Small but Powerful | Hornby's New Ruston 88DS | Unboxing & Review

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A full review of Hornby's all new Ruston 88DS, but how does it compare with the old one?
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0:00 Intro
3:01 Unboxing
6:00 Prototype Info
7:17 Weight Comparison
8:02 Detail
12:54 Mechanism
16:46 Performance
21:43 Haulage
28:57 Ratings
33:24 Conclusion

[@christianmalford1363]

I remember this little diesel shunter No 20 very well because my father was works manager at Reading Signal Works until its demise in 1984 when all the skilled staff were made redundant and the work transferred to contractors. Had a few unofficial cab ride in it was well! Keep up the good work on your excellent and entertaining site!

[@lindaoffenbach]

From Big Boy to Ruston, lol, but these latter are indeed so charming. Omitting a 5-pole and lights are of course archaic practices but it must be said that H are clearly cleaning up their structural shambles and mishaps. Not there yet entirely, but a solid progression can be noticed we thought. And again, thanks a million for reviewing Rivarossi's 4014; has helped us to decide 👏

[@SamsTrains]

hahaha I know what a contrast! Yeah that's right - a step in the right direction, and the kid of model the hobby does need! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@azuma892]

Sam did you see the HSTs having a second life in Mexico? The livery they gave them is certainly interesting, to put it lightly.

[@thedemolitionmuniciple]

I saw that! Definitely a paint job and a railroad for the history books.

[@SamsTrains]

That's pretty awesome, no I hadn't seen that!! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@scottfw7169]

Hmm, gonna hafta go look those up.

[@pabloalcocerbarron4583]

Im from mexico they look amazing

[@random0clock]

In all honesty, I really don't know what they were thinking when they made that purchase. To be fair to the HSTs, they work well when they're operating in the right environment, that being well-built, well-maintained, grade-separated track with other lightweight trainsets built to the British loading gauge. However. That is not the environment that the Mexican HST is going to be operating in. It's going to be running on poorly-built track alongside AAR-standard freight equipment-- trains that are much bigger, heavier, and sturdier. It's also going to encounter level crossings, and potentially, an HST's worst enemy: a road car. Not to mention, the Mk.3 coaches are closing in on fifty years old with safety standards to match, and the power cars had bad crash-worthiness when they were new. There's a huge problem here that could get a lot of people killed. With that said, I'm all for preserving (or operating) HSTs, especially considering how important they were in British rail history. But good lord, running it on Corredor Interoceánico is *precisely* the wrong way to do it.

[@williamsquires3070]

Hi Sam. If you have any electronic parts distributors local to your area (for shipping purposes), try ordering a pack of 10x one microfarad ceramic capacitors, then wire a few in parallel across the motor terminals; that’ll give it an electrical “flywheel” action without having to redesign the motor installation. This works on DC, so these should help the original Queen Anne liveried Ruston as well. Make sure to remove the capacitors though, if you install a DCC decoder.

[@StephenBarker-j6n]

Hi Sam just to let any potential buyers be aware. If you have any Three way points on your layout any two wheeled short wheelbased models do not like traveling over the centre line due to both wheels dropping into the point frogs at the same time. I learnt about this with the hornby 4 wheeled sentinal.

[@Simon-Davis]

There looks to be enough room to get a half decent stay alive in there, and not too bad for sound fitting on top of that. I can see retrofitting something like a Lais Next18 socket would be worth a think too which will make sound fitting and adding lights a bit easier, and with that floppy wiring harness would be a very upgrade easy job. Nice little shunter, it looks to have been worth the wait.

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah I think so too - plenty of space at one end of the chassis - certainly some options! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@SteamyTheClass28]

Can you make a 3d Print For your next video It's the railway series Thomas. The new and Improved thomas railway series model can you make it for your next Video

[@brianartillery]

I love that. I've always had a soft spot for shunter and smaller 'workhorse' engines. I always preferred freight to passengers, to be honest. A rake of Private Owner Wagons is more interesting to me, than a rake of coaches. Plus, these sort of trains always look great when weathered. I can remember seeing shunter at work at Felixstowe Docks, and they were always hanging filthy. Nice model, and great review. Nice one.

