bunnies. First run 1'902, damn now we're talking reasonably early electric, tho there were electrical rails and lamps around 1'880 (Edison, Tesla, Křižík, and countless others inventing stuff in the field). Sorry for tangent yeah its shame its this costly the era brought so many exciting inventive things that i feel are under-represented especially electrical vehicles of the era are rarely showcased or moddeled.

[@TheTransportationFanfromCA]

That is not HELJIN that’s a former bachmann.

[@timbervalleyproductions]

Which product code?

[@TheTransportationFanfromCA]

It’s a joke

[@timbervalleyproductions]

@@TheTransportationFanfromCA ah right ok - makes sense!

[@Gfysimpletons]

All these new engines, no matter country of origin, are garbage in my eyes. I have dozens of Japanese engines from the ‘50’s that have run like champs. Bowser is another great example. Those plastic gears drive me off the rails! Toots…

[@richardmendham5278]

I have seen the real thing at "Locomotion,' (See my KZbin video: From the Great North Road to the Great North Sea!). It is a good model! Though, I agree with your comments about the paint and the price!

[@MrVorpalsword]

why is there a transfer saying 'A End' on it when it should read 'An End' ..... and anyway, it's obviously an end (doh), and why does it say Bend at the other end .... ridiculous, I don't know .....?

[@philkeller4170]

It should be remembered that the whole reason that Locomotion models / the RM / The Science museum group demand their releases are not discounted and set the RRP prices high is to generate monies to spend on restoring locos / stock in the national collection and the Shildon + York museums! So yes it might be ‘profiteering’ but it’s for a good cause. If you don’t like that then rather than ranting about it I suggest you get HM Government to actually fund our national museums properly - a move which means said museums don’t have to use the sale of models to try and raise funds to undertake their mission of displaying things to the public.

[@philkeller4170]

I suspect the filler caps are for sand - not water! (to improve adhesion when climbing the gradients). The whistle would most likely be compressed air powered - not steam.

[@geoffpope5076]

I remember seeing on scuttling around gosforth sheds 1960s. It was black.

[@roulernbleu4532]

Oh, the sprung buffers again... For what, though? With the standard couplings the buffers are miles away from the first wagon coupled to the loco... 🤔

[@GinoACosta]

Sam, could I get Rails of Sheffield to install DCC and sound into one for me there? I really don't want to have to do it myself. Also, is there a way to clean and service the parts that need servicing without taking things apart?

[@scrailwaylines8535]

Nice looking loco shame value is not as high

[@derf9465]

'sprung buffers...... Ahh my favourite' now that's a t-shirt slogan

[@tomcrutcher3045]

Why do these locomotives rarely have an engineer figure in them? Is that considered to be "toyish" or something? Why bother to have any detail at all, or a lighted cab, if there is no one in there who needs to see it? "Museum quality?" Don't museum displays sometimes have figure models in them?

[@JustinFrazier_360]

Amazing review video sam.

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks Justin! :D

[@danshobbies13]

That is not museum quality. Bent parts and paint overspray. That is false advertising.

[@tobyytlai]

I don't think price is the biggest issue of this model. The main issues that concern me are the unintuitive disassembly process and the incorrect instructions (and maybe some minor quality issues regarding the details)

[@mrbluesky2050]

Is your oddball the Pennsy GG 1? ( or the MLV. not technically a locomotive?)

[@PaulSmith-pl7fo]

Hi Sam. When you exposed the drive gears I didn't notice and lubrication.

[@chrisjackson9978]

Water filler caps? I would assume sand for use on the rails, as the prototype worked a steeply graded line, sanding to help get traction on greasy rails, especially within the tunnels.

[@martinpattison1567]

Too much paint and not value for money it should be in the Pre-grouping era and not in era 5. Martin. (Thailand)

[@JohnNack]

29:25 I found the odd one out! An American Pennsylvania Railroad GG1!

