@@SamsTrains 10:46 - LBSCR E2: I’m so thirsty. I don’t think i can get to the harbor without more water. 10:56 - “Aah! Just what i need, J50, a good long drink.” 11:02 - “I think I feel good as new now, J50. I think I can race Camelot around the railway. 11:08 - Camelot: “Goodbye, J50 and E2. Take care!” 11:12 - LBSCR E2: “Well, perhaps nothing! Come on J50.”
@kenjimaurerfromdisneyland2001 I have been trying to decipher this fascinating and cryptic epigram, but while I have no doubt the tale is rather riveting, it is also rather above my head. Could you please explain further?
If I had a nickel for every time a company made an E2 with an SECR livery, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot but it's strange that it happened twice.
I actually really like how the E2s look - I really wish someone like Rapido would make a modern super-detailed model of them in their real-life liveries, but that's probaby a pipe dream...
I guess the E2 being green is similar to SECR Bluebell being done in Thomas' ERTL shell. The green livery isn't E2 accurate, but Thomas was painted teal green like his J50 wooden toy counterpart, but i guess that leads to the decision of more green locos.
I like the green livery on the E2 locomotive! Reminds me of Thomas in his LBSC Green Livery in the Adventure Begins! If only this locomotive was cheaper in terms of price.
Which uh is a livery that only exists on that special as far as I know that green and white livery he had was never used by e2’s lbscr brown was more common for e2s
I’m sure a lot of us Thomas fans will be picking this up to make customs. Especially if you’re like me and never manage to get a Hornby Thomas. (Personally I’m good with the Bachmann, but I might one day pick up one of these for modification reasons.)
I am glad that the Hornby E2 is getting some love from the company again. Years ago they did a Short Tank E2 Version and I hope that gets attention one day as well. As much as I am sure people are hoping for an LBSCR Umber livery for this model I am hoping for a BR Early or Late livery so I can add it to my roster of Dock Shunters as it ended up during BR Service. The E1 is coming up soon from Rapido and I might finally get my hands on a Bachmann USA Tank soon. Regardless, I will probably pick one up as a backup engine for my SECR Kent Route. Such an inexpensive loco would be a total waste if I overlooked it.
Thanks Sam, most appreciated for reviewing the 'loco that never was! After looking at this review,' I am asking myself do I buy a cheap second hand shell, add my own mega-detail, purchase the most reliable 5 pole motor and build my own brass or aluminium chassis? Plus can I can I do it for what Hornby charge? A very interesting dilemma?
Sam I would advise you to remove the hook from the D shape (I know it's more likely to uncouple) because it allows the hook on the newer coupling to pivot without catching the D shapes hook.
I quite like this model myself. May need to pick one up eventually as I’m into customising my engines. After inspiration from my Sister’s 3 daughters, I started customising into the Thomas characters, yet my E2 is the old shape so would prefer this model for the extended side tanks. Loved the video either way and hopefully the model may drop in price after the Christmas period during any sales!
It’s a nice little model. Cool livery! Btw Sam just wanted to let you know you got my vote in the Hornby Magazine Awards. Love these videos. Keep up the great work!!!
i don't know if this was an intentional homage by hornby or a coincidence, but this reminds me a lot of ERTL's bluebell that they did for their thomas diecast range, that was also a repaint of thomas in an SECR livery with no face, and it even has a similar number too! it's only 3 off from having the same number
Highly unlikely that the LBSR would have provided their competitors the SECR one of their locomotives even though they became the same company in 1923. The original safety valves on the E2 used Ramsbottom safety valves. You can replace the large D coupling with fixed smaller tension-lock couplings.
Go on then...Its the Fowler 3F Jinty in LMS and S&DJR liveries. Fun fact, the LMS designed the S&D Jinties and even though they were built by an outside contractor all became LMS locomotives, all of them survived well into BR days with number 23 lasting to preservation. You can even argue that the 7 Jinties built for the S&D were pre-Grouping engines even though they were built to an LMS design and after the 1923 grouping, because the S&D kept on going until 1930.
Love your videos Sam !! You got me into model railways and I look forward to every new video that comes up on your channel.... Take care and Keep up the good work....
If it was £30.00 I would have considered buying one and updating/modifying it to look like a proper E2. But for what Hornby want for it, it is a definite no-go.
Great Review Sam!! I am tempted on this locomotive but I do agree with you it is too expensive! I agree with what your saying on putting people off the hobby. I don’t know why Hornby don’t keep there railroad range priced low as it’s getting people into the hobby that then they will go onto buying there super detail sound fitted models etc!!
I Love This Little Guy! It Looks Really Sharp With That Amazing Green Color! Looking Into Model Trains, Im Wanting To Figure Out How To Make A Model Train Motor For Ho Scale And G Scale! I Would Absolutely Love To Make A Custom E2 Class Tank Engine Once I Start Learning How To 3D Print Locomotives!
The weird thing is, this technically isn't even the first time a company has sold an E2 in SE&CR green; back when ERTL was making Thomas toys, they had a Bluebell model, which was really just Thomas in SE&CR green and with a smokebox door. What's more is that the prototype actually looks like Bluebell! Although, to be fair, it probably wouldn't be justifiable to have separate tooling for a model that, let's face it, wasn't going to be as popular as the other things in their range. If you can find one for sale, I reckon you should get it and compare it to the Hornby model side-by-side.
