The Worst Model Trains of 2019 

Having travelled on many 'Northern by Arriva' trains myself, I can assure you that scratches on the windows are completely accurate!

I'm not gonna lie Sam, I kinda want to see a Worst of the Worst challenge. You take the number 1 worst models from each year, and subject them each to challenges, shunting, pulling power, speed, build quality, what have you, standard model tests. The best performer after each challenge is eliminated, until we have the absolute worst model.

The Best Model Trains of 2019 : 1. Thomas 2. And his friends

Good stuff Sam! Thank you for sharing your perspective at the start I.e you pick wisely and for quality because it’s your money at the day. You stick by your criteria and when it’s not up to par, you tell it like it is! Looking forward to your best of 2019 vid 🙏🏽

Sometimes it’s really hard to “gauge” what a loco is going to be like :)

You can get wheels for the Class 156 without traction tyres as spares - my model from about 5 years ago didn't have any on and had no grooves on the wheels - it worked just fine. I did a speed test on mine once to figure out if it could survive running on full speed for more than 5 minutes. Unfortunately, it can't run that quick, and a wire comes out of the motor if you're unlucky. Mine's been serviced so many times by Hornby for the same problem I now get free servicing! If Hornby bring their pacer out again, I can bet it will be the worst train of 2020!

Hi sam, Nice video! I was actually planning on getting the 156 and LNER loco but decided not to. Guess that's for the better I have some video ideas that you could round the year off with. One being worst models of the whole Decade, both wagons and locos the other being a hornby 2020 wishlist video because it's their 100th anniversary since they made their first train next year and they might do something big. Aside from that merry Xmas sam, hopefully

What I get from this is to avoid steam from Hornby. I do like Bachman for diesel's most these days.

Merry Christmas and Happy New ! Hope you had a peaceful and happy holidays. ❄️🎄🚂

It doesn't surprise me that a Bachmann model made #1 on your list - Bachmann generally makes low quality stuff that is prone to failure and doesn't last long. I'm not bothered by low quality stuff just as long as it's priced appropriately but in recent years they've hiked their prices to near what high-end models go for so I'm not buying their stuff anymore unless it's a really good price.

Great review Sam your scoring on these locos I have to say are spot on this is why I love watching your channel as you really check the stock fully and put them through there paces and I can take your word for them well done again for another fine video all the best John from Rugby.

Fascinating Sam, and the reason why your excellent reviews are so important...Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year...Bob

1:50 The Heljan Tango haunts all model train lovers...

Yeeee sams trains upload Been waiting alllll day

Hi Sam, love your videos! :) How do you fix your track together so it doesn't move too much? It looks like some of it is just placed on the floor? I'm building a layout and am not keen on pinning it down in case I change my mind.

Hi Sam do like your honest opinion of these locos very informative . Like to wish you all the best for Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Last time I was this early, the railways were actualy on time with their trains

I’m a HUGE fan. I’m getting a Lionel cajun after Christmas 🎄 Happy new year!!

Really enjoy your reviews Sam. Have a good Christmas

I’ve been thinking of starting back with my model trains as I remain fascinated with them so your channel gives a good insight into the turd pitfalls , I’m still vascillating over our gauge or N gauge , can you offer any advice on which might be better ? Thanks for what your doing I look forward to seeing more 👍🏻

Worst wagon of 2019 - Dapol Egg Vans

The union pacific is my favourite....the chimney melting down into the loco!!! :) :) :)

Merry Christmas Sam and all the best for 2020.

Hi Sam, Thank you for a good review , and your time , very enjoyable , have a nice time off, and enjoy your Christmas , All the Best Brian 🤗

Hello Sam. I am from Germany and I really like the british railways more than our german ones. Especially the GWR-Trains. I am looking to buy myself a set of those trains. But I am worried that those ones won't function/operate correctly. I have Piko Trains, maybe you know them and they have the same tracks as the Hornby and Bachmann ones. So do you or does anyone in this community know if I can run a Hornby or a Bachmann Train/Engine on my Piko tracks? Or can't I? If you can not answer my question it is not a problem ^~^ Cheers from Germany and Merry Christmas! ^~^

Why the hell is everyone starting sentences /presentations - with "So..." ?

Thanks for your thoughtful video Sam, I wish you and your family a very happy Christmas, have a cool Yule mate,Terry

You did a terribly good job with this video. Haha Haha!! Have a merry Christmas and happy New year!

The best model train channel of 2019: Sam's Trains

How do you can have this class 156 sprinter for a VE day special

Happy New Year to you Sam ! Also this video is part of all the entertainment :-) Bit surprised to see a Bachmann in the first of the worst but that Union Pacific loco was clear enough. If I can I'd much rather have USA loco's from German Trix like the BigBoy and the GG1 Electric with Broadway Limited a second choice. The Trix BigBoy is stunning all metal DCC Sound but would get one star for user-friendly-ness because it is so delicate (and heavy) to handle (as tender and loco are inseparable)

You amaze me with how many times you manage to slip in a section about the wonderful *cough, ahem,* horrible Heljan Tango. Comedy genius!

