Unboxing the Tri-ang/Hornby Class M7

[@vlogthatrain3152]

Ooh I remember this one, I recon this was one of the first reviews I watched by you!! Back in the days when I knew next to nothing about models. Definitely a classic triang loco, looks amazing, all the best mate --- Ben

[@SamsTrains]

Ooh really? haha I knew next to nothing about them too in thse days, lol ;D Glad you enjoyed it mate, Sam :)

[@trainsontuesday]

Thanks Sam. I've had a green M7 for a number of years and didn't know about the smokebox door. I went and checked it after watching the video. My summer 1960 train spotting book shows 73 remaining in service and I had spotted 29 of them. The model is certainly a favourite. Cheers, David.

[@SamsTrains]

+David Atkins haha yeah - it was a while before I realised mine had them too! And goodness - you've seen a lot that aren't around any more then - must have been great days though! Thanks a lot for the comment, Sam :)

[@markhummerstone8692]

Thanks for yet another fab trip down memory lane!! I got the BR Black version for Xmas 1969....along with a few Apollo 11 related Airfix kits!!! Coincidentally, I painted mine into SR Green....(Well...a sloppy version of it...I was 11!!!!) Cheers!

[@SamsTrains]

No problem at all Mark, ahh what a Christmas that must have been! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@Wilso-cy2io]

Nice loco Sam, no bits and pieces falling off in the box with these older ones, looking forward to when your wrenns are going. Keep up the good work, Regards John from Oz.

[@SamsTrains]

+Wilso 1947 Absolutely not - I don't think I've ever had a piece fall off any tri-ang loco! My wrenns are up and running now, all 8 of them, they're in the 'queue' now ready to be filmed! Cheers mate, Sam :)

[@miscellaneous.7127]

Great vid! I like these big tank engines! :)

[@SamsTrains]

+Why Not? Thanks a lot mate - the M7 is particularly cool! Cheers, Sam :)

[@eddieallen9635]

Brilliant unboxing Sam and a great vid as usual! Just been given this loco by a good friend for Christmas. It's in excellent condition & runs well but unfortunately someone must have crashed her & damaged the front buffers & the front holes that help connect the chassis to the body. However she was given with much love & she is beautiful so I managed to make a reasonable repair.. not perfect but enough for me to cherish her! Many thanks.

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks very much Eddie, glad you got a good runner too - sorry to hear about the buffers though! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@ChapelEndJunctionUK]

Lovely looking loco Sam , learning so much railway history just by watching your videos . That cow / bull will hitch a lift anywere . Cheers......Peter .

[@SamsTrains]

+Peter Shaw Thanks again for the comment Peter, really glad you're learning from the vids - I can't take credit for the info though, it all comes from the internet or books! Cheers mate, Sam :)

[@edforcer1340]

Nice looking M7 Sam, helpful review too. I'm a big fan of the older stuff, not as refined but longer lasting and less expensive. Thanks for sharing.

[@SamsTrains]

+Ed Shunt Thanks very much for the comment - you're bang on, you cant beat the older locos, and they're a great challenge to maintain - you can always be proud of a well-maintained tri-ang loco! Cheers, Sam :)

[@edforcer1340]

Thanks to your series, I can say that I'm in that group too. Getting my 31 (or Brush 2 as us Westerners called 'em) running after over 30 years in a box nearly brought a tear.

[@itloon]

Double header works out well to haul 7 - best of both worlds. The glowing fire was a surprise - can you imagine that with dimmed lights! (not advisable doe to prevention of accidents mind). Good video again. Alan.