[@modelrailwaynoob]

I am pleased to see this. I reordered this, then changed my mind. I had spent too much on model railways and there was other models I wanted more. I have a couple of the smaller ones and I am very pleased with them. It was the blue one I was interested in.

[@SamsTrains]

Ahh fair enough - well hopefully there will be more of these on the way, so you can change your mind if you decide! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@davidstrains4910]

A good overall review here Sam looks very nice in the BR blue livery, not sure whether I will get one to be honest, while smaller locomotives may be quite popular with others for me I just don’t really go for the smaller locomotives.

[@SamsTrains]

It sure does David - they did a good job! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@Mighty_Square]

I'd love to see this lovely little loco running with the 48DS or an Andrew Barclay, they would go together very well. Great video Sam as usual.

[@SamsTrains]

That's true - I will have to do that! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@JonathanPan-d8u]

Finally, a Hornby locomotive that actually has a decent value for money with good quality

[@modelrailfan37]

These are great! I might pick up the yellow one myself!! I’m soooo glad Hornby is offering an new model that is a bit more budget-friendly!

[@cerneysmallengines]

I don't remember which manufacturer had the neat tender connector where the connection to the main loco was an integrated wire connector that coupled the tender to the loco, but if Hornby could do something like that, have a couple of different wagons to choose from to extend the pickup range, I think that would be amazing. Especially if you could link multiple together. For finicky track, that would make the engine incredibly robust.

[@airvisualltd3838]

I got one Friday and was pleasantly surprised, it's a lovely little model

[@OlivierGabin]

I want the one in BR green. Period. Good balance between price, overall quality and modelling aspect. Good drivetrain and mechanism, and Hornby had spared us their 4 pins proprietary decoder socket. Some small downs with the motor, lack of flywheel (stay alive recommended if you chip her !) and a next18 with a coreless motor would have been better, I agree with that. For the performance, it's a upper fair/lower good for me, useable with some drawbacks. Some idea : use a pusher wagon made with a motorized bogie like a black beetle; to push the Ruston over dead spots on analog. Or buy two to do a nose to nose or back to back compound. For a R1 curves industrial layout, this beauty is a good deal. And I love the no show-off/all function approach of Hornby.

[@brlsm9141]

Another good Review Sam, real shame they didn't include a wagon to expand the pickups. It wouldn't have been too out of place I would have thought as 03 Shunters in real life, when they had shunting duties on the network had to always run with small wagon coupled to get around the same problem but with the signalling system.... Basically, their short wheel base would often fail to be picked up by the signalling detectors in the track resulting in them not showing as progressing into the next sections. The only solution was to increase their footprint be creating a dedicated shunting wagon for them.

[@christopherstokes9393]

"Things went very quiet on the Ruston front". That pun... Looks like a cute little locomotive, though it's a shame the mechanism isn't better!

[@jackstrains4468]

Great video sam! Love that Br blue livery!

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks Jack - it's a cracker isn't it?? :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@stephenbourne4872]

Painted in the colour of the Reading signal works shunter that I remember in the 70s.

[@TomPrickVixen]

Cute! Reminds me of those narrow gauge industrial locos in Indonesia that i recently watched videos of. That mechanism is similar to that some of my old EU bogie H0 diesels have, the ones that served as the chassis of some 0-4-0 locos just with a different body. Now that was a nasty cost saving method, but at least parts were easy to get and switch.

[@peterlemay4149]

All Quiet on the Ruston Front. Nice one Sam!

[@briandesens144]

Awesome video Sam's trains

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks Brian!

[@briandesens144]

@@SamsTrains you're welcome 😊

[@OragamiTobichi-bi6lh]

Awww. It's so cute and small. I got some new trains today. I have to make a new video here soon. So I hope all is well. Ur the best my friend. Keep being awesome.

[@r.a.monigold9789]

Nice little runner. Great for shuttling in yards and sidings, And, while a down and dirty fix, adding a "stay run" capacitor should fix the points issue. Thanks for the review.

