Tri-ang Hornby R.351 EM2 “Electra” Electric locomotive with blue & grey Mk1 coaches

[@jeffreymcneal1920]

My first view of the new layout, and it is most impressive. The sinuous straight aways really show off the coaching stock nicely. My own Electra seems to use half its energy trying to get out of its own way, and the other half is mustered anemically dragging its three coach rake. Still. even with its pie plate flanges and curious dummy center axle. she is one of my favorite vintage pieces, long may she run- or try to.

[@NedPooleD818]

Two trains being controlled independently on one track - who needs DCC and ‘That’s magic’ as the hubby of Debbie Magee used to say! Always wanted this model as although the prototypes had gone Dutch long before I got into railways I had spent many happy hours at Reddish depot playing in the wrecks of the BoBo EM1s....those box pantographs had such character:-)) Layout is looking more amazing each week! Thanks for posting as always:-))

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Ned must have been great having the opportunity to play like that I the depot. Thanks again glad you're enjoying the videos. Oscar

[@bobsmodelrailways]

More great nostalgia overload Oscar! I remember saving my pocket money in order to buy the Buffet Car. It was 18/6 (eighteen shillings & sixpence) nearly the equivalent of the 90p on your box. The lady in the shop (King Charles Sports Centre, Leeds) let me have the white coated waiters for 1/6 making the whole purchase £1.00 ! But it was a fortune to me!

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Bob thanks for sharing that, really great to have that perspective on the cost of the items across time. It must have been a great day. Thanks again take care. Oscar

[@davidcousins3508]

Another interesting video Oscar . Nice to see the Electra running at playtime and the catalogue viewing is a trip down memory lane 👍

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi David, glad you enjoyed it. This has always been one of my favourites the EM2 although the green version has the edge I think for me. Stays safe. Oscar

[@Martin.]

Hi, fantastic upload, I really enjoyed watching your video👍love the caternary👍Atb, Martin

[@oscarpaisley]

Thank you Martin it’s great to hear you’re enjoying the videos. Take care. Oscar

[@MrSnooze]

Hello Oscar, very nice to come in after a busy gardening day and watch this. That is a lovely runner and it looked great catching up to the Lima Crab. Always nice to see something on the rolling road with no wobble, a really good bogie there. Great video, thoroughly enjoyed it all. Best regards to you

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi, thanks again, I spent yesterday morning in the garden myself and planning to do so again today, there's plenty to do. Great to hear you enjoyed seeing the EM2 in action I think she's been around a bit, but she's a very strong and smooth runner. Take care. Oscar

[@pehess2495]

Hello Oscar, thank you for this interesting episode with the Electra and its beautiful blue cars! Have a good Sunday, and take care of yourself. Sincerely, from France. Philippe

[@oscarpaisley]

Thanks again Philippe great to hare you enjoyed seeing these blue and grey items from Tri-ang Hornby I think they represent quite an important part of railways history in England. Take care and have a great week. Oscar

[@alanpwhelan]

That Electra is lovely and some great detail on it. Thanks for making Sunday mornings something to look forward to 👍🏻

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Alan is great to hear you are enjoying the videos. Take care. Oscar

[@RobA500]

This was another interesting Sunday morning nostalgia trip, I think the BR blue livery is starting to grow on me.

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi, Rob thanks again for watching it's great to hear you are enjoying the videos and seeing this blue variation of the EM2 in action. Take care. Oscar

[@andrewfanner2245]

Possibly ione of the best models they ever made and thats a nice one. Thank you,

[@oscarpaisley]

Thanks, Andrew glad you enjoyed this one, they are a great bit of modelling for the time. Stay safe. Oscar

[@APOTwixx]

Quite a beauty. Thank you for sharing her with us.

[@oscarpaisley]

Glad you enjoyed it. Take care. Oscar

[@trainsontuesday]

It's always good to see the EM2 in action although the green one will always be my favourite. I was hoping to get an R. number for my blue and grey parcels but mine appears to be a later Hornby model. I also noticed that the keeper plate on your model appears to have had the original counter sunk screws replaced with round head screws. As these line up perfectly with the track I'm surprised they are not fouling on the rail. Superb Sunday morning video as always. Thank you Oscar. David.

