J15 was in use on the Witham to Maldon line before Beeching closed it down. The reason, I was advised many years ago, was due to the J15 locomotives lightweight construction, there were some timber-pile and trestle viaducts crossing the River Blackwater, the heavier locomotives after the bridges became weaker with age were no longer suited to use that line. I was also advised by this old railway worker that the J15 currently rebuilt at Norfolk did serve some time on the old Witham to Maldon line although I have no proof of that, but I want to think its true. Great model, I may buy one just to keep.
Have to say some manufacturers seem to delight in making the metal parts of there engines look like plastic, it's like they are embarrassed to admit they spent a bit of money on their product.
One of my favorite. It is the quintessential locomotive of the pre-1914 era, a pure britannica, a must-have for LNER and BR 4-5 periods. A staple of the branchlines in the eastern Midlands, Yorkshire and south of Scotland. Not impressive per se, but aesthetically simple, with pleasant lines, and a sens of britishness in her overall look. Think british classical locomotive, you've got the J15. Agree with you on the model, a good puller well decorated with few downsizes (plastic whistle, safety valves and reversing rod). Something more than decent, not bad for GBP 71.
@@Station_Master_13 It's also a nice engine, and my Bachmann model is a good puller too. I put her a small notch below the J15 for subjective aesthetic reasons, she is more "beefy" looking, and lacks the "cuteness" of the J15. But it is also a good example of UK classical locomotive.
I bought this locomotive yesterday and was really impressed with it's strong and smooth pulling, I managed to get it half price at £75 when it should've been £150, thanks to price hikes every year but still I can't complain. I can't think of a single bad thing to say about this locomotive.
Sam, as a thank you for keeping us entertained during these hard times, i have a poem Here we go Clickety Clack, Clickety Clack All the steamieas and diesels on the track But where do they go on such a rush? Ah yes, they go to the washdown for a brush
Got one of these a while back after watching your first review. I went for the British railways variant and the detail is stunning. Thanks for helping me make a choice on what loco to choose!
Well, Sam - you were not wrong. I just picked up a beautiful J15 "pre-owned" like new from Hattons for 66 pounds (can't type the symbol because Canadian keyboard). It is truly gorgeous. Lovely finish, great detail and tons of metal. Can't wait to finish painting some rolling stock. This needs to be pulling into Broad Street station with a rake of minerals pronto.
I’m glad to see such a bargain like this. Sometimes one of the problems for beginners is that they spend a lot of money on a layout, then get demotivated after seeing the massive price of a decent loco. A bargain like this is so appreciated.
Looking at B&W photos the color of the pipe work is the same shade as the boiler indicating that it was painted black as were the valves and whistle. The preserved vesion has a lined blue GER boiler with Red coupling rods and the "Clack valve" is brass with the pipe to it in copper. Stll a nice model
Yeah that's right - very difficult to tell though - different shots seem to show different things! The GER blue looks superb - I wish Hornby could have done that one! Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I bought one of these from Hattons last month for £71 and I'm pleased to agree with all your positive comments - it's a great model, well done Hornby! I'm lucky to see the real thing on the North Norfolk Railway where it's my favourite engine.
I remember buying mine a few years ago, it was £88 and that as on sale. I was originally going to purchase the Hornby LNER P2 when it came out but they’d sold out so I opted to purchase the J15, and I’ve never regretted that decision, I absolutely adore my engine. Excellent review.
I have a new Permant layout It is still being made so I have a small siding to work with tho. I willl send pics for wall of train. But I just want to say thank you for getting me into this hobby. I have laerned so much for have one large loco (it was my grand dads) and now have 14 in total the rollingstock is exploding out of the draw. So thank you Sam. Travis
I had ordered one of these over a month ago for a similar price (same livery, just a different number of 5444), it arrived about 2 weeks ago and I love it. I haven't been able to try it out yet as I have no layout lol.
This loco just became the first of my collection, discounting some of the Bachmann Thomas line and a couple next-to-scrap pieces I got at train shows when I was a kid. I am very excited to start modeling seriously for once!
If anyone is wondering what the line is across the front of the cab, that's where the roofline was when these ran as the y14s. The lner later fitted them with the higher cab you see here
Just picked one up for $75USD, couldn't be happier with it. What most surprised me was the flywheel, it took FOREVER to stop when power was cut, yet still had tons of pulling power and weight
I have one too and it is absolutely beautiful. It runs so well even on my dirtiest track. It's nice and little too so works well on stopping freight which is sometimes hard to come by. Honestly my best model good video too Sam, love your reviews you cover things the written ones just can't.
I would wholeheartedly agree with that title! When Hornby get it right, they really do get it right. My J15 is easily one of my favourite models thanks to its performance and, like you, I’m considering getting a second one 😁
Sam, you are right on the J15. A lovely little gem of an engine. The story of the building of a J15 in 9 hours 47 minutes is no idle tale. No. 930 was built at Stratford Works over that time on December 10-11, 1891. See page 110 of Cecil J. Allen’s “The Great Eastern Railway,” Ian Allan, London, 1955. It’s a good read by the way. Also by the way, I checked the fit of the roof on my example and there is no gap between the roof and the wind screen, so it must be an error on your model. Cheers, John Gondol
Love this model!!!! I have a character in the series I'm writing named John the J15, his story is he was shipped to Scotland on the day he was put into service and thus has a Scottish accent, he worked in Scotland for his whole life until 1950 when he was bought by the Burow Island Railway for freight work.
