No, not the B1 and B17 4-6-0 steam locomotives (though those, too, are coming shortly, and magnificent they look), but models of non-corridor commuter coaches designed for the London & North Eastern Railway by the late, great engineering genius Sir Nigel Gresley (he of Mallard and the world speed record for steam engines).
That was a year or so ago and the first examples have now appeared -- one of these coaches is the Hornby, the other is hand-made by a master modeller. And it's almost impossible to tell which is which:
Each coach is only a couple of inches high, but the level of detail is staggering:
Even the complexities of the under-floor gubbins are captured in loving detail:
On the strength of the first couple of crimson ones (the livery is for the early Nationalisation period of British Railways, roughly 1950-1960) I slapped in an order for a load more, and also for a rake in the LNER's lovely varnished teak livery.
Then, of course, I had to order a couple of B1s and B17s in different liveries, so that something authentic could pull them. God, those people at Hornby are evil geniuses.
4 comments:
I wish I'd kept all the trains I ever had right back to a Bassett Lowke 0 gauge and a Metropolitan electric loco, both of which ran on Hornby 3-rail track; later I had 00 gauge three-rail Dublo but gave it all to a nephew
It's not too late to start all over again. I'm currently toying with commissioning Judith Edge Models to make me an NER ES1, a tiny and exquisite electric steeplecab locomotive which was built in 1903 and spent 60 years working immensely heavy coal trains down to the quays of the Tyne. They do it in O gauge (total cost about £700) or in 00 (which is roughly half the price -- extraordinary value considering an off-the-shelf Hornby to the latest standard will set you back +/-120).
Go on: you know you want to!
Do you have a layout?
If so, what type? End to end sidings for shunting or
a more traditional oval type?
Thanks for info
I'd love a GWR steam coach. Or one of the old Hormby GWR powered coach - they're only doing parcel coach version at moment. Meh.
Do you have a layout?
If so, what type? End to end sidings for shunting or
a more traditional oval type?
Thanks for info
I'd love a GWR steam coach. Or one of the old Hormby GWR powered coach - they're only doing parcel coach version at moment. Meh.
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