[@oscarpaisley]

Good afternoon David great to hear you enjoyed seeing this EM2 in action. A I mentioned in the video the model seems to have had a bit of maintenance in the past. It’s not that the keeper plate retaining screws are proud of the keeper plate that's odd its the type of screws used that's interesting they only just meet the keeper plate and were present when the model came to me as it runs so well I haven’t seen any reason to change them and they seem to have been in place for some time. I think they are the same as used on the keeper plate on Hymek in the mid-70s before its change to a ringfield motor, also possibly on the later collection plate of the Docks shunter and DMU and possibly others. The keeper plate that was used and developed for the EM2 motor bogie was also used on the variations of R.357 and the variations of R.751 which shared a motor bogie with a different design of side frames but the same mechanism. The EM2 was dropped from the catalogue by 1972 and probably ceased production sometime before leaving the R.751 and R.357 with this basic motor bogie until the R357 was dropped from production in the mids 70s and R.751 was upgraded to a take a ringfield motor. Before this happened the both R.751 and R.357 gained extra pickups at some point in 1972 to improve running performance, at the same time from what I’ve read the keeper plate was modified to strengthen it by removing the countersink for the retaining screws. From this point, the screws were proud of the plate with around 2mm clearance from the railhead from what I can see. So I think this EM2 has had a replacement keeper plate at some point in the past as it was produced before the modification took place, these keeper plates really are very fragile. The capacitor also looks like the ones that are supplied with the Zero 1 modules introduced in the late 70s/early 80s. I’m looking forward to seeing your EM2 running on the Highland Valley Railway it would look amazing travelling through the landscape especially with a few maroon coaches. Have you tried this site to try and identify your blue and grey parcels coach www.hornbyguide.com/default.asp just use the coach number in the search box unless the number has been changed it should find the models R number/numbers if there are variations between 1955 and 2011. Thanks again for watching take care. Oscar

[@trainsontuesday]

@@oscarpaisley Thank you for this most comprehensive reply Oscar. Needless to say, after watching your video I did get my EM2 out and give it a trial run. I have been replacing American Atlas track with Peco and it does run better on that but the locos back to back measurements are so far off on those nylon axles that it bumps over or stalls on the points. Thank you for the link. I have used it to locate my parcels van R. number. It is R.4111, circa 2000-2003. It was originally priced at £15.00, I paid £10.00 in 2017. Obviously your EM2 is running fine and the flat contact of the screws on the plate is far less likely to split the plate than the tapered screw heads so no need to mess with it. All the best. Regards, David.

[@roystudds1944]

Great video. I got quite confused for a moment when you ran 2 trains on the same track! Thought you had sneaked over to the dark side of DCC then the penny dropped. Thanks for sharing. Roy.

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Roy glad you enjoyed that little experiment. Thanks again take care. Oscar

[@stevemacbeth4476]

Always impressed by your fantastic knowledge and superb layouts. Take care!

[@oscarpaisley]

Thank you very much Steve, glad you enjoyed it. Stay safe. Oscar

[@rydermike33]

Many thanks Oscar. That EM2 is a lovely model and looks a treat with the blue and grey coaches. It must have been great to ride behind the full sized version over the 'Woodhead' route from Mancherter to Sheffield.

[@oscarpaisley]

Thanks, Mike glad you enjoyed the video. Stay safe. Oscar

[@robertrogers564]

Hi Mike many years ago I spoke with an ex Gorton driver who drove various steam locos and both Em1 and 2 locos he said the Em2 rode like a coach and had awesome power,

[@rydermike33]

@@robertrogers564 Hello Robert. Many thanks for your message. Yes they were lovely locos. I'm just about old enough to remember them and the EMUs. They looked so different from all the other locos and units of the Time. All the best.