I managed to spot an 0-6-0 tank engine on one of the turntable roads, that seemed the odd one out to me. Just out of interest, have you ever considered doing a video on how you keep your layout so clean? There’s never a spec of dust anywhere, and your carpet is always immaculate. Is there a secret to stop dirt from being dragged up to the attic on your shoes? Do you clean it before each shoot? Fluff from under my mattress from when my layout ran under my bed is still something I’m cleaning out of some of my locos, and that layout last ran in 2012.
Yes I think that one must have been it! Yeah sure - though it's not very involved, just regular vacuuming does the trick!! Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I just want to thank you for this and some of your other videos. This is the second loco I have now ordered as a result of your video reviews. Very helpful indeed.
Nice one Sam, another great review. Only recently got into watching your channel but lots of great videos and entertainment. You've convinced me to order one of these J15's now. Keep up the good work and keep the videos coming
what i would really love to see is hornby releasing a new livery for the Locomotive in Great Eastern Railway (GER) blue representing the original Y14 classification.
This is my favourite model. I got one myself at a similar price as my first non beginners model. They only problem I found was a step not fitted properly under the cab, which was an easy fix. I give it an easy 9.5/10 for the price
A friend of mind give me yesterday an old Marklin signal to restore but that is soo dificult to restore... It have a solenoid that pull a switch to change the lights and at the same time push another switch to turn on a light on the controll panel but it will work again.
Hi Sam. I got one of these from Hattons just now, in BR black with the early crest, still for just £79.00 + p&p. Tremendous bargain. Looking forward to running it in soon, once I have moved into my new house. Best, Pete.
Bure Valley Railway Models (Aylsham, Norfolk) have been selling these for £75 pounds for months. Bure Valley prices are always comparable to Hattons and Rails of Sheffield and always worth a look.
I've had my j15 for about 2 years now and its survived many thrashes, gradients ( very very steep), and drops on the floor. despite having the most damage of all my locomotives it has survived all of it with only a little glue here and there. sadly the only thing that hasn't been fixed is one of the buffers which completly shattered when it hit the floor. Even with the the damage my j15n is still going strong and is my favorite model that I own.
Hi Sam I agree with your review. A wonderful little loco. I have a micro layout of Snape which I built a few years ago. The J15 was the loco most used on the Snape branch and my second hand J15 performs beautifully. But here’s the thing I also have a larger Triang based vintage layout using the old Super 4 track. I have a fair number of Triang stock from when I was a boy. I thought “what a pity the J15 will not run well on the old track.” But I tried it anyway and found it runs beautifully, even over the problematic Super4 points!! In fact it negotiates the points even better than one of my Triang locos!! Thanks for a great video.
Thanks a lot Barry - definitely a perfect loco for you then! Great to hear it works on the old track too - fantastic models! Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Love the J15! Had my eye on it for some time; even before this review, and I can't wait to order one! Although, I'll have to act rather quickly before they're gone, won't I? Great review as always Sam; look forward to more!
Oh wow that's awesome - yes Bachmann's diesels are much better - can't think of any Bachmann steamers with a flywheel though! Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Hatton have a super sale on these stunners (down to £79 a throw), also rebuilt patriot, K1 and b17 ‘footballers’ right now - amazing savings! I’m not a Hattons employee BTW, just don’t want anyone missing out.
Can you use di-electric grease on the pick-ups to cut down on the friction on the tender? Usually it is used to prevent connections from sticking or open connectors from corroding.
Yes I tend to use petroleum jelly - though usually it's not necessary if you adjust the pickups correctly! I tend to over-correct them to get the best possible connection... just went a bit too far in this case! Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I had one of these on pre-order and it was dead as a doornail when it arrived. I sent it back and got another one which was also dead, although I have a sneaking suspicion it was the exact same model. After that the price shot up by around £ 40 and I just wasn't prepared to go through all that again on the off chance it worked. Today I found one for sale for £ 60 'as new' from Rails of Sheffield which has been tested to make sure it's okay. Looking forward to getting it as it's a lovely little loco. I just wish that these things were tested by Hornby before they're boxed up for sale. Most models I've bought from them have been fantastic, but then every so often you get the unsightly glue marks, the wobbly paint lines, bad wiring and dodgy printing. Quality control, if they even have such a thing, is very hit and miss. If they can produce a beauty like the Peckett, why can't they do that with every loco?
That's a great pity - sorry to hear that! I've had that happen before - returned a model, and had the same one sent back to me... can't understand why they waste their time/money doing that! Yep - a bit of quality control would go a long way! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Your enthusiasm was intoxicating there. I do not have a layout and watch your videos for nostalgic reasons but I'm almost of a mind to buy that loco merely for display purposes.
Bought one in BR livery, three weeks ago from a certain well known interweb wholesaler named after a river, brand new for £70.00 (postage free) Very nice. Very slow gearing for slow smooth running especially well suited for pulling coal trains. Missed out on an LNER version, but she is still a very sweet loco.
Re the gap between the front of the cab and the roof - photos on the Hattons site showing all three variants *all* show the gap quite clearly, whereas in the photo of the prototype it does not appear to have a gap. Factory 2nds? I'd buy one and use some black gap sealer on it - properly wiped down no-one would ever know...
I am strongly considering doing a 009 scale layout, just waiting for the retailers to get the Peco 009 beginners set track starter set back in and then get a loco.
@@HDNitroGaming I am in no rush at the moment as I know Peco are still recovering after they re-opened the factory after the Covid lockdown. But I will definitely be purchasing some track and looking into making a small layout
I bought mine last November from Kernow for £72 , it is the one with the red coupling rods . It does look very good and runs well but the motor does have a bit off a whine to it .On checking the availability of a spare motor in case I need one for the future I was shocked to find there are none available , that is unacceptable.