[@SamsTrains]

+itloon Thanks Alan, glad you enjoyed it! The fire glow is definitely an excellent idea, it's capacitor smoothed either, which means that you get the occasional realistic flickering! I do sometimes (carefully) dim the lights to see a loco's illumination, but sadly it often doesn't work out great on camera! Thanks a lot for the comment mate, Sam :)

[@AdiPullen]

very very nice Sam I do have soft spot for m7 lovely work mate full respect ade

[@JaeV2000]

the m7 is always a nice sight and the triang ones are juat filled with charicter, another enjoyable video

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks mate - the M7 is a classic, and yeah the tri-ang ones are marvelous! All the best mate, Sam :)

[@nigelcarter9503]

Nice model for it's year. I remember the packaging well.

[@SamsTrains]

+Nigel Carter Yeah, I think they really were great for their time! I was really pleased to get one in such good packaging - much more exciting! Cheers, Sam :)

[@johnd8892]

Sam, I also had this recommendation after the more recent M7. This was also the first loco with a firebox glow when released in 1967. I think the first in the world. Later used on the first Triang Flying Scotsman locos. Firebox glow and opening smoke box door with smoke box detail is still a high end feature being re introduced recently. Did you miss out on the glow feature?

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks for sharing John - yeah that's the one! I can't remember to be honest - so long since I filmed this one! I've covered it since though, of course! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@mistermister689]

One of my favorites mines a little jittery though and the livery’s a little worn but it’s got character gotta love 0-4-4 tanks

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah definitely - they have real character! :D Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@Ryan_Rail]

Did anyone else get this recommended to them after watching the review he just did of the same engine in 2021?

[@SamsTrains]

haha awesome - yeah this is the original model!! :D Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@rogercantwell3622]

I have one of these that someone has painted (fairly well) SR black with sunshine lettering. It has an Airfix 5 pole motor which I added. Any tips on adding bogie pickups? It runs fine but stutters on insulfrog points.

[@oscarpaisley]

Another great toy. Excellent review. Oscar

[@SamsTrains]

+Oscar Paisley Thanks mate, glad you liked her! Cheers, Sam :)

[@bryaneast2513]

Hello Sam,I have a Southern green M7 and have never been too pleased with performance, I think perhaps the model is too light, and I have a T9 that exhibits the same problems. To get the pulling power I often have to run them double-headed.

[@SamsTrains]

+Bryan East Hi Bryan, thanks a lot for the comment! I'm guessing your M7 is a modern one? I have the T9 too, and I know exactly what you mean - terrible pullers! I think you're right though - there's just not enough weight in them nowadays! All the best mate, Sam :)

[@vikingsmb]

they have magnets in them (old triang locos) as when they were made in 1967 the track was steel, but Hornby changed to nickel silver in 1994

[@mistermister689]

On mine the rear bogie is cast and has metal wheels connected to the motor they act as pick ups which is good I wonder why yours don’t still great review as always p.s you wouldn’t know if any comecially available buyer Garrett locos available? Or one of them American big boys? Love to see a video of either of them now that would be something!

[@SamsTrains]

That's pretty interesting - I've never come across any tri-ang ones like that, but I know the modern Hornby version does have pick-ups on the bogey - is yours the modern one? Yes I think Heljan did a Garrett, but they're pretty pricey! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@bambostarla6259]

cute little scallywags they are running around !!

[@SamsTrains]

+Dark Starla haha scallywags - definitely! Thanks a lot for the great comment, Sam :)

[@NorthernSoulExpress]

Looks very nice, I have one but its wheels are too big for code 100 tracks. Great video as always. Keep the faith - Callum

[@SamsTrains]

+Northern Soul Express Yeah - sadly the very early ones won't be great on modern track - but they're nice looking nonetheless! Cheers, Sam :)

[@samranson2285]

Hi Sam, sam here haha.. would you happen to know if there's any decal kits for the m7s please?as my triang one has very worn decals Cheers sam

[@samshirley1962]

Another great vid Sam -Sam

[@SamsTrains]

+Sam Shirley Cheers mate, glad you enjoyed it! Sam :)

[@miscellaneous.7127]

12:27 cow!