I got the Talyllyn Railway right by my house so I can watch the real thing

Got a question. Can you review a marklin locomotive.

That was another great video. I was looking at the RAF 156 until I stumbled upon your channel and it saved me from buying it and having disappointment that it would entailed.

This a great modellers site Sam and I wish someone would do similar reviews for the N gauge modeller happy new year.

Where did you get 5 pole motors for around £2 each, I cannot find them for less than ten

Worst train of all time: THE PACER

Excellent review. I bought a 'cheapy' battery train set that was better than the Bachmann prairie. Merry Christmas Sam, you are really helping me (not necessarily about trains).

I’m so glad I came across this channel!!

Hey sam do you have another job than youtube or do you get enough money from youtube

Great video Sam however I disagree with the class 156 because I think it is one of the nicest models because it is much cheaper then the real track one which has a RRP of over £200

The music at 0:13! Got me laughing so hard because whenever I here that music. For some reason I just start laughing at how it makes something sound so dumb! Also merry Christmas! ;)

Great video, and hey I love that bachmann 46521 loco, nostalgic for my favorite british comedy series Oh Doctor Beeching! If I have that model I'll put in copper plate pickups on the tender.

Sam:worst model trains of 2019 Tango:you called?

Ha, these are hysterical

Yep, I too purchased a Class 156 (RAF), fantastic screen print reproduction and that’s about all I can say to the positive. On the downside an absolute fiddle trying to remove the flimsy body and fitting a decoder with fear of breaking. No lights, either running or internal - I would have thought with such a prestige presented model Hornby would have pushed the boat out and invested in tooling to complete the job. Bit of a pig trying to couple on the track, I ended up turning the two units over away from the track, linking and then re-railing. Whist Hornby should be applauded using recyclable material I cannot but help feeling the inner paper mache box cheapens the overall presentation Great video and thanks for taking the time reviewing these locos.

Hey Sam Great video! Just one question for you real quick. Why do you dislike traction tires on your locos? I model American 3 rail o scale and traction tires come standard on all of the locos. I’m sure you’ve said why in another video but I’m just curious.

For your top 5 best Locos of the year are you going to add a American locomotive to the list.

Merry Christmas, Sam !

Merry Christmas Sam. The worst model in my fleet is the Bachmann N class Woolwich Mogul. issued in Ireland as the K class - one of the eary Murphy Models commissions. But it has terrible pulling power, no tender pickups, and the close coupling mechanism on the tender causes derailments running tender first. Again also difficult to convert to DCC, and the real clincher, some owners have reported significant warping of the cab plastic over time.

Hi sam, my birthday was today and I finally got a hornby train set! Good video so I can know not what my second loco should be!

Quick question what would you recommend for a low cost, reliable, good running, mixed traffic tender engine. P.S. the detailing isn’t that only the level you would expect from something in the railroad range.

The bottom loco is so old, in a america they use it in beginners locomotive set, once you move up from there the locomotive gets a nice and no split chassis. They sell them alone for around $25.

I agree with the list, putting the price up doesn’t improve the model. Loved the video -Ollie

Hey Sam great video as usual but I believe the Janice Diesel that I bought is bad it fell apart just going around the track and I cannot find replacement parts for it . But you are right about the ones on your list . Have a Merry Christmas.

Thanks for another entertaining round-up Sam. My personal gripes? Ok, the Bachmann Wainwright C. Lovely model (I have two), and both run smoothly but sound like a bag of spanners being shaken. The new Hornby Terrier which stops and starts randomly, usually at an inaccessible point of my layout. The Hornby M7, both of mine screech like banshees and are basically unusable. The Bachmann Standard 3MT; again very noisy. The Bachmann 4MT tank; jerky and lumpy running (since relegated to the scrap line). I also wish Hornby would put ALL of its ancient 'Volvo bumper' equipped rolling stock into the Railroad range and produce some new stuff with modern NEM couplings. Other than that it's been a great year for us modellers with some truly incredible products. My favourite probably being the Bachmann H2 Atlantic. Cheers Sam, and Happy New Year.

Hi Sam ive got the B17 I've had lots of trouble also but I put tender pickups on the tender which in proved its reliability out of site but mine was never noise. Merry Christmas Sam have a great Chrissie.

Do you still have you’re Bachmann GS-4? Because if you run a lot the driver wheels will become lose and it’s a pain to get them back in or that case the side rods will get all messed up. I had the problem when I bought when but I did manage to sell it on Ebay though.