[@robertrogers564]

Hi Mike couldn't agree more one of my biggest railway regrets was never being able to ride the Woodhead route as living in London day trips north were to various remaining steam depots all paper round funded in my early teens,

[@rydermike33]

@@robertrogers564 Hi Robert, you must have visited some wonderful sheds around the London area. I think, like you, my love of railways, big and small, has never left me.

[@flippop101]

A very enjoyable episode this week and very much appreciated. I personally felt the EM2 was certainly one of the most exciting Triang models, the BR green variant possibly having the edge over the blue. Thank you Oscar!

[@oscarpaisley]

Thanks again Philip glad you enjoyed the video its a terrific model. Take care. Oscar

[@robertrogers564]

Hi Philip it was also one of the best tri-ang models highly regarded in the hobby, I have ,4 myself in various conditions one from a swap meet even has P4 wheels fitted and re painted black

[@flippop101]

@@robertrogers564 I look forward to seeing your video on those models.

[@kevinblakeman8858]

Hi oscar nice to see the EM2 running again .regarding the pantographs the triang society used to do working replica pantographs for the EM2 and the E3000 locos but were expensive

[@oscarpaisley]

Good afternoon Kevin glad you enjoyed the video thanks for the information. Stay safe. Oscar

[@danielbayer278]

I grew up with American-made HO trains and we never had anything as neat as the catenary. If we had, I'm sure I would've driven my parents nuts begging for it.

[@chrisbishop1534]

Really enjoyed this weeks fun,nice to see the catalog aswell.excellent!!!!!

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi, Chris glad you enjoyed it. Stay safe. Oscar

[@TheDaf95xf]

Evening Oscar. Well I was blessed to live in Manchester at the time when theses fantastic electric locomotives worked between Piccadilly and Sheffield Victoria via the Woodhead tunnel. What a shame it was closed and ripped up 😩 That train reminded me of the Harwich boat train. Always love your videos as it takes me back to my childhood 🤣 Thanks as always Stevie

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Stevie must have been great to see and hear these in action on the line. Thanks again glad you enjoyed the video. Oscar

[@nickjervis8123]

I have the green em2 in ckd. Woodhead locos fascinating as the line was heavily rebuilt in the 1950's and then closed! What I'm chasing now is the E3002 Dublo 3 rail.

[@PaulinesPastimes]

Great to see the Electra working with the catenary again. It looks striking in blue with the yellow panels but I have to agree with you about the green. I hope the poor waiter was hanging on to his wine bottle when the train did the emergency stop 😊, hopefully nothing was upset. 👍😊

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Pauline glad you enjoyed seeing this version of the Electra in action. I'm told all survived the experience and the next round was on BR. Thanks again take care. Oscar

[@PaulinesPastimes]

@@oscarpaisley 😄

[@robertrogers564]

Hi Oscar enjoyed your layout with all that lovely catenery I have a thing about those E M 1 and 2s I have 4 in various conditions I fitted 3 sets of Jackson coach wheels to the unpowered bogie with pickups on one to cure stalling on points etc it also improved the running quality,

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Robert they are a terrific looking locomotive great to hear you have four examples, the upgraded wheels on the unpowered bogie sounds like a great idea. Thanks for watching glad you enjoyed the video. Oscar

[@russellbenton2987]

Really nice train . Even sounds great going round layout .

[@oscarpaisley]

Thanks, Russell glad you enjoyed the video. Take care. Oscar

[@Andystrainsandmore]

And again a very interesting video. Cheers Andy 🤠

[@oscarpaisley]

Glad you enjoyed it Andy. Stay safe. Oscar

[@jamiemason9548]

Hi Oscar nice one again good job yours James

[@oscarpaisley]

Glad you enjoyed that James. Thanks again take care. Oscar

[@Steven_Rowe]

I love the electric locos, I suppose all the catenary and pantographs added so much interest Happy days the dim dark 60s

[@oscarpaisley]

Thanks again Steven, defiantly adds a little extra with the catenary I think as it looks so intriguing in the catalogues of the time. Stay safe. Oscar

[@jeffreymcneal1920]

Well, you did give us Jagger, the Beatles, and the unforgettable Kinks even if it was an otherwise bleak period.

