HO scale live steam (no, this is not a joke)

[friscobob]

Found an ad in the January '04 Model Railroader for an HO/OO scale live steam locomotive from Hornby. I really can't explain how it works, but apparently it does.

It's a model of the 4-6-2 "Mallard" steamer from England (makes sense, since Hornby is an English company).

For more info- go here (http://www.hornby-usa.com) .

Personally, I'm holding out for live diesel locomotives, myself..... graemlins/wink.gif

[Mark_Athay]

From Hornby, the steam engine works by using track power to create the heat to drive the boiler. The actual boiler is in the tender! This makes it so you don't have to fight the fuel/heating problems. Whatever steam you generate gets routed directly to the pistons. It requires a dedicated track, as the power supply is not compatable with anything else out there, including DCC.

Mark in Utah

It's available in OO guage.

[Martyn Read]

You don't neccesarily need a separate track, if you have an oval you use normally you would just plug in a different (specialist) controller, but the control system is not compatible directly with either standard DC or DCC.

They also haven't ruled out US prototypes if they feel the market is there!

I'm with Friscobob though, live diesel would be where it's at! :D

[Martyn Read]

Oh, it's OO scale, but that's the same as HO in trackage terms.

[Petey]

Well,--- HO live diesel should certainly overshadow any objections to Athearn's "growl".

[Petey]

HO live STEAM, that is.