Another excellent review from Melchester. Adds history to the technical information and running experience. Really helpful to modellers. Many thanks.🙂

great review, it amazes me that they don't test some of these locos on different track layouts prior to signing off the EP.

Finally someone willing to criticise this model for its flaws. My two have the same defects which the researcher defines as "minor manufacturing issues..................... affecting very few models".

hi there, great video, as a child i remember these locos 20002 and 20003,the sound is about right, great memories of them, ! why the clowns at BR scrapped them i don't know. i have the black version.

Nice review and history. Also initially had Peco point gremlins with my BR green 20002, quite surprised me. Noticed the large side to side movement of all axles and uneven pick up pressures and as you say some not contacting at times. Adjusting all the pickups helped contact/centralise the axles and seems to have (fingers crossed) done the trick. This is a must have loco because I spotted the real 20002 at Norwood Junction many years ago when I was a kid.

Great review - enjoyed the intro as well. Tbh I just shudder at most EFE models, so nothing in any of the reviews on this surprise me

It did surprise me that the Co-co locomotive could derail at points too. I have experienced only with steam locos. Thank you for sharing. Both liveries look lovely.

Great video. I am sorry you are having trouble with this and the Deltic. Although that Deltic shot was damned impressive! I have the malachite version and I am happy with it. Too good looking to pass up for me.

Hi Chris, great stuff. Thanks very much for the link. I'm sure the metal e-clips will help you, mine has run faultlessly since I put them on and my track is terrible compared to yours. Take care. Mike

Hi Chris, a really lovely look at something I'd never seen before, so I really enjoyed the prototype information in your video. As I understand it, the idea behind the EFE brand is a collection of models originally made by a third party, like Kernow models in this case..... The J94 0-6-0T by DJ models is another, were Bachmann has bought the molds and manufactured them but they aren't Bachmann designs in origin. So they probably have a Bachmann mechanism including stiffer bogies instead of Kernows original floating bogie like your 1-Co Co-1. I notice that loco actually had the same bogie design as the Accurascale Deltic and Class 37 which you had issues with. Your booster locos have the Bachmann rigid design with more float in the axles, but it's quite a long wheelbase bogie, so maybe that doesn't help. It seems to me your only having derailment issues at the one spot, I may be wrong but that's how it appears watching the video. I didn't realise you had super-elevated your curves when you layed the track, this may account for your issues as I had the same with one curve on my own layout. I raised the outer rail by only 1mm, but the trick is not to return to level too quickly as that can unbalance the bogie as it comes round the corner. The end of the curve is really close to the point so maybe that's not helping. You probably know this already so ignore what I just said! Oh also did you end up with two working speakers on the loco as your sound chip came with one attached, ESU chips do come with a speaker fitted as standard, by the way. Just curious! All the best and thanks for a great video, Dave.

Nice background history. She looks like a bit of weathering is in order? Happy Modelling

Thanks for that review and I give a sigh of relief as my 20002 derails on a double slip. I haven't fully investigated this yet..tho I did notice the wide play on the centre axles.. I haven't altered the headcode discs so indicate Victoria to Newhaven not sure how this is done as the leaflet says push fit bit I couldnt shift it...look forward to your next review.

Cool video

Enjoyed your review but it's only reinforced my avoidance of the model. I didn't class it as a "must have" so waited for the reviews. It didn't take very long for the "cracks" to start showing. Great review nonetheless, thanks.

Is there actually a place called Melchester?, I remember in the Tiger comic there was Roy of the (Melchester) Rovers, my brother told me there was no such club in real life. Off the subject of football!, it seems the Southern had non-standard vehicles as well as the Great Western with their Warships, Westerns and Hymeks. I think on the Euston lines there was the non-standards numbered 10000 and 10001 and the Class 15 and 16 one-cabbers that didn't last long in service.

Super elevation curves, I think this is the route cause of the derailing, not only wearing out the wheel rims like the brakes on a 17 year olds first car.

