Hornby Spencer R9257Spencer 1 R9257.jpg (52032 bytes)

Spencer is the latest locomotive to be added to the Thomas & Friends range of Hornby models. It is based on the earlier or 'train set' A4 model, as revised for the RoadRail budget range, but is, like the character in the later videos, in light grey and with a moulded face on its front end.

Spencer was not a character developed by the Rev. W Awdry but one of many characters developed by HIT Entertainment for their later politically correct stories, aimed principally at the American market. It has been said that so many new characters have been created in order to boost the retailing potential and here we have an example of it. That is not a criticism of Hornby, who are sensibly developing characters in their Thomas range, which allow them to make use of existing tooling, such as Katy, Stepney, Oliver and now Spencer. However, to Awdry fans, it is seen as a drift away from the Railway Series books that started it all and the strong characters that Awdry invented.

Model Railway Express

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For Hornby and spares for Hornby, Electrotren, Lima (HO), Jouef and Rivarossi visit www.hornbyspares.co.uk


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