Thomas the Tank Engine locomotive (Hornby R351): Difference between revisions

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Thomas was closely modelled on a real tank engine produced at [[Brighton Works]], the '''Billinton E2 Class second series''' tank engine designed by Lawson Billinton, which operated from 1913 to 1963. The E2, like Thomas, was "a really useful engine", and the first batch of five E2 locos was later joined by a second run of five. "Thomas"' distinctive forward-jutting upper sidetanks appeared as a modification to the design on the second series of E2 locos, after it had been found that the locomotive's original water-tank design didn't have quite enough capacity for the type of work that the engine was being used for.
Thomas was closely modelled on a real tank engine produced at [[Brighton Works]], the '''Billinton E2 Class second series''' tank engine designed by Lawson Billinton, which operated from 1913 to 1963. The E2, like Thomas, was "a really useful engine", and the first batch of five E2 locos was later joined by a second run of five. "Thomas"' distinctive forward-jutting upper sidetanks appeared as a modification to the design on the second series of E2 locos, after it had been found that the locomotive's original water-tank design didn't have quite enough capacity for the type of work that the engine was being used for.


==Off-display==
==R351 vs R353==
"Thomas" used to live on the 00-gauge layout at the back of the Museum, but the presence of Thomas somewhat lessened the layout's historical authenticity, so he's currently off-display and waiting to be reassigned to a new display area.
Compared to the Hornby model Billinton E2 first-series (which the Thomas model was adapted from), the Thomas shows a few changes, some of which are due to the second-series modifications.  


==Outside the Museum==
Other than the bright blue paintwork and red trim (and big smiley face!), the E2/Thomas has:
The Sainsburys supermarket just North-East of the Museum (by St Bartholomew's Church) has a coin-operated ride-on Thomas for children. It's not obvious whether this is a deliberate heritage reference to the fact that the supermarket is practically built on the site where the original E2 locos were produced, or whether it's just a happy coincidence.
* Curved splashguards over the front two wheels,
* A higher back grille, and
* Protruding extensions for the upper portion of the watertank(s)
These seem to be real E2(2nd) modifications, however, Thomas' chimney is thinner than the E2 first series model, and does seem to be thinner than the photos that we'd seen so far of the second series locos ... this ''might'' represent an "artistic" change to the E2(2nd) design, but we'd have to check more photos in case there was some further variation between the original locomotives.  


==See also:==
==See also:==

Revision as of 17:10, 4 July 2013


A bright blue Hornby electric 00-gauge "Thomas the Tank Engine" locomotive with a smiley face and bearing a large number "1", based on the character from the Railway Series books, written by the Reverend W. Awdry.

The original locomotive

Thomas was closely modelled on a real tank engine produced at Brighton Works, the Billinton E2 Class second series tank engine designed by Lawson Billinton, which operated from 1913 to 1963. The E2, like Thomas, was "a really useful engine", and the first batch of five E2 locos was later joined by a second run of five. "Thomas"' distinctive forward-jutting upper sidetanks appeared as a modification to the design on the second series of E2 locos, after it had been found that the locomotive's original water-tank design didn't have quite enough capacity for the type of work that the engine was being used for.

R351 vs R353

Compared to the Hornby model Billinton E2 first-series (which the Thomas model was adapted from), the Thomas shows a few changes, some of which are due to the second-series modifications.

Other than the bright blue paintwork and red trim (and big smiley face!), the E2/Thomas has:

  • Curved splashguards over the front two wheels,
  • A higher back grille, and
  • Protruding extensions for the upper portion of the watertank(s)

These seem to be real E2(2nd) modifications, however, Thomas' chimney is thinner than the E2 first series model, and does seem to be thinner than the photos that we'd seen so far of the second series locos ... this might represent an "artistic" change to the E2(2nd) design, but we'd have to check more photos in case there was some further variation between the original locomotives.

See also:

External links