Wow! That's incredible too - great bargain! Yes that's true - Hornby's spares availability does leave a lot to be desired :( Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I don't know but just a feeling, I think you liked that one Sam. Quite rightly so as well. What a beautiful model and well deserving of the score you gave it. Many thanks as always.
I'm gonna get me one of those Sam what gorgeous little locomotive and a great review as usual . gonna get one right now 27.12 20 only just seen this review Sam cheers buddy.
Out of the 0-6-0 LNER Tender Engines you have, I'd say I love Maude the most. Only because she's a TTS Sound engine. Perhaps I might have a third favourite LNER Tender Engine, behind Mallard and Scottie. She would be Maude, I don't know why. Maybe I just love the engine for what she is on the inside. LNER Tender Engines, big or small, hold a certain charm for me I guess. It's hard not to love them. On the subject of the GWR Dean Goods intruder, I'd say the best performing GWR engine you've got is City of Truro. Unlike some of your other Great Western Engines, she hasn't stalled or derailed at all. Broome Manor comes close behind her, performance wise. I'm in the process of buying the new Hornby 51xx Large Prairie Tank Engine, in Great Western Green. My line-up of Great Western Engines keeps changing, I admit. When the new recruit comes along, the change will stop there. I'm 100% sure of it.
Finally a model with a 5-poke skew wound motor with dual flywheels! Been waiting for an engine with a good mechanism and this little engine delivers for a good price.
This is currently £68 and just £50 for the BR early crest @cheltenham model centre! Following this review just got the BR one and almost tempted to pick it up in LNER as well. Has some lovely red coupling rods and banding on the boiler so arguably even better looking than the J15 in LNER.
Do you think that someone could fit a TTS Decoder and speaker in the tender of one of these? Thinking about getting one and putting a J36 decoder in it.
I'm sure you'd have no problem - the only thing I'd check would be the diamter of the speaker, since the tender is rather slim, but otherwise, you should be fine! :D Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Is nice to know there is a 00 gauge version of the J15 as one day I may get back into model railways and recreate a part of the long lost branch line that existed in my home town, that had a J15 doing goods service for the nearby jam factory.
I bought one of these following your video and it is hands down my favorite train. Superb in near every way. I would be interested in a video of something like your top 5 locos that are available now for less than £100. I find it hard to justify myself spending more than that, so your videos have been helpful at finding some gems (fancying an N7 soon I think). Anyhow, just wanted to suggest that idea as it would definitely help people like myself!
Thanks for this review. I acquired one from Hattons for £71 following your recommendation. It truly is a great loco especially when considering the price.
I've one of these J15's in BR Late Crest black. They are awesome models, the real locos will forever be connected with the GER, M&GN and of course, the Mid Suffolk Light Railway after the LNER took over the line. Most notable loco was 65447, an Ipswich loco iirc, but she was probs the most common of the J15's on the MSLR. Great review of the loco btw, but if ya model East Anglian railways in the days of steam, you seriously need at least 1 of these locos in your stud
Just a lovely engine. My only gripe is the handrails on the boiler; they should be perpendicular to the boiler and not horizontal. The cab roof I can forgive because it allows the early version. I just want it in GER blue!
Pedant Alert! Re. the drawing on the back of the box. The centre-to-rear wheelbase of the loco should be 2591mm, giving a total of 4902mm. I'll go now.
What is the market position for this compared to starter set machines? Does Hornby have kind of the same level arrangement as is used in Europe (basic starter set, advanced starter set, full train package without track, separate locomotive ) with increasing detail levels
Yeah they just have their two ranges, Hornby Railroad (basic cheaper models), and Hornby Railways (stuff like this, much better but more expensive). They've also started doing some in-between; railroad locos with more complex liveries, known as Railroad Plus! Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Beautiful model Sam! Amazing these engines hold the record of one being constructed! Sad only one wasn’t scrapped but we’re lucky to have that example!
Hi sam just got my j15 today. After awhile of not running it I came back upstairs to run it again and I needed to bump start it to get it running. I tried pushing it along wouldn't work. Got it running. Any suggestions to well work properly
I have that model, it was already amazing before the price drop. Runs smooth, reliably and feels good being mostly metal. If Hornby keeps making models to this level they will leave everyone else eating dust.
Sam I went right away and purchased one of those engines from Hatton’s . I liked your video so much . I think is a great deal to so I did not want to miss out on one. Thank you for the unboxing video.
Nice review on the Hornby J15! I believe I’ve seen you done a review on this locomotive before but it looks like you’re doing a re-review on it which is pretty nice! I love the look of the J15, it has an old fashioned look to it! The detail looks spot on and same thing goes for the performance, mechanism, and quality of the model! This is one cool looking 0-6-0 tender locomotive! So overall, I’m giving this Hornby J15 a “B+”! Nice re-review on the Hornby J15 locomotive! 😃👍
Ahh sorry to hear that - you need a 2.5mm nutspinner to tighten them up gently. If it happened from new, you could return it for a replacement! Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Have this in BR late marking, just a beautiful loco , looks great , performance very realistic and impeccable running out of the box , and the price was low , would pay more for another , would love to have a tts sound version if possible
I think another HO scale manufacturer you should look at is Broadway Limited Imports. American rolling stock and locomotives that have sound and smoke.