Hmm I wonder if Hornby was somewhat inspired by the Ertl Thomas & Friends range as well as Bluebell (an engine from the Bluebell railway) when doing this Livery for their Thomas derived E2? While the real Bluebell and it's Railway Series depiction are a P-class. It's Ertl Depiction was coincidently simply a repaint of Thomas. This engine is not quite Bluebell but seems to be inspired by it. Bluebell carries number 323. Pretty nice livery but it would certainly be much nicer if Hornby could bring back their earlier E2 tooling. The extra details on your LBSC E2 clearly make a difference as well as seeming more realistic. People wouldn't mind £70 for that especially if they threw in a DCC chip to sweeten the deal and bothered to update the couplings. As for the two engines I think you wanted us to look out for. I see two 3F's. One in LMS Crimson Lake and another in SDJR Livery.
I was just enjoying the model when I thought about the number (yes, the number) which made me think about something. Then it all clicked together: dark green SE&CR livery, the gold dome, literally a REPAINT of Thomas... In the ertl Thomas line, ertl made a tank engine that used Thomas' mold and called them "Bluebell" from the Railway Series. Bluebell has the SE&CR livery and their first two numbers start with 3-2. I'm not going to go any deeper but this could also just be a coincidence as this E2 doesn't have the other details Bluebell had; red side rods, red and yellow lining, Bluebell being a completely different class of engine, the number being 326 instead of 323, etc. Sorry if this is redundant but my gosh this threw me for a loop.
I think the wonky smokebox door is due to an issue with the door's moulding. Hornby's 0-4-0 E2, such as the 2022 Collector model, have the same issue. My 2022 Collector loco has the exact same smokebox door and it is also wonky, in the exact same position too
I was so excited when I saw this new video, especially what it is. When it turned out to be so poor in performance and that price, well I just bought some amazing new rolling stock including the 00 gauge Dapol turbot bogie ballast wagon you reviewed last year. I can’t wait to get it delivered
Hi Sam , good video. No SECR heritage. I think you will find that some had the tanks extended as per Thomas, hence it was ideal for use as such. SR or BR would be valid and maybe worthwhile for later BR(SR) modellers?
I don’t know if anyone else has commented on this, but the cab roof isn’t level, it slants back, especially noticeable when you’re doing the performance test.
Hey Sam, I just bought one of these engines my self for only 65 dollars (70 with tax and shipping) so that translates to about…51.97 pounds. I’m gonna do a review on this soon so stay tuned and check it out if you’d like Sam, so you later. 😉✌️
ERTL did the exact same thing with their Thomas range years ago when they did Bluebell that was meant to be a P Class but they used a body Thomas instead. History repeats itself lol!!
I think Hornby made the right move with the old Percy tooling, giving it a fictional industrial livery. Not every model railway is based on a real line, so it makes sense there would be some fictional industries on our made-up lines. Giving an old E2 a real livery it never wore, less so... but hey, you can make up whatever story you like to explain how this loco ended up with the paint scheme. Get the ol' gray cells going.
As per why they don't lable it as an E2, it could be alot of people don't like the E2, it gets alot of hate, they say it was a terrible engine that shouldn't exist, bringing up the wobble at high speeds BUT IT WAS A SHUNTER! IT ALMOST NEVER REACHED OVER 40 WHEN THE WOBBLE STARTED AT 50
Yippee Sams trains!!!!! Love it when a video drops. Thanks again. I have a hornby thomas from 1985 my first trainset, never ran well, still doesn't after my changes. Just doesn't like corners.
For the old vs new coupler make an adaptor wagon - get an NEM wagon and put Hornby R8268 NEM Large Width Coupling at one end and Hornby R8219 Gauge NEM Narrow Coupling at the other. You could try Hornby R8267 Hornby NEM Medium Width Coupling at both ends maybe? Thanks for the video.
This is just like the Ertl Thomas model of Bluebell. A faceless model of Thomas painted in the livery of an SECR P class. Ertl's model was still called a Thomas and Friends model because SECR 323"Bluebell" did appear in the Railway Series book "Stepney The Bluebell Engine".
Hi Sam. Surly you can solve the problem with the old coupling but 3d printing a modern one with a hole for a screw that will aloue it to move side to side while going around your layout.
They don’t need to do that - Hornby already have a LMS / MR 2P and 4F class locomotive in their tooling which would be far better as candidates than 'James' (Though it should be noted the 2P /4F are a case of 1980s (or earlier) Dapol designed body mated to a new(ish) loco drive chassis).
That vacuum pipe and crew kit used to be generic supply with all Hornby locos in the 90s/00s. I'm surprised they don't supply a similar set with locos today.
In doing some research it was a problem with the Boiler design that made it so coal hungry there was a more successful design of locomotive with the same bunker capacity and yet it was not deemed insufficient
I mean I recently picked up the Hornby Northen Belle train pack for a price that I won't mention. Imagine when I removed the Class 57 from the box and it was just a Lima 47 with a High intensity head light removed to make it vaguely (and I'm streching the word vaguley) resemble a Class 57
"We're stopping," called Thomas. "No, no!" answered the trucks bumping into each other. "Go on!" Before the Driver could stop them, they had pushed Thomas down the hill and were rattling and laughing behind him. Poor Thomas tried hard to stop the trucks making him go too fast. "Stop pushing!" he hissed. But the trucks took no notice. "Go on!" they giggled in their silly way. "There's the station. Oh dear, what shall I do?" Thomas cried. They rattled straight through and swerved into the Goods Yard. Thomas shut his eyes. "I must stop!" When he opened his eyes, he saw he had stopped just in front of the buffers. Thomas & the Trucks Season 1 episode.
