Modelling Hornby Dublo in British N Gauge

[Mr Sprue]

Just to be clear, my plan is not to build an Dublo layout (although that is an interesting idea!) but rather recreate their rolling stock in RTR N gauge.

Aaaaww... I had visions of something like @Train Waiting 's Poppingham but with a 3rd rail added 

I'm gutted too! 

[Paddy]

Thanks @Newportnobby - I will take a look tomorrow.

I have been reading Michael Foster's chapter on the Dublo diesels.  Class 20 and DELTIC so far.  Seems the 3-Rail Class 20 was a fantastic model but the 3-Rail version was a dog.  As for the DELTIC - it was a scale 10 feet too short!

Love the imitation 3 rail track @railsquid and @ntpntpntp.

Am I right in thinking that electrically the 3 rail system is better/simpler than 2 rail?  I get that it is not as realistic but maybe Dublo would have been better sticking with it and producing a new range of track with less obtrusive middle rail (studs?).

Kind regards

Paddy

[ntpntpntp]

Am I right in thinking that electrically the 3 rail system is better/simpler than 2 rail? 

Well, you can do things like reverse loops in 3-rail without worrying about short circuits etc.  when both outside rails are the same polarity.   Not sure about Trix Twin though, which kept the outside rails separate electrically so that two trains could be run on teh same track.

Skate pickups are probably better than just rolling wheel contact, the sliding action helps to keep clean. There's a reason LGB garden locos have skates 

I get that it is not as realistic but maybe Dublo would have been better sticking with it and producing a new range of track with less obtrusive middle rail (studs?).

Maerklin 3-rail with stud contact is still going.  But, being different does prevent interoperability between systems.  Brands like Maerklin have very loyal followers, but being too insular can end up being a problem. In general I would think railway modellers want to be able to mix and match, plus of course the general opinion that 2 rail is more realistic.

Harking right back to my first reply, remember that Ibertren started out their N gauge system as 3 rail stud contact. I think they then suffered due to being incompatible, plus to be honest the mechanisms weren't brilliant.  I have a 3 rail set and a couple of other locos. They work but it's like running 1970s Lima in terms of running qualities, with bogie diesels powered one end only and picking up from the other end.    (As an aside, even the later 2 rail  Ibertren multiple units I have run with what I would describe as a slightly better made "clone" of the old Lima pancake motor bogie design).

[Bealman]

Just for fun.... 

That is great!!! I see you produced your three rail track! 

[Bealman]

Tomix track was originally manufactured with an orange-brown-ish base which looks fairly close in colour to the HD track pictured. They switched to the grey base 15~20 years ago. The old track is available in copious amounts on the second hand market, though shipping it would be a bit of a challenge at the moment.

(Very early Kato track used to have a brown-ish base as well, but that's much harder to find).

Interesting, wasn't aware of brown Tomix. I do have a set of Unitrack points in brown, they came from Rails of Sheffield's "Vault".

The brown stuff always reminds me of the brown Triang TT track a friend had.

As I had a length of rail to hand...

That track looks most definitely Hornby Dubloish! 

(Got use my new invented word again)

[Paddy]

Hi Folks,

Sorry for the delay in uploading the next installment but I have been struggling for the last few days.  Not sure why, just lost my mojo! 

As promised, here are the slide covering the Hornby Dublo Diesel-Electric locomotives.















As you can see, I have made a start on the Hornby Dublo Electric locomotives as well.  Michael Fosters' book makes very interesting reading and sort of shatters the impregnable reputation for quality that HD have.  A number of their locomotives were poorly received back in the day and known for poor running.

Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Many thanks

Paddy
Dream | Believe | Achieve

[Paddy]

Hi Folks,

Here are the remaining slides covering the Hornby Dublo locomotives (I have also attached the deck as a PDF).



Here is an additional overview slide - as you can see there is not a huge overlap between British N Gauge and Hornby Dublo locomotives.



Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Many thanks

Paddy
Dream | Believe | Achieve

[Paddy]

In Michael Foster's book there is the following Maccano Publicity photo for their E3000 electric locomotive:



It instantly reminded me of John's ( @Train Waiting ) wonderful Poppingham Table Top Railway. 

Kind regards

Paddy

[Train Waiting]

Thank you very much, Paddy, for that lovely compliment.  That's pretty much 'the look' (semi-scenic, I call it) I'm attempting to achieve.  I really like the train.  Diesels (GWR railcars excepted) are banned on Poppingham.  But electrics are different.  I hope you don't mind a quotation from C Hamilton Ellis, writing about Camden Loco in 1965.  'It is under a diesel regency just now, but one looks forward to the accession of the electric locomotive, who is at least a lady.'*

Thanks again and all good wishes.

John

*C Hamilton Ellis, The Splendour of Steam, George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1965, p17.

@Paddy

[Paddy]

Hi Folks,

The documenting of the Hornby Dublo range and their nearest N gauge equivalents continues!

Attached is the latest version of the deck which now includes the Hornby Dublo LNER, LMS, British Railways Standard and Suburban coaches.  The LNER coaches are a strange one as they do not look like Gresley teaks.  In appearance they are closer to the original generic Farish (Poole) coaches - what do you think?  Do you think these equivalents should also include the Minitrix and Dapol Gresley coaches?

Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Many thanks

Paddy
Dream | Believe | Achieve

[Paddy]

Hi Folks,

The documenting of the Hornby Dublo range and their nearest N gauge equivalents continues.

The attached deck now contains:

* Locomotives
   * Overview
   * Steam
   * Diesel-Electric
   * Electric
* Coaches
   * LNER
   * LMS Coaches
   * British Railways Mainline Coaches
   * British Railways Suburban Coaches
   * TPO Mail Van
* Goods Wagons
   * Pre-Nationalisation Goods Wagons
      * 5 Plank Opens
      * 12T Covered Vans
      * 20T/25T Brake Vans
      * Tanks - Petrol/Oil
      * Cattle Trucks
      * Meat Vans
      * Fish Van
      * Horse Box

... and we have yet to get to the super-detailed plastic wagons and later coaches!

Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Many thanks

Paddy
Dream | Believe | Achieve

[Paddy]

Hi Folks,

The documenting of the Hornby Dublo range and their nearest N gauge equivalents continues.  This marks the completion of the tinplate era (I think) as the next chapter in Michael Fosters' book covers the Super-Detail range.  If you spot any errors/omissions then please let me know.

The attached deck now contains:

*  Locomotives
    *  Overview
    *  Steam
    *  Diesel-Electric
    *  Electric

*  Coaches
    *  Coaches (Tinplate)
        *  LNER Coaches
        *  LMSR Coaches
        *  British Railways Eastern Region Coaches
        *  British Railways Mainline Coaches
        *  British Railways Suburban Coaches
        *  TPO Mail Van

*  Goods Wagons (Tinplate)
    *  Pre-Nationalisation
        *  Brake Van
            *  20T Brake Van (GWR, LMSR & LNER)
            *  25T Brake Van (SR)
        *  Box Van
            *  12T Covered Van (GWR, LMSR, LNER & SR)
            *  8T Cattle Truck (GWR & LMSR)
            *  10T Fish Van (LNER)
            *  6T Meat Van (LMSR)
            *  10T Meat Van (SR)
        *  Open Wagon
            *  12T 5-Plank Open (GWR, LMSR, LNER & SR)
            *  12T 7-Plank Open (LMSR & LNER)
            *  50T 6-Plank Bogie Brick (LNER)
        *  Tank - Oil
            *  Royal Daylight (Red)
        *  Tank - Petrol
            *  ESSO (Yellow)
            *  Power Ethyl (Green)
        *  Horse Box (LNER)

    *  BR (Post Nationalisation)
        *  Brake Van
            *  14T Brake Van (WR)
            *  20T Brake Van (MR & NER)
        *  Box Van
            *  12T Coverd Van (BR)
            *  8T Cattle Truck (BR)
            *  10T Fish Van (NER)
            *  10T Meat Van (SR)
            *  10T LWB Ventialated Van MINK D (WR)
        *  Open Wagon
            *  12T 5-Plank Open  (NER)
            *  12T 7-Plank Open (MR)
            *  16T Steel Mineral (BR)
            *  20T Tube Wagon (WR)
            *  21T Double Bolster (BR)
            *  30T Bogie Bolster (MR)
            *  40T Bogie WELTROL (BR)
            *  50T 6-Plank Bogie Brick (NER)
        *  Low-Sided Wagon
            *  10T Low-Sided/Cable Drums (MR)
            *  13T Low-Sided (BR)
            *  Container Wagon
                *  Furniture Container (BR)
                *  INSUL-MEANT Container (BR)
        *  Tank - Oil
            *  ESSO (Silver)
            *  Mobilgas Vacuum Oil Company Limited (Red)
            *  Mobil OIL COMPANY LIMITED (Red)
            *  Mobil (Red)
            *  Royal Daylight ESSO Parafin (Red)
            *  SHELL Lubricating Oil (Yellow)
        *  Tank - Petrol
            *  Power Petrol (Green)
        *  Horse Box (ER)

Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Many thanks

Paddy
Dream | Believe | Achieve

[Train Waiting]

Thank you very much for all this diligent research, Paddy.

I'm finding it very helpful indeed.

And the presentation is excellent!

All best wishes.

John

[Paddy]

Hi Folks,

For Father's Day my daughter bought me a couple of the PECO NR-997 CONFLAT BR White Refrigerator Container.



As you can see, these PECO wagons are very similar to the Hornby Dublo 4648 Low-sided Wagon with Insulated Meat Container.



So I class these as my first "official" N gauge Hornby Dublo rolling stock! 

The PECO wagons are a limited edition available from AGR Model Railways:

https://www.agrmodelrailwaystore.co.uk/n-gauge-wagons/peco-nr-997-n-gauge-conflat-br-with-refrigerator-container-agr-special-edition

Kind regards

Paddy

[maridunian]

Hi Paddy

Fascinating project. Across railway modelling there seem to be many models of models!

You've not mentioned the Prestwin

I know you converted a Lima continental equivalent a while back. I might soon be able to help with an N Gauge equivalent ...

I'm also reminded of their Traffic Services anchor-mounted tank, which I modelled an ICI equivalent of recently.

Mike