RAIL PHOTOPRINTS

Hornby’s roster of LNER steam locomotives has been growing steadily over the past decade or two, and this year Edward Thompson’s Class A2 ‘Pacifics’ have been added. Under review here is the Class A2/3, 15 of which were built in 1946/47.

Opinion is divided over the relative merits of this class, particularly in a visual sense.

Indeed, the position of the outside cylinders does look peculiar, but the real locomotives proved their worth over the course of their careers.

Hornby has also been busy creating the ‘A2/2’, Thompson’s earlier – and controversial – rebuild of Gresley’s heralded ‘P2’ 2-8-2s, early production batches of which have suffered from a few quality control issues. Will these issues also affect the ‘A2/3’? Let’s take a close look…

Our sample represents No. 514 Chamossaire in the beautiful LNER lined green livery, while other options consist of BR lined green with either early or late crests (60512 and 60523 respectively), plus another LN ER green version as No. 500 Edw ard Thompson, with numerous era-specific detail variations across the board. No. 514 dep icts an ‘A2/3’ in original condition, with an austere lipped double chimney (these were later replaced with a more attracti ve beaded version) and Thomps on’s original boiler, complete with small round dome. The hefty early style of speedometer bracket is also present on the left side of the running plate.

While I freely admit to not being much of an LNER obses- sive, especially in terms of the various ‘racehorse’ 4-6-2s, it’s hard to fault Hornby’s attempt at capturing the overall appearance and character of Thompson’s ‘A2/3 ’. The incredibly long boiler and smokebox resemble a rocket on wheels, although the smoke deflectors give it a bit of structure, in contrast to the earlier ‘A2/2’ with its small fins