Raht then, when ah were a lad - well actually I'm from Hertfordshire, but as an introduction it sounds like I mean business - I had a Triang Jinty which was the nearest equivalent to this thing that they made back in 1962. That Jinty cost around 25/- (£1.25 to all you kids out there). Now prices generally since then have gone up around twenty-fold, which would make this loco twenty five quid at today's prices. But bearing in mind that Hornby will have had virtually zero development expense since they already had the tooling, and that they also decided to shift production to China to cut costs, I think that "Rip-off" is the only appropriate description for the situation. I used to love Triang, then Triang-Hornby, and then Hornby, but instead I've now started a new relationship with a 1958 Austin Healey which may be more expensive, but at least it will pull a lot more than eighteen Hornby coaches. You are so right about these prices putting off new entrants to the hobby; do Hornby not have the mental capacity to understand that the majority of families with small children have mortgages or rent to pay, along with worries about fuel prices, etc. It's alright for old gits like me who've made it through the toughest part of their financial journey, but there must be a case for selling some of the basic stuff at almost loss leader prices in order to ensnare their future customers. And by basic, I don't mean stuff that is insultingly babyish, but locos like "Thomas in drag" who we see here. And a few decent starter train sets wouldn't go amiss either. My grandson is only nine, but even his first Hornby train set cost just £45 including the controller. How things have changed in just a few short years.
You have summarised the situation nicely here. I am celebrating 25 years of 'adult modelling' this year after being into model railways as a kid in the late 70s/early 80s. Given the exorbitant prices and dubious quality of much of the product on offer now (Hornby being the worst) I am thinking of calling it a day as far as buying new OO gauge is concerned. I will carry on modelling but spend my model railway money on other interests, namely handbuilt model cars, wristwatches and old audio equipment. In other words, what should have been my OO gauge silver jubilee may turn out to be an epilogue.
hmm, to be bought or not to be bought, that is the question, yeah nah I'll wait until a proper E2 comes to the market, would it be too hard for company to make one. I had original Hornby Thomas and E2 but they were exchanged for a Top Link 9F at a swap meet
I think we can just pass this off as a Hornby Bluebell. The ERTL Bluebell was made the same way with using the ERTL Thomas and painted it into SECR green. Even though Bluebell was a P Class.
I see you found the old E@'s smokebox door. and I also want to point out that the new "E2" has a sort of tapered boiler and the cab sticks up a little, I wonder why that is?
Looks to me like the top of the boiler hasn't been fitted properly and that's why. Combined with the wonky smokebox door, lining and bufferbeam the quality is absolutely dreadful. I could get stuff from poundland that's put together better than this!
I wouldve liked an original lbsc model with the extended side tanks with a bit more weight and a better mechanism. Unfortunate this tank engine fell short of expectations but I would buy this either way.
This seems kinda odd that Hornby did this E2 in SECR green using the Thomas tooling, and that in the 90's when ertl were making toys for the Thomas range they also used a Thomas model in SECR green to represent bluebell from the railway series which promoted the bluebell and talyllyn railways so I wonder if Hornby has used that idea also with exact number and it not having lining on the splashers that also isn't on the ertl model 🤔
I think it was a missed opportunity from Hornby to be honest Hornby made the E2 only in the first variant with the unextended water tanks, they could've used this opportunity to create the second variant with the extended water tanks using the Thomas-modified E2 tooling
The E2s ended up at Southampton docks but their wheelbase barred them from certain areas of the port. The USA tanks ended up being a better dock shunter.
My favorite loco is the 0-6-0 Terrier #323 Bluebell. The terriers are my favorite locos but this one in particular I like best because of its livery and history! Hornsby should recreate it in that livery!
As much as I like the E2 engines and I have a lot I am glad now I didn’t preorder one . Your review is good as usual . It ‘s not that it costs 66.00 pounds .But it looks to much in my opinion as a cheap toy not a hobbyist engine. Keep them videos coming.
Thanks very much Louis - yes it's definitely not for the serious modeller... would be perfectly fine if it were cheaper in my opinion! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I still have my Hornby Thomas from eons ago and it still runs pretty good. I was always happy it could pull Gordon's express vs Bachmann thomas. 7 express coaches is pretty good for such a small and cheap tank engine I think. Great review as always. I guess 69 pounds inst "Nice" in this case lol.
@@SamsTrains I do no think they do but it's been awhile since I've run him. They wouldnt be much good now given the model is older than I am. For their size they are mighty pullers and are good for shunting and pulling.
Recently got a Hornby 0-4-0T Coca-Cola R3955 - so cheap and nasty that the large D loop couplers are moulded onto the base plate :-( But it had the same two crew figures and air hose accessory pack.
I hadn't realised how bad the tooling actually is. The cab leans backwards, and the boiler seems wonky (at least compared to the tanks). All the lining on the tanks and bunker is wonky too. I do hope we get a proper tooled E2 at some point. But charging almost £70 for this is way over the top, and I could get 4 2nd hand hornby Thomases for that price...
