Heljan 33

I'll asume this is on a straight bit of track?

QUOTE fine model except for one problem

If it can's go backwards as well as it does forwards you are being too kind. Personally I would return it post haste. This is not something that you should be doing on your own.

May I suggest something else that I have found has worked well for me in the past. If I am buying a locomotive from a dealer and that dealer does not allow me to operate said locomotive prior to purchase, kindly say good day and return your wallet to your trousers. Now I understand that some shops may not have test tracks but I think this is a good indication of who you should be spending your money with if at all possible. These toys are expensive, you deserve no less.

Of course if you are purchasing locomotives through eBay like I have been lately well then good luck!

I believe keith01 purchased at the Warley Model Railway show at the NEC. The Class 33 was a show sell out. Dealers present were reporting this back to the Heljan stand. There were one or two third party stands offering to test newly purchased locomotives out at the show and these included "Model Rail Magazine" and "The Train Collectors Society". With the cost of even a small trade stand being almost £1000 for the two days with larger stands costing in excess of £4000 (Southampton Models and Cheltenham Models for example) dealers are not going to have the space for test facilities although it could be argued that a rolling road could be made available.

It cannot be stated too highly the usefullness of rolling roads. They do not permit a dealer to claim that it may be an issue with the track or wiring and I test all new locos on a rolling road rather than a layout.

I did get a feeling speaking to visitors that they were broadly supporting their local dealer if they were present just in case of such an issue arrising as mentioned above.

Happy modelling
Gary

Top dealer. Thats how it should be.

I totally agree with you Dennis and you are not being overly strident at all with your remarks.

Show organisers should be very up front with this and offer a test facility clearly visible at the entrance to every show where traders are present. And all major gauges should be catered for. And dealers who offer a test facility at shows are almost certainly going to get more business so it surely has to be in their interests to offer this where possible.

This surely has to be in the interests of everybody at the show and has to increase the sales for those traders who pay very high sums of money to attend shows.

And it would be cost effective.

keith01 is a good example. How much more cost effective would have been to have simply sorted this out with an exchange at the show rather than now having the overhead of shipping and administration.

In fact I am confident that anybody who has a small stand at a show in the right place and charges £0.50 per test would make a fortune! And this stand should be supported by all the dealers at the show. 18000 visitors x £0.50 is a lot of money!

Happy modelling
Gary

According to direct information from Heljan in Demark, the class 33 diesel locomotives have no definite release date other than 2006.

Models shown for release in 2006 are:

3300 33065 Sealion. (Stated by Heljan authorised UK dealer - unknown).

3301 33008 BR Heritage Green Eastleigh. Green - White - Yellow.

3302 33035 Network SouthEast. Blue - Grey - White - Yellow.

3303 33030 EWS maroon & gold.

3310 D6553 BR green "Eastleigh". Green - Cream - Yellow.

3312 33025 "Sultan" grey roof. Blue - Grey - Yellow.

3313 33004 blue DCE. Blue - Black - Cream - Yellow.

Which two of the above models were sold in advance at the Warley exhibition?