[@Steven_Rowe]

@@jeffreymcneal1920your making assumptions I think

[@presidentxd]

Love the mk 1 coaches.they are so cheap now to buy.still look good too.

[@oscarpaisley]

Thanks glad you like the look of them. Stay safe. Oscar

[@robwhyte7339]

Morning old faithful... Guess all is well with you too? Great vids mate! All the best👍

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning thanks again glad you enjoyed the video. Stay safe. Oscar

[@davidstrains4910]

Good video Oscar I got one of these a couple of years ago for only £40

[@oscarpaisley]

Good afternoon David great to hear you have one and the price sounds like it was a great deal. Thanks again take care. Oscar

[@paulosman3369]

Good morning oscar great video i do like the blue /grey era i am in the throws of collecting these my self Electra is on my shopping list for next month, yours runs very nice and in such lovely condition . I dont know if you have used him but triang man has a couple of boxed examples that he said he would put buy for me so i will get one soon. I use him quite a lot have you?. Well thanks for another good informative video and look foward to next weeks instalment. Regards Paul osman lock down hopefully ending soon.

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Paul, these are quite striking items from the blue and grey era and make for a great collection. I've had several items from Triangman in the past few years, his site has far too many tempting items! Thanks again take care. Oscar

[@clivecobbold6815]

Hi oscar another great video mate I really enjoyed it every interesting I had one em2 in the 1970s and the blue/grey coaches to in is great to see them again I really like E3001/81 electric locomotives I still have 5 on my layout today stay safe and well mate goodbye for now clive in N.lreland

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Clive thanks again for watching glad you enjoyed the video. Nice to hear you have still have E3001/81 electric locomotives on your layout. Take care. Oscar

[@sanspareil3018]

I had a green CKD EM2 electric back in the late 60’s as a birthday present-wish I had it now! . Interesting observation about second motor never realised that. I agree it’s a very nice model. Quite intricate for a Triang Hornby model with its complicated pantograph X2 and change over switch. It must have cost a bit more to produce than say the class 37. In some ways the EM2 strikes me as the Triang Hornby equivalent of the Dublo Co Bo in that it seems an unlikely prototype to model. I do like the model though and may have to splash out one day to purchase one!

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning I think you right it must have cost a fortune to develop this EM2 as a model at the time with all its parts especially the motor bogie with its mechanism. I think the pantograph was already developed for earlier TC models in the range. Definitely worth adding one to your collection. Thanks again take care. Oscar

[@rswindsor-bell5589]

Another great video thank you Oscar. Keep wondering what you are going to do next! I noticed you have controllers and switches organised now, did I miss that elsewhere? A little talk through would be nice if not. Looking forward to seeing Caledonian and LOI on your new layout as personal favourites of mine. Keep up the good work!

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning glad your enjoying the videos, I haven't covered the tiding up of the wiring and controllers yet, will be covered in next weeks video on the 28th. Stay safe. Oscar

[@dennissharp4292]

Super video the engine to buy now is expensive.

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Dennis great to hear you enjoyed the video. You are right these models have become relatively expensive and sort after now. Thanks again take care. Oscar

[@melplows1078]

Hi Oscar a other great video good to see the over head wires been used the train pulled all the coaches very well .I got that 1983 catalogue on Friday very nice 3 pages of Zero 1did you have that Oscar, well keep well Mel nz

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Mel, great to hear you got the 1983 catalogue last week. I was lucky enough to have a Zero 1 controller when they first came out. It was very exciting at the time but I remember it as an ongoing thing it was very frustrating to use and probably unnecessary on a smallish layout. I do remember making a mess of what were some very nice items installing the modules. Possibly being in my early teens at the time I didn't get the best out of it and this was also the beginning of a time when other things gained more importance. Thanks again take care. Oscar

[@User58747]

The Crab!! ;-)

[@marksinthehouse1968]

Oscar and a cup of Nescafé perfect ,looked for an EM2 on eBay blimey need a mortgage so I got a hattons heljan model mind you that needed a bit of extra duty to pay for it 😉,all the best Mark 👍🏻😊

[@grahamappleyard6190]

A lot of people overcharge on e-bay for the EM2 models, especially the buy it now prices. The pantographs however are rare, so a broken one is more expensive than the engine to replace!

