[Camborner]

After a visit to the South Devon Railway today, I managed to get this fairly recent tender drive model for only £30! I've always wanted a 9F, so this was just perfect!
The model was tested on the short peice of track at Buckfastleigh, on which it proved to be slow running, smooth, and quiet. On my DCC layout at home, it also managed to be a pretty good hauler, not failing to haul all stock around the layout.
Detailing on the model isn't bad. Altough it isn't quite to the super detail level stated on the box, it features correctly flanged/non-flanged wheels, metal handrails on the boiler, plastic handrails on the tender, pipework on the rear right, moulded smokebox door handles, and sprung buffers. The modern look of the loco is mainly due to the paintwork, destracting the eye from the bits that are moulded.
The Hornby 9F is a brilliant machine, but I'm not looking forward to the DCC conversion, as the wires look more complicated than the sheet music for Don't Stop Me Now. I'm gonna give this model 9/10, although 10 may be acheived if the model turns out to be easy to convert.

[Teleman]

I had the 70s one and if its wired the same as that it should not be a problem to change to DCC , but i did have to change the front bogie to a 'fine scale' one as it did not like Peco points , but as you have not said anything about that they must have sorted that out .
Now thats got me thinking it would be nice to own an Evening Star again

[Camborner]

Mine's a late 90's/early 00's model probably, I just hope I don't muck it up!

[Teleman]

They always have been tender drive so i don't think they would have changed to much over the years .
Did you know ( and only found out last week ) that the rear coupling rod was removed on some so making them 2-8-2 I will try and find the site again for you with the info and pictures on

[Camborner]

That's wierd!
The whole point of 10 wheels is for greater traction, which is why most heavy freight engines have 8 wheels. What benefits could a crew get? I'll look forward to the site.

[Teleman]

I'm looking through the 'history' on the sites ive been to but might have to give up untill tomorrow now as its getting late , but as i have no calls out tomorrow it will give me more time on the computer to look for you

[K9-70]

Triangman wrote;

A 9F did have it's rear coupling rods removed in the run down period of the late 60's. A rod had fractured and it ran as a 2-8-2 for a while until a set of spare rods were obtained from a breakers.

We have Tri-ang-Hornby model R.861 Evening Star first issue and the rare 1973 limited issue R.550 Black 9F in our collection. The 9F has been a good model for Hornby over the years, Tri-ang got it right from day one.

Shame that Tri-ang went bust, the old Black Five model was on the drawing board at the same time and would have been loco drive with an X.04 motor, but it was left to Hornby to bring it out after the collapse, with the loco being fitted with tender drive for cheapness which spoilt it's performance.

Was R550 Black 9f not previously released for a short time as R264 around 1971/72, and R550 was the modified version of this excellent model that appeared on sale for one year only?

I have both versions of this model, and the only difference I can see is, R264 has a gap between the cab and handrail, and R550 doesn't.
I believe that the reason this was filled in was that the handrail was easily broken. (see photos)

R264 Class 9f Serial No. 020572 (No R number before the serial No.)


R550 Class 9f Serial No. R550 120173


The original tender drive unit of R550, bit the dust around 20 years ago. So the pickups where removed from the loco wheels and a modern drawbar and pickup attached to the locomotive, and she's now coupled to a modern Chinese Hornby 9f tender.

K9-70

Ps:92220 Evening Star was the last steam loco built by BR.
92220 was also the last steam loco built by Triang Hornby and the first to be fitted with the Ringfield Tender Drive motor.

[K9-70]

A rare one indeed.

R377S Jinty Hornby Railways 1972, bought on ebay last year for £19.45p


This is the one that your father rebuilt the buffers mounts that somebody had removed and replaced with the ends of a Biro pen, and glued the buffer in. He also got the smoke unit working again and gave it a good service. An excellent job he did. Thank you.

All I'm looking for now is a proper box with yellow insert to keep it safe in.

K9-70

[K9-70]

Aye, your pop told me that out of the three locos that I sent him for overhaul, that one caused him more headaches than the others did.
But I knew that he wouldn't let me down.
All three run well, but the older two, 1953 R52 Jinty & 1957 R153 2f Saddle Tank, don't like the Peco Code 100 track. Wheel flanges are too deep, and I'm not about to have them turned down to suit the track.

R377S hauls 5 coaches on the level, with no problems encountered, however, it doesn't like my Long Drag that rises 70mm over 2.440mtrs. Come to think of it, neither do many of the modern diesel locos I have. Might have to reduce it down to 60mm over 2.440mtrs.

I used to have the LMS 690 2p also. From what I remember of it, it was light in weight and a very fast runner. Too fast for the 1st&2nd radius curves. Wish I had it now, (from a small time collectors point of view).

I always fancied the Black 5, but couldn't afford it. My first motorcycle came along, and that put the the hobby on back burner.

I might someday get around to buying one.

K9-70

[ADDAX]

I have 8 Black Fives still in boxes never been run.
Also a number of limited locos in boxes but i dont like to boardcast
wot ive got you never know who is reading these posts.
Also i though this was were we Review Models.

[ADDAX]

Hi Mate ,yes they are.
ADDAX

[KingEdward1st]

Looks like a lovely model. The SDR is a superb railway. I'm asumming you enjoyed it.

[Camborner]

Oh yes, it was brilliant, twice as long as Bodmin. Pity the 2884 wasn't running, but at least I saw it. I took photos of the day if anyone's intrested, may post them on here sometime.

[StanierTank]

When Bachmann was first established, the 9F was now back in production and better than ever. I'd try one of 'em if I were you.

[Camborner]

I'd love one, but they're a bit pricy, and I'm happy with my current one. Maybe I'll pick up a cheap one at an exhibition or something.