Hey Sam. I'm after a new loco, and want something with similar running gear to my j15. It's the smoothest loco I've ever had, even if it does run a little slow due to the gearing. Can you reccomend anything else which has a similar running gear, but the size of an A3 class? I have a king edward, which in my option is gear way too high, the thing absolutely fly's even at low speed settings, no flywheel so it stops dead, just not a smooth drive
Sounds good Matt! I can't think of any larger Hornby locos that run quite as well as this one does, but their LNER pacifics are generally a safe bet! Check out some of their GWR 4-6-0s too - the kings and castles are also marvellous runners! :D Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Great video Sam. I’ve got a quick question. In America starting in the 1950s we started importing brass locomotive models from Japan. Did Britain do something similar or are there no brass models of British locomotives?
Ahh very interesting! There are no brass models RTR as far as I know, though Wrenn/Dublo did some solid die-cast locos back in the day! Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Hi Sam Great video, I looked on Hattons site but I could not see R 3380 J15 They have J15 R 3414 and R3415 at £71 do you know if this is the same specification
Love the “stabs” you made at the manufacturer’s. Priceless. Great video
haha thank you - I really can't help it! ;D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
When did Bachmann release the Midland class 2F 0-6-0?
J15 was in use on the Witham to Maldon line before Beeching closed it down. The reason, I was advised many years ago, was due to the J15 locomotives lightweight construction, there were some timber-pile and trestle viaducts crossing the River Blackwater, the heavier locomotives after the bridges became weaker with age were no longer suited to use that line. I was also advised by this old railway worker that the J15 currently rebuilt at Norfolk did serve some time on the old Witham to Maldon line although I have no proof of that, but I want to think its true.
Great model, I may buy one just to keep.
"metalic looking metal"
my brain had a tiny little stroke for a moment
haha I guess mine did too - talking nonsense! ;D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Sam'sTrains smokers are jokers
Hmmmm.... There's something fishy here!
Have to say some manufacturers seem to delight in making the metal parts of there engines look like plastic, it's like they are embarrassed to admit they spent a bit of money on their product.
One of my favorite. It is the quintessential locomotive of the pre-1914 era, a pure britannica, a must-have for LNER and BR 4-5 periods. A staple of the branchlines in the eastern Midlands, Yorkshire and south of Scotland. Not impressive per se, but aesthetically simple, with pleasant lines, and a sens of britishness in her overall look. Think british classical locomotive, you've got the J15.
Agree with you on the model, a good puller well decorated with few downsizes (plastic whistle, safety valves and reversing rod). Something more than decent, not bad for GBP 71.
Yeah agreed - absolutely wonderful aren't they? Very simple, but effective!! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Oliver, what do u think of the johnson 3f (tender loco)?
@@Station_Master_13 It's also a nice engine, and my Bachmann model is a good puller too. I put her a small notch below the J15 for subjective aesthetic reasons, she is more "beefy" looking, and lacks the "cuteness" of the J15. But it is also a good example of UK classical locomotive.
@@OlivierGabin here here
I bought this locomotive yesterday and was really impressed with it's strong and smooth pulling, I managed to get it half price at £75 when it should've been £150, thanks to price hikes every year but still I can't complain. I can't think of a single bad thing to say about this locomotive.
Sam: "such a tiny loco"
N Gauge: "Am I a joke to you?"
haha!! xD
😂
Z Gauge: "AM I a joke to you"
@@ipsummus4264 T gauge: AM I A JOKE TO YOU!?!?!?
That one is very smol
Sam, as a thank you for keeping us entertained during these hard times, i have a poem
Here we go
Clickety Clack, Clickety Clack
All the steamieas and diesels on the track
But where do they go on such a rush?
Ah yes, they go to the washdown for a brush
That's my pleasure! And thanks for the poem - that's lovely!! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Got one of these a while back after watching your first review. I went for the British railways variant and the detail is stunning.
Thanks for helping me make a choice on what loco to choose!
Great to hear that mate - they are stunning! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Well, Sam - you were not wrong. I just picked up a beautiful J15 "pre-owned" like new from Hattons for 66 pounds (can't type the symbol because Canadian keyboard). It is truly gorgeous. Lovely finish, great detail and tons of metal. Can't wait to finish painting some rolling stock. This needs to be pulling into Broad Street station with a rake of minerals pronto.
I’m glad to see such a bargain like this. Sometimes one of the problems for beginners is that they spend a lot of money on a layout, then get demotivated after seeing the massive price of a decent loco. A bargain like this is so appreciated.
Yes that's right - it can be a problem - great that things like this exist! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Looking at B&W photos the color of the pipe work is the same shade as the boiler indicating that it was painted black as were the valves and whistle. The preserved vesion has a lined blue GER boiler with Red coupling rods and the "Clack valve" is brass with the pipe to it in copper. Stll a nice model
Yeah that's right - very difficult to tell though - different shots seem to show different things! The GER blue looks superb - I wish Hornby could have done that one!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I bought one of these from Hattons last month for £71 and I'm pleased to agree with all your positive comments - it's a great model, well done Hornby! I'm lucky to see the real thing on the North Norfolk Railway where it's my favourite engine.
Wow that's fantastic - great to hear you're happy too - just fantastic!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I remember buying mine a few years ago, it was £88 and that as on sale. I was originally going to purchase the Hornby LNER P2 when it came out but they’d sold out so I opted to purchase the J15, and I’ve never regretted that decision, I absolutely adore my engine. Excellent review.
That's still very good - you made the correct choice in my opinion - this is far better quality than the P2!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
17:20 : practical demonstration of why a good mechanical design adds a tremendous realism on a model.
