Well F.E.F folks here is my input for this week. This is a new (to me) French Hornby locomotive in flat brown SNCF color scheme. I believe it is Type No 1E Special. It has "Serie Hornby" embossed on the lower boiler front, giving away its French origin. It is labeled as a "20 Volt" engine which corresponds to the "standard voltage" both the UK and France settled on for electric engines in the mid 30's, although in the UK both low voltage (battery) and high voltage (60 volt) engines were produced. This one has manual reverse, so that makes it an early version (or a cheap one - who knows) and the configuration with an automatic front coupler dates if from 1934 or later. Being post nationalization in France, that makes it somewhat later at least 1938. Most production stopped with the war in 1940-41 so my best guess is 1938-41 as a production date. It easily pulled 3 Number 1 coaches around my flat oval lay out. I powered it with my ZW which at max puts out just over 18 volts so I wondered if it would work, well it does not start till you are at nearly full throttle on the ZW but after that it goes quite well, even the headlight comes on. Anyway, I was very pleased with the operation.
Happy F.E.F everyone!
Don McErlean