Really great video Sam, found your theory about hornby’s decision to not classify it as an E2 very plausible. Hopefully we’ll be getting it in some other liveries in the near future, because even though it is thomasified into fiction I still really love how it looks :) ( though the old e2 funnel probably would look abit better in my opinion) do have a bit of a question though. At certain parts of the video it looks to me like the boiler slopes up at abit of a strange angle towards the cab and the cab itself looks like it isn’t in straight? Which neither are definitely features of the old Thomas mold! It might just be me but I just wanted to check with you if this is true on the model!
Great Review as always Sam. I Didn't realize how extensively Hornby modified the E2 tooling to make Thomas until seeing you compare the two. Such a shame how expensive it is because it could be a good cheap entry level mode. Also is it just me or is the body a bit off, the back seems to sit lower than the front? Also the engine you have two of on the layout aside from the obvious one is the LMS Jinty.
Yes it's very surprising isn't it? Quite a lot of effort went into it... especially considering the model still wasn't very accurate! Yeah true... pity about the price... perfectly acceptable otherwise :( Thanks for watching, Sam :)
In my opinion I think it looks like bluebell from mad bomber aka the Errol model cuz they re used there Errol Thomas tooling for it ( I have the Errol blue bell btw) and all they did to the tooling was give it a smoke box like they did here soooooo this is hornby version of mad bomber and I now need this also get the one with the number 232 cuz that is bluebells number and the paint is the same with it too you lnow green with sc & cr on it ……. Once you see it you can’t in see it 😜
I think it would of been nice if Hornby remade their E2 tooling so that it could be more accurate to an actual E2, I know they most likely won’t do that though as the E2 is an obscure locomotive. This model looks nice but I agree that it is too expensive.
I do not know about naming being clever, i would personally say that they cheeped out on development before realizing that they can not pass this off as model replica. What matters is performance to price right? eh about the details (a chimney making it clearly different than the E2 it ought to be even if we dont realise) i dunno mate i personally can not tell panya from pacific.
Hi Sam, I love your reviews. Just for fun have you ever taken two of the same locomotives and have them have a "tug of War" to see which one is the strongest.
I thought the answer was the 2 E2s (Well technically 3) running but I think the duplicate is the SDJR 24 and the LMS 7414. I don't know the name of the class tho
Great video as always Sam, It really is a shame that the quality is continually dropping on Hornbys products. And, to add on to your point of some of the fittings not being straight; I've noticed that the boiler, cab and sidetank lining printing are all at an odd angle, The boiler is (to me atleast) the most noticeable as it tapers up towards the cab.
The original e2 was with the short side tanks and the Thomas variant was with the extended side tanks. So I don't know why they couldn't do a proper livery.
Jinty locomotive is the duplicate. Great review Sam!
Well spotted - that's right! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains 10:46 - LBSCR E2: I’m so thirsty. I don’t think i can get to the harbor without more water.
10:56 - “Aah! Just what i need, J50, a good long drink.”
11:02 - “I think I feel good as new now, J50. I think I can race Camelot around the railway.
11:08 - Camelot: “Goodbye, J50 and E2. Take care!”
11:12 - LBSCR E2: “Well, perhaps nothing! Come on J50.”
Will that look like me because I have green paint
@kenjimaurerfromdisneyland2001 I have been trying to decipher this fascinating and cryptic epigram, but while I have no doubt the tale is rather riveting, it is also rather above my head. Could you please explain further?
If I had a nickel for every time a company made an E2 with an SECR livery, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot but it's strange that it happened twice.
haha has it really happened twice?? Who else did this?!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
If I am not mistaken ERTL
@@SamsTrains ERTL, a diecast company, made a SECR P class, "Bluebell", using a Thomas.
What’s worse is her prototype was a P Class. Why did ERTL get lazy with her?!
@@joshuaW5621 Probably couldn't afford to make a new mold.
I actually really like how the E2s look - I really wish someone like Rapido would make a modern super-detailed model of them in their real-life liveries, but that's probaby a pipe dream...
The rapido E1 look so good I would happily force them to make an E2
I guess the E2 being green is similar to SECR Bluebell being done in Thomas' ERTL shell.
The green livery isn't E2 accurate, but Thomas was painted teal green like his J50 wooden toy counterpart, but i guess that leads to the decision of more green locos.
Ahhh interesting... wonder if that's why they did it?? I do love it anyway! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
In fact, Leokimvideo used that model of Bluebell as The Mad Bomber in his original Mad Bomber projects.
I like the green livery on the E2 locomotive! Reminds me of Thomas in his LBSC Green Livery in the Adventure Begins! If only this locomotive was cheaper in terms of price.
Which uh is a livery that only exists on that special as far as I know that green and white livery he had was never used by e2’s lbscr brown was more common for e2s
@@pugwash1 yeah but in the show he the lbsc mint green and white livery even tho it was less common
I’m sure a lot of us Thomas fans will be picking this up to make customs. Especially if you’re like me and never manage to get a Hornby Thomas. (Personally I’m good with the Bachmann, but I might one day pick up one of these for modification reasons.)
I am glad that the Hornby E2 is getting some love from the company again. Years ago they did a Short Tank E2 Version and I hope that gets attention one day as well.