Absolutely right - can't be contested!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I have a new Permant layout It is still being made so I have a small siding to work with tho. I willl send pics for wall of train. But I just want to say thank you for getting me into this hobby. I have laerned so much for have one large loco (it was my grand dads) and now have 14 in total the rollingstock is exploding out of the draw. So thank you Sam.
Travis
Ooh fantastic - yeah sure send me some pics! That's my pleasure, so good to hear that you're getting into it yourself! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I had ordered one of these over a month ago for a similar price (same livery, just a different number of 5444), it arrived about 2 weeks ago and I love it. I haven't been able to try it out yet as I have no layout lol.
Ooh fantastic - hope it works very well for you!! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Thanks Sam, I hope so too :D
This loco just became the first of my collection, discounting some of the Bachmann Thomas line and a couple next-to-scrap pieces I got at train shows when I was a kid. I am very excited to start modeling seriously for once!
Amazing! Welcome to the club - you won't regret this at all!!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
If anyone is wondering what the line is across the front of the cab, that's where the roofline was when these ran as the y14s. The lner later fitted them with the higher cab you see here
Ahh that's very interesting - thanks a lot for sharing Brad! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Just picked one up for $75USD, couldn't be happier with it. What most surprised me was the flywheel, it took FOREVER to stop when power was cut, yet still had tons of pulling power and weight
I want to get mine in BR black as this is an exemplary model for model railways thanks for the upload mate 🙂🙂
Ahh fantastic - I'd really recommend it! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I have BR black it pretty good
I have one too and it is absolutely beautiful. It runs so well even on my dirtiest track. It's nice and little too so works well on stopping freight which is sometimes hard to come by. Honestly my best model good video too Sam, love your reviews you cover things the written ones just can't.
Just got myself one of these, so pleased. My all time favourite locomotive
I would wholeheartedly agree with that title! When Hornby get it right, they really do get it right. My J15 is easily one of my favourite models thanks to its performance and, like you, I’m considering getting a second one 😁
haha great to hear that - they certainly do get it right on models like these! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Sam, you are right on the J15. A lovely little gem of an engine. The story of the building of a J15 in 9 hours 47 minutes is no idle tale. No. 930 was built at Stratford Works over that time on December 10-11, 1891. See page 110 of Cecil J. Allen’s “The Great Eastern Railway,” Ian Allan, London, 1955. It’s a good read by the way. Also by the way, I checked the fit of the roof on my example and there is no gap between the roof and the wind screen, so it must be an error on your model.
Cheers,
John Gondol
Many thanks for that John - and blimey, that does sound fantastic, I'll have to check it out! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Love this model!!!! I have a character in the series I'm writing named John the J15, his story is he was shipped to Scotland on the day he was put into service and thus has a Scottish accent, he worked in Scotland for his whole life until 1950 when he was bought by the Burow Island Railway for freight work.
haha that sounds awesome - love the name John for that! Good luck with the series! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I managed to spot an 0-6-0 tank engine on one of the turntable roads, that seemed the odd one out to me. Just out of interest, have you ever considered doing a video on how you keep your layout so clean? There’s never a spec of dust anywhere, and your carpet is always immaculate. Is there a secret to stop dirt from being dragged up to the attic on your shoes? Do you clean it before each shoot? Fluff from under my mattress from when my layout ran under my bed is still something I’m cleaning out of some of my locos, and that layout last ran in 2012.
Yes I think that one must have been it! Yeah sure - though it's not very involved, just regular vacuuming does the trick!!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
The j15 and j36 and the 700 class look lovely together
Yeah I agree - they're quite similar!! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I just want to thank you for this and some of your other videos. This is the second loco I have now ordered as a result of your video reviews. Very helpful indeed.
That's awesome to hear John, my pleasure! Hope you really enjoy it! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
It looks like Donald and Douglas and I remember it was on Amazon for around $200 for LNER liveries and BR liveries
haha yeah everyone's saying this - blimey that's a lot!! D:
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Finally someone said it
Donald and Douglas were Caledonian Railway 812 class locos. Rails have commissioned Bachmann to do one.
Nice one Sam, another great review. Only recently got into watching your channel but lots of great videos and entertainment. You've convinced me to order one of these J15's now. Keep up the good work and keep the videos coming
Thanks so much, that's really good to hear - hope you enjoy it!! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I've a Hornby model of the LNER J15 no. 7524 and with this model I've got, mine works very well.
Very lovely! Glad to hear yours works well!! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
@@SamsTrains Cheers, mate. ;)
what i would really love to see is hornby releasing a new livery for the Locomotive in Great Eastern Railway (GER) blue representing the original Y14 classification.
This is my favourite model. I got one myself at a similar price as my first non beginners model. They only problem I found was a step not fitted properly under the cab, which was an easy fix. I give it an easy 9.5/10 for the price
Thanks Matt - great to hear that! At least you were able to fix the step! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
A friend of mind give me yesterday an old Marklin signal to restore but that is soo dificult to restore... It have a solenoid that pull a switch to change the lights and at the same time push another switch to turn on a light on the controll panel but it will work again.
Ooh lucky you! Good luck - hopefully you can do it!! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
@@SamsTrains ok, 24 hours after... The signal work again!!!! I'm invencible! I can't wait to see my friend's face when I show him this...
14:35 lol I died laughing but so true
haha glad you liked that!! ;D
Hi Sam. I got one of these from Hattons just now, in BR black with the early crest, still for just £79.00 + p&p. Tremendous bargain. Looking forward to running it in soon, once I have moved into my new house. Best, Pete.
Bure Valley Railway Models (Aylsham, Norfolk) have been selling these for £75 pounds for months. Bure Valley prices are always comparable to Hattons and Rails of Sheffield and always worth a look.
