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.

Smokey Joe 0-4-0 model

This is the locomotive commonly included with the 'starter' level train sets and is incredibly popular with younger children.^{[citation needed]} It is also the centrepiece of a train set in the Hornby range called, appropriately, Smokey Joe.

1 Prototype
2 Model
3 Other Uses

[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 railway works.

The engine also bears a resemblance to the NBR G Class.

[edit] Model

[edit] Engineering

Like most other Hornby locomotives, this model is powered by a small, 12 V electric motor.^{[citation needed]} The locomotive has drawn complaints from railway modellers that the motor is too powerful for the engine to be realistic,^{[citation needed]} and some have replaced the motor with a less powerful model.^{[citation needed]}

[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 being that it has been customised by shed staff.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Popularity

Smokey Joe has certainly been one of Hornby's best selling locomotives, priced usually at £30.^{[citation needed]} Almost anyone who has a Hornby 00 gauge model railway has Smokey Joe.^{[citation needed]} Although, some adults claim the locomotive unrealistic and very toy-like, many hobbyists still chose Smokey Joe as a typical shunting locomotive for a layout.^{[citation needed]}