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Offline Rwill  
#1 Posted : 15 January 2017 18:30:16(UTC)
Rwill

United Kingdom   
Joined: 04/05/2015(UTC)
Posts: 777
Location: England, London
Today I have been reconfiguring a section of my layout - a pastime my wife reckons takes up more time than running trains. At the various stage especially towards the finish its good to run a train to see if everything's OK.

I always reach for my old faithful 3665 BR260 shunter for this task - no bogies, axles, tenders, couplings and any bits that can break off have probably already done so in the last thirty years or so.

Anyone else have a favourite indestructible old faithful lok?
Offline kiwiAlan  
#2 Posted : 15 January 2017 20:16:50(UTC)
kiwiAlan

United Kingdom   
Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC)
Posts: 8,082
Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
Originally Posted by: Rwill Go to Quoted Post
Today I have been reconfiguring a section of my layout - a pastime my wife reckons takes up more time than running trains. At the various stage especially towards the finish its good to run a train to see if everything's OK.

I always reach for my old faithful 3665 BR260 shunter for this task - no bogies, axles, tenders, couplings and any bits that can break off have probably already done so in the last thirty years or so.

Anyone else have a favourite indestructible old faithful lok?


A 3000 would probably fit the bill for many people - there was a reason it was a popular loco to put in start sets BigGrin BigGrin BigGrin

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Offline Ramprasad S.V.R.  
#3 Posted : 16 January 2017 03:24:42(UTC)
Ramprasad S.V.R.

India   
Joined: 27/07/2014(UTC)
Posts: 12
Location: CHENNAI, INDIA
Hello Happy New Year to All!
Yes RWill- I do agree there will be one faithful Lok in every ones collection! I have my BR 360-V60 # 37649 for all test runs and EO3/10 # 39573 for heavy duty testings. Off course they are not old! but always faithful to run even after several months kept in box or parked in tracks!
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Offline Tex  
#4 Posted : 16 January 2017 06:20:12(UTC)
Tex

United States   
Joined: 30/01/2004(UTC)
Posts: 276
Location: Houston, Texas
I also had a 3665 and reached for it when I was testing track. I later bought a 37649 BR 360 which had an improved motor and a Telex coupler that performed better. After a number of years I realized that the bright red Cargo paint scheme clashed with that of my other diesels. The solution was to attach the 3665 cab to the 37649 base and have operated it that way since. I can always switch them back if I wanted to sell them. Tex
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Offline Br502362  
#5 Posted : 16 January 2017 09:21:08(UTC)
Br502362

Finland   
Joined: 05/03/2014(UTC)
Posts: 680
Location: Finland
Hi all,

My favourite indestructible old faithful lok is 3021 V200.
It was in the early 70's when the motor was worn out and armature
had to be replaced. It is still running strong and pulling tin plate coaches.

DSC_0134.jpg

If I ever have to sell my MRR stuff it would be the last to goWub

Cheers
Åke
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Offline dickinsonj  
#6 Posted : 18 January 2017 01:16:30(UTC)
dickinsonj

United States   
Joined: 05/12/2008(UTC)
Posts: 1,676
Location: Crozet, Virginia
Originally Posted by: Br502362 Go to Quoted Post
Hi all,

My favourite indestructible old faithful lok is 3021 V200.

Cheers
Åke

Hey Åke,

I am laying out my entire track plan right now and I have been testing it with my newer V200. Before that it was a converted 3000, but it could run badly even on good track. My V200 still has the old DCM, but in 5-pole it actually works well using modern decoders. I think the real problem is the slider but for whatever reason, it objects to any irregularities in my electrical supply. Cool

A fun way to test things and to get it all right. BigGrin
Regards,
Jim

I have almost all Märklin and mostly HO, although I do have a small number of Z gauge trains!
So many trains and so little time.
Offline DaleSchultz  
#7 Posted : 18 January 2017 03:56:16(UTC)
DaleSchultz

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2006(UTC)
Posts: 3,997
I used whatever was closest to hand. The more locos you test with the better. If you always test with one only, you are building a layout known to work with one loco.
Dale
Intellibox + own software, K-Track
My current layout: https://cabin-layout.mixmox.com
Arrival and Departure signs: https://remotesign.mixmox.com
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Offline RayF  
#8 Posted : 18 January 2017 14:28:01(UTC)
RayF

Gibraltar   
Joined: 14/03/2005(UTC)
Posts: 15,838
Location: Gibraltar, Europe
I have many old faithful's, and I agree with Dale that you should test with a variety of locos to get a better picture of how well your layout is going to perform in actual operation.

I would go further and say that you should test with a complete train. Sometimes there is a change in level or a kink in the track which the loco can negotiate easily but will derail or uncouple any wagons behind it.

It is also helpful to test with your longest coaches when placing signals, catenary masts, light towers etc. I have a situation now where I cant use coaches longer than 27cm on my R1 curves if I don't want them to bang into all the catenary masts.

Ray
Mostly Marklin.Selection of different eras and European railways
Small C track layout, control by MS2, 100+ trains but run 4-5 at a time.
thanks 3 users liked this useful post by RayF
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