H Class wow

[g_ray]

My H arrived earlier this week and I have just got around to running it in. Wow what a superb model it is the SE&CR livery has been caught to a T. The only problem I have is having to renumber it. I dont want to destroy the beautiful paintwork but its not 263 which it has to be for me. Congratulations Hornby on a magnificent model.

[LCDR]

 Someone sent me a photograph of 263 the other day and I noticed that the Bluebell have messed with it.  As built 263 had a flat sided bunker, as did 265, 266, 274, 276, 278, 530, 531 532 & 533. so in  SE&CR livery she ought to have a flat sided bunker, and not a flared one that was fitted to the other 56.

This is it.

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Tch, Tch!

😆

 

Here is 531 in WW1 grey with the flat sided bunker as fitted also to 263.

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[g_ray]

I think it was the owners at the time and not the Bluebell that changed the bunker. However that could well be why Hornby have not produced it as 263 . Since it had flared sides when I drove it thats how I remember it and need it to add to my collection of the locos I have driven.

I also think it looks much more atractive like that, but then beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If Bachmann can produce a model of Birch Grove in Umber with the name on the side then there is nothing wrong with a Hornby H duplicating a preserved example in its present condition.  😀

[LCDR]

 I was rather hoping Hornby have made it possible to produce a flat sided bunker version too. I have also been awaiting Bachmann to make a version of the C with raised tender coal rails that were found on about a third of that class. .

[34069]

Any guesses as to when the BR version will arrive ?    Seems to have gone quiet, or has the slow boat from China sunk ?  Lol.

[walkingthedog]

Watched a programme the other day that said 8 containers fall off ships every week, or was it every day, might be in one of them.  😮

[walkingthedog]

It's a cheap way to travel  😆

 

Be just Hornbys luck that one of theirs fell into the Atlantic. 

[RB51]

@ WTD

 

It was in Blue Planet II - I can't remember either, but I think it was weekly. Anyway,

it was a lot of stock. R-

[walkingthedog]

Yes it was and it is. 

[Bulleidboy]

Any guesses as to when the BR version will arrive ?    Seems to have gone quiet, or has the slow boat from China sunk ?  Lol.

 

According to the Hornby Shop - if you pre-order by the 19th December you will have it for Christmas - the same for the new Merchant Navy Class - Nederland Line. Must be in the same container? ETA is 13th DEcember 2017.

[RichardSalmon]

Someone sent me a photograph of 263 the other day and I noticed that the Bluebell have messed with it.  As built 263 had a flat sided bunker, as did 265, 266, 274, 276, 278, 530, 531 532 & 533. so in  SE&CR livery she ought to have a flat sided bunker, and not a flared one that was fitted to the other 56.

Tch, Tch... no, the Bluebell have not "messed with it".   😉

66 H-class were built, and yes, 263 was one of the ten built without the flared bunkers, for an abortive push-pull scheme, but at some stage during its main-line career, many years before it arrived on the Bluebell, it aquired a flared bunker top.  No doubt when the steelwork of the flared top rusts through, it might be possible that it'll revert to its as-built bunker.

[JeremiahBunyan]

 I was rather hoping Hornby have made it possible to produce a flat sided bunker version too. I have also been awaiting Bachmann to make a version of the C with raised tender coal rails that were found on about a third of that class. .

Yes they have, it was mentioned in the "Engine Shed" blog...

 

"So on with the Wainwright H Class. Work has been progressing very nicely, with CAD work now complete that incorporates variants with differing bunkers, brake gear and push/pull gear. Not too long ago we received the first stereo sample of our brand new loco, we’re not yet in a position to show you the model running on the test layout, but we can tell you that our new release will be available in three different liveries initially, as well as a special edition train pack, complete with two Maunsell Push/Pull coaches, all of which will be available to pre-order for delivery later in 2017."

[LCDR]

Tch, Tch... no, the Bluebell have not "messed with it".   😉

66 H-class were built, and yes, 263 was one of the ten built without the flared bunkers, for an abortive push-pull scheme, but at some stage during its main-line career, many years before it arrived on the Bluebell, it aquired a flared bunker top.  No doubt when the steelwork of the flared top rusts through, it might be possible that it'll revert to its as-built bunker.

Actually just after sending this post I realised that I had actually seen the loco with flared bunker at Robertsbridge many years ago (1965 or possibly  a little later) but out of devilment I decided to allow it to stand!  It was at Robertsbridge after the Westerham scheme had foundered and before it was taken to the SE Steam Centre. I did take a picture but it turned out too bad to publish.  However what was missing from 263 at the time was the horizintal beading at the point where the bunker flare starts.

 

The flare or lack of it seems to have gone generally unnoticed except by a few afficionados of things SE&CR, and it is one thing that does add interesting variety to a delightful and useful class.

 

The other variation to a SE&CR class which to date has so far been omitted by Bachmann is the extended coal rails on the C class tender.  I haven't pinned down the exact history of that particular variation but it does appear that about 25% of the class had extended coal rail sheets. Tenders got swapped duting works visits so different locos appeared with them from time to time. I still have a couple of Finecast Cs to build so these undoubtedly will receive high sided tenders (and at least one with air brake pump) .

