When is a Hornby Railroad loco not a Hornby Railroad loco?

A Hornby Railroad engine disguised as a full price engine.
Network Rail Class 73. Plus a nod to Hattons.
Thanks for watching

[@kevfrombutterley]

I was thinking that's decent for £55 but £40 was a total bargain! You did well there.

[@fairweathertrains3029]

Yes, I'm pleased with it overall. Just a bit shocked to find a Railroad quality model in the full fat range.

[@smallrails6831]

Yes we'll done. I has a bad experience with a Railroad Plus Class 47...was so bad I put the body on an American chassis lol But pleases for you. Hi from NZ. I have subscribed. Bernie

[@fairweathertrains3029]

I've got a good few American locos, and they're all so "meaty", with really good motors, even the old Blue Box stuff. I'm not entirely convinced by the Railroad Plus range yet, but do believe the idea behind it is sound. Thanks for watching from the other side of the world!

[@AntonySimm]

R3136 is 10+ years old though, first appeared in the 2012 catalogue, and as I reach mine off the shelf and flick through to page 67. They did market it as 'new' back then which is probably a little creative license given it wasn't actually new, but re-introduced. I also have a '73 from that era of Hornby too, it's the 'Gatwick Express - Dave Berry' model, same tooling but a slightly more interesting livery and I think that may be part of the issue here - given the solid Network Rail yellow livery of the one in your video it does just look a bit flat and basic as you say. I'm very happy with my R3045 class 73 it runs really well.

[@peterm7548]

The 73 is now sold in the Railroad Plus range. They are revised Lima models with an added DCC socket. They are more reliable than the higher spec Dapol 73s which I have sold off.

[@fairweathertrains3029]

I am very happy with it. Not a great puller, it's a bit on the light side, but otherwise rather nice. I'll avoid the Dapol version then! Thanks

[@squeaksvids5886]

Personally I don’t see the point of sprung buffers on OO models, they’re not used as they would be in real life.

[@fairweathertrains3029]

I agree, there is none on any of the European models I've got. I blame Sam's Trains! 😉😊

[@christopherstokes9393]

Yeah, definitely agree that this should be in the Railroad range. It was one of Lima's best locomotives in its day; however, standards have moved on since then. I think Hornby just put models in whichever range they think will make the most money (see also: the Class 66, which is a Railroad loco in all but name). And ultimately, it just confuses the customer base, and leads them to expect higher standards than the models can offer.

[@fairweathertrains3029]

Misleading your customer base is not a good look. Thanks for watching

[@OscarOSullivan]

It should be no more than 30 quid

[@railwaymechanicalengineer4587]

HORNBY - LIMA CLASS 73 This model (irrespective of livery) has always been part of the "Railroad" range. Don't forget that due to the "Batch Production" system used in China, Catalogues are NOT a Guarantee that anything produced will actually be shown in the Catalogue. Because production of Hornby locos is NOT by Hornby, but by PIKO, in their plant near Canton. Further apart from minor mods to this bodyshell, this is the original LIMA model (Hornby own both the Lima & Rivarossi Italian brand names). The model has however received a "new" chassis around 10-12 years ago of the "motor bogie" type. New "Code 75" wheelsets replaced the original Lima code 100 steam roller wheels, also 10-12 years ago. Despite the one ended motor bogie chassis, the model will pull on level track with curves greater than 3ft radius a load of 9-10 coaches. As the real loco only developed 1,600 hp on the 750v Third Rail (just 500hp on Diesel). As it was only intended for passenger service with a maximum 10 Mk1 coaches, just like the 1,550hp Class 33 SR Diesel class. The Southern Region didn't think anything more powerful would be necessary, as most services were of course provided by effectively more powerful EMU's. The Bournemouth line 4REP "Power Packs" multiple units for example, had the electrical equipment of TWO Class 73's (and the Class 73 type B6 bogies) under the two motor coaches giving 3,200hp in a four car unit. The most powerful 3rd rail units in the World ! The Southern had a blanket maximum speed limit of 90mph. (until the 5WES units appeared 1990). But in tests both the Class 73 & 4REP units, were found to be capable of 120mph. Indeed even the 4CIG & 4BEP "Greyhounded" EMU's (which had the last bank of resistence in weak field bypassed) could reach around 108mph when pressed !

[@fairweathertrains3029]

Thanks for that info, really interesting. Especially the bit about Piko. I had no idea. Thanks for commenting.

[@railwaymechanicalengineer4587]

@@fairweathertrains3029 PIKO took over production of Hornby (& its other brands) Locos & most rolling stock about 10-12 years ago. After Hornby got thrown out of the huge "Sandikan" plant in Hong Kong. Because Hornby's competitor the "Kada Corporation" (Bachmann) bought the Sandikan plant from under Hornby's nose !!!!

[@geoffbarry9540]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand your problem here. I have always been totally clear that models such as this ex-Lima 73 were in the Hornby Railroad range specifically because they were nice, affordable but, shall we say, less than perfect examples of the real thing. The heavy Lima tension locks were replaced but, as I understand it, little else was done (although the example being criticised seems to have flush glazing which my venerable Lima example from thirty years ago does not). The whole point about Hornby taking over the Lima range and basically creating Hornby Railroad was to re-release these sorts of models as nice, acceptably accurate representations of their classes at a budget price.

[@fairweathertrains3029]

My point was that this particular loco was not part of the Railroad range despite it being a slightly upgraded Lima.

[@edenbridgejunction7526]

I'd take that all day. I love my Lima 73s as I can't afford to replace all 11 of them for better high end models. I've added plows to some of them and pipe work. Along with some weathering here n there just to make them look a bit more life like. 😊 I'd love a rhtt unit too. Like you say hard to find in good condition.

[@AliasMrHackenbacker]

I think all the ex Lima diesel/electric locos should be in the Railroad range as their level of detail and performance really dictate what range they should be in. I am a big fan of Lima diesels and for their time they were really good. I am building a small modern image layout and my motive power is my collection of Lima Bo-Bo diesels which after a clean and lube run really well, for my needs as I have no permanent fixed place for my layout the locos and stock need to be constanly handled and the Lima models cope well as there is no seperate detail to get damaged. I feel Hornby should update the railroad diesels with lights (like the 67) and offer TXS versions at attractive pricing ro appeal to either younger modellers wanting to start out or those of us on limited financial means. I do praise Hornby for releasing these Lima models as the other manufactures only offer premium models at premium prices.

[@fairweathertrains3029]

I totally agree with all you said there. Hornby have access to a "ready-made" cheaper range unlike other manufacturers.

[@andrewcalladine2507]

Just their class 66 in mainline packaging, it should be in Railroad packaging.

[@fairweathertrains3029]

Agree. And at Railroad price.

[@railthefox1857]

it is a old lima cos i had one of them and a lima and the body and that were saopbel so we all r just paying for not new just onle lima tarterd up to look new

[@47606odin]

Seriously you’re complaining about paying £40 for that? The base of the loco was the Lima tooling which was a brilliant shell. No issue with knocking stuff off, except the horns. It runs smoothly, decent livery application. What more could you want? The only issue with that model, perpetuated by Hornby is the fact there’s no cab steps. A simple robust model which is an excellent representation of the real thing. The fact the box doesn’t say railroad is irrelevant, you paid £40

[@fairweathertrains3029]

Not complaining about what I paid at all. Just the slightly questionable practice of putting a Railroad quality loco in the full fat range. If I’d have bought it new at full price, I would have expected lights at least.

[@olelauridsen666]

Hand held cams sucks