[@dansmodelrailways7886]

The express point performance is inexcusable. Hornby do not produce electro frog points. How can a model ‘manufacturer’ produce a loco that cannot run over its own point work? Good looking model thats been let down by yet mode corner cutting from Hornby.

[@vickielawless]

A charming little loco isn't it? Apparently the real thing, which became 97020, was the smallest loco allowed to run on the main line. Are we going to get the Ruston 165DS next?

[@Kev5565]

Nice thorough and fair review. I don't usually like the cute stuff but this is quite nice, no sprung buffers isn't an issue because they actually stay aligned, also maybe they didn't fit the nem plugs to keep it easy for anyone who'd have trouble removing them.

[@RHaenJarr]

Lovely, makes me wanna build just a small diorama with some kinda harbor and shunt stuff back and forth with it

[@SamsTrains]

Exactly! It'd be perfect for that! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@SueBobChicVid]

Great review (again), Sam. This review whets my appetite for video game switching challenge. You did one a few years ago with a really small switcher, and I found it very entertaining.

[@dakshanbalaramesh]

Sam, would you ever consider reviewing a LEGO train set, like the Orient Express?

[@anilpassi3287]

i think that was a N20 motor which is 3 pole I guess may this information will help you🙂

[@LionGorrilaTag]

This is magical and amazing on how they can get the power in like WOW. Well done Hornby

[@NWRJ_WStudios]

I'm not really a big fan of diesels Sam, but great review ;) Cheers Jasper & Willow

[@SamsTrains]

That's okay, thanks for looking anyway! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@lapiswake6583]

Looks great. A shame about the lack of lighting, but I'll certainly getting the North Eastern region one in green.

[@SSccaanniiaa]

Hey Sam! Just wondering if you'll do a review of either the Hattons 66789 loco or 00 guage 66779 accurascale? I'm a huge fan of both trains and I love your channel as always!

[@terencepriestley1608]

Its an ok loco. When you are on a tight budget like me it makes no sense to spend just over £100 when I was able to get Hornby's Deltic with a Bluetooth decoder for £108. If I was after a Ruston I would go for the version with the wagon which is an excellent runner. Excellent video as always Sam.

[@corinheathcote9868]

I would love the little thing for my department yard on the layout, which is where number 20 lived in Reading.

[@hayesc1975]

Fantastic content Sam. Keep up the great work!

[@SamsTrains]

Thank you so much!

[@EngineVids]

Ruston hornsby for me are known for stationary engines which are on my channel, only recently i found out they made locomotives.

[@sableveil]

Hey Sam! Do you think that *maybe* we could get a KZbin short, prely dedicated to testing how much that little locomotive can pull before it's unable to move entirely?

[@Damien.D]

Cute little shunter, but with an enormous torque compared to size. Exactly what to expect. You're a bit harsh on details I think, I'm pretty impressed by the detailing in the cab, with what's looking like a realistic floor height too. Side note, the little brother one, even in dairy livery, comes with... a flatbed. They've missed the opportunity to pair it with a milk tanker wagon!

[@theblackleafninja3858]

This was a great review Sam I really love the Ruston shunters hopefully I have enough money to get one also enjoy the rest of your day 😁

[@SamsTrains]

Thank you so much - fingers crossed! I think they'll be back, even if you do miss out! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@StormmyStormmy]

Hi Sam, this is a nice looking model, the motor looks similar to the one in the sentinel minus the flywheel, Hornby cant be bothered to fit lighting as usual, i think i will wait till it comes down to £60 on Amazon then i will get one, i would like to see if the sentinel motor fits in this loco chassis also some nano SMD to give it the extra's along with cab lighting, thanks for sharing

[@ShikiKiryu]

Been waiting for this since the announcement, been eyeing up the BR Blue version too as I really like how it looks. I just really like blue shunters I guess.

[@peterbudd1803]

Nice, if they do one in BR late or early livery I will get one. Will try and fit a keep alive though. But as you say , looks like being fine for just using in a shunting environment.

