steviesparx

Hornby R3640 PO Willams and Robinson Peckett W4 currently £67.55 on Amazon..... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hornby-Peckett-Williams-Robinson-Niclausse/dp/B078YVT82M Or for those that try to avoid that behemoth, the more down-to-earth Scograil have it at £64.95 plus delivery https://www.scograil.co.uk/Hornby-r3640-oo-gauge-po-willans-and-robinson-peckett

Kernow have the Bachmann 31-741SF Class 1P in LMS black at £160. https://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/68648/31-741SF-WSL-Bachmann-Midland-Railway-1532-Class-1P-Steam-1303 Doesn't appear in their bargain listings, but seems a reasonable price for sound fitted these days - supposedly firebox flicker too....

I'd second replacing the gear, rather than trying to repair... Had a few Hornby locos splitting gears - seems to be an Achilles heel with some models

Can't say for certain, but possibly the full rake videos on YT have a driven car at each end ??? I have a couple of Bachmann Pullmans, they both have driven power cars from the box, and are only 6 cars long.... Not a cheap option I know, but for such a long rake maybe you should look into it.

Are you particularly looking for 'Cambrian', or other maroon Warships...?

I have done it, with Railroad chassis, and with a Chinese 'super detail' chassis (basically finer valve gear).... Body is same mould, same fixing at front under pony truck, and same lug into cab... Only (relative) complication is pick-ups on tender, should you wish to keep your existing tender, sans motor... My tender drive donor body was a later Margate made example - don't think they changed much from earlier examples, although never had a Margate made loco drive....

I think these are 90's rather than 70's - some of the last models 'Made In Great Britain' before production moved to China.... I do have a new, unused Gordon Ringfield ( and blue chassis ) if you'd rather keep things as original ? - I know that original ( especially boxed ) 'Thomas' items are highly valued by collectors.....

Remove decoder and fit blank, try on DC - gives you a heads up as to whether chip or loco / motor...

Slightly off topic Peter, but I see you're doing some replacements for Mazak rotted parts (eg T9 motor mount).... Would a class 31 chassis be among your considerations ?

The China made 'Limby' ( Hornby chassis using the Lima body ) 47 is also a direct swap - you could sell the new bodies ( and boxes ) on if you wanted to keep your Lima bodies....

At £40 for the 2 wheelsets, surely you'd be better with a complete spare chassis ??? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heljan-Replacement-Class-26-27-Chassis-OO-Gauge/283440784769?var=584470840857

Current practice for the loco hauled Night Riviera at Paddington is a loco both ends - rear most loco is attached / dropped off at Reading when in service

Sorry, misread the OP

X8809M as fitted to shunters and various 0-6-0's ??? https://support.Hornby.com/hc/en-gb/article_attachments/360016265379/hss_349_thomas_0-6-0.pdf http://www.lendonsmodelshop.co.uk/pdf/Hornby Service Sheets/No.201F 0-6-0 Loco.pdf If so, I think I have at least one in my spares - PM

The OP is looking for a fix 'other than Ultrascale'....

Railroad Hornby 31's are essentially remotored Lima 31's, and all my examples have been easy swaps into Lima shells - These chassis are all plastic... The super detail ( expensive ) Hornby 31's have suffered with Mazak in some examples ( Affected examples listed here...https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/123769-zinc-pest-mazak-rot-the-affected-models-list/ ) I think Peter Spares was having some Lima replacement wheelsets manufactured, but don't know how far this project has got...

I did struggle earlier today when posting a 'bargain'.... The fix was by clicking the 'link' icon in the top bar of the post's 'bubble'...(hope that makes sense !). I'm sure I used to just paste a shortcut previously, but can't be certain...

Beaten by a fiver at Colletts.... http://www.collettsmodelshop.co.uk/product/Hornby-r3660-dcr-class-56-co-co-56303

Used, and 'significant light damage'....

"About this item......Not DCC ready"

I have a few of these, late 2000's rather than newer examples... Whatever grease they used, most of it hardened and seized the gear towers - had exactly the same issue with some 31's. Anyway, the lights are a mare to get working again; the spring contact on metal pad arrangement is just poor, and was updated I believe on later examples. To further complicate things, the contacts' polarity on (my ) sound bodies are different to regular 'dumb' models. I would first check your leds with a battery / resistor arrangement to make sure the tail lights LED is working and you're not 'flogging a dead horse'...If you get it to light, you'll know the suspect contact ( The common was +ve on my sound examples...) It might just be a poor contact, or something more involved. I've found bare / stripped wires when disassembling mine....

Some previous suggestions here too....

66's with TTS look good value...but if you just want the 66, Bure have a few liveries at a very keen £55 ! http://www.burevalleymodels.com/p/17269/R3922---GandW-Freightliner-Class-66-Co-Co-66623---Era-11 http://www.burevalleymodels.com/p/17248/R3881---GBRf-Class-66-Co-Co-66727-Andrew-Scott-CBE http://www.burevalleymodels.com/p/17266/R3919---PD-Ports-Class-66-Co-Co-66109-Teesport-Express http://www.burevalleymodels.com/p/17264/R3916---GBRf-Class-66-Co-Co-66733-Cambridge-PSB---Era-11

I have chanced a WD Dean goods from him, but on price checking I did notice Gaugemaster have early BR Deans for £60 plus p+p….https://www.gaugemasterretail.com/magento/oxford-rail-or76dg002.html Edit - Also GWR green...https://www.gaugemasterretail.com/magento/oxford-rail-or76dg003.html

I use Isopropyl alcohol ( IPA ) to clean all electrical contacts and the wheels - I see others use lighter fluid, but haven't done a COSHH risk assessment on that myself.... I would think fibreglass pencils would be a bit abrasive, plus they shed fibres. The retainers just need to hold the brushes / springs in position, and not fowl the chassis on curves. And yes, push them in too hard and they will stop the motor from spinning. If you're using new brushes they will take a little wearing in before they make best contact with the commutator. Hope you got your acquisition at a good price - I've noticed this HST set on eBay, currently at over £200... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hornby-Intercity-125-Train-Set-43011/164175454374?hash=item26399ea0a6:g:d0MAAOSwAM5epbVc I must be missing something ?