As much as I am sure people are hoping for an LBSCR Umber livery for this model I am hoping for a BR Early or Late livery so I can add it to my roster of Dock Shunters as it ended up during BR Service. The E1 is coming up soon from Rapido and I might finally get my hands on a Bachmann USA Tank soon.
Regardless, I will probably pick one up as a backup engine for my SECR Kent Route. Such an inexpensive loco would be a total waste if I overlooked it.
Thanks Sam, most appreciated for reviewing the 'loco that never was! After looking at this review,' I am asking myself do I buy a cheap second hand shell, add my own mega-detail, purchase the most reliable 5 pole motor and build my own brass or aluminium chassis? Plus can I can I do it for what Hornby charge? A very interesting dilemma?
The 2nd hand old E2s go from £35 onwards (+shipping if u buy it online), so we can argue what's worth what.
Sam I would advise you to remove the hook from the D shape (I know it's more likely to uncouple) because it allows the hook on the newer coupling to pivot without catching the D shapes hook.
I quite like this model myself. May need to pick one up eventually as I’m into customising my engines. After inspiration from my Sister’s 3 daughters, I started customising into the Thomas characters, yet my E2 is the old shape so would prefer this model for the extended side tanks.
Loved the video either way and hopefully the model may drop in price after the Christmas period during any sales!
It’s a nice little model. Cool livery! Btw Sam just wanted to let you know you got my vote in the Hornby Magazine Awards. Love these videos. Keep up the great work!!!
i don't know if this was an intentional homage by hornby or a coincidence, but this reminds me a lot of ERTL's bluebell that they did for their thomas diecast range, that was also a repaint of thomas in an SECR livery with no face, and it even has a similar number too! it's only 3 off from having the same number
I always wanted a hornby Bluebell, so this is perfect.
Pretty sure this is a different number
When you said that the smoke box door wasn’t straight. The buffer beam looks warped too. It looked curved
SECR No.326 was a H class built in 1906, and withdrawn in 1961
haha yeah that must be the one I found... so not quite this!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
The duplicate model was the Jinty, an LMS one near the J83, and another Jinty on the turntable
Highly unlikely that the LBSR would have provided their competitors the SECR one of their locomotives even though they became the same company in 1923. The original safety valves on the E2 used Ramsbottom safety valves. You can replace the large D coupling with fixed smaller tension-lock couplings.
The E2 is my favourite locomotive... Of course because of thomas i wouldn't have known that the E2 was his class. Cheers mate and have a good one!
Ahh fantastic - yeah Thomas made these very famous!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Go on then...Its the Fowler 3F Jinty in LMS and S&DJR liveries. Fun fact, the LMS designed the S&D Jinties and even though they were built by an outside contractor all became LMS locomotives, all of them survived well into BR days with number 23 lasting to preservation. You can even argue that the 7 Jinties built for the S&D were pre-Grouping engines even though they were built to an LMS design and after the 1923 grouping, because the S&D kept on going until 1930.
Love your videos Sam !! You got me into model railways and I look forward to every new video that comes up on your channel.... Take care and Keep up the good work....
That's really lovely to hear - thanks for the kind words!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I love this. It looks elegant in SECR green
I think it does too! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains np
If it was £30.00 I would have considered buying one and updating/modifying it to look like a proper E2. But for what Hornby want for it, it is a definite no-go.
Yep, £30-£40 and this'd be just the job!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
This Hornby E2 looks decent but its price sucks Sam. I rather buy something more appropriate than the E2 from the Railroad range.
Great Review Sam!! I am tempted on this locomotive but I do agree with you it is too expensive! I agree with what your saying on putting people off the hobby. I don’t know why Hornby don’t keep there railroad range priced low as it’s getting people into the hobby that then they will go onto buying there super detail sound fitted models etc!!
I Love This Little Guy!
It Looks Really Sharp With That Amazing Green Color!
Looking Into Model Trains, Im Wanting To Figure Out How To Make A Model Train Motor For Ho Scale And G Scale!
I Would Absolutely Love To Make A Custom E2 Class Tank Engine Once I Start Learning How To 3D Print Locomotives!
The weird thing is, this technically isn't even the first time a company has sold an E2 in SE&CR green; back when ERTL was making Thomas toys, they had a Bluebell model, which was really just Thomas in SE&CR green and with a smokebox door.
What's more is that the prototype actually looks like Bluebell! Although, to be fair, it probably wouldn't be justifiable to have separate tooling for a model that, let's face it, wasn't going to be as popular as the other things in their range.
If you can find one for sale, I reckon you should get it and compare it to the Hornby model side-by-side.
Yeah I heard about that too... very strange! Love it though, cool to see! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains you know the tugs series?
Hmm I wonder if Hornby was somewhat inspired by the Ertl Thomas & Friends range as well as Bluebell (an engine from the Bluebell railway) when doing this Livery for their Thomas derived E2? While the real Bluebell and it's Railway Series depiction are a P-class. It's Ertl Depiction was coincidently simply a repaint of Thomas. This engine is not quite Bluebell but seems to be inspired by it. Bluebell carries number 323. Pretty nice livery but it would certainly be much nicer if Hornby could bring back their earlier E2 tooling. The extra details on your LBSC E2 clearly make a difference as well as seeming more realistic. People wouldn't mind £70 for that especially if they threw in a DCC chip to sweeten the deal and bothered to update the couplings. As for the two engines I think you wanted us to look out for. I see two 3F's. One in LMS Crimson Lake and another in SDJR Livery.