[@daystatesniper01]

This actual loco' was based at Reading signal works all of it's life ,eventually being scrapped there also , it was also numbered 97020 in it's later life.

[@SamsTrains]

Awesome, thanks for the info! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@ThomasOfSodor_1]

I love the smaller Ruton’s! The only thing I do not like is the fact they need to have their wagon behind them. This slightly larger Ruston seems to be better in every way possible, the one thing that makes it better is the fact it doesn’t need that oh so “fantastic” wagon Hornsby has just produced their best 0-4-0 diesel engine ever in my opinion.

[@nickdsnik1675]

....but the Dock Authority shunter has a headlight over 50 years ago. Loved mine.

[@michaelschultz5127]

The hand of giant brakeman comes to the rescue!

[@railway187]

Beautiful little locomotive! Would a stay alive capacitor be possible in analog mode too? Do you have a video about on how to fit capacitors?

[@S.C.RuffeyGuy]

Nice review, and pretty good quality loco

[@scottfw7169]

Looks good for using the chassis/mechanism in On30, aka O16.5, and Gn15, kitbashes.

[@cesareenzoditrivento3254]

Sam, does it need running in? I brought this off your recommendation but it's still in the box coz I don't have a loop layout (just an inglenook yard)

[@gerryquinn5224]

Can't wait to see what you make of Hornbys 85th anniversary Mallard. It doesn't look to be much of a "Special Edition" to me, but?...

[@kellyashfordtrains2642]

This is what's behind door no. 2 of Sam's Trains Advent Calendar. A very nice tiny shunter, I will admit. The blue paint suits him to a t. Sam, when I asked for an image of you with a transparent background, I didn't mean put it on your Google Images page, I meant send it to me via email. Would you have done that?

[@rowanthursday5860]

Since the wheelbase looks to be not much larger than the 48DS, and it doesn't have the helpful shunter's truck linked up to get it over express points (although I find the 48DS' truck often needs to be weighed down with a load to behave that well, especially in reverse), a flywheel would definitely have been a good idea.

[@williamsquires3070]

After Sam’s last video, I was kind of expecting this new model to have one - and only one - sprung buffer. Yeah, that was pretty strange; one sprung buffer. Maybe the factory ran out of springs??

[@alanluker3793]

It's not exactly a bargain as I've just bought a brilliant dapol manor from hattons for just £106.00 brand new. Love your videos sam, all the best Alan

[@PORT_OF_PAR_2572]

Lovely little locos the rustons great video sam

[@Criskena]

I don’t know with what hammer Hornby hit themselves when talking about the kind of motor the Ruston has.But that hammer must be confiscated😂.Great Video as always!

[@Jimyjames73]

A nice little Loco there Sam 🙂🚂🚂🚂

[@MayoHosko]

Thinking about building this out of LEGO. I like the small boxy br diesels

[@hughoconnor9172]

Number 20 was only used at Reading and AFIK they were only on Departmental use. It's quite likely this will be irrelevant to a typical Hornnby buyer but it is a point worth making. Whilst you may consider £100+ not expensive, many will given the fact that this loco isn't much more than basic and not much better than the Polly or Nellie locos produced years ago. 😅

[@1471SirFrederickBanbury]

A miniature version of the old Portescap rg4, or Faulhaber type coreless motor/gearbox combo would be perfect here. With their bevel gears, even a small flywheel would work well. Unfortunately, those motors cost a minimum of £40 as they are dynamically balanced, but that would too much for Hornby’s £5 motor budget! People often buy old kit-build locos just for those sealed motor units!

[@jamesdunloptrains]

Awesome video today Sam really nice locomotive

[@jamesdennis2004]

Ok im giving this loco the nickname (THE POINT STOPPER). That seems to be a good fiting name for it.

[@highlandrab19]

What is the cheapest loco you have seen with a flywheel?

[@pierre-de-standing]

For layouts with electro-frog or unifrog points I expect there would be no problems.

