Hornby- the smaller classes.
 

Hornby have been saying for months that they are now focussing on the smaller classes of locomotive. What utter rubbish!
The tank locomotives that have been produced (and planned) are still fairly enourmous. Worse still the existing small locos have been slowly removed from manufacture. the pathetic little selection that remains is terrible. There was a new pug this year but not enough.

They are missing a market here. You can't run pacifics or 4-6-0s on little branch line layouts.
Can we get G5 or something like that?
Personally, a revamped terrier could do the trick.

Come on Hornby wake up!

I think you do have a point here- they have concentrated on pacifics, leaving the range top-heavy. I certainly notice this in my own collection, where I have bought a lot of the new releases over the last few years, and I have a massive surplus of express passenger power- 8 A3's, 7 A4's etc

Bachmann have apparently commented on this and have deliberately shifted there production to smaller examples.

If you just run with the Hornby brand you would literally just a train set - a throw back to the origins I suppose of the product with a Duchess tearing round the tight circle on the carpet at Christmas.

I have heard it said that the accountants at Hornby have done their sums well and know that the market still hankers after big high profile locos.

I buy from Hornby because they build to the best possible quality.
Big locos perhaps but that may only be a 60% majority for example.
If they carry on current practice then they could well lose out on proffesional clubs and serious modelers.
I mean, at the present time, I have had to redesign my layout (which has stood for 15 years) to cope with the pacifics that I have had no choice but to purchase if I wish to increase capacity.
After a bit you will run out of big locos to model anyway. Look at bachmann, they have brought out an A1 and A2. Not that interesting as asthetically they are not that different.
There is so much more that has not been explored. How can the accountants know if they do not give small locomotives a decent chance.
Many of us model large stations. You can't have Princess Elizabeth doing shunting can you?

It would appear they have SFE! Trying following this link:

http://www.hornby.com/news-events/su...10,71,HNS.html

Best wishes,

John H-T.

I like the GNR J13, but the hornby model of the J83 is a bit too primitive. I have one and the cabs don't even have a floor!

Pity you don't like Bachmann SFE. They have just announced a Midland 3F 0-6-0! Shame really!

Best wishes,

John H-T.

Have they? Oh...
Well... Call me a traitor cos i'm defecting! :D

Not quite on topic but the Bachman 411 EMU looks wonderful!

It's not being a traitor SFE, it's getting the model you want from whoever produces it. I certainly don't want to see anymore duplication. The Standard 4 seems to show that it is not benificial!

Best wishes,

John H-T.