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Mark those heljan models are terrific looking locomotives. Thanks again take care. Oscar

[@marksinthehouse1968]

@@oscarpaisley good morning ,yes the heljan models weigh a ton Oscar ,have a good week ,Mark

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

Good video

[@oscarpaisley]

Glad you enjoyed. Oscar

[@gordontaylor1483]

Hi Oscar, Great video of a lovely EM2 and yes the green version would be a nice thing to have as well. I like the layout populated with models from previous videos. Excuse my ignorance but can you throw some light on the reason for a solid red line on the buffet car and half a yellow line on the other coach, thanks.

[@stevelomas4119]

It was done to fall in line with the UIC rail and coach branding, Red stripes denoted catering vehicles and the Yellow stripes denoted first class accomodation.

[@gordontaylor1483]

@@stevelomas4119 Many thanks Steve, mystery solved.

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Gordon the green EM2 is a loverly looking model. Glad you are enjoying seeing the other models on the railway. Steve has Kindly answered your question in the attached comments. I think Tri-ang started putting these class lines on the maroon Mk1s shortly after their introduction early ones did not have them from what I've read and other liveries in the range got them too. Thanks again take care. Oscar

[@fossil9559]

Another great film Oscar, I notice your using different controllers now, are these better than the H&M's ? will you be doing a film about them ?

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Adrian yes new/old controllers! they defiantly look the part as to whether they are any better or not is a difficult one! In next weeks video, they show up a little more. Thanks again take care. Oscar

[@robertrogers564]

Hi Adrian having done some repair work on those type of controllers over the years they are actually a re-boxed H and M Clipper from when Hornby took over H and M however the reversing switch in particular could be intermittent in nature, they employed the same mains transformer, rectifier diodes and resistance matt as the excellent clipper, and performed very well, also you could slide in the various lever type switches,

[@fossil9559]

@@robertrogers564 Hi Robert, thank you for the reply I have picked up a very good condition Clipper still in box with cables for my small station layout , I tried it for the first time last night with a Bachmann 8750 panier tank and I'm impressed by the slow running potential , I hade the switches set to High resistance & full wave ,. :-)

[@Jimyjames73]

Hiya Oscar - @ 21:57 - why does the carriage has a Blue & Yellow stripe across the top is that any significance & @ 23:40 the 3rd carriage (Buffet Car) down - with the Red line - does that mean that it show it is the Buffet Car??? 🙂🚂🚂🚂

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning I think your right from what I've read the coloured line indicates the intended class/service available. Thanks again take care. Oscar

[@gordonward199]

Yellow signifies First Class and red, Buffet or Restaurant Car.

[@lewlwicalusiaipereka6864]

👍🚂Pozdrawiam 🦁

[@oscarpaisley]

Cześć, jeszcze raz dziękuję za obejrzenie. Dbać. Oscar

[@mytinplaterailway]

Strange to think this is based on a Gresley design.

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi Ian thanks for watching and the information. Take care. Oscar

[@nickjervis8123]

I have the green em2 in ckd. Woodhead locos fascinating as the line was heavily rebuilt in the 1950's and then closed! What I'm chasing now is the E3002 Dublo 3 rail.

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Nick great to hear you have a green EM2, my favourite. I hope you find your self Hornby Dublo E3002, quite a rare items. Thanks again take care. Oscar

[@robertrogers564]

Hi Nick good luck with the E3002 three rail as I believe only 6 or possibly 12 were made as special order after H,D, were acquired by Triang in 1964 I saw one of these on Bob Fields ex shop demo layout at an exhibition in Southport several years ago,