Thanks for the tip - I'll check those out!! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
@Sam'sTrains
I've been on that at the NNR (north Norfolk railway). But I travelled on the coach that inspired the rev awdry himself!
Lovely quality loco. Love this Hornby model along with the Drummond 700 and the J50.
Thanks a lot mate - ooh me too, those are awesome too!! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I've had my j15 for about 2 years now and its survived many thrashes, gradients ( very very steep), and drops on the floor. despite having the most damage of all my locomotives it has survived all of it with only a little glue here and there. sadly the only thing that hasn't been fixed is one of the buffers which completly shattered when it hit the floor. Even with the the damage my j15n is still going strong and is my favorite model that I own.
Hi Sam I agree with your review. A wonderful little loco. I have a micro layout of Snape which I built a few years ago. The J15 was the loco most used on the Snape branch and my second hand J15 performs beautifully. But here’s the thing I also have a larger Triang based vintage layout using the old Super 4 track. I have a fair number of Triang stock from when I was a boy. I thought “what a pity the J15 will not run well on the old track.” But I tried it anyway and found it runs beautifully, even over the problematic Super4 points!! In fact it negotiates the points even better than one of my Triang locos!! Thanks for a great video.
Thanks a lot Barry - definitely a perfect loco for you then! Great to hear it works on the old track too - fantastic models!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Love the J15! Had my eye on it for some time; even before this review, and I can't wait to order one! Although, I'll have to act rather quickly before they're gone, won't I? Great review as always Sam; look forward to more!
Me too!! Yeah go for it - one version has sold out already!! D:
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I nearly bought one of these earlier this year but went for the J36. Both are amazing models. Love the 0-6-0 tender engines
Ahh the J36 is equally good - they really are great! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I have an HO scale Bachmann diesel with two flywheels. It is an American F3 Southern Pacific diesel.
Oh wow that's awesome - yes Bachmann's diesels are much better - can't think of any Bachmann steamers with a flywheel though!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Hatton have a super sale on these stunners (down to £79 a throw), also rebuilt patriot, K1 and b17 ‘footballers’ right now - amazing savings! I’m not a Hattons employee BTW, just don’t want anyone missing out.
Can you use di-electric grease on the pick-ups to cut down on the friction on the tender? Usually it is used to prevent connections from sticking or open connectors from corroding.
Yes I tend to use petroleum jelly - though usually it's not necessary if you adjust the pickups correctly! I tend to over-correct them to get the best possible connection... just went a bit too far in this case!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I had one of these on pre-order and it was dead as a doornail when it arrived. I sent it back and got another one which was also dead, although I have a sneaking suspicion it was the exact same model. After that the price shot up by around £ 40 and I just wasn't prepared to go through all that again on the off chance it worked. Today I found one for sale for £ 60 'as new' from Rails of Sheffield which has been tested to make sure it's okay. Looking forward to getting it as it's a lovely little loco. I just wish that these things were tested by Hornby before they're boxed up for sale. Most models I've bought from them have been fantastic, but then every so often you get the unsightly glue marks, the wobbly paint lines, bad wiring and dodgy printing. Quality control, if they even have such a thing, is very hit and miss. If they can produce a beauty like the Peckett, why can't they do that with every loco?
That's a great pity - sorry to hear that! I've had that happen before - returned a model, and had the same one sent back to me... can't understand why they waste their time/money doing that! Yep - a bit of quality control would go a long way!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Your enthusiasm was intoxicating there. I do not have a layout and watch your videos for nostalgic reasons but I'm almost of a mind to buy that loco merely for display purposes.
Thanks a lot Geoff - I'd highly recommend it if you can find one, they're wonderful! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Bought one in BR livery, three weeks ago from a certain well known interweb wholesaler named after a river, brand new for £70.00 (postage free) Very nice. Very slow gearing for slow smooth running especially well suited for pulling coal trains. Missed out on an LNER version, but she is still a very sweet loco.
Ahh fantastic - that's incredibly good! Great to hear you're happy! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Re the gap between the front of the cab and the roof - photos on the Hattons site showing all three variants *all* show the gap quite clearly, whereas in the photo of the prototype it does not appear to have a gap. Factory 2nds? I'd buy one and use some black gap sealer on it - properly wiped down no-one would ever know...
Then I'd guess it was a design fault from Hornby - if many examples don't fit right, I think that's fair to assume!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Hey Sam, have you looked into OO-9 Gauge? It’s narrow gauge in the scale of 1:76 but it uses n gauge track. Would love to see a video on it
I have looked into it yeah, I'd love to try it some time! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I am strongly considering doing a 009 scale layout, just waiting for the retailers to get the Peco 009 beginners set track starter set back in and then get a loco.
Ben Tullett I was waiting for the 009 set track but gave up. Decided to go for normal n gauge track, it’s cheaper as well
@@HDNitroGaming I am in no rush at the moment as I know Peco are still recovering after they re-opened the factory after the Covid lockdown. But I will definitely be purchasing some track and looking into making a small layout
I bought mine last November from Kernow for £72 , it is the one with the red coupling rods . It does look very good and runs well but the motor does have a bit off a whine to it .On checking the availability of a spare motor in case I need one for the future I was shocked to find there are none available , that is unacceptable.
Wow! That's incredible too - great bargain! Yes that's true - Hornby's spares availability does leave a lot to be desired :(
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Hey Sam - just saw these are on special again: 79 for the BR version! Just snapped one up
Is the big red wheel in the cab the reverser? That would be my best guess.
