Stevelewis

EDM Models are apparently in the process of developing a sound decoder,, wont be quite as simple a fitting job as the 10 mins it takes to fit a decoder into the 4-6-0T

My Four valve gear failures ( 3 Mk1 Locos 1 Mk 2 Loco) always ocurred when the locos were traversing curved track, All 4 failures were on the valve gear of the INSIDE of the curve, as though some sort of stress occurs, maybe because there is not enough side play available on the driving wheels to provide sufficient lateral movement of the valve gear. Maybe flangeless centre driving wheels would help, worth noting that ROCO H0e steam locos have flangless centre drivers on the Feldbahn 0-6-0 series locos and one set of drivers is flangless on the Engerth (0-8-0) The curves by the way are all not less than 14" radius.

Well I have had the bodies off several MWs and run the chassis without the body being replaced to test the Decoder installation, and they all ran fine!

For info Tim at ARCADIARAIL 01706882900 expects delivery of all latest MW variants today or tomorrow price £189.00

I totally agree I would not consider using the MW chassis in its current form, I can say though that when I was revising the pony trucks on my four locos, and running the chassis as a 0-6-0 performance was superb ( unfortunately all my locos were returned due to valve gear failure)

How old is this loco?

For info the MW weighs around 138 Grammes so plenty of adhesive weight, the Baldwins weigh around 60 ish grammes they will haul 2 PECO coaches up a 1 in 25 18" radius curved incline. My three MARK 1 MWs would each haul 4 x Peco bogie coaches up the same incline with no hesitation, until they were eventually returned to the retailer for refunds when their valve gear fell off!

I have been able to carry out a running comparison between Mark 1 & Mark 2 MWs on a friends 009 layout...... he has a Mark 1 loco which we modified in the early days do combat pony caused derailing.... by bending the pickups so they did not contact the pony wheel rims, and the ponies were free to move unhindered, this loco then performed fine without derailing, it did suffer valve gear breakage on the left side, bt as it was out of guarantee period he kept the loco and snipped off the loose drop link! This loco has contined to run without issues for several months now. Whem Mark 2 arrived last week it showed all the signs of those reported recently with derailing on points etc, so we decided to do the same to this loco,, so the pickups were moved out of wheel contact AND the centreing brass springs were removed thus making the ponies free moving as with the Mark 1 loco, when tested on the layout it ran perfectly over all the points except one in both directions ( we later found the one point was not quite level so this was rectified and the loco did not derail) The layout has mostly Peco 009 18" radius points, with a couple of 12" and 1 'Y' point minimum radius is around 12" It would appear that the lack of pony power collection does not have any adverse affect on running qualities of the locos Hope this info is useful

Heljan don't make semi kits for any of their other locos!!! so why should they do it with the MWs? Heljan have been in the business for many years and they have had had some problems with some locos but the vast majority have been superb. If they are well engineered how is it that there have been so many complaints on this forum & NGRM forum? I personally Have returned 4 locos! Having been a Railway Modeller for around 60 years, I have never encountered a loco which has had such a poor record as this one! As a result we have put our planned L&B 009 line on hold once more, and are concentrating our efforts on our developing H0e line (amongst other things ) It is unfortunate as ready to run 009 motive power has been long overdue, although there is also the Bachmann 009 Baldwin available which is a superb performer AND made in China

SJGardiner, …. Noting that you have tested your loco on Unitrack, I was wondering if you have had the opportunity to test it on other manufacturers track and points, most of the running faults so far reported appear to occur on the points ( switches)

could not come to terms with 'Poirot' much prefer David Suchet I was watching a film a couple of weeks back, when David Suchet hijacked a 747! Couldn't quite accept that!!

From my communications with Kato I understand that the bulk of their Track business is purchased in Japan with USA purchasing approx 70% of the Japanese annual sales. Yes I use Kato No4s & 6s in approx equal numbers mostly for fiddle yard / storage loop purpses As I mentioned earlier I have used Unitrack since its first importation into the UK by MG Sharp Models ( Sheffield) in the early days it was sometimes in very short supply

I have used Kato Unitrack for various things since it was first imported by MG Sharp! We have used it to run many brands on as well as Kato, Fleischmann, Roko, Arnold, Lemke and some of the H0e brands such as Stangl, Ferro Train, Roco & Bemo but never really experienced any problems with any Kato Unitrack points. We always regret that the Double slip which was announced Mnay years ago never materialised!

are you referring to the NEW batch or the OLD original batch? I Had no problems with my 3 OLD batch on any Kato Unitrack points or scissors crossing ( fiddle yard on an N gauge layout) once the pickups on the ponies had been removed. My NEW batch Loco (which has now been returned due to motion coning apart) ran briefly on the same formation of Unitrack, it was Jerky probably due to the motion failing but ran through all the different Unitrack point types without actually derailing

Referring back to the original production of which as many know I had 3 but all eventually failed with valve gear failure, I was able to easily rectify the shortcomings of the ponies and couplings, whilst doing this I ran the locos in a dismantled state ie body off and ponies removed so they were simply an 0-6-0 chassis I was very impressed at how well they performed, brilliant slow running , no problems with power collection even on dead frog points, so there was actually no real need for power collection from the ponies. I also found that the haulage or should I say propelling was good in the 0-6-0 chassis state 5 Peco L&B bogies up a 1 in 30 gradient was possible Referring to Pauls comment above re slewing, I am not sure on this point but on the new versions is the driving wheel side play not a little less than version one?

Having observed 2 'New Batch' MWs running on a friends layout ( I say running ...that is a loose description of what they are doing in reality!!) it appears to me that they perform worse than the first batch from the original factory

Roco announced a Ffestiniog Double Fairlie some years ago now, but it was never produced. I was told due to lack of interest! Such a pity I live in hope they may think again ( but I doubt it) I have quite a few Roco H0e locos including 2 of the recent 2095s ( which gets a good reveiw in CM) never had a Roco loco with any problems

If you refer to the 'other forum' posts re the 'New' MW you will find loads of recent info I had one delivered last week Coupling rod became detached which was a change from valve gear failure on my Three mark one examples.

Has anyone tested the new MWs on Peco 9" radius 009 Setrack curves or points? Enquiry from a friend of mine in the planning stage short on space I have recommended nothing less than 12" radius to him!

I always keep a 9v battery handy for such emergencies!! Like that photo, Nice imposing building

It will probably benefit if the sound project includes plenty of standing sounds,! ie when it is not actually moving ( sorry only joking)

I noticed yesterday when digitizing a freinds 2 locos there have been changes, access to the PCB is easier now since it is just stock down to the chassis with a bit of double sided foam pad irregularly cut to shape, wires are very thin and need care in handling

There is quite a bit of comment appearing on the 'other' forum as well, its all very disapponting.

Phils post reminded me that one of the nameplates on my now returned to retailer YEO was noticably crookedly stuck on!

Totally Agree with Mr Hobby, as a NG modeller since the 60s I too Welcome RTR 009 ( let us not forget Fourdees as well) I can buy RTR H0e from Liliput(Bachmann) Roco, Stangle & Bemo and it works, 009 From Bachmann UK and it all works without issues. Heljan I am afraid still has issues, let us hope that LYN is going to be an improvement.