Michael Griffiths

Continuing from the above post, I have now filled the boiler with lead, adjusted the wheel back-to-back measurements, polished the wheels & track til you can see your face in them but absolutely nothing will make this loco go through code 100 insulfrog points at anything less than a scale 90 mph. As a shunter it is a complete disaster. Don't buy one unless you want it to haul a main line express.

Thanks for your help Robert, I will try this & add more weight inside the boiler if there is space. Your photos are inspiring, I will continue to perservere with my frustrating little loco!!

The current collection is OK, the wheels appear to be not riding smoothly through the frog end of the points. They will go through when driven briskly but not when going fairly slowly as shunting locos should. I suspect it is a back-to-back wheel problem. I am reluctant to spend yet more on making an RTR loco run, otherwise I would have bought a kit in the first place.

I have just been given (18./12/11) a new Hornby Pug & it runs slowly & well EXCEPT it will not go through any of my small radius insulfrog points, which my other small non-Hornby locos sail through. I read Chris Nevard's thoughts on re-gauging the wheels, if this is what it needs, how do I do it please? The wheels at present, back-to-back, are about 13.8mm Or should I get the giver to take it back to the shop, & risk getting another exactly the same? Thanks for your help.