Always loved hornby’s range . This ticks all the right boxes for me !
Me too - close to perfection! :D
I don't know but just a feeling, I think you liked that one Sam. Quite rightly so as well. What a beautiful model and well deserving of the score you gave it. Many thanks as always.
haha you might be right there yeah! Just struggling to fault it, genuinely!! ;D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Very pretty locomotive with very pleasing proportions. Have re-numbered mine to the one which often ran into my local station.
Thanks a lot Billy - that sounds lovely, a nice personal touch! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I'm gonna get me one of those Sam what gorgeous little locomotive and a great review as usual . gonna get one right now 27.12 20 only just seen this review Sam cheers buddy.
I'd recommend it Tony - really hope you enjoy it!! :D
Happy New Year - Sam :)
I got it today Sam real nice. Happy new year pal
I'm buying myself one of these for Christmas, as well as the D16. The D16 in LNER black and the J15 in br black with red con rods.
Ooh great choice - they are truly wonderful models! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Out of the 0-6-0 LNER Tender Engines you have, I'd say I love Maude the most. Only because she's a TTS Sound engine. Perhaps I might have a third favourite LNER Tender Engine, behind Mallard and Scottie. She would be Maude, I don't know why. Maybe I just love the engine for what she is on the inside. LNER Tender Engines, big or small, hold a certain charm for me I guess. It's hard not to love them. On the subject of the GWR Dean Goods intruder, I'd say the best performing GWR engine you've got is City of Truro. Unlike some of your other Great Western Engines, she hasn't stalled or derailed at all. Broome Manor comes close behind her, performance wise. I'm in the process of buying the new Hornby 51xx Large Prairie Tank Engine, in Great Western Green. My line-up of Great Western Engines keeps changing, I admit. When the new recruit comes along, the change will stop there. I'm 100% sure of it.
Yeah Maude is the other good one - those are fantastic quality too!! Thanks for sharing all of thise!! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Finally a model with a 5-poke skew wound motor with dual flywheels! Been waiting for an engine with a good mechanism and this little engine delivers for a good price.
Absolutely right - it's what we pay for every time, but rarely get!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
This is currently £68 and just £50 for the BR early crest @cheltenham model centre! Following this review just got the BR one and almost tempted to pick it up in LNER as well. Has some lovely red coupling rods and banding on the boiler so arguably even better looking than the J15 in LNER.
Wow! Epic bargain there - highly recommended!! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains I know I couldn't believe it!
Do you think that someone could fit a TTS Decoder and speaker in the tender of one of these? Thinking about getting one and putting a J36 decoder in it.
I'm sure you'd have no problem - the only thing I'd check would be the diamter of the speaker, since the tender is rather slim, but otherwise, you should be fine! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Is nice to know there is a 00 gauge version of the J15 as one day I may get back into model railways and recreate a part of the long lost branch line that existed in my home town, that had a J15 doing goods service for the nearby jam factory.
Ahh absolutely! That sounds lovely too!! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I bought one of these following your video and it is hands down my favorite train. Superb in near every way. I would be interested in a video of something like your top 5 locos that are available now for less than £100. I find it hard to justify myself spending more than that, so your videos have been helpful at finding some gems (fancying an N7 soon I think). Anyhow, just wanted to suggest that idea as it would definitely help people like myself!
That's amazing to hear - I can see why it's your favourite, they did an amazing job! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Hi how did you free up the wheels on the tender because my wheels are stuck too thx
Thanks for this review. I acquired one from Hattons for £71 following your recommendation. It truly is a great loco especially when considering the price.
Thanks Ian - glad you're pleased with yours - at £71, it's a wonderful model!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Are the center driving wheels closer to the front ones or are they the same distance
Just bought 65464 late crest. 10/10. What a beauty!
Fantastic! They really are beauties! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
*GOOD EVENING, BACHMANN.*
*GOOD EVENING, HELJAN.*
This absolutely killed me.
Great review, I'll have to add this to my list of things to buy as well.
haha I couldn't resist! And I can highly recommend it! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I've one of these J15's in BR Late Crest black. They are awesome models, the real locos will forever be connected with the GER, M&GN and of course, the Mid Suffolk Light Railway after the LNER took over the line. Most notable loco was 65447, an Ipswich loco iirc, but she was probs the most common of the J15's on the MSLR.
Great review of the loco btw, but if ya model East Anglian railways in the days of steam, you seriously need at least 1 of these locos in your stud
Glad to hear that - they are wonderful! Many thanks for all the info! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Sam you have now convinced me to finally buy the J15 after a year and a half of thinking about buying one
Ahh fantastic - I can highly recommend it - just go quickly before they're all gone - one version has already sold out!!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Just a lovely engine. My only gripe is the handrails on the boiler; they should be perpendicular to the boiler and not horizontal. The cab roof I can forgive because it allows the early version. I just want it in GER blue!
Yes others have said that too - a very good spot!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Sam just revisited this and would like to say that the J15 have the Ger blue as a pre grouping livery. Would be nice to see in the 2021 range :).
It certainly would Matt - if only Hornby would do it!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Pedant Alert! Re. the drawing on the back of the box. The centre-to-rear wheelbase of the loco should be 2591mm, giving a total of 4902mm. I'll go now.
haha thanks Allen - do you think that was off then?! ;D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
What is the market position for this compared to starter set machines? Does Hornby have kind of the same level arrangement as is used in Europe (basic starter set, advanced starter set, full train package without track, separate locomotive ) with increasing detail levels
Yeah they just have their two ranges, Hornby Railroad (basic cheaper models), and Hornby Railways (stuff like this, much better but more expensive). They've also started doing some in-between; railroad locos with more complex liveries, known as Railroad Plus!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Hello there everybody
Sam'strains here! :D
@@SamsTrains welcome back to the railway
E
@@TR9trainspotting you
you ruined it
@@wiltothecollector4420 cool
This review's so good! Laughed loads at the comparison to other manufacturers. Absolutely love the model too :)
haha thanks so much - really glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
As soon as I watched this review my grandad gifted me this train. It’s fantastic!!!!!