Until I liked this video, the number of likes was 323. Coincidence?
When you ran the tank engine with the line of trucks, especially up the hill, it looks to me like you were recreating Thomas and the Trucks story👍🤟❤💙💛
I was just enjoying the model when I thought about the number (yes, the number) which made me think about something. Then it all clicked together: dark green SE&CR livery, the gold dome, literally a REPAINT of Thomas...
In the ertl Thomas line, ertl made a tank engine that used Thomas' mold and called them "Bluebell" from the Railway Series. Bluebell has the SE&CR livery and their first two numbers start with 3-2.
I'm not going to go any deeper but this could also just be a coincidence as this E2 doesn't have the other details Bluebell had; red side rods, red and yellow lining, Bluebell being a completely different class of engine, the number being 326 instead of 323, etc.
Sorry if this is redundant but my gosh this threw me for a loop.
I think the wonky smokebox door is due to an issue with the door's moulding. Hornby's 0-4-0 E2, such as the 2022 Collector model, have the same issue. My 2022 Collector loco has the exact same smokebox door and it is also wonky, in the exact same position too
I was so excited when I saw this new video, especially what it is. When it turned out to be so poor in performance and that price, well I just bought some amazing new rolling stock including the 00 gauge Dapol turbot bogie ballast wagon you reviewed last year. I can’t wait to get it delivered
Hope the turbot arrived. They're good models, have a couple myself and can't recommend them highly enough!
Hi Sam , good video. No SECR heritage. I think you will find that some had the tanks extended as per Thomas, hence it was ideal for use as such. SR or BR would be valid and maybe worthwhile for later BR(SR) modellers?
Great video Sam, just seen Deltic D9000 (55022) Royal Scots Grey at Wakefield Kirkgate and it sounded great and gave a good few tone.
I don’t know if anyone else has commented on this, but the cab roof isn’t level, it slants back, especially noticeable when you’re doing the performance test.
Hey Sam, I just bought one of these engines my self for only 65 dollars (70 with tax and shipping) so that translates to about…51.97 pounds. I’m gonna do a review on this soon so stay tuned and check it out if you’d like Sam, so you later. 😉✌️
If i ever manage to build myself a model railway, this is the first engine im running on it.
Im all trained up! Just saw the first deltic on the main line in ages near newcastle!
Ooh amazing... great spot!! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
So I did some research and it turns out that SECR No. 326 was an H Class 0-4-4T - that specific one was built in 1906 and withdrawn in 1961
ERTL did the exact same thing with their Thomas range years ago when they did Bluebell that was meant to be a P Class but they used a body Thomas instead. History repeats itself lol!!
I think Hornby made the right move with the old Percy tooling, giving it a fictional industrial livery.
Not every model railway is based on a real line, so it makes sense there would be some fictional industries on our made-up lines.
Giving an old E2 a real livery it never wore, less so... but hey, you can make up whatever story you like to explain how this loco ended up with the paint scheme. Get the ol' gray cells going.
I got a good chuckle at "sort of functional"!
That looks like The adventure begins Thomas!
As per why they don't lable it as an E2, it could be alot of people don't like the E2, it gets alot of hate, they say it was a terrible engine that shouldn't exist, bringing up the wobble at high speeds BUT IT WAS A SHUNTER! IT ALMOST NEVER REACHED OVER 40 WHEN THE WOBBLE STARTED AT 50
Yippee Sams trains!!!!! Love it when a video drops. Thanks again. I have a hornby thomas from 1985 my first trainset, never ran well, still doesn't after my changes. Just doesn't like corners.
i was going to get this and use a 3d printed shell from shapeways and make my own thomas once
Oooh fascinating - wonder how that'd look?!?
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
For the old vs new coupler make an adaptor wagon - get an NEM wagon and put Hornby R8268 NEM Large Width Coupling at one end and Hornby R8219 Gauge NEM Narrow Coupling at the other. You could try Hornby R8267 Hornby NEM Medium Width Coupling at both ends maybe?
Thanks for the video.
This is just like the Ertl Thomas model of Bluebell. A faceless model of Thomas painted in the livery of an SECR P class. Ertl's model was still called a Thomas and Friends model because SECR 323"Bluebell" did appear in the Railway Series book "Stepney The Bluebell Engine".
*I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT THEY RERELEASED IT!!!!!!!!*
I know!! Very cool :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Hi Sam. Surly you can solve the problem with the old coupling but 3d printing a modern one with a hole for a screw that will aloue it to move side to side while going around your layout.
Lovely video sam
I wonder what Hornby is going to do next after this. Maybe James in S&DJR Blue?
They don’t need to do that - Hornby already have a LMS / MR 2P and 4F class locomotive in their tooling which would be far better as candidates than 'James' (Though it should be noted the 2P /4F are a case of 1980s (or earlier) Dapol designed body mated to a new(ish) loco drive chassis).
That vacuum pipe and crew kit used to be generic supply with all Hornby locos in the 90s/00s. I'm surprised they don't supply a similar set with locos today.
