Stanier 'Black 5' in Mixed Traffic

Welcome to another edition of Engine Shed, the only ‘00’ gauge update from the Hornby development team.

This edition is jam packed with final samples of the ‘Glasgow Highlander’ and Caprotti variant of the ‘Black 5’, and the GNER Class 43 HST and Mk3 coach decoration samples. We also look at our new ‘00’ additions to the range and give updates on HM7000 including new sound profiles.

‘Black 5’ Final Sample - ‘Glasgow Highlander’ No. 45157

The ubiquitous Stanier ‘Black 5’ was a versatile engine designed for mixed traffic: passenger trains and for freight hauling duties. 842 examples of the class were built.

We received the final sample of ‘The Glasgow Highlander’ which was one of only four ‘Black 5’s to be named during their working life. Including No. 45157, the other named ‘Black 5’s were 45154 ‘Lanarkshire Yeomanry’, 45156 ‘Ayrshire Yeomanry’ and 45158 ‘Glasgow Yeomanry’. This sample replicates the locomotive in its BR final days numbered as 45157 and with the lined tender incorporating a late BR crest.

There is a plethora of refined detailing on the model including the Armstrong Whitworth maker’s plates, diecast valve gear, electrification warning flashes and the cab interior decoration. A unique feature on 45157 out of our ‘Black 5’s produced so far is the nameplate. This locomotive commemorates the Glasgow Highlanders (9^th Battalion Highland Light Infantry), a former British infantry regiment that was then amalgamated with the Royal Scots Fusiliers to form the Royal Highland Fusiliers in 1959. The nameplate also incorporates the crest of the Highland Light Infantry.

‘Black 5’ Final Sample – Caprotti Variant No. 44755

We come to No. 44755 which was one of the twenty ‘Black 5’ locomotives fitted with Caprotti valve gear. Compared to the Walschaerts valve gear with pistons which was a standard for many steam locomotives, the Caprotti variant used poppet valves and cam shafts instead. Arturo Caprotti’s innovation followed an automobile more closely by including a rotary camshaft and vertical valves. A British version of the Caprotti valve gear, an improvement on the Italian valve gear, was applied to these ‘Black 5’s.

Instead of a simple single seat poppet valve, where petrol/air vapour or exhaust gases passes by the sides, Caprotti invented a spoked double seat valve, where steam not only passed by the two seats but also went down or up through the centre of the valve as well. Railway companies such as the LNER, LMS and BR experimented with other valve gears such as the German Lentz rotary-cam valve gear and the Franklin oscillating cam/rotary-cam valve gear.

For our final sample, Caprotti valve gear, Timken roller bearings and a double chimney have been replicated. The model is fully lined in BR mixed traffic livery with an early lion on wheel crest.

This ‘Black 5’ is DCC Ready with a 21-pin socket in the tender and features a 5 pole skew wound motor. The accessory bag contains everything you need for that extra touch to your locomotive and includes the following:

Tablet catcher
NEM Pocket for the bogie
Two front steps (LH and RH)
Lower vac pipe
Alternative snowploughs for different eras: LMS and BR
Draincocks
Crew figures – driver and fireman
Two lamp brackets, one for the footplate and one for the smokebox door
Two lamps
Hook coupling
Bar coupling

June ‘00’ Announcements

We recently revealed some new additions to the ‘00’ range, most notably the W1 locomotive with a steam generator and a new RailRoad Grand Central liveried Class 43 HST train pack with matching Mk3 coaches.

Class W1 No. 10000 ‘Hush Hush’ Steam Generator (R30352SS)

With four steam generator models already in the ‘00’ range, we have added a fifth: the Class W1 ‘Hush Hush’ locomotive in its dark battleship grey livery form. There is a W1 steam generator HM7000 sound profile in development for this model. As with our other steam generator models, a true synchronisation effect between the sound and the water vapour from the chimney is achieved with an HM7000 DCC 21-pin decoder housed in the tender. The speaker and steam generator perform together to create the sound in time with the speed, but also the ‘puffs’ of water vapour.

RailRoad Grand Central HST Train Pack (R30375) and RailRoad Grand Central Mk3 Coaches (R40440, R40441, R40442, R40443 & R40444)

Our RailRoad Grand Central HST train pack contains a Class 43 power and dummy car with the running numbers, 43465 and 43484. The locomotives feature working lights and a Grand Central emblem placed in the middle of the orange stripe on the bodysides. Two etched ‘Peter Fox 1942-2011 Platform 5’ nameplates are included in the accessory bag for the dummy car.

The prototypical locomotives had buffers fitted. However, as part of our RailRoad range, it uses our entry level tooling which does not have buffers fitted. Our RailRoad range offers a great value option to have this HST in a striking livery to run on your layout.

The RailRoad Mk3 coaches that make a full rake with the train pack feature a vibrant Grand Central livery, accurate corridor connections and close coupling for the power and dummy car.

