AboutFrank Edgcombe Expertise I CAN NOT DIAGNOSE equipment problems or ESTIMATE DOLLAR VALUES of your equipment, by email. I have been active in model railroading for forty years. I can answer, or find answers, to questions on most aspects of model trains, railroad equipment or buildings. I have a good knowledge of prototype railroads. I have been employed by five model railroad equipment manufacturers/suppliers and worked for a prototype railroad. I have served, twice, as the president of a local model railroad club. I have been employed as a Reference Librarian, at a university, for the last fifteen years and am used to tracking down resources for patrons.
Question Hi Frank,
I just purchased a Hornby train set (engine Type 40 #82011 with two passenger cars(one has the number 1 on the door and the other has the work "Guard" printed on it. The engine is black with red pin striping with 2 levers, controling forward and reverse operation as well as locking the main spring, extending from the cab. The orig. key is in place and it is great condition. Can you tell me more about this set, date of mfg., rarity, etc. and the gauge of track on which it runs? There is a small metal hook on the front of the boiler. Was there a bell there originaly, or was this decorative?
Thank you for your kind assistance.
dave
Answer Hi! Dave. You have a Hornby Gauge O clockwork locomotive in what appears to be British Railways colors. That means it was manufactured after 1948, when the four separate main line companies were nationalized by the British Government. I don't think it is particularly rare and there is one for sale on eBay. You could see how much it sells for to get some idea of its value. Here is a link. http://cgi.ebay.com/HORNBY-TYPE-40-BRITISH-RAILWAYS-3-82011-LOCO-TENDER_W0QQitem...
As I said its Gauge O or 7mm. scale, approximately the size of the American Lionel locomotives. The hook that you are talking about is one of two things, I'm not sure what you are talking about. If it is at the top of the smokebox just below the chimney it is a hook for a detachable lamp that British locomotives used, not to illuminate the tracks but to identify what type of train it was, fast passenger, slow passenger, freight etc. If the hook is lower down, between the buffers it is the front coupling hook used if the locomotive is running in reverse pulling a train backwards, or double headed with another locomotive. Small British locomotives ran both ways in trains and didn't need to be turned around at the end of their runs. British locomotives never had bells, or bright headlights on them. Tracks were always completely fenced in so that bells, cowcatchers or headlights were not needed. When British locomotives came to America to run on American tracks, as in the World's Fair, they had to be fitted with bells and headlights. British Locomotives did have whistles for warning and sending messages to the Guard. The "1" on one of the coaches denotes that that coach was for First Class passengers, riding on an extra fare, just like first class in an airplane. The rest of the passengers rode Third Class, which was less luxurious. This became Second Class later and Third Class was abolished in the 1950's. The "Guard" compartment was for the Guard or Conductor of the train. The real Guard's compartment housed his equipment and had braking mechanisms for him to assist the Locomotive Engineer in stopping the train. I hope this helps.