I am unare of any photographic evidence of class 74s being used on Newhaven boat trains partly because the allocated to duties on the SW Division.

BEST MODELLING MISTAKE EVER ???? At 0:07 approaching the camera we see a 4-vehicle train. Problem is the leading two vehicles are steam "Pull-Push" coaching stock, and behind is a classic Southern Railway 650v EMU, propelling the coaches !! Which is of course totally IMPOSSIBLE in real life for the following reasons !!!!! The (Hornby) Pull-Push 2-car sets were introduced between 1959-61 by BR converting normal Maunsell 57ft mainline coaches. Twenty 2-car sets were introduced, numbered as SETS 600-619. They were designed to work with steam locos fitted for "Auto Train" equipment requiring a "Donkey Pump" for the Pull-Push air control system fitted to the steam loco. Such as locos Class M7 0-4-4-T (available from Hornby) & Class 02 0-4-4-T (from DJ Models). The (Hornby) Maunsell designed 2-car Class 2BIL (2 BI Lavatory) 650v DC third rail units introduced in 1936-38, were intended for "semi-fast" workings on the South Western Division lines electrified in 1936-38. Namely: Waterloo-Reading via Staines. Waterloo-Guildford via Ascot & Aldershot; Waterloo - Woking - Aldershot & Alton line. The 2BIL units could run in formations of up to 12-cars. Post War they spread to numerous other routes including the Central Divisions Brighton lines. These units had one powered motor bogie under the brakevan with just 500hp & a maximum speed of 75mph. Why can't they run together ? The Pull-Push sets being steam hauled coaches had VACUUM brakes, and when propelled had to have an air supply (from the steam locomotives Donkey pump) to operate some of the Drivers controls. All pre-war Southern EMU's used the Westinghouse STRAIGHT AIR BRAKE, (a totally different system to vacuum with a different sized and shaped connection hose between vehicles) so couldn't operate with vacuum braked steam hauled coaches. Further the EMU could only operate in "Multiple" with other similar EMU's (including HAL & SUB types) which had the same type of electrical control system, and electrical jumpers between vehicles. Obviously steam hauled vehicles didn't have electrical jumpers of any sort except a low voltage lighting cable as standard on loco hauled coaching stock. Further these EMU's did NOT have the power to pull or propel non powered vehicles. The whole point of EMU's is that each has just enough power for itself, but as you join more together you also increase the power available in proportion. Which is why EMU's are more economic to operate - no wasted power as in loco hauled trains. One other issue is of course these EMUs couldn't run without a "Third rail" to get the necessary 650v DC, through their pick up shoes, which hung from the "wooden shoe beams" on the outer bogies each end of the unit !!! Happy modelling😊

SOUND SYSTEM Doesn't sound remotely like either a Class 70 or 71. They had a lot of electrical humming noises, & of course the humming frequency rose as the locomotives began moving. If they passed you at a station another prominent sound at speed were those heavy 6 wheel bogies thumping as they went over rail joints. The Model sounds more like a whimperish Gas Turbine than any type of Electric loco. HEADCODES Another problem seems to be the confusion over the headcode disc system. The lights were NOT "marker lights" and were only for night time use as the night time route headcode. There were never any headcodes using five or six discs or lights on any Division. The most used was four for for the "Royal Train" which these locos occasionally hauled. Including the Annual Epsom Derby. The Royal train ran from Victoria to Tattenham Corner. The Queen however returned from Epsom by limousine to Windsor Castle usually. OVERHEAD 650V TROLLEY WIRE. Another location that had a lot of overhead trolley wire (there was no Catenary wire) was of course Hither Green, and as that was in the suburban area the voltage was 650v. The "Hornby's" were therefore seen at Hither Green on transfer freights from Norwood Yard fairly regularly.

Lovely looking model but even at £157.20 you shouldn’t have to modify the bogies it should run ok straight away glad I’ve decided at this time not go get one unless we start sending models back with faults then manufacturers will get away with it even the cavalex 56 is not perfect😮