[RichardSalmon]

The earliest photo of 263 I've so far tracked down is from 1960, and it had the flared bunker top then.

I've seen 1965 and 1966 photos of it at Roberstbridge.

[Bulleidboy]

Just received an email from Hornby to say the black Wainwrights have arrived and my pre-order will be dispatched shortly. Just the Merchant Navy to go!

[Bulleidboy]

The new Hornby Wainwright Class H arrives at Wykeham.

 

https://flic.kr/p/ZPriXR

[LCDR]

Mine too, another supurb addition to the stock at 73D.  Looks good on a train of Birdcage stock BUT of course with  OHL electrification flash signs on the boiler that combination would be impossible in real life, never mind I will wait for the early emblem version to get the combination right. I don't think they got the 'flashes'  until 1961 by when the birdcage stock had all been withdrawn. 

Keep them coming Hornby! A Maunsell/Wainwright D1 next please!  😆

[PeterBal]

I have two of the BR version on order and am given to understand they are now in the mail. I too feel a little daunted by renumbering one of them although I have done it once before. I am currently part way through having cataract surgery (one eye done other yet to do) so obviously will be waiting for both eyes to be fully settled before undertaking such a delicate task! I will probably revert the renumbered loco to early emblem at the same time as renumbering. Given the pitfalls (flat bunkers and flared ones, push pull fitted and not) has anyone researched suitable numbers to use for the BR version? I am not a rivet counter but it would be nice to be broadly correct..

[PeterBal]

I have two of the BR version on order and am given to understand they are now in the mail. I too feel a little daunted by renumbering one of them although I have done it once before. I am currently part way through having cataract surgery (one eye done other yet to do) so obviously will be waiting for both eyes to be fully settled before undertaking such a delicate task! I will probably revert the renumbered loco to early emblem at the same time as renumbering. Given the pitfalls (flat bunkers and flared ones, push pull fitted and not) has anyone researched suitable numbers to use for the BR version? I am not a rivet counter but it would be nice to be broadly correct..

[LCDR]

 My notes about H class variations -

Fitted with flush side bunkers

263, 265, 266, 274, 276, 278, 530, 531 & 532

 

Dual brakes from new - 16, 184, 329, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 531, 550, 553, & 534

Dual braked 1911 - 512, 517, 543,  & 548

Air pump in front of left hand tank

 

Never p/p fitted 31259, 31261, 31264, 31265, 31305, 31307, 31309, 31311, 31312, 31321, 31326, 31328, 31593, 31531, 31532, 31540, 31541, 31542, 31546, 31550,& 31552

 

All the rest p/p fitted between 1949 and 1953 except the following fitted later-

31005    p/p fitted January 1960,

31263    p/p fitted February 1960,

31278    p/p fitted March 1956,

31306    p/p fitted November 1959,

31324    p/p fitted January 1961,

31329    p/p fitted March 1956,

31500    p/p fitted November 1959

31533    p/p fitted March 1960

31551    p/p fitted September 1960

31553    p/p fitted January 1960

 

265 and 266 fitted with p/p equipment in 1912 but removed 1914.

 

Scrapped early (before November 1954)

31016 1951

31182 1951

1264 1944

1312 1944

31532 1951

 

Last in service

31263 wdn January 1964

31518 wdn January 1964

31551 wdn January 1964

[96RAF]

The rear model looks as if it is Ho not OO and the detail differences are many and varied.

Rob

[LCDR]

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 Comparing the OO Works C class (which I bought in 2003, above )  with Bachmann's offering ten years later, illustrates the lack of detail by OO Works, and added to that after a few running sessions my OO Works class C ran very slow and jerky, and despite attempts to fix it I have now had to confine it to the back of the shed. The chimney was an abomination when new, it was simply a tube with a ridge round the top, and little attempt at a flare where it joined the smokebox.  I improved this myself with Isopon and a set of needle files but it still fails to capture the distinctive profile of the C class chimney.  The price too was quite high, compared to Bachmann.

 

I subsequently built my second class C from a Finecast kit, my first attempt at whitemetal, and a sure fire way to encourage one of the mainstream RTR manufacturers to produce one. Sure enough within 2 years Bachmann announced  theirs. 

 

It was similar with the H, I built two in 2014 using a Airfix 14xx mechanism and a  Wrenn R1  body with added whitemetal bits from Finecast.  I built mine in 2014, and three years later Hornby introduces theirs.

 

I have a DJH kit if a D1 4-4-0 to build, maybe I ought to start building it now so that either Hornby or Bachmann can make a start tooling it up!

[LCDR]

 The Brighton  I3 was a handsome loco and would I feel be a popular model if one of the mainstream manufacturers adopted it, I don't think I have ever seen the OO Works version. Not high on my wants list though.  Atlantic tank locos do tend to score high in the beauty stakes.