The Best Heavy Hauler? Heljan GNR LNER Gresley O2 in BR Black Livery - Unboxing and Review

[@AdiPullen]

Am sorry to say my grey gnr version was so bad The rods was lose in box. Some chassis supports to the Loco was off in box. The running was super lumpy at slow speed. Took it back to the model shop and he agreed it a bad run he can't believe it was made in 2020s he through it was more 2010s or late 2000s Your looks a fantastic runner Sorry for the negative comment Keep safe ARP

[@KeelsonEngles]

@@AdiPullen I can agree, when I received mine the build quality was just so poor, especially the running board being so flimsy that if you pick up the model it would bend almost vertical (insane when you think about it). Also the cab on mine was so loose in transit (UK->US) it scrapped and damaged itself. Was very excited for it originally, but had to return it after waiting 3 weeks in shipping. I think the materials choice for a 200+ usd model wouldn’t be flaking paint/plastic on the under boiler as well! (Sorry for the negativity myself but I’m glad I was not the only one to witness this poor product on the grey GNR livery).

[@stephendavies6949]

Hi Jenny. Us modellers are very fortunate to have experts like yourself to review locos and share their findings. I've just bought Hornby's Black Prince on the back of both your flash 1min video & recent review of the loco, given the fact that the score of 44 was primarily driven by its high intital price, which has now been discounted by TMC. It's interesting to see the diversity of views on this one. Like yourself, Tony Wright (RM/Little Bytham) rates the model highly, whilst others do not. But all these views help us punters make an infromed choice as to whether we should buy or not. Personally, I'm a Gresley fan, so will probably take the plunge if/when the model is highly discounted. I can live with the FOMO. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.

[@barringtonw2]

Hi, thanks for your video. I'm suprised that your review of this loco had a score of 46.9/50. Most of the reviews I have seen and read lately have been mainly negative, with poor quality for the price, and especially many instances of the front bogie falling off whilst running. This appears to be the front bogie retaining screw being too short, and having been assembled loose, as if fully tightened it locks the bogie tight. As a result when running the screw works loose and the bogie falls off repeatedly. Regards.

[@JenniferEKirk]

@@barringtonw2 what you see is what I got from the model. If it doesn’t have a fault, I can’t fault it. I operate a reductive scoring system rather than an adductive one, so models score high if there aren’t any faults on the model I review.

[@JPoulAndersson]

This is not a great loco unfortunately. As with Sam's example yours too ran staccato on your test track, it can't do a proper crawl and moreover the running plate is incredibly flimsy and not true and straight. There are no bearings in the chassis. The coal load is very good though. This model really doesn't deserve a grade higher than 7 I should think. Joachim

[@eddierools]

Looking forward to receiving mine! Pre-ordered one in BR Late Black to replace one I currently have from the initial batch. Thank you for this review Jennifer!

[@JamesPetts]

Also - interesting that a manufacturer has finally made a realistic coal load.

[@russellbenton2987]

Is it really all wheel drive ? I wouldn’t have thought so as that would surely involve a lot of gears . Isn’t it one axle driven with coupling rods driving other axles . Looks a good hauler though , that’s a fair train you have it pulling . Did you mean all wheel pick ups

[@wamgoc]

I put a TXS decoder in mine! fits nicely! Well pleased with It!

[@locodriver601]

I have one of these. Its 5 inch gauge and is coal fired. Great Loco.

[@hamshackleton]

Those sprung front couplings are buffers, Jen! 🙂 - - - A three-cylinder loco has SIX power-strokes - assuming they are blown in both directions ie push and pull! - -- Tardis at 7.15, at a funny angle down the bank by the bridge!

[@duncanmcgill9752]

I think that the quality is questionable. It is a grossly overpriced model , I might buy one when TMC has to cut the price to offload the stock that they can't shift. The front pony will fall off.

[@peterkazmierczak7273]

Jenny, I'd have liked to have seen a more critical appraisal of the model from you. Your DC test was very short and didn't really give a true picture of its performance. I wonder if this was a specially prepared model from Heljan?

[@JenniferEKirk]

@@peterkazmierczak7273 it was pulled at random off the models for sale on the Heljan stand at Warnerley. DC running can only happen on the rolling road as all my layouts are DCC

[@peterkazmierczak7273]

That's good to know, Jenny. Maybe you might consider having a longer test track (with curves and turnouts), to test models' performance on DC, as that is the condition many are supplied in. Regards, P.

[@JamesPetts]

...so the O3 was a 2 cylinder locomotive and the O2 a 3 cylinder locomotive?

[@bertbristow7172]

Too much gushing here. Strikes more as an advert than a serious review. How many superlatives can you cram into 49 minutes? It's a very mild upgrade of a much derided original model at a huge price. Might be OK at the inevitable coming big discounts that always apply to Heljan,

[@glennscotttrains7513]

Really enjoy this review video, more informative than the Sam's Trains review of the same locomotives

[@davidbale5913]

Your dc test was not very long? Very odd

[@JenniferEKirk]

@@davidbale5913 my layouts are all DCC. DC testing is therefore limited to the rolling road on a two foot length of test track.

[@davidbale5913]

​@JenniferEKirk Okay thanks, but you do say in your video that it is very important to test in DC first? Just thought you would show the slow running.