Hornby Live Steam Flying Scotsman.

[Derek Walker]

Now I may have seen it all. While visiting a hobby shop I found a Hornby Live Steam Flying Scotsman train. I did a bit of digging because it seemed really odd, but this is what I discovered.

"The spectacular A3 Class 'Flying Scotsman' this year joins the impressive stable of Live Steam locomotives from Hornby.
The individual Live Steam models are supplied complete with operating tools including filling syringes, steam oil and gloves. Each locomotive is fitted with an NEM type coupling and is suitable for use with all Hornby rolling stock.
This product is only suitable for adult collectors and not for children under 14 years old. The syringes are not medical devices.
Product Description
The Flying Scotsman 'Real Steam' locomotive is powered by a mini immersion heater, which is located in the tender, and it is heated by a safe low voltage current passed along the track by a remote regulator. This boils the water which then generates the Steam....

http://www.hornby.com/live-steam-157/ca ... ?sort=date

Its a 00 gauge and a much better buy that the kit they are selling at the CNA I bet. Oh, it was R9000-00

Now, when is my birthday?

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

Very nice!

The technology is certainly moving on...... I was the other day standing by a layout when an American diesel proceeded to burst into song! Roar, roar! Plus operate the horn, bell, coupling noise, start-up noise etc.!

Sigh of longing! Imagine a lash of 4 units sounding off!

[Derek Walker]

Aah Kevin, remember, America is the same country that gave us Billy Bass, the singing fish!
The demo video on that steam train is very impressive, I wish I could see one of them live in action! the implications however reach further, with a bit of work you could run a larger train like the model engineers build, putting that hobby well within reach of all us 10 thumbed people.

[John Ashworth]

I'm waiting for it to come out in N scale!

[Derek Walker]

I wonder if you could do it in N gauge, that tender only seems to hold enough water for 20 minutes running, in N gauge it could mean you would have to tow along a water tanker like they do in live stea.... heeeeeeeeeey! that could work too :-) I have to admit the temptation to get my greasy mitts on this loco is great, but I have just plumped out some money for a starter N gauge which means I would have to apply to wesbank for financing to buy a steam loco (albeit a very small one) if I wanted to splash out.

[Steve Appleton]

Derek, Should be no problem! Wesbank claims to be the wheels bank after all! N-gauge wheels are still wheels.

[Derek Walker]

Thats true... now where would I get insurance? and I bet they will want an immobiliser too. Hmmmm..... I seriously hope Hornby expands on this loco, Just imagine a Garratt version of it. Sadly though Hornby dont seem to do N Gauge which is a pity.

[John Ashworth]

I wish someone would start producing South African profile locos in N gauge.

[Derek Walker]

Makes 2 of us... in fact I wish somebody would make N Gauge more affordable overall. I wonder how difficult would it be to convert some of the sexisting stuff. I ws looking at pics of some of the Fleishmann steam lcoc's and with some cosmetic changes you may be able to make it pass as an SAR jobbie. I dont know what the other brands have available but I am sure mods have been attempted by hobbyists already.

[John Ashworth]

I pick up bits and pieces of European and north American stuff and then try to convert it, not into an exact replica, but into something which has the right "feel". I'm currently trying to make a Garratt out of two Fleischmann locos, but I haven't got far beyond dismantling them yet. I don't actually have a layout, but I do have a lot of stuff ready for that day in the future when I stop being nomadic and settle down long enough to build one!