In doing some research it was a problem with the Boiler design that made it so coal hungry there was a more successful design of locomotive with the same bunker capacity and yet it was not deemed insufficient
Ahh interesting - thanks for sharing Kirt!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I mean I recently picked up the Hornby Northen Belle train pack for a price that I won't mention. Imagine when I removed the Class 57 from the box and it was just a Lima 47 with a High intensity head light removed to make it vaguely (and I'm streching the word vaguley) resemble a Class 57
"We're stopping," called Thomas.
"No, no!" answered the trucks bumping into each other. "Go on!" Before the Driver could stop them, they had pushed Thomas down the hill and were rattling and laughing behind him. Poor Thomas tried hard to stop the trucks making him go too fast.
"Stop pushing!" he hissed. But the trucks took no notice.
"Go on!" they giggled in their silly way.
"There's the station. Oh dear, what shall I do?" Thomas cried. They rattled straight through and swerved into the Goods Yard. Thomas shut his eyes. "I must stop!" When he opened his eyes, he saw he had stopped just in front of the buffers.
Thomas & the Trucks Season 1 episode.
Raht then, when ah were a lad - well actually I'm from Hertfordshire, but as an introduction it sounds like I mean business - I had a Triang Jinty which was the nearest equivalent to this thing that they made back in 1962. That Jinty cost around 25/- (£1.25 to all you kids out there). Now prices generally since then have gone up around twenty-fold, which would make this loco twenty five quid at today's prices. But bearing in mind that Hornby will have had virtually zero development expense since they already had the tooling, and that they also decided to shift production to China to cut costs, I think that "Rip-off" is the only appropriate description for the situation. I used to love Triang, then Triang-Hornby, and then Hornby, but instead I've now started a new relationship with a 1958 Austin Healey which may be more expensive, but at least it will pull a lot more than eighteen Hornby coaches. You are so right about these prices putting off new entrants to the hobby; do Hornby not have the mental capacity to understand that the majority of families with small children have mortgages or rent to pay, along with worries about fuel prices, etc. It's alright for old gits like me who've made it through the toughest part of their financial journey, but there must be a case for selling some of the basic stuff at almost loss leader prices in order to ensnare their future customers. And by basic, I don't mean stuff that is insultingly babyish, but locos like "Thomas in drag" who we see here. And a few decent starter train sets wouldn't go amiss either. My grandson is only nine, but even his first Hornby train set cost just £45 including the controller. How things have changed in just a few short years.
You have summarised the situation nicely here. I am celebrating 25 years of 'adult modelling' this year after being into model railways as a kid in the late 70s/early 80s. Given the exorbitant prices and dubious quality of much of the product on offer now (Hornby being the worst) I am thinking of calling it a day as far as buying new OO gauge is concerned. I will carry on modelling but spend my model railway money on other interests, namely handbuilt model cars, wristwatches and old audio equipment. In other words, what should have been my OO gauge silver jubilee may turn out to be an epilogue.
hmm, to be bought or not to be bought, that is the question, yeah nah I'll wait until a proper E2 comes to the market, would it be too hard for company to make one.
I had original Hornby Thomas and E2 but they were exchanged for a Top Link 9F at a swap meet
I like the paintwork on the engine
I do too Sam! :D
I think we can just pass this off as a Hornby Bluebell. The ERTL Bluebell was made the same way with using the ERTL Thomas and painted it into SECR green. Even though Bluebell was a P Class.
I see you found the old E@'s smokebox door. and I also want to point out that the new "E2" has a sort of tapered boiler and the cab sticks up a little, I wonder why that is?
Ahhh that is interesting - I'm not sure either!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Looks to me like the top of the boiler hasn't been fitted properly and that's why. Combined with the wonky smokebox door, lining and bufferbeam the quality is absolutely dreadful. I could get stuff from poundland that's put together better than this!
One of Hornby's employees: "Let's make a nice affordable locomotive for the RailRoad range for once".
Hornby: *n o*
I wouldve liked an original lbsc model with the extended side tanks with a bit more weight and a better mechanism. Unfortunate this tank engine fell short of expectations but I would buy this either way.
It seems like a nice basic locomotive, definitely a break from the other basic 0-4-0s! Do you know if they come with a x04 motor?
This seems kinda odd that Hornby did this E2 in SECR green using the Thomas tooling, and that in the 90's when ertl were making toys for the Thomas range they also used a Thomas model in SECR green to represent bluebell from the railway series which promoted the bluebell and talyllyn railways so I wonder if Hornby has used that idea also with exact number and it not having lining on the splashers that also isn't on the ertl model 🤔
I think it was a missed opportunity from Hornby to be honest
Hornby made the E2 only in the first variant with the unextended water tanks, they could've used this opportunity to create the second variant with the extended water tanks using the Thomas-modified E2 tooling
The E2s ended up at Southampton docks but their wheelbase barred them from certain areas of the port. The USA tanks ended up being a better dock shunter.
I can say, this is a not-so better version of thomas
haha yep, pretty much! ;D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
There are two Hornby Class 3P 0-6-0T Jinty locos, One in LMS Maroon and the other in SDJR Blue.
Now we have an actual real life Thomas with the extended tanks.
In Germany cost new simple steam locos near and over 100 euros! Thats are play models.
My favorite loco is the 0-6-0 Terrier #323 Bluebell. The terriers are my favorite locos but this one in particular I like best because of its livery and history! Hornsby should recreate it in that livery!