[@jeffreysmith156]

I understand that one has to very carefully take off the plastic, push-fit, dummy collector bars on the outside of the bogies in order to get to the body retention screws. The instructions do seem to be rather lacking on this one. Better that than the instruction being better than the model though.

[@Jimyjames73]

Oh dear Sam - as you said you Mum & Grandad bought it for you for Xmas - you not suppose to & find out how much they spent on you!!! 🤔🚂🚂🚂

[@haramaschabrasir8662]

The pantograph is a shame, it's not supposed to be this wobbly. It's just badly designed.

[@kayleighwhitehurst6274]

You always make my teeth curl by running on carpet, lol. But the model is great!

[@adammac.1342]

Why?

[@kayleighwhitehurst6274]

@@adammac.1342 Carpet fibres regularly get caught up in the gears and motor and cause damage to it.

[@russellbenton2987]

Massively over priced . Don’t need one but I’d suggest anyone who does waits until they are on offer

[@Thoroughly_Wet]

Steeple top locos have such an interesting look

[@David-ci1vn]

That panto isn't exactly Sommerfeldt quality is it..

[@iceeblueburst03]

Interesting looking shape for this locomotive. Kinda reminds me of Gator from Tale of the Brave.

[@timothykeinard8085]

GG1

[@azuma892]

I've a lot to do these days maybe I'll find time to watch this later XD.

[@SamsTrains]

haha I don't blame you - see you around! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@LincolnshireTrainSpotter225]

To be honest if people hate how bright the light is I'm gonna question what lights they've been using cause that's a gigantic lamp I'd expect it to be as bright as it is😂

[@andrewdking]

Those four body screws. You need to ask, how did Heljan assemble them in the first place ?

[@srgmiller340]

I wonder if you could do some test of DCC on those locomotives that have it to see how they crawl as it may make some difference

[@greenslider]

No more Danish bacon. Surprising to think that they got away with it for so long

[@paulcaswell2813]

Now we need a decent Class 76 - the Gresley Electric...

[@NWRJ_WStudios]

Could this be it could heljan have a turn point for there model?. 18:40 oh wait Cheers Jasper & Willow

[@SamsTrains]

haha maybe not quite - but it's very decent for a Heljan loco! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@foxhillrailway2252]

hi Sam nice model .... did i spy a DMU 121 in the siding 🤔 how very dare u🤣

[@christopherdelgaudio9484]

Come on Sammy salvage or scarpe. what's up???

[@Tombola1993]

I’d kill to see this wonderful electric antique machine on 8 wheels.

[@aberfordwest4003]

The parcels bubble car is the exception:)

[@paulhorn2665]

What a beautiful locomotive :-)

[@tudu_ab]

One of my favorite locomotives !

[@SamsTrains]

Awesome! I can see why :D

[@CustomiZe_]

Either, the instructions were written before the model was fully designed and built, I.e the instructions instruct on the model that heljan originally desired but couldn't produce or heljan doesn't count the speaker already fitted as a sugar cube speaker. So if you wanted to fit a sugar cube speaker they recommend you replace the current speaker in the housing rather than soldering in another speaker and place it somewhere else inside the loco, but that's all I can think of. 🤗

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah I think it's the former - must have been written before the design was finalised... I'd say that speaker is a sugarcube, pretty sure it is?? Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@zironthegamer]

What’s that red and white trolley in the background

[@trongamer9412]

Odd one out is the engine coupled to the pullmans?

[@railfilm]

From pantograph two connection rods are missing.😢😢

[@nikesb9420]

Is there one model train in the entire world you don’t own

[@robertgates7686]

Nice review. A similar locomotive to this but to 3 foot 6 inch gauge is on display in the Australian National Railway Museum in Port Adelaide South Australia. The last remaining one of eight. Four built in the Uk and the remaining four in Australia to the same design.

[@Igstormchaser]

Is the odd one out the American GG1?

[@LawrenceTimme]

I think it's worth a solid £140