Eurostar - Class 373
Prototype
Operating company/organisation	Eurostar (LCR/SNCF/SNCB) SNCF GNER
Years of operation	Eurostar (channel tunnel services): 1994 - SNCF (TGV southern services): 1996 - 2000 SNCF (Paris-Lille services): 2000 - 2010 GNER (London-York services): 2000 - 2005

Model

Brand name(s)	General	Hornby & Jouef	Hornby & Jouef	Jouef	Jouef	Lima
Manufacturer	~	Mehano/Slovenia	Mehano/Slovenia	Jouef/France	Jouef/France	Jouef/France
Catalogue number	~	R.543 (Hornby) & 745100 (Jouef)	R.647 (Hornby) & 745000 (Jouef)	745300	748300	106530
Pack contents	Train sets contain two power cars, two end coaches, oval of track, controller. Train packs contain two power cars and two end coaches.	Train pack	Train set	Train set	Train pack	Train set
Livery and paint finish	The Eurostar livery is correct for channel tunnel services. The unbranded EPS livery is correct for the GNER "spare" set used between London and York. The "spare" sets used within France have additional SNCF logos that are not represented on the models. From mid-2001, these sets have a new TGV livery. The GNER blue/red livery is not represented on any model.	Eurostar. Matt grey paint.	Eurostar. Matt grey paint.	Unbranded EPS. The white colour is unpainted plastic. No representation of the grille between the headlamps.	Unbranded EPS. Gloss painted finish with silver embellishments.	Eurostar. Gloss painted finish.
Driving vehicle numbers	These are all for an SNCF-owned set.	3211/3212	3211/3212	3212/3212	3211/3212	3212/3212
Passenger vehicle numbers	These are also for the SNCF-owned set.	3212/3215	~	3212/3212	3211/3212	3212/3212
Construction	All models have plastic bodies, metal chassis on power cars.	Plastic unsprung pantographs.	Plastic unsprung pantographs.	Plastic unsprung pantographs.	Coach internal details. Detailed representation of electrical equipment on power cars. Working lower head and tail lights (high-level headlight not lit). Operating twin pantographs on each power car, not wired to motor.	Plastic unsprung pantographs.
Motive power	Central 3-pole motor. One power car motorised. Pickup from all wheels of the motorised car. Traction tyres on two wheels of driven bogie(s).	No flywheels. Cardan shaft to rear bogie, geared to both axles.	No flywheels. Cardan shaft to rear bogie, geared to both axles.	No flywheels. Cardan shaft to rear bogie, geared to both axles.	Twin flywheels. Cardan shafts to both bogies, geared to both axles of the front bogie and to the trailing axle of the rear bogie.	No flywheels. Cardan shaft to rear bogie, geared to both axles.
Wheels	Blackened. Wheel diameter 10.5mm. Axle diameter 2mm. Coach axle length 25.2mm on pinpoint ends. Loco axle length 20mm on internal bearings. Back to back distance 13.8mm. Flange depth 0.8mm. Want replacement RP25/110 wheelsets for the coaches? Kadee fit and run perfectly.
Price	~	Hornby: £52.50 (SMC JAN99)	Hornby: £79.50 (Hatton's AUG99)	£62.00 (Winco JUL2000)	£98.45 (Winco JUL2000)	£59.50 (Hatton's SEP99)
Availability (See Buying second-hand.)	~	Discontinued.	Discontinued.	Discontinued.	Discontinued.	Discontinued.
Reviews	~	~	~	~	Continental Modeller, September 1998	~
Comments	~	~	"The orginal version. The matt paint on these models is easily damaged." SE	"Definitely the economy version - not even budget for different numbers on each driving vehicle." SE	"The de luxe version - although the pantographs are not as fine as on other Jouef TGV models." SE Also, there is no roll-on when you shut the power off (I don't think the flywheels are big enough); the headlights are yellow instead of white (and there aren't enough of them); and my one came factory-fresh with a ridiculously bodged faulty wheelset on one of the coaches. MW	"Looks good. Pity about the numbers on the driving vehicles." SE

British 1:87 Scale Modelling