[@meeeun7001]

That is my favourite steam tank locomotive

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks for the comment - I can see why, they are lovely! All the best, Sam :)

[@howdoiputthecheeseintheove8437]

I came here just to see that loco It's a beauty of a train

[@SamsTrains]

+Dan Man10 KZbin Thanks a lot for the comment, I think they're gorgeous too! Cheers, Sam :)

[@kellyashfordtrains2642]

The M7 Tank Engine is OK to look at. I'm not sure I'd enjoy riding behind one in reality. Give me a cab ride with Broome Manor any day. She makes me smile a whole lot more.

[@SamsTrains]

That's fair enough Kelly - they won't be for everyone! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@cyclingwithkiwi3956]

looks good

[@SamsTrains]

+alan mckinnon Cheers mate, glad you like them! Cheers, Sam :)

[@samshirley1962]

It's a shame I live in the states cause I would like to meet you one day -Sam

[@SamsTrains]

+Sam Shirley Very kind of you to say, thanks very much! Cheers, Sam :)

[@devonjunction5930]

Sorry to be a pain Sam but the my R259 Britannia will just short for no reason for what can see sometimes if will go and other times it won't I've tryed powering ot without track and it will go but on track its shorting 😩

[@SamsTrains]

+devon junction hmm - my Britannia used to do that - it might be that one of the wheels is touching the chassis as it turns, and making a short! If it is this, look out for sparks to find out which one! To fix it, you need to glue a very thin layer of insulation into place to stop it - even a tiny piece of paper works - its much easier than trying to straighten the wheel! Let me know how you get on, Cheers, Sam :)

[@devonjunction5930]

hmm ive tryed that so im thinking that the wire what that fuse thing has gone ? do you know where it can get the service sheet so i can check the wiring

[@SamsTrains]

+devon junction It may be, you can actually remove that choke, as it's not necessary nower days. Do you have a multi-meter? You could use it to try to find out where the short is, you might want to remove the motor too, and see if the short still happens without it in! Cheers, Sam :)

[@devonjunction5930]

removed the choke and working lovely will send you pm a pic if you want

[@SamsTrains]

+devon junction Oh that's brill news - a nice and simple fix! Yes please - I love those britannias! Glad she's working again for you! Cheers, Sam :)

[@Benji_transport_vids]

Quite an old video but is persuading me to buy it without saying...!

[@SamsTrains]

haha awesome Benji! :D

[@lukeslocomotives]

30027 and 30127? Is this a coincidence?

[@SamsTrains]

I don't know about that mate!!

[@matthewross810]

Is that Whiff? It looks like him.

[@SamsTrains]

I don't know actually - I don't know much about Whiff - maybe though! :D Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@mike26656]

she quite unique

[@SamsTrains]

+michael king Thanks for the comment - they were a very unique class of locos! :D Cheers, Sam :)

[@thiruraj3866]

Where can I get one

[@SamsTrains]

Ebay! :D

[@miscellaneous.7127]

the back looks like it's floating a little bit. ;)

[@SamsTrains]

+Why Not? Yeah that often gets remarked on - the famous floating illusion of the M7 ;) And it's true really - the bogey takes very little of her weight!

[@rogercantwell3622]

It's not a real bogie (same as for most models). Also, because of where it's pivoted, this M7 really hangs its bum out on corners! It looks better pulling backwards, although this wouldn't have happened much with the push-pull trains it was used on.

[@miscellaneous.7127]

5:26 why can't that be standard now? ;)

[@SamsTrains]

+Why Not? I know - it's all cost I suppose! Bachmann do the occasional one, but with mixed results - I find that they flap open too easily whilst running, but are still a nice touch!

[@miscellaneous.7127]

one thing; you know that in real life drivers do their best not to bump or move the coaches when they couple up. :)

[@SamsTrains]

+Why Not? haha yeah - well I'd be more careful if it were real life ;)

[@miscellaneous.7127]

+Sam'sTrains ok. ;)