locomad2

Spotted this relic on current layout, made by myself 50 years ago and not bad job considering I was about 12 years old with limited tools. Recently following a derailment top came off and found it had some 5 half pennies (1/2d) in it as a weight. Having probably cost just one shilling and six pence (7.5p), its lasted 4 layouts, 5 house moves, survived myself, children and grandchildren, wife, friends etc, etc. It's been on some layout somewhere all its life, surprisingly its lasted very well. Fitted originally with peco coupling probably robbed from a "wonder wagon", and still with original split airfix wheels, its given excellent service.

Very interesting thread any idea whose this casting is? As similar construction ie chassis held together by 4 screws but better casting. And underneath

Read this old thread with considerable interest thanks for posting

Thank you for your reply, I've too inherited several of these wagons from my dad, but I've also found a few at toyfairs at ridiculous low prices or whole box deals. Your right underneath is very basic and suspect missing brake gear. Wheels very thick, body plastic, clear plastic base, was it a kit?, also 4 screws & nuts holding base to body, the spotty bits are remains of peco underlay foam, therefore one from my late fathers layout. Just for interest from about same period trackmaster wagon and at correct buffer height, great advantage of these is the spilt chassis which makes replacement of wheels easy. However plastic from this one "cellulose acetate" starting to bend, not bad for 70 years old

While taking pics of crab, "spotted" this little gem just a few locos away, built by myself some 45 years ago, it's a standard K's kit still in service with the little K's mk2 motor inside. Never fitted model coupling other than chain link, it can still manage collection of light chain link coupling wagons, I've no idea who manufacturered the wagon, but it fits and important correct buffer height. The load is scrap "N" gauge wagon bogies I find filling wagons with stuff idea, as never seem to forget where I put such useful "bits", as at present "lockdown" provides time for building OOn9 stock

Very interesting this thread as over the past 50 didn't realise just how many ex K's kits I've seem to have built/collected/modified/ repainted etc etc. Thus particular example has an excellent heavy body, well painted standard K's tender, mounted on a traing chassis with X04 motor, K's wheels. Currently under test very powerfull haulier recorded a drawbar effort of 50-60 gms. Awaiting new cylinders value gear etc, I want to get the look right, nice big fat ones at the correct angle

Currently on work bench, 2nd hand 50p toy fair body buy, J96 0-6-0 Austerity, with a cast Aluminium chassis cut out to accept Triang XO4 motor

Standard 16T mineral wagon undergoing coupling test, both 50p "finds" from toy fairs, repainted awaiting transfers. I've found from experience that coupling are the weak points, main problem been broken pins, instead I use loco bearing with peco coupling. Note also bent lead between the frames, cheap easy to fit, this is a must for longer trains as prevents collapse inward on curves.

Airfix 9F, triang X04 motor in firebox, romford wheels, trianf 9F running gear. Quite a good haulier plenty of lead in the body, pickups on all driving wheels, standard early airfix body & tender, not kitmaster moulding

Purchased for a very low sum less than £10, a complete narrow gauge layout, course no stock included. It is very well detailed but not been used for years, during future lockdown plan to clean it and get it working, some repair jobs. Reminds us of disused narrow gauge real railways 40 odd years ago, here some pictures.

Thanks for reply, yes aware can do all of above but decided to place old traing chassis in with X04 motor, wheels have been pulled out a bit which makes them suitable for 100 code track. Weight certainly helps, very reliable, tough locomotive quite capable of 30 HD wagons with plain bearing also adds to North Easton region period fleet

Thanks, it's been on repair list for 55 years, did find the bits many years ago but they where too distorted. With the current 2nd hand prices fetching silly money what was to lose? Could spend more time filling holes with finer filler, or perhaps suitable for some weathering. However temporary retirement suddenly put on hold, back to work tomorrow, peak tourism season too

Sytrine sheet followed by a 1st coat paint job, the plastic has really discolour more like a green, humbrol 72 Matt nearest match. Not a bad job might just leave it for now, in a train it's hard to spot. Was it worth it?, yes quite enjoyed the Challenge, nothing to lose job

Acquired 1965 so its genuine HD, unfortunately suffered damage soon after, been in its box finally got round for a repair. Yes could put a wenn body on and for many years did have one, however acquired a HD chassis required so decided to a rebuild.

Interesting as I've had a "fake" hd track cleaning wagon in use for past 30 years, purchased the wagon as a known fake it's now lost the side plate and fake cleaning brush. As a track cleaner it works very well, current use IPA, or medical ethanol, the real problem is the correct fag filter, over the years large filters have become harder to source, fortunately I came across a packet of "make your known" King size which should last a lifetime. A tight fit is idea as you don't want to much liquid on the track and half a wagon full should last 75 yards of track, another tip is to cut off few mm of the filter every few minutes and push the filters down to get a clean tip. A good clean 3- 4 times a year really does improve running, vacuum first then use the wagon, any extra use a cotton rag on end of finger dipped in ethanol. I don't like rubbers or wet & dry it scratches the track surface. Around points are the worst and rubber tyres add to the problem. I've tried the triang one, differcult to use and the pad often jams, or loses fibres, plus heavy on cleaning liquid.

During lockdown decided to bring forward some of my " retirement" projects, one was a part built Wills J39 white metal kit purchased from toy fair many years ago for so the tag said £10. Should have taken a pre photo, dreadful state, in two halves no motor, course Traing 0-6-0 chassis, no pickup. Result one days work, one working loco, excellent haulage capacity due to X04 motor and the weight, rough looking loco typical of freight locos, and rough on the track as well. Yet goes though code 100 points, pulled wheels out a bit, some extra work required repaint, or touch up, hand rails, front coupling etc

Did the garden all day, caught the sun a bit still all that vitamin D might help, feel healthy than ever, quiet, peaceful dispite been in a town, hardy any traffic, and NO cold callers for a week

Interesting, there suddenly lots of these wagons and especially parts shown, about at toy fairs, model railway shows in north west England and north wales. The bent metal tag which holds peco coupling I've seen boxes full of them and thanks I now know what they are for which makes them handly for converting such stock to peco or HD coupling

The one I've got came from a "box" undercounter toy fair think paid a £1 for whole contents of such box, the wagon I rediscovered recently, it came with no wheels and found wheel set which fitted easily in the slots, it does not wobble. Totally cast it's a nice wagon yet to fit buffers and coupling, I suspect the molding had the slots cut in view of selling to model trade as compared to toy trade but at the time mid 70's there was better wagons airfix etc. Strangely I come across the dicast push along loco more than the wagons

Use 0.6mm mig wire, split pins aldi often sell sets with very small split pins in.

Dinky dicast wagon note the "v" slot in inner axle boxes, this allows other wheel sets easily to fit, totally dicast one piece wagon

Watched the whole 90 minutes YouTube Hornby range thing, only thing worried me as I've all the original classic decade range models, only one which made us laugh was the duchess dicast from 30's, purchased a 3 rail Hornby dublo for £20 recently at a toy fair, bit of work and it goes well, 80 years old, will the £250 new one work as well in 2100 ?