If Hornby had lowered the price, they could have renumbered it and market them to the Bluebell Railway as a toy Bluebell.
E 2 Brutus ? You Called 'em out, Sam. "Play it again, Sam !"
As much as I like the E2 engines and I have a lot I am glad now I didn’t preorder one . Your review is good as usual . It ‘s not that it costs 66.00 pounds .But it looks to much in my opinion as a cheap toy not a hobbyist engine. Keep them videos coming.
Thanks very much Louis - yes it's definitely not for the serious modeller... would be perfectly fine if it were cheaper in my opinion!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
This is the hornby train which i want for xmas!🎉🎉🎉🎉
I would like to get one, but definitely not for £67. I would pay £35 max for this
The original in 1979 also had proper bearings, I think Hornby's first, so no excuse ever for any loco not to have them now.
Oh god! Thomas ERTL reference!1!
Considering how little work was needed to change this from Thomas to this thing, I wonder what took them so long to release this version?
I still have my Hornby Thomas from eons ago and it still runs pretty good. I was always happy it could pull Gordon's express vs Bachmann thomas. 7 express coaches is pretty good for such a small and cheap tank engine I think. Great review as always. I guess 69 pounds inst "Nice" in this case lol.
Ahh fantastic - yeah generally they are decent runners... does yours have a rubber tyre? Those that do are mighty!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains I do no think they do but it's been awhile since I've run him. They wouldnt be much good now given the model is older than I am. For their size they are mighty pullers and are good for shunting and pulling.
Recently got a Hornby 0-4-0T Coca-Cola R3955 - so cheap and nasty that the large D loop couplers are moulded onto the base plate :-(
But it had the same two crew figures and air hose accessory pack.
The greatest come back
So the adventure begins predicted Thomas' Green lively
I hadn't realised how bad the tooling actually is. The cab leans backwards, and the boiler seems wonky (at least compared to the tanks). All the lining on the tanks and bunker is wonky too.
I do hope we get a proper tooled E2 at some point. But charging almost £70 for this is way over the top, and I could get 4 2nd hand hornby Thomases for that price...
Really great video Sam, found your theory about hornby’s decision to not classify it as an E2 very plausible. Hopefully we’ll be getting it in some other liveries in the near future, because even though it is thomasified into fiction I still really love how it looks :) ( though the old e2 funnel probably would look abit better in my opinion) do have a bit of a question though. At certain parts of the video it looks to me like the boiler slopes up at abit of a strange angle towards the cab and the cab itself looks like it isn’t in straight? Which neither are definitely features of the old Thomas mold! It might just be me but I just wanted to check with you if this is true on the model!
The E2 in SECR Green reminds me of the ERTL Bluebell, who was a repaint of the ERTL Thomas.
Great Review as always Sam. I Didn't realize how extensively Hornby modified the E2 tooling to make Thomas until seeing you compare the two. Such a shame how expensive it is because it could be a good cheap entry level mode. Also is it just me or is the body a bit off, the back seems to sit lower than the front?
Also the engine you have two of on the layout aside from the obvious one is the LMS Jinty.
Yes it's very surprising isn't it? Quite a lot of effort went into it... especially considering the model still wasn't very accurate! Yeah true... pity about the price... perfectly acceptable otherwise :(
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
The cab roof definitely looks lower at the back.
I believe I have found the duplicate locos!
There’s a red Jinty at 23:48and a blue one at 27:54
In my opinion I think it looks like bluebell from mad bomber aka the Errol model cuz they re used there Errol Thomas tooling for it ( I have the Errol blue bell btw) and all they did to the tooling was give it a smoke box like they did here soooooo this is hornby version of mad bomber and I now need this also get the one with the number 232 cuz that is bluebells number and the paint is the same with it too you lnow green with sc & cr on it ……. Once you see it you can’t in see it 😜
Thomas biddle the blue pioneer will be pleased
I think it would of been nice if Hornby remade their E2 tooling so that it could be more accurate to an actual E2, I know they most likely won’t do that though as the E2 is an obscure locomotive. This model looks nice but I agree that it is too expensive.
I spotted two 3F fowler tank engines on the layout.
I pre ordered one and painted it like Thomas, it definitely isn't the best but I don't need it to be
I do not know about naming being clever, i would personally say that they cheeped out on development before realizing that they can not pass this off as model replica.
What matters is performance to price right?
eh about the details (a chimney making it clearly different than the E2 it ought to be even if we dont realise) i dunno mate i personally can not tell panya from pacific.
Hi Sam, I love your reviews.
Just for fun have you ever taken two of the same locomotives and have them have a "tug of War" to see which one is the strongest.
I thought the answer was the 2 E2s (Well technically 3) running but I think the duplicate is the SDJR 24 and the LMS 7414. I don't know the name of the class tho
Great video as always Sam, It really is a shame that the quality is continually dropping on Hornbys products. And, to add on to your point of some of the fittings not being straight; I've noticed that the boiler, cab and sidetank lining printing are all at an odd angle, The boiler is (to me atleast) the most noticeable as it tapers up towards the cab.
The original e2 was with the short side tanks and the Thomas variant was with the extended side tanks. So I don't know why they couldn't do a proper livery.
I do know of a E2 that carried the NWR livery