For a limited time only you can now bring an icon of steam, complete with Digital Sound, to your layout for an ultra-low bargain price in our latest FLASH DEAL!
Two of the world's most popular steam locomotives - "Mallard" and "Flying Scotsman" are now available at a MASSIVE 45% off RRP and priced at just £109.50. An incredible deal to bring these beauties to your collection, complete with advanced sound features.
We have full stocks available of these deals now, so they're good to go right away!
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Product Features
Robust Railroad Range models with accurate toolings for each class
Both locomotives are Digital Sound Fitted with the Hornby TTS system
Accessory pack included with optional extras
Detailed bodyshells with separate parts
Coal load included in tender
Powerful motor with reliable electrical pickups
NEM tension lock couplings
Prototype Information - LNER Class A1
The London and North Eastern Railway LNER Gresley Classes A1 and A3 locomotives represented two distinct stages in the history of the British 4-6-2 "Pacific" steam locomotives designed by Nigel Gresley. They were designed for main line passenger services and later express passenger services, initially on the Great Northern Railway (GNR), a constituent company of the London and North Eastern Railway after the amalgamation of 1923, for which they became a standard design. The new Pacific locomotives were built at the Doncaster "Plant" in 1922 to the design of Nigel Gresley, who had become Chief mechanical engineer of the GNR in 1911. Between 1927 and 1947, all of the A1s were rebuilt as A3s, with the exception of No. 4470 Great Northern, which was rebuilt by Thompson in 1945 as Class A1/1. The sole surviving member of the A3s and A1s is 4472 (60103) Flying Scotsman. The locomotive was withdrawn from service with British Railways in 1963 and after being saved from scrap it was sold for preservation.
Prototype Information - LNER Class A4
The 1930s saw increased competition to the railways from road and air travel and the LNER Board knew that they had to make travel between the major cities faster, more comfortable and reliable. High speed diesel services were starting to make an impact abroad. In May 1933, the German State Railways diesel-electric Fliegende Hamburger entered service, running for extended periods at 85mph. By 1934, in the USA, Burlington Zephyr had reached I I 2.5mph during a longer 1,015 mile journey.
Nigel Gresley, the LNER's Chief Mechanical Officer, travelled on the Fliegende Hamburger and was impressed by its streamlining, although he realized it was only efficient at high speeds. Gresley was certain that a modified A3 Pacific, with streamlining, could haul greater loads than the German or US locomotives at the same speed or even faster. A series of trials were conducted to confirm the Al's suitability. With the trials successfully completed, the LNER Board gave Gresley the go-ahead to create the 'Silver Jubilee' streamlined trains, the first of the new streamlined A4s.
The streamlining of the A4s' steam circuit, higher boiler pressure and the extension of the firebox to create a combustion chamber, made them more efficient than the A3 as they consumed less coal and water, especially later on when they were also fitted with a Kylchap double chimney, improving their free steaming capabilities further. Their streamlined design not only made them capable of high speeds, but created an up draught of smoke, preventing obscuring the driver's vision that was such a major problem on the Class A4 engines.