[@nameless5413]

Hornby stating both 3 and 5 pole motor as ones for the loco sounds like they invented 3.5 pole motor, presumingly half as effective and twice as costly because Hornby reasons. I do seem to remember that the deadzone on points was resolved differently by different manufacturers, so Mr. Sam's trains what is your favourite way of dealing with it? Personally i wonder how difficult it would be to have user made pickups and wiring, you know screw in solution for specific model as a service for hobbyists. Aside for that yeah seems there are just 3 potential solutions: electric capacity, kinetic capacity, additional pickups connected on other, separate, part of train, probably wagon. As with almost everything i must also applaud strife for entry level in terms of costs offer. sometimes it comes at too much of a cost but this sounds like fair price to value to me so as much as i mock them for doing silly, i do salute them on the actual results here.

[@SueBobChicVid]

As a casual model railroad follower, I find it odd that every locomotive I had as a teenager in the 80's had lights (in the U.S.). Even the cheapest of cheap locos had lights, but how rare the lights are on these much more expensive models. Is it a GB thing? I had to learn about lamp irons and the whole concept of removable lights. Maybe that complicates the lighting issue for these models. Hey, just an observation of differences in the hobby. Cheers!

[@rottenroads1982]

Smoll Diesel. Nice, great model.

[@SamsTrains]

Absolutely - it's great fun! :D

[@jeffreysmith156]

I think your score is fair. Keep up the good work.

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks Jeffrey! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@AshleyGreenAsh]

Looks a nice little model 😊

[@Alextrains502]

Hi Sam love your videos but can you review more north eastern region steam locos

[@SamsTrains]

Thank you so much! If more get released, then sure! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@SamBarr-cx5er]

When you refer to express points, do you mean Insulfrog?

[@EmmettDoyleDDR435]

Happy Christmas!

[@SamsTrains]

Happy Christmas! :D

[@carmechanic6676]

If you was to recommend a model what model would u recommend

[@SamsTrains]

That's hard do say as there's so much to choose from... generally this year, I'd recommend one of Accurascale's new locos, as they've all been fantastic! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@jayeff3196]

Sam how about a review on the O gauge version when it comes out ACCURASCALE ACC2862-DCC RUSTON AND HORNSBY 88DS 408493/1957 BRITISH RAIL NO. 20 BR RAIL BLUE DIESEL SHUNTER - DCC SOUND FITTED

[@paulmurphy1280]

Cannot you do something to the set of points like an extra contact?

[@hollyruston2444]

It's not been quiet on the Ruston front this year 😅

[@sloppyfadge9565]

It would have made so much sense for hornby to have fitted a stay alive to this model. I honestly don’t know why stay alive aren’t standard in general they make running a lot nicer.

[@StewartBarnard]

Evening Sam, would suggest a small stay alive could solve the problem with large points

[@Sohave]

Toss in a decoder, a couple of wires to a capacitor and you have a fine loco.

[@tanfield02]

Looks like a nice loco sam! But I must admit given how many posts I’ve seen on social media about them having terrible performance problems and the fact that (and this is just my opinion) a small , relatively simple diesel shunter like this without complex fine coupling rods and loads of separate pipe work and whistle etc just isn’t worth this kind of money, even at the retailer prices it’s to much as far as I’m concerned, when this model was announced the RRP was less than £90, which would have meant the retailer prices would have been in the low 80’s if not high 70’s, and to me that’s what this models worth, guess I’ll be waiting for a second hand one to pop up along with most of the other newer small 00 locos lol

[@nan91jp65]

Hi Sam, lovely little loco to be fair especially regarding the price. When you mention the gauging, what is the standard? Most reviews I watch you say they're a little below the standard. Thanks, Joe.

[@RobA500]

14.4mm is standard for quality track (not Hornby) as the frogs are finer, 14.5mm if using fine scale track. Hornbys points have nasty large plastic frogs as they are still based on system 6 tooling 50 odd years old.

