The Hornby virus struck again, and I would like to apologize for the language I´m about to use. It´s just, like, I´m so disappointed by Hornby´s quality - AGAIN.
What happened? Before plugging in a DCC decoder, I wanted to break in my 58. It ran fine for, like, half an hour, but then it started to buck, jerk, make weird, scraping noises, slowed down. In short: it was broken, rather than broken in.
No service sheet, and I refuse to disassemble a loco drive engine without a manual or service sheet. So, in disappointment, I took the engine back to my dealer. He told me that more than half (!!!) of the engines he had sold had been returned by the customer showing similar running characteristics, and that this was a huge issue on German forums by now (I had to work a lot of overtime lately and didn´t check, but he was right), and that he will not order any new 58s until their quality has improved significantly. As of now, quality is sub-standard, and he is the one left with the hassle and the mad customers. Apparently, Hornby Germany has announced a revised issue where better quality can be expected, but that, of course, is of little help for those who already bought the engine.
Hornby, this was the very last chance I gave you. You blew it. I hereby vow to never, ever in my life purchase another locomotive manufactured by Hornby or any of its subsidiaries! Freight and passenger cars, maybe someday, but no more engines - ever. I can do without the disappointment of having to return my defective engine to the dealer for a refund.
The engine itself received good to average reviews in the press, but the dealers I spoke to and the forums see it differently. The quality of this engine is considered shoddy, the running quality sub-par (even the Modelleisenbahner magazine mentioned this), and, apparently, there seems to be an issue with the rods - no idea if this is true or not. Some engines also appear to have a faulty paint job.
Like I said, I´m very, very disappointed by Hornby - again. I had to return an engine which turned out to have quality issues to the dealer for a refund - again. If this is Hornby´s entry to the German market, sorry Hornby, but over here, we are very quality minded. This engine does not seem to meet continental European standards, quality-wise. And I really like the engine, love the rich details, and you all know that I gave Hornby a fair chance.
Oh yeah - my dealer exchanged the 58 for a Roco class 146.2, a DCC decoder, and a voucher for the rest of the money instead. Now, all I need to be a happy camper again are a couple of IRE coaches...

What happened? Before plugging in a DCC decoder, I wanted to break in my 58. It ran fine for, like, half an hour, but then it started to buck, jerk, make weird, scraping noises, slowed down. In short: it was broken, rather than broken in.
No service sheet, and I refuse to disassemble a loco drive engine without a manual or service sheet. So, in disappointment, I took the engine back to my dealer. He told me that more than half (!!!) of the engines he had sold had been returned by the customer showing similar running characteristics, and that this was a huge issue on German forums by now (I had to work a lot of overtime lately and didn´t check, but he was right), and that he will not order any new 58s until their quality has improved significantly. As of now, quality is sub-standard, and he is the one left with the hassle and the mad customers. Apparently, Hornby Germany has announced a revised issue where better quality can be expected, but that, of course, is of little help for those who already bought the engine.
Hornby, this was the very last chance I gave you. You blew it. I hereby vow to never, ever in my life purchase another locomotive manufactured by Hornby or any of its subsidiaries! Freight and passenger cars, maybe someday, but no more engines - ever. I can do without the disappointment of having to return my defective engine to the dealer for a refund.
The engine itself received good to average reviews in the press, but the dealers I spoke to and the forums see it differently. The quality of this engine is considered shoddy, the running quality sub-par (even the Modelleisenbahner magazine mentioned this), and, apparently, there seems to be an issue with the rods - no idea if this is true or not. Some engines also appear to have a faulty paint job.
Like I said, I´m very, very disappointed by Hornby - again. I had to return an engine which turned out to have quality issues to the dealer for a refund - again. If this is Hornby´s entry to the German market, sorry Hornby, but over here, we are very quality minded. This engine does not seem to meet continental European standards, quality-wise. And I really like the engine, love the rich details, and you all know that I gave Hornby a fair chance.
Oh yeah - my dealer exchanged the 58 for a Roco class 146.2, a DCC decoder, and a voucher for the rest of the money instead. Now, all I need to be a happy camper again are a couple of IRE coaches...