What Diesel loco to buy

[Reddington]

Good Evening, 

I am wanting to buy my first Hornby Diesel locomotive but unsure which to get, I want one that can pull 3-4 coaches smoothly and run for an hour or two my layout is DC and flat no inclines. 

 

Thanks in advance

Red 

[WilliamDavid]

Th new range of Hornby Class 66 are great value for money, and come with a great range of liveries.

A lot depends on how much you wish to spend.

[Chrissaf]

Coaches infers 'passenger services'. You might prefer to operate a Diesel loco that was used to haul 'passengers'. Then there is what 'era' to consider. For example, in the late 50's / 60's Class 55 Diesels used to haul long distance 'passenger' trains out of Kings X up the East Coast. I remember them, because I was always being dragged off as a child to meet or see off relatives from / to Sunderland.

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In general, most model Diesels are happy hauling a few passenger coaches on a flat layout

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Others here can probably add a few more Diesel Classes and appropriate time eras for you to choose from.

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I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong, but I have always associated Class 66 / 67 with heavy freight.

[JJ73]

Or here is a nice selection of Diesels you could get...

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The Blue Diesel is by Lima a BR D 2785 or if you want to get the more Modern Version of it - if you join Hornby's "The Collector" then you will get (when avalable for free) The Club Loco for 2019 the Yellow R3775 (as seen in the Photo in the Mag) Network Rail Loco!!! If you want to join the club then as you can see the details are in the photo!!!

Or may be the  D5531 A1A-A1A Class 31/1 was made by Airfix Production LTD way back in 1975 in Hong Kong or again if you want the more modern version you can get the BR, Class 31, A1A-A1A, D5509 - Era 6,

Here is the link to the page more about it :- www.hornby.com/uk-en/shop/locomotives/diesel-electric-locomotives/br-class-31.html

Hope that this helps  😀

[walkingthedog]

You are correct Chris. I think I would get a Class 50 but like you said, Red needs to decide on an era. 

[Chrissaf]

You are correct Chris.

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Makes a pleasant change......from my normal putting my foot in my mouth regarding loco 'type' knowledge.

[walkingthedog]

You’re entitled to the occasional error. Your other posts cancel them out.  😆

[atom3624]

If you're not certain of the Era or use, then get a Class 37 - they seem to have been everywhere since the dinosaurs, and still being used .... for just-about everything as well!!

 

Clas 31 isn't a bad alternative, prompted by JJ above.

 

Al.

[Chrissaf]

I only have 8 x locos......2 of them are Class 37.......and very nice they are too......an excellent choice in my opinion...........I like my one Class 25 as well.

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Class 25

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Class 37

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[96RAF]

The Deltic (proper French blue one) was the only diesel I remember out of KingsX in early 60’s on the great north east runs. There were others obviously but I was steam blind in those days - if it wasn’t steam I wasn’t interested.

Class 37 - they are still using them in East Anglia.

Have a look at the BR and other Wikis to see which diesels were brought in and when and where they ran.

[Reddington]

Many thanks for all the reply’s 

[JJ73]

Your Welcome

[LCDR]

 You really need to browse the websites of the big dealers, (Hattons, Rails, Cheltenham, The Signal Box, etc.) they often have a greater range because Hornby only advertise their latest ones and of course their own brands.

 

Remember that if you have a steam based layout AND you want to stay looking authentic you need to choose the types that co-existed with steam. If in the other hand you are none too bothered with authenticity the world is your mollusc.

 

Just a few notes in case you want to be authentic -

 

Main line diesels first appeared in the late 1940s,and early 1950s  and then only a handful of experimental ones. This was the 'blood and custard' period of carriage colours. There were only eight actual locomotives in use between 1947 and 1957, 10000 & 10001 LMS Co Co diesel electric 1600hp, 10201-10203 SR/BR 1Co Co1 diesel electric 1750/2000hp, 10100 1D1 BR/Fell diesel mechanical, 10800 BR/Brush Bo Bo diesel electric 800hp, and "Deltic" English Electric Co Co diesel electric 3300 hp. All except the blue "Deltic" were in boring black colours.

 

The Modernisation plan started in earnest in 1957/1958  with a Pilot Scheme consisting of a number of small classes to try and find out the best ones. Some were more successful than others. 

 

In this early 'Pilot Scheme' phase and into the days of steam most diesels were turned out in green livery. At the same time most carriages were in maroon livery.  The classes that were seen as successful eventually became the following under the TOPS system and got the Corporate blue livery.

 

20, 25, 26, 27, 31, 33, 35*, 37*, 40, 42/43 (Warship), 45, 46, 47*  52* and 55* (* technically the 35, 37,  47, 52 and 55 post dated the Pilot Scheme but were well established during the transition between steam and diesel)

 

In 1968 steam was abolished and diesels (and electrics) were in command.  Blue for locomotives and blue and grey for carriages became the dominent colour scheme.  This then remained the status quo until the 1980s when new Intercity, Network South East and Provincial stripy liveries started to appear. Many of the older 'Pilot Scheme' diesels gradually disappeared in this time.

 

[SRmike]

As you hauling 3-4 coaches a medium sized one would be ideal. So a class 25, 26, 31 or 33 would be ideal. Smaller ones were used for shunting and larger ones, like Deltics, for hauling 12 coaches