Merry Christmas Sam🎅🏻🎅🏻🎄

Hi Sam! Merry Xmas! Had forgotten about that noisy B17 review & was thinking getting it in set which appears very handsome in catalog, may well go for iconic Flying Scotsman instead _thanks Sam all the best for new year _Dave

Broooo. I haven't watched you in years! I just found your channel again after watching your thomas the tank engine Vs. series when I was younger

Merry Christmas Sam! 🎄🎁🎅

I've only just discovered your channel, Sam. I like your views about the Bachmann. I have a OO/HO model tramway, where many of the trams had the much-vaunted Tenshodo motors. After fifteen years in storage, though, the Tenshodos had developed oval wheels and ran very badly, while the Bachmann Bogie Brill chassis under things like Blackpool Balloons were wonderful! I had the Bachmann 4-4-0 loco and coach as a representation of the Wild West Train in Blackpool - I ended up putting Tenshodos under the coach to push the loco. I have dabbled in American outline N, where Bachmann is generally ridiculed, but then look how Farish N has improved under Bachmann control! Still, if you replace a blind donkey without legs with a blind donkey with one leg, that has to be better! (Hasn't it?)

Sam merry Christmas and happy holidays :) And btw am I a little odd for liking steam engines even though in my country there are absolutely no steam engines left?

Awesome video today Sam and I agree with what you said and have a great Christmas

Great film Sam. Though I have to disagree with the 2p and 2mt got both engines and am very happy with them very good runners 🚂. Merry Christmas and a happy new year. See you I 2020.

Just curious, are you gonna update your ranking system? If so, what are you gonna do as far as the changes go? I’m curious to know because I’ve noticed for a new year you changed your ranking list system.

Does that mean you've got a class 156 for sale then lol that would look great on my layout 😉👍👍 Great video again and Merry Christmas 🎄 ❄ ⛄ 👍👍

Thanks Sam ...I have no knowledge of any of these but suffice to say I run numerous Bachmann U.S style locos...About 30 at a guess...I have several GP40's and 38's , SD 40-2's and a sound value SD 70 ACe... They all run beautifully , none have ever stopped , reasonable detail and max price on any of them was Australian $155 ..Many well under $100..I also have Athearn Genesis , Intermountain , Broadway and Kato models . The Bachmanns aren't as good running wise but for durability and value for money you can't beat them ..All diesel electric of course though ...Enjoy your channel very much....Thanks..

Happy Christmas Sam! Hope you get good presents. I am hoping to get a dapol kit for a standard 4.

Good vid. Definitely agree with some of these. I have a question. My layout is a Hornby layout (basic oval plus a few track packs) and has a gaugemaster controller. Will a Bachmann loco run on it? Right now I have just stuck to Hornby locos so I don't waste money on something that won't run.

Thanks Sam nice video. I would be sure to avoid these locos!

Hi Sam. What would you recommend for someone who would like to get back into the hobby after 40+ years away from it. A train pack or individual purchases?

I remember watching your old video on the review of your S&DJR 2P from Hornby and it was from early 2016 I think. I don’t remember what rating you gave it but I bet you were a little generous of giving it a high score. I don’t know what it is, but it’s pretty relevant now that you gave it a score that surely deserves it.

Actually rather glad I watched this as I’m in the process of totally revamping my layout from very late 40’s LMS To modern day diesel freight haulage, as the East Coast mainline runs just a few hundred yards from where I live I actually see the Royal Airforce liveried sprinter go past, and when I saw it for sale thought wow think I’ll get that, bit expensive but apt for era and theme, until I saw how rubbish it actually is, so not getting it lol, thanks Sam, great video, very informative.

Think my brother had one of the Ivat class 2 models on a small layout he built before going to uni a decade ago, the performance of the 3 pole motor is noticeable. Wonder if you have or were going to do a video about upgrading the motor and to tell apart 3 and 5 pole motors?

I have the bachmann 0-6-0 in the Santa Fe livery. It’s the same loco without the lead and trail trucks. I pulled the motor out so it didn’t make noise weathered it very heavily and now it sits in my model scrap yard on my layout

Hey Sam What is 'ur' favourite guage & best value for $$$ engine or train set for the $$$ Can you get diecast (AL) engines & who makes them & how $$$ ? Or r they all plastic ? Cheers

Reminds me of when I got a n scale atlas 2 truck Shay 2 summers ago. It was over $200 and broke not even an hour after opening it! If the locomotive was old or inexpensive, I wouldn’t be too mad, but when a locomotive that was sold for just over 30 dollars runs better, then I get mad! I did get it replaced but now I’m always a little nervous about buying an Atlas locomotive considering their awesome n scale rolling stock. Good vid and the 5th locomotive was absolutely inexcusable with the drive wheels not properly secured to the chassis and not enough electrical contact:

I actually have the bachmann American prairie. It was my first steam loco. I do agree that it is a pretty shotty model but it brought me a lot of joy watching it go around my layout

I'm late.. again. Sorry I was midtearming for martial arts, but merry Christmas sam and happy new year

I agree with most of these, but the 2P doesn't belong here. I played the full RRP and was still happy with it. It isn't a good model, but it is far from a bad one. One factor is probably the livery you chose - the BR Black does a great job at making it seem more detailed, but the SDJR Prussian Blue is a more basic livery

Hi Sam thanks for this video. You mention 5-pole motors for under £2. Which motors are they and where did you buy them? Thanks.

