Smokey Joe

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Smokey Joe is a model steam locomotive produced by Hornby Railways. It has an 0-4-0 wheel arrangement and has been in the Hornby Railways range since 1983. This is the base article bought as the starting point of many Model Railways/Train Sets and is incredibly popular for younger children.

It is also the centrepiece of a train set in the Hornby range called, appropriately, Smokey Joe.

[edit] Prototype

Smokey Joe uses the Caledonian Railway Class 0F, a shunting locomotive in service from 1885 to 1962. This model had been in the Hornby range since 1981. The Smokey Joe version omits the wire handrails that had been present on earlier variants.

The 0F class was popular in Scotland, often running with home-made tenders to improve their small coal capacity. A number were sold into private industry and one even made it as far south as Crewe, where it acted as a works shunter.

The real number 56025 was based at St Rollox.

[edit] Livery and Number

Smokey Joe carries the number 56025. The livery it carries is based upon the mixed traffic livery of British Railways, black with red and white lining. On its tank it carries crude-looking lettering spelling out its name - the explanation given in Hornby catalogues is that it has been customised by shed staff.