Hornby Live Steam?

166Driver · Post by **166Driver** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 1:50 pm

Hi.

First time me posting here. I used to be quite an active model railway collector, haven't kept up with all the latest stuff for over 6 years. My large collection is collecting dust.

I used to have an old loco that had a steam generator, it used some kind of oil that smelled suspiciously like baby oil. Just went on their site to see the latest products and noticed very expensive Live Steam products. Is there any more info on them, and how they work? Are they actually powered by steam, because I notice smoke oil and distilled water for sale. And why is the controller advertised at Â£200? I'm very fascinated by the whole thing.

spartacus · Post by **spartacus** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 3:05 pm

They really are steam powered, with the water stored in the tender, the only real difference between how they operate and the real thing is the heat source and a lack of brakes! Boiler, double action cylinders, safety valves, whistle. It's even superheated! The distilled water is to the whole thing doesn't get clogged up with limescale and other gunk you get in tap water: it'd be impossible to remove.

The controllers cost so much because they're a digital (not DCC) system to enable power and cut-off to be regulated separately. I think it's the first it's ever been done at this level RTR.

All the reports I've read suggest getting the rolling road as they can be little buggers to control to begin with. So far Hornby have only done A4s, but there are rumours of a Coronantion next year.

The reason for just these two is that the cylinders are over-long compared to the prototype (everything else is to scale) so the streamling hides this. With a little development, and if the models are successful, (which I believe they have been, especially in the US) models with the same Hornby chassis could appear, such as the A1/A3 from the A4, and Princess and Duchess from the Coronation.

There has even been speculation that due to the high cost of the mechanism, tooling costs will be comparatively lower, so if the cylinder length can't be easily reduced, other streamlined models may appear, such as the streamlined B17s which would use the current B17 4-6-0 chassis.

166Driver · Post by **166Driver** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 4:23 pm

Very interesting. I wonder what the thing sounds like. A video of it going round a layout will be interesting.

At some point I will build a very large detailed layout, and buy it. I'd love to see a digitally controlled DMU (yes 166) with a working exhaust generator. I'm sure its very possible considering what Hornby have done.

Its very expensive though. Does it need special trackwork to run on?

spartacus · Post by **spartacus** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 4:26 pm

No, it'll run on ordinary track I think. The only thing is that the controller will only work with live steam, so you'd need to have an ordinary controller for not live steam trains, and make sure the currents don't get mixed up. I doubt it would be very good for either system! Just disconnect whichever you're not using from the track would be the easiest.

166Driver · Post by **166Driver** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 5:18 pm

I really want one, but I'm not sure if I have the time, space, and money for it especially as my music project is taking over my life. I often thought of selling my entire collection, but I haven't.

Â£500 for the train set is a lot, and Â£200 for the controller, makes it quite a bit. I wonder if the prices will come down in the future.

BR7MT · Post by **BR7MT** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 6:58 pm

I think it would a fair certainty that the next model will be the A1/A3. Remember that Hornby have produced a new model of the A4 as they modified the tooling on the original one to allow the chimney to be removed.

The A1/A3 is on the list of models to be done from scratch again early next year. This is why I think the next live steam model will be this, plus the chassis is the same as the A4.

regards

Dan

robin · Post by **robin** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 12:03 am

BR7MT wrote:I think it would a fair certainty that the next model will be the A1/A3. Remember that Hornby have produced a new model of the A4 as they modified the tooling on the original one to allow the chimney to be removed.

The A1/A3 is on the list of models to be done from scratch again early next year. This is why I think the next live steam model will be this, plus the chassis is the same as the A4.

regards

Dan

A bit of speculation is always a bit of fun! I think though the next live steam will probably be A streamlined LMS Duchess. I have heard some rumours to this effect. It does make some sense since the Streamlined "cover" does give the technicians a reasonable amount of room to fit all the bits in rather like the A4.

BR7MT · Post by **BR7MT** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 7:12 pm

Confirmed - there is a new Live Steam model due out next year. We will have to wait for the 1st January 2005 for news of what it will be though.

regards

Dan

rwaceyw · Post by **rwaceyw** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 8:13 pm

I don't think it will be the A3. The LNER pacific market has already been tapped, and I agree with Robin with the streamlined casing

.

David

sundog · Post by **sundog** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:49 pm

Hi 166driver

It might be worth having a look on Ebay for these items. I've bought the Mallard complete set, and the Silver Link at a later date, and saved a considerable amount of money in each case. Just a thought

I also bought the Rolling Road which helps a lot in learning to control the loco - although you can't beat experience of running on a circuit IMHO! It also helps if you have a rake of coaches attached as it slows things down a bit and gives something a bit cooler to handle in an emergency!!

Cheers
Ken

166Driver · Post by **166Driver** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 2:25 am

sundog wrote:Hi 166driver

It might be worth having a look on Ebay for these items. I've bought the Mallard complete set, and the Silver Link at a later date, and saved a considerable amount of money in each case. Just a thought

I also bought the Rolling Road which helps a lot in learning to control the loco - although you can't beat experience of running on a circuit IMHO! It also helps if you have a rake of coaches attached as it slows things down a bit and gives something a bit cooler to handle in an emergency!!

Cheers
Ken

I didn't think of that one!

What is this "rolling road" you guys are mentioning?

sundog · Post by **sundog** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:32 pm

It's a set of rollers, with a short length of track. The track portion goes under the tender, and the rollers go under the driving wheels of the loco. The whole lot is mounted on a base with the power being connected to the track section. This means the loco just "runs on the spot", so you can test it, and practice with the controls on your desktop/worktop etc. away from your layout. Extra rollers can be bought for 8-coupled locos like an 8F. There is also a 3rd party version available that can be used for tender-less locos - check the hobby mag ads.

Hornby's is about Â£27-Â£30 if you shop around.

http://www.hornbyrailways.com/pages/pro ... px?id=6260

There are other rolling roads by other manufacturers. I don't how suitable they'd be for live steam - I should imagine they'd probably work just fine.

Cheers
Ken

166Driver · Post by **166Driver** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 8:16 pm

Ahh cheers.

I understand fully now.

I can imagine myself having great fun with that. I'm going to get a set next year!

BR7MT · Post by **BR7MT** » Sat Jan 01, 2005 2:55 pm

*cough* Told you so!

http://www.hornbyrailways.com/pages/new ... 485_2.aspx

regards

Dan

sundog · Post by **sundog** » Sat Jan 01, 2005 3:37 pm

what fantastic news! I was expecting something else in a streamlined casing - like a Coronation. It will be interesting to see how it looks with the massively over scale cylinders that can't be hidden with a valance. But anyhow I reckon I'll be putting my name down for one. Great stuff Hornby!!

Thanks for the headsup Dan!

Cheers
Ken