Loco Help Please

Hi All

I have had this stored in my shed, probably for the best part of 20 years! It used to belong to my grandad who used to run it round our local county showground sites. It has the little coal store on the back but is actually powered by some sort of battery .

I know very little about it. I was told my grandad built it (and he was an engineer) and i remember having rides on it as a kid round the tracks, so i know it used to work.

I think its a 5" gauge but again, know very little about trains.

I was hoping to sell it and put the money towards some sort of automotive project but was wondering if anyone here knows about this sort of thing and would know potential value? obviously if it was steam powered, it would probably be worth more but i'd rather it be used than sit in my shed for another 20 years getting battered by bikes and kids and what not!

I was going to try and get it running with