Ooh amazing - you lucky devil!! :O
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Beautiful model Sam! Amazing these engines hold the record of one being constructed! Sad only one wasn’t scrapped but we’re lucky to have that example!
Thanks Ryno, I thought that was amazing too! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Hi sam just got my j15 today. After awhile of not running it I came back upstairs to run it again and I needed to bump start it to get it running. I tried pushing it along wouldn't work. Got it running. Any suggestions to well work properly
Sorry to hear that Craig, sounds like it could be an issue with the pickups or wheels - are they clean??
Merry Christmas - Sam :)
@@SamsTrains wheels are clean and put pressure on the pickups and works fine now
😀
I have that model, it was already amazing before the price drop. Runs smooth, reliably and feels good being mostly metal. If Hornby keeps making models to this level they will leave everyone else eating dust.
You're right - it's even reasonable at full price - let's hope they do this more often!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Sam I went right away and purchased one of those engines from Hatton’s . I liked your video so much . I think is a great deal to so I did not want to miss out on one. Thank you for the unboxing video.
Ooh awesome - really hope you enjoy it! They have all sold out now - so you got there just in time!! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Sam, would the non rolling wheels in the tender affect the pulling power?
Yes they would - but not by an amount great enough to be measurable with my tools!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Nice review on the Hornby J15! I believe I’ve seen you done a review on this locomotive before but it looks like you’re doing a re-review on it which is pretty nice! I love the look of the J15, it has an old fashioned look to it! The detail looks spot on and same thing goes for the performance, mechanism, and quality of the model! This is one cool looking 0-6-0 tender locomotive! So overall, I’m giving this Hornby J15 a “B+”! Nice re-review on the Hornby J15 locomotive! 😃👍
Yes I did do this some years ago - thought it was time to revisit! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
My friend has one and it has crankpin issues were it comes out
Ahh sorry to hear that - you need a 2.5mm nutspinner to tighten them up gently. If it happened from new, you could return it for a replacement!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Have this in BR late marking, just a beautiful loco , looks great , performance very realistic and impeccable running out of the box , and the price was low , would pay more for another , would love to have a tts sound version if possible
Ahh that sounds great Nigel - they are incredible models aren't they? :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Out of curiosity did this come with accessories? If so how did you put them on, I recently got a Hornby J15 and the instructions aren’t much help
Do u know where I can get a copper caped funnel for my j15 as I dropped it and there is a nasty crack in the funnel
I think another HO scale manufacturer you should look at is Broadway Limited Imports. American rolling stock and locomotives that have sound and smoke.
Yeah absolutely - I have heard a great deal about those! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I bought one from rails a couple of week ago for 69 quid, it's such a good smooth runner, way better than my king class which cost about 50 quid more!
Wow, stunning price! And they are indeed - incredibly good runners!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Hey Sam. I'm after a new loco, and want something with similar running gear to my j15. It's the smoothest loco I've ever had, even if it does run a little slow due to the gearing. Can you reccomend anything else which has a similar running gear, but the size of an A3 class? I have a king edward, which in my option is gear way too high, the thing absolutely fly's even at low speed settings, no flywheel so it stops dead, just not a smooth drive
Sounds good Matt! I can't think of any larger Hornby locos that run quite as well as this one does, but their LNER pacifics are generally a safe bet! Check out some of their GWR 4-6-0s too - the kings and castles are also marvellous runners! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Hey Sam do you think I should get this or the hattons Katie. I want a shunter however I love the Hornby j15 so which would you recommend?
Ooh tricky - that's totally up to you - they're both equally fantastic! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Mine goes round my curves on the close hook thing ( they are between 2nd and 3rd)
Ooh okay, thanks for sharing! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Great review again Sam- for anyone thinking of getting one, I got mine from Collets Models for £60- that’s less than half price!
Thanks so much - oh wow that's very good indeed!! :O
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Hi Sam, I`m from Japan. Thank U for a great review of J15 so that I decided to buy!
That's awesome to hear - hope the J15 is good for you! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I just received mine today and it is everything Sam says it is!
Unfortunately, my J15 was dead and he is under restoration at model shop now🥺
I hope he will be back at my railway soon!
20:03 bachmann j11 and 20:05 hornby j36 and 20:21 bachmann 1f and hornby 700 class
Very well spotted Jeff! :D
Great video Sam. I’ve got a quick question. In America starting in the 1950s we started importing brass locomotive models from Japan. Did Britain do something similar or are there no brass models of British locomotives?
Ahh very interesting! There are no brass models RTR as far as I know, though Wrenn/Dublo did some solid die-cast locos back in the day!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I believe the odd one out is the BR locomotive next to the turntable? I'm guessing that's an 0-4-2.
Well spotted! I think that's right! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Hi Sam
Great video,
I looked on Hattons site but I could not see R 3380
J15
They have J15 R 3414 and R3415 at £71 do you know if this is the same specification
Yes sadly they sold out really fast - it's the same, just a different version!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
I love the versions with the red coupling rods even though they are in BR black and not LNER or GER
I do too Billy - always wanted one of those!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)