[@NWRJ_WStudios]

I have a question Sam. When are you going to do a review on the new Hornby 2mt, I really can't wait for mine to come in soon. Cheers Jasper & Willow

[@SamsTrains]

As soon as the one I ordered comes out I'll defnitely do it! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@piers995]

This model would seem to sit in the Railroad Plus catagory, as it doesn't have much detail but is presented very well cosmetically. The grills in particular lack any refinement Given that larger Hornby Railroad Plus (3 × the size ) diesels are obtainable for a hundred pounds this little engine ought rather be around £50. Having said that, even the very simple SECR 0-6-0 engine is £70 plus, so because this loco has a brand new heavy chasis I would say £70-£80 would seem a far more reasonable price point.

[@SamsTrains]

I was thinking that too - pretty much in the Railroad category really, if slightly above that level! I really don''t think the price is much of an issue - fair value I think! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@EsotericArctos]

Looks like on express points it would beenfit from a keep alive, just to get it past that dead spot. You can fit a stay alive on DC models, you don't need to go DCC to fit a motor stay-alive. Aside from that, it's not a bad model for the price point. I can forgive a 3 pole (possible) motor and no lights at the price point, but it would have been nice to have at least working lights on the front/rear even if no cab lights.

[@billmmckelvie5188]

I was wondering if this was going to be another _0-4-0 'Express' shunter!_ 🤣Not quite there but not far off. A nice little shunter for a DIY mechincal/detail upgrade! Did I hear on the audio you say here we are _in the reasonably priced loco_ when you were describing the interior. On that bombshell I am off!

[@gordonhanning476]

It's good to see a half decent loco at a half decent price from Hornby

[@balamurugang7029]

Is this good for beginners

[@Taggart00]

Bought the Rowntrees version on Saturday and it didn't work :(

[@JustinFrazier_360]

Nice review sam

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks Justin! :D

[@timbervalleyproductions]

This is a a lovely engine! Really nice for the price too. Also, did you get my box order?

[@SamsTrains]

I agree - not bad at all! Yeah they'll all be processed Monday :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@mbwoods2001]

We had 2 models in our shop, both faulty and doesnt move but the motor works, its not engaging the gears. It was down to the motor not seating properly and the screws holding the rear motor bracket were loose😵. Tightening screws didnt help, the fault lies with the wonky rear bracket. Instead of returning the 2 locos back to Hornby, i manage to bend bracket carefully that pushes the motor forward and engaging the gears and is screwed in tight.

[@F40Sean]

I read a chap on FB very disappointed as the Ruston he received this morning was incredibly noisy and wouldn’t run properly. It sounds like he has the same problem that the two you have received have. How on earth they have passed factory QC baffles me. Do Hornby QC each loco on receipt from the factory in China ?

[@mbwoods2001]

@SeanPS70 i know! It seems the motor bracket wasnt casted properly or summat. And i don't understand why glue the motor to the bracket?? Very strange thing! At least the little repair i did to both locos saves having to send back to Hornby and can be sold in the shop in full running order.

[@SamsTrains]

That’s very interesting, nice work fixing it up! Now you mention it, I did notice that the base keeper screws were loose when I came to remove those… put them back on tight and it didn’t cause a problem… so what the factory can’t tighten screws now? Strange!

[@JulianSaunders]

I would imagine if it was converted for DCC operation with A hardwired Zimo M600R and a Lais stay-alive there would be no problems with slow running.

[@RichardKuivila1947]

Does any one sell longer rail joiners, to have a bigger rail gaps, so I can get a better Click-Clack between track sections ?

[@bennickss]

Can you cover the Heljan Baby Deltic? Granted it's Heljan but I promise it's a good model

[@Chaostheory1971]

A good little model there Sam, great price too! The model railway review master aka Sam :P Oh did you manage to get a catering contract with EMR? If not, you and Chloe should! ;)

[@SamsTrains]

I think so too! hahaha not quite, maybe one day! ;D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@CZ350tuner]

It should be fine running over Peco Streamline points, due to the better designed frogs.

[@csbenzo]

Does anyone else think this may be the grandchild of the old Triang-Hornby diesel dock shunter ?? I had a red one and gave it away in 1970. I’m now sorry I did. Got it in 1966 and it was working fine when I departed with it.