QUOTE (John H-T @ 1 Dec 2008, 22:35)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Performance wise it managed a 25 coach train with its combination of Metal boiler and traction tyres.
**And the point of pulling far more than the real loco ever was asked to do (more than double really) is what?
is there any point in it at all... especially as with most UK home layouts shortened trains are the norm, and larger layoiuts are often more prototype oriented so wouldn't want to pull that many anyway.
It seems very strange to me that a production loco can't be built to haul a prototypical load without adding the horror of tyres to the wheels. All it takes is reasonable chassis accuracy and reasonably proper weight distribution... If I can do it with an average brass kitbuilt loco which is far lighter than the T9, why can't Hornby with this particular many wheeled metal bodied loco?
(after all the Hornby Duchess, 8F etc etc have no problem with good sized trains)
Having said that overall it is an excellent model, let down only by this abberration. I have emailed them to see if a non-tyred driver set will be made available. I hope so.
Richard