Greetings,

I fear i am about to fall in love with the A4 Mallard made by Hornby.
From information gathered from internet i understand Hornby made various versions of the lightblue A4 Mallard steamloco,including at least one jubilee version with special golden lettering.
I would be tempted to buy one but it needs to be an AC version fit for Maerklin track (00 scale versus H0 scale).
There is no need for sound functions or digital control,it will be put on static display together with my Maerklin trains.
Information by Hornby on internet is scarse and confusing.
I would like to know the productnumber for a proper AC version.
Also,i would welcome your input as to which version,jubilee or otherwise,has your preference.
Finally,perhaps you could tell me what is a realistic price for a factory new in box model.

Review as follows:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=...GGI4&feature=related

I would be much obliged.


Thank you all,

Paul.

Edited by user 17 April 2012 20:13:39(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Hornby 00 started in 1938 as 3 rail

After the war it continued as 3 rail before changing to 2 rail in about 1959

try this ebay link

http://www.ebay.co.uk/it...&hash=item4844e3fc37

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the video link, it is a good one.

I have a particular interest (my wife calls it an obsession) with the A4, so I have a few models.

See http://www.qldrail.net/lner/

regards
Kimball

The HornbyDublo/wrenn with large motor with chassic cannot do with DCC.

Thank you all for your valuable input.
Must say that i find the A4 a very interesting locomotive,both as prototype as well as in scalemodel.
Nice to learn that apart from Mallard there were numerous other A4 versions,with famous and glorious operating names.
Mallard was the most famous because of her speed record,whereby it should be noted that the speed record nearly killed her,story goes that her drive gear was seriously damaged during the attempt.
The facinating aspect about these pre WW2 locomotives is the contrast between the future shaped outside and the conventional way of operation in the drivers cab,also applicable to german streamlined loco's of the same era by the way.
One would expect to find a sophisticated automated way of coal feeding and luxourious drivers dashboard to match with the science fiction shaped rocket like outside appearance,not so,it required Werner von Brauns V2 rocket in WW2 to make a giant step ahead in thinking in this respect.
Also interesting to note is that during their last phase of operational life the A4 loco's carried freighttrains,i never knew that.

Now back to the various Hornby models.
In case there is no AC version available,i might even consider buying a DC version for static display,question is which one (Hornby product code?????).
I like the golden jubilee version with special lettering,but what is the productcode of that one????
What am i buying: is the hood plastic and the undercarriage metal?,is the motor in the tender and how does that behave on the tracks?,is there sufficient attention to detail,does the loco feel right so to speak?
Must say that Hornby is not very well known on the continent,so i am dancing in the dark so to speak.
In any event the models in the above posts have a charm of their own,i like that.

This one is running on Maerklin track,but is it AC or DC:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=...unRc&feature=related

And with sound and smoke:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4UrdD9tHGo

Cheers,
Paul.

The first coach has a slider. Looks like a cable running from this coach to the loco.
So loco runs from centre rail. It runs digitally, so neither AC nor DC.

I don't recognize the clerestory coaches behind Emily, are they a Hornby product?

regards
Kimball

Thanks Kimball,

DC is a bit confusing for me,in my days of youth one made a basic choise for the rest of life: either Maerklin or Trix,sometimes Fleischmann.
The older Trix is extra confusing because of the different tracksystems used.
If i am well informed,Trix Express was using the 3-rail system with continuous middle rail,the railprofile is rather wide,requiring pizza knife style wheelrims.
I think the Trix Express rails fit nicely to the Hornby Dublo 3-rail loco's,as such i have in mind to buy some Trix Express track on german Ebay,there is plenty around.
Later on,there was Trix International,using standard 2-rail track,fit for all sorts of DC trains.
When Trix was absorbed by Maerklin,i do recall that sometimes Maerklin came up with a Maerklin model fit for Trix Express track,this can be clearly identified when the loco has wide wheelrims ( like Hornby Dublo!).

The purpose of the Trix Express 3-rail system was to be able to operate two trains independant from each other on the same track,the connecting rail has 3 connecting points for that purpose.

Have found some interesting Trix Express sites on internet,some referring to Trix and Bing in the United kingdom,there is also plenty rolling stock for sale,including a very nice BR01 steamloco.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr5-JANLqjo

All in all another nice subject to fill in your rainy days!

Cheers,
Paul.

Hi Paul,

The 3 rail Trix was a bit different.

However, I hope your HD will run on it. I think it will.

Marklin and HD 3 rail had the single "positive/bahnstrom" rail in the centre, and the "ground return" on the two outer rails.

Trix rail on the other hand was designed with the centre rail being the "ground return". Each outer rail contained a separate "positive/bahnstrom", so one engine used the LH rail for power, and the second engine used the RH rail.

I have never seen or used the Trix system, but I imagine it worked well.

regards
Kimball

Hi Kimball,

This still leaves me puzzled about the sort of track required for Hornby Dublo loco's.
What sort of track are you using,or are you just keeping them on static display?
I have asked Coopertrains also about this.

The A4 Silver King 3-rail has been purchased from Coopertrains,plus replica boxes for loco and tender.
Is the pick-up shoe in the middle picking up current from the middle rail or is it feeding back negative current and picking up positive current from the outerrails,like with Trix Express?
Anyway,the Trix Express rails are on their way,so shortly i will give it a try.

In any event,the Hornby Dublo A4 will be a beauty in her own right,perhaps more are to follow in future.

Cheers,
Paul.

Hi Paul,
Yes, the centre pick-ups on the HD work exactly the same way as Marklin.

In my opinion, the Trix track will work. Just use the centre track for positive DC, and either one or both outer tracks as the ground.

I use the old 3 rail HD track which is widely available on eBay. I have a small layout in my garage on which I run the trains. Here is a link to a recent purchase to give you an idea. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/260998183205?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2648
That same seller still has other track and points listed to give you an idea.

regards
Kimball

Thank you,Marcus.

I have decided to put my two Hornby A4 steamers on static display for the rest of my life.
Purchased some old Trix Express rails to test the Hornby Dublo loco,she seems to fit nicely on these rails.
Found out there is plenty Trix Express rails for sale,especially in Germany.
Found some interesting Trix Express loco's and trainsets too.
Who knows what the future will bring in this respect.

Kind regards,
Paul.

Thanks Marcus.

I think the Trix Express rails have a charm of their own.
The boxes with rails i purchased from a German Ebay seller seem to come from the mid fifties,and still connect without problem.
Trix Express issued some nice models over the years,including a model of the Dutch 'Hondekop' multiple passenger unit,hondekop meaning 'dogs head'.
I also saw a nice Trix Express trainset with a BR01 and 3 passenger coaches.

Best regards,
Paul.