With the layout successfully modified and packed away until the new year, time to start working through the loco boxes and carrying out some maintenance & repairs.
First out of the box was the motor car of the blue EMU. This one ground to halt during the Weymouth exhibition due to a worn gear worm and loose top motor bearing. With the cog replaced and the bearing adjusted correctly and secured, the EMU is ready for service.
Second was the recently acquired blue Deltic. Nothing major wrong here but one of the directional LEDs didn't work, so this was replaced and tested.
Duchess of Atholl next. This one has a wonky wheel. I've recently acquired a couple of scrap Atholl locos so having restored the chassis of one of them, I've exchanged it for the wonky wheeled one.
The twin 8Fs that have only recently been refurbished were next to be looked at, both quite noticeably down on power since entering service. Both were cured by increasing the tension in the brush spring. They both now run much faster.
Corfe Castle, for some reason escaped being re-magnetised, so after dismantling and a quick zap in the magnetiser, this one's now running at a much more acceptable speed.
Finally for the first loco box, Ludlow Castle. This is a recent acquisition that doesn't run terribly well. Further inspection revealed that the tender electrical connection wasn't secure and also that the chassis is two rail, no current return on one side. Also in need of repairs is Cardiff Castle, having lost a brush spring and its wiring, the chassis has been swapped with Ludlow, with Cardiff being temporarily withdrawn until the spares can be sourced. There's only space for five castles in the box, so with all five spaces filled, this one can have a rest until the new year.
So that's seven locos repaired in one evening session.
Only two more boxes to sort through...
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