I was wondering whether any of you have got experience with the Hornby Live Steam range (for those who haven’t yet heard, these are – relatively – affordable British prototype live steam locos in OO scale, i.e. 1:76 scale on the same gauge as H0).
In particular, I was wondering how susceptible smoke alarms are to these locos – since they are OO scale, they will also be run in small rooms, and smoke alarms (as well as small rooms [:D]) are so commonplace here in the UK… I guess the same problem should arise with “fake” smoke generators/units, shouldn’t it?
Furthermore, are there any good videos on the web of these locos in action (apart from Hornby’s own promotion video)?
Hi David.
Gee, I’d expect to be asking you those questions.
I’ve still not seen one of them run – we put up a number of electrical challenges before they allowed them to be imported.
Since the output is pure steam, I would expect it to affect a smoke alarm like boiling a kettle of water for tea.
I too would be interested in any real-world feedback. I was unimpressed by the video Hornby has. The locos look lovely, but the operation (and I’m assuming they used the best-possible video they could) still looks too herky-jerky and toylike for my taste.
i have seen it run on hornby’s stand. when it is run light engine. i agree it is jerky and toy like. but put a rake of 8 coahces behind it and wow!!
i have seen many myths about these on the internet. and i thing almost all of these are nonsence. (sotries like the bodys warping etc…) hornbys after sales service on these is exceptional.
the only catch is the current required to run them. this is higher than even DCC and requires planning. if you want to run it with your other stock i would suggest you have one loop that is wired with thicker cable and dont run the live steam on the rest of the layout.
as you probaby know the control system is incompatable with DC and DCC (i have heard several rumors that a DCC chip is in the pipeline)
i think it is best to think of the live steam range as being something completly different from scale model trains. it is a form of entertainment in itsself.
i have also seen the new scotsman (although not running) but it uses the same mechanism so i expect it so perform the same as the A4.
I expect hornby to produce a US outline loco in live steam in the next 2 years (perhaps even next year!) under the rivarossi badge.
dont worry about the scale difference. they do not look out of place next to american outline HO. if someone did not tell you they werr 1:76 you would never know. i run HO and OO side by side all the time.
If the scale differnece still concerns you i will hapily take some pictures of HO/OO next to each other for you to judge for yourself.
I too hope to see the fabled DCC conversion - I suspect Hornby would sell many more of them if one were offered, the locos alone are about the same sort of money as BLI’s larger steamers so are pretty good value for live steam. I’m wondering if the lumpy running is due to a lack of breaking-in? I know they need a little more effort than a conventional electric loco to get them settled, and Hornby offer a rolling road for this purpose.
Hi all
In all probability the lumpy running is due to the fact a steam locomotive
has to be run in it will smooth out in time.
I own two one by Roundhouse (the one in Doncaster not the US model maker) and one by Argyle an Aus builder.
Sorry fellows but I am interested in 45mm gauge man sized Live steam that you have to drive more like the full sized ones [swg]
If I was to think about Hornby having thought about it I would then go and talk to one of the large scale manufacturers you can get one for the same price Hornby are charging.
Full credit to Hornby for doing it but its just not my cup of tea.
I don’t see the point in a steam locomotive you drive like a standard model train.
You will find it is a whole new ball game to the electrics you are used to remember rule one steam engines are hot you will only forget it once I can assure you.
I know it sounds dumb but do not forget to put water in the boiler before heating it up
If you do the next stop is the bin and buy a new one unless the boiler has a lead plug
that melts and some how cuts the heat source just like the real ones or some similar device to do the same.
And you MUST USE REAL distilled water NOT deionised water in the boiler the deionised water will eventually cripple the boiler
de-mineralised water is out as well the stuff the clean the system out with sometimes gets in the water and that also has a detrimental effect on the boiler.
regards John
I think there’s a sensor somewhere in the loco to prevent boiling dry - if the boiler temp gets above a given level it cuts off the power and will only run again after cooling down.
Hi all
Once the loco has run a few times light engine would sugest a converter truck
and one only all tinplate Hornby Dublo coach ( if you can get your hands on one that is ) for a few runs then slowly increase train length.
regards John
i think the DCC conversion was stalled buy the cuttent it took to boil the water. i think whoever maked the decoder (eventually!) will have to downgrade the boiler. i dont mind it takeing a little longer to boil in exchange for DCC.
i also would not mind spending the £250-300 for a loco if it was live steam. but i do mind spending £500 on control equipment just to run a single loco.
as soneone said ebove. all credit to hornby for doing it but in its current form it is not my cup of tea.
The problem with this engine is that it is not compatible with anything that is used today and is limited to a loop of track by itself or a special layout.
Thanks to everybody for their advice! You’re right about the non-compatibility with normal analogue mode as well as DCC mode which is the biggest problem also for me. But since it seems to be quite natural to control the steam engine via decoder functions, maybe it’s just a matter of time until we see a DCC live steam loco [;)]
I seen some live steam at some shows the past couple of years, don’t ask me what gauge it was, it was larger than O and the guys that was running them said that he had made all of them by hand. They were fun to watch, but stalled allot, psit allot of water, and smoked real bad! But they were fun to watch when he got one running. I have never seen the Hornby operate yet but would like to see one in action, sounds like some of our members have first hand experience at knowing something about the Hornby! Do they really spit water, steam and smoke as bad as these hand made ones I seen, not making fun of the Hornby steamer, just like to know some more info on them.
Hi ICRR 1964
Smoke???
Most of the model Live steam locomotives in the normal model sizes I have seen are gas or methylated spirit fired so no smoke.
Have heard of coal fired ones which will smoke quite a bit and have a very distinctive smell only some one with a death wish would run one of those in doors
Because if the domestic authorities don’t kill you the smoke fumes will.
They will put out a lot of steam as once it has passed through the cylinders it goes up the smoke stack.
They usually only spit water and carry on at the start of a run while they are clearing and warming the cylinders.
The Hornby locomotive is electric heating so again there should not be any smoke.
But I would expect the same carry on at the start of a run as the cylinder warms and clears and there will be steam clouds it will look more impressive on a cool day
regards John
PS Its the ride on sizes that are more likely to be coal or wood fired
Hi Peter
I know[:D][:D]
I have larger scale ones out in the garden unfortunately in summer the steam is not that obvious.
But the gentle chuff and smell of warm steam oil is nice and atmospheric.
I need to get some rolling stock to go with them so I can have the clatter of wheels over the rail joints as well.
Must write to a relative and see if some pictures and a drawing of FR bug boxes can be got for me
regards John