I'm glad you put the Hornby 156 on the list Sam. Apart from the South East of England and a few other times,this class of train has operated the length and breadth of the UK. A great comparison would be the Realtrack 156. I'm a fan of modern traction so my knowledge of steam is quite limited. The Black 5 operated the length and breadth of the country and the models you can get of that class are superb. It's time Hornby upped its game.

Nice video Sam! Please could you review the New and Old Bachmann Class 158s, The Hornby GWR High Speed Starter set, The Premium Hornby HST, the Realtrack 156 etc. Obviously over a year or two not a month or two!

With the sound in the sprinter the loud noise is really realistic to the actual loco in real life!

Could you give me some advice about starting a railway by what set to buy:D jack

I knew for a fact that the prairie would make the list! Just wasn't expecting the Tango to interrupt the video. Quite the terrors if I do say so myself.

Yep. I’ve now had two goes at getting hold of a Mainline Scots Guardsman (actually 1st one was Old Contemptibles) but same model. Both dogs.

Cheers for the vid and for warning us what locos to avoid Sam. I personally wouldn't touch a loco that has traction tyres with a barge pole mate! Totally unrealistic! Amazing that Bachmann and Hornby should be in the bottom 5, lol! I'm defo looking forward to your 5 best locos of 2019 vid though mate. 👍🚂🚃🚃🚃🚄🚅🚉🛸🍺😁👍

Storytime: When I was a child, I had a Bachmann UPRR Prairie exactly like this as part of my train set. This was 20 years ago. This one is EXACTLY the same, even down to the appalling lack of detail of the bell and whistle. Not to mention the whole upper portion trying to detach itself from the wheels. How do you keep making the same thing for 20 years and more without improving it one iota?!

Back in the mid 1970s I had a fairly substantial Hornby set up. I much preferred diesels to steam and I had a blue bodied, yellow ended CoCo with a fleet of Intercity coaches and several BoBos, loads of different wagons and a couple of shunters for various sidings. I don't know whether my standards were lower back then as a boy, or whether the build quality was better in those days but I found that everything felt heavy (weight = quality), the plastic was high grade and the detailing looked good. The wheels had something called Magnadhesion to help the engines gain traction and keep them planted. I know the locos were part of the Hornby Silver Service range (or something like that) which supposedly meant that they were better built or had higher quality components. I had (I think the name is right) Hammant & Morgan controllers and a whole bank of small lever switches that operated the points. I even had signals with tiny red and green bulbs in them and they were actually made out of metal. I built an enormous paper mache hillside with a tunnel through it which I painted and applied copious amounts of rubbery lichen to. I wish I still had it today because I could never afford to buy it all again at current prices and I don't think the quality would be as good. Thank you for an excellent video, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I have subscribed. All the best, Dave.

I'll be honest, when I had a 00 layout, I can't really say any loco had was bad in anyway, the only disappointment was a Eurostar I had (and still have) because it didn't feature directional lighting. Just a thought, do you plan to do any reviews of N guage?

I've been on a search for a hornby b17 for a good price for a long time, but some sellers won't even ship to the US, even after I'd offer to pay a bit extra for shipping

Nice video Sam, very interesting! Are you going to update this video with the addition of the LMS Pug? If so, perhaps you could include the Ivatt 2MT as part of the original and give it a promotion!

Can you do a video on how to download the hornby railmaster software to your iPad and as a bonus show mphornby Maude with the snow ploughing attached to the tender

I wish I hadn't brought my bachmann class 08, it was £125, when I got it out the box the paint started chipping off, the couplings were bent, the cab was a limp of blue plastic, the nse livery was the wrong shade of red and all the separately fitted parts were not painted and stood out as being plastic looking. Despite this it ran very well.

A really great compilation of the worst model locos of 2019.

I bought the RAF 100 156, I thought the box packaging was dire and I knew the design was older, but I bought it being both a fan of railways and aircraft. I don't but modern things so this was an exception. I'm considering one day buying another to get the detail sorted, but that's for the future. I don't plan using this one and keeping it a collector's item for the future and using it as a display only unit.