RailRoad Procor PVA Van (R60267)

We have added more rolling stock to the RailRoad range: a Procor blue liveried curtain sided PVA van numbered PR6934. Featuring fixed tension couplings to enable easier coupling between your rolling stock and other locomotives, this van would make a great addition for a BR focused layout before the onset of privatisation.

Drax Biomass Wagon Packs (R60176A & R60177A)

R60176A

R60177A

Our new and popular Drax biomass wagon packs includes two wagons in each pack with different Northern Powerhouse liveries. These are a re-run of the same liveries from before but with different running numbers assigned to them for extending your rake of biomass wagons. The accessory bag in each pack will include six vac pipes.

You can watch the announcement video on our YouTube channel: Hornby Announcement!

You can also browse the full list of the June range announcement here: The Hornby Range Launch | New for 2024

GNER Class 43 HST Decoration Samples

The GNER Class 43 HST project has been progressing well, and we have now received the decoration samples, seen below:

The train pack consists of a power car named ‘Stirling Castle’, and a dummy car ‘Harrogate Spa’, both in a GNER blue livery. We are pleased with the finish of these samples, and we only have a few minor corrections to send back, such as the gold of the locomotive nameplates not being bright enough.

We tested the lighting for these samples as these are planned to incorporate both night and day lighting for the headlights and taillights. Upon testing, we found that the lights should be much brighter, so we have sent these findings for them to be corrected.

We also tested the running further and we found that these samples ran extremely well around points. The Mk3 coaches also ran well as a full rake with the power and dummy cars.

We have also received first decoration samples for other HSTs including the LNER ‘Flying Tomato’ and two BR InterCity samples. There were colour corrections that needed to be made so we received new body shells with the colour correction added. These HSTs will feature night and day lighting, working roof fans and a dual speaker sound and setup.

GNER Mk3 Coach Decoration Samples

The GNER Mk3 coach decoration samples that match the GNER power and dummy car have also arrived for us to review. Overall, the coaches have a nice finish to the samples that we have seen. We noticed some tiny details that needed to be amended on these samples and the relevant feedback was sent.

Hornby Dublo ‘Silver King’

The original Hornby Dublo A4 Class ‘Silver King’ three-rail EDL11 model was released in 1953 under its BR guise of BR gloss green with black and orange lining and a BR running number of 60016. A D11 tender with an incorporated BR early lion on wheel crest was also part of the model. In the January 2024 range launch, we announced a return of this infamous Hornby Dublo locomotive.

Our model is a ‘00’ homage to the original Hornby Dublo model and could almost be seen as a reincarnation of the first Hornby Dublo model.

We’ve replicated the distinctive streamlined shape of the A4 Pacifics, the whistle, chimney, nameplate and the BR green livery with black and orange lining. Due to its die-cast body and boiler (as with all our Hornby Dublo models), the locomotive has a heavy weight to help with hauling several coaches and enabling great traction. Smooth running on the track is enabled further by the model containing a 5 pole skew wound motor and the tender containing a DCC Ready 21-pin socket. Crew figures are also included for enhanced realism.

Playtrains HST Train Set

We have received new production samples of the Playtrains HST train set. The power and dummy car has an upgraded livery to a modern HST design that is similar to what you would see on the main line today. The whole set has been given a fresh decoration scheme to give it a more realistic look.

We have re-designed the clipping system of the pieces of track so that it is even easier to assemble. When clipped together, it is stronger to hold together making the track more durable and robust. The new track is also compatible with the existing red Playtrains track.

A new re-railing track part has been included which makes it very easy to place the train on the track. Disguised as a level crossing, this new re-railing part enables you to align the wheels of your train on the tracks.

HM7000

We have updated the HM7070 Power Bank (R7377) to make it smaller. We reengineered the power bank to use a power booster by reducing the power bank size, while still providing a suitable power backup. This size reduction enables the power bank to be used in smaller locomotives.

This smaller power bank will also suit Hornby TT:120 locomotives and smaller ‘00’ scale locomotives. As we have a sample, we can provide the dimensions directly and these are 13 x 12.5 x 6.8mm. This new power bank should be available soon – expected in stock by the end of July.

For an in-depth review and to see the smaller power bank in action, you can watch Jenny Kirk’s review here: Exclusive First Look! The New Smaller HM7000 Power Bank from Hornby

New Sound Profiles

SD005 Class 91
SD070 Mk4 DVT
SD053 B17 Streamlined
SD007 Class 800
SD064 Class 803
SD027 Class 423 4-VEP
The following sound profiles are in development:
SD055 Class 370 APT
SD035 Black 5 Steam Generator
SD048 W1 Steam Generator
Class 801/2

We hope you enjoyed reading about our latest selection of samples and new models. Please email marketing@hornby.com for any questions or comments that you may have. See you next time!

Be sure to follow Hornby on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram to be kept up to date on all the latest news and product updates. Don’t forget to subscribe to the Hornby YouTube channel and tune in to our Beyond the Buffers Podcast.

Happy Modelling!

The Engine Shed Team