Traction Tyre Removal from the Hornby Class 395 - Before and After results that will surprise you

I reviewed Hornby's last incarnation of the Class 395 a number of years ago and while it was acceptable visually I did have some issues with it that came down to the traction tyres that it came with. In this video, I'm going to remove those traction tyres to see if that can resolve any if the original issues I had. It's time to take a closer look.
00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - Original Issues
02:18 - Traction Tyre Removal
03:58 - Running Session
05:43 - Before and After Results
08:00 - Summary
Original Videos of the Class 395 (with traction tyres):
- 12-Month Review: Hornby R3813 Class 395 Highspeed Javelin EMU Southeastern Livery with added R4999 2-car coach pack: • Hornby R3813 Class 395...
- Original Review: Hornby R3813 Class 395 'Javelin' 4-car EMU 395013 Hornby Visitor Centre Southeastern livery: • Review: Hornby R3813 C...
- Original 4-car Running Session: Hornby R3813 Class 395 'Javelin' 4-car EMU 395013 'Hornby Visitor Centre' in Southeastern livery: • Hornby R3813 Class 395...

[@andyt741]

very good look at what is a very overlooked thing, in my humble opinion for the price of that model a set of non traction fitted wheels should be standard in the box,

[@MrMattMWH]

sadly Hornby seem to cheap out at every opportunity :(

[@EuviRail]

100%a. And for this model they would have only needed to include single axle!

[@warwickroadmodelrailway]

Hello a great video, thanks for sharing. I have removed the traction tyre axle and relaced it as per your video. Happy that I can now run my Javelin and not have to worry about the cleaning the track after use

[@EuviRail]

Excellent. Glad to hear it was of use. Thanks for sharing.

[@WhiffTheRubbishEngine1869]

Another awesome vid! Keep up the good work

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for that.

[@marklittlejohn1457]

Interesting video thankyou for the tips

[@EuviRail]

Thanks, glad it was of use.

[@HarryTheRailfan]

I think you did an excellent job with this video.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for that.

[@MrMattMWH]

very useful video! Fingers crossed for your Pendolino. The traction tyres have always put me off that model...

[@EuviRail]

Thanks. Yes, I need to do the Pendolino. I'm expecting a drop in top speed but so long as it's still reasonable I'll be good with it.

[@97SEMTEX]

Hey Eugene, great video as always! Unfortunately, I had a similar issue with a Hornby Pendolino. It was so frustrating that I ended up selling it and using the money to buy another train. The problem was that the powered bogie kept derailing with even the slightest change in acceleration. I tried changing the traction tyres, but that didn't help. I also swapped the wheels for regular ones like you did, but that just made the train slower and it struggled to get moving, especially with more than 4 cars; as it ceased to accelerate altogether then. I didn't bother trying to convert it to DCC because I felt it would be a waste of time and effort. It's a shame because I really liked the Pendolino from my childhood, but Hornby's attempt at it was disappointing. The model's performance is seriously lacking, and as such I don't think it should be sold in its current condition. Hopefully, some other model maker will give it a shot and do a better job with an OO gauge Pendolino in the future. As I would really like to have a Pendolino that works and doesn't ruin my track condtion.

[@Teesbrough]

My Pendolino continually derails too, unless it’s running as just the power car alone, which defeats the purpose. I’ve not yet analysed why.

[@EuviRail]

Yeah, I returned my Pendolino to Hornby due to de-railing issues and they claim to have swapped out the wheels. The TTs cause shorts on my Peco Express points so they have to go and then it's a question of what sort of top speed can be achieved. Agree this model doesn't do justice to what is such a popular train. Hornby would appear to have the market for modern image trains like this all to themselves - for 00 gauge anyway.

[@bachmannobsessed2234]

Take note HORNBY n great video Eugene

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for that.

[@breintonjunction791]

I’ve Never liked traction tyres avoid them like the plague all they do is dirty the track since I stopped running them no issues with dirty track thanks for the advice how to get rid of them cheers Al

[@EuviRail]

100%. Thanks for commenting.

[@BritishRail60062]

Hi Eugene. Another great video my friend. Just as a thought here. I wonder if adding a powered truck on the non powered driving car would add more traction? Just a thought mate. Meanwhile I have been gorging on retro trains and train sets as of late so I started with the R825 Tunnel Freight. A masterpiece of a train set.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for that. A second power car would fix the 6-car slow down for sure but I'm not sure it would fix the top speed. As some folks have suggested in the comments, swapping the power bogie for that from a Eurostar for example might do the trick. I'm actually Ok with the current speed level for normal running. The Pendolino is a problem for me so I need to fix that. That Tunnel Freight Set was a nice set. I've nearly been tempted with some 40+ year old sets recently that were in great nick. May revisit when I clear my current backlog of videos.

[@stephengault8754]

Great video! On the subject of upgrading your Pendolino wheels to get rid of the tyres, I have seen this done on another channel, the main issue was slipping when the complete set is run. It looked a bit complicated for me as instead of changing the whole axle he changed the individual wheel. Looking forward to seeing your results and how you plan to do it. 👍

[@EuviRail]

Thanks Stephen. I realise I'm going to have challenges with the Pendolino and additional weight in the power car will likely be required for more prototypical rakes and top speed will have to be traded off. Quite a few people have derailment problems with this model at higher speeds so the trade-off on speed will be less of an issue. It will be interesting to see the data from this modelling "experiment".

[@2Wheels1rider]

If you want the correct scale speed of 140mph id recommend swapping out the power bogie for a 1st gen pendolino or eurostar one. I did this & removed the tt’s and got a max scale of 190mph. Its a decent motor as i can run an 11 car pendo with 1 bogie comfortably @125 scale ( although doesn’t like inclines 😂 )

[@EuviRail]

Hi, thanks for that. Yeah, I've been contemplating that one. The Eurostar is a much more powerful motor alright. Next up I want to sort the Pendolino and then add lighting to the Eurostar which I've already removed the TTs on.

[@zah465]

I'm surprised you've had no issues with wheelspin, I've got an older version of this "Sir Chris Hoy" on DCC and I have to be really delicate about getting it going or it just wheelspins. It tends to start slowing and wheelspinning after a few minutes of running too which I don't really understand. My track/wheels are clean, the rake of coaches run very nicely, and I get the same result with or without extra weights. I'm only running the standard 4 car set on a flat layout. Its a bit tricky since you've not had the same problem but wondered if you might have any ideas whats behind it?

[@stephenbromley2302]

I did the same thing with mine although I did add a bit of weight,I wish Hornby would redo this model and the Pendolino with a decent chassis as they’ve done with the hsts

[@EuviRail]

Yeah, I was intending to add some weight until I looked at the numbers though it would probably help the 6-car performance a bit. Agree on the need to redo those models. They're Railroad level with lights at the moment.

[@Mapplewell_Park]

Great video but a shame you should have to go down the DIY route to make your model better to run. I’ve all but given up on Hornby now. Looking forward to the class 70 video looks like a great livery and model especially with sound 👍

[@EuviRail]

Thanks. Yeah, it is a pity and they don't seem to do any incremental improvements to models like this until there's a major re-tool and price hike.

[@locohauledforum]

I presume then that the wheel set with traction tyres has pick ups fitted - otherwise it couldn't possibly make a difference. Strange for them to do that, but good luck for you that they did!

[@jimsmum21]

Hi do you know if i can get a non traction set like this for the avanti pride? Cheers

[@EuviRail]

Hi, I'll be doing this to my Avanti in the next few weeks and posting a video on it in Feb. It's not the same direct swap as the Class 395 - work is needed to replace the wheels on the drive axles. I'll cover this in the video.

[@zackkahn6375]

Would this be advisable with the Pendolino models...

[@EuviRail]

Good question and I intend to find out as I really need to get the TTs off my own Pendolino. I have a backlog of 3-4 reviews to complete right now but the Pendolino is in my sights.

[@zackkahn6375]

@@EuviRail look forward to the video 👍

[@ScottishNSRailFan]

Did you consider adding weight to the power car?

[@EuviRail]

Yes, I was of a mind this would be part of the process but once I got the results without it I held off. The motor on this set appears to be underpowered so added weight would require some fine tuning to balance any tractive benefits versus the load impact. If operating on inclines you'd probably have no choice but to take a hot on top speed in order to have sufficient weight in power car to negotiate an incline without slipping.

[@irishsixtysixfanGbrf66739]

If running the 6 car set you will need to add additional weights to the power driving car

[@EuviRail]

I got the same reduction in speed for the 6 car set with and without the tyres. Adding weight may have helped with the overall 4 to 6 car reduction but unlike the Eurostar the motor in this set is definitely underpowered so the benefits aren't likely to be that great. Once I was getting the same speed and smoother running with no dirty track I was good with that.

[@user-lp9cr6lw6h]

@@EuviRail Is the Eurostar motor particularly good? I happen to have a couple in my spares box.

[@EuviRail]

@@user-lp9cr6lw6h I wouldn't say it's refined but it is powerful, powerful enough to achieve a scale speed of 300km/hr with TTs installed, somewhat less without. A Class 395 will easily achieve it's prototypical scale speed with one of these installed even when the TT wheels are swapped out.

[@AllensTrains]

Hi Eugene, I have got three class 395's - the one you've got, the white 'London Olympics' one and the 'City Express' one. So this was a helpful video for me! If you get the Bachmann S-Stock Train, they include a spare set of traction tyres which are required for running on inclines. If you remove the reaction tyres from Hornby trains, you usually find that the train will skid going around a 2nd radius curve at a slow speed, and won't tackle inclines as you say. I think traction tyres are for people with small train set type layouts and not people with larger layouts like you. Quite a lot of Hornby's customers still run those traditional kinds of layouts with inclined piers. Thanks for uploading. See the S-stock in action here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqW9fqxvfNSkqJY If you are prepared to make the financial sacrifice required to add this model to your collection, click here! www.ltmuseumshop.co.uk/models/s-stock-four-car-set-2022

[@EuviRail]

Yeah, I think Hornby are still thinking of those older layouts. I've had an interest in the S-stock but the price is so crazy at £595 with no sound. They were going for a more reasonable £339 back in 2019 so that's a huge hike in 4 years. Just sorry I didn't take the plunge then.

[@jaywatchtravel6146]

Funny how slow it is considering how it travels at 225 kmph in real life

[@jaywatchtravel6146]

Nice experiment though

[@EuviRail]

Thanks. Yeah, disappointing it has such an underpowered motor. It's probably as fast as most people would run on their layouts I guess.

[@stevie156478]

Only Hornby can produce new from the ground up Pendolinos and Javelins and put this steaming turd of a single bogie drive motor in them.

[@EuviRail]

Unfortunate but true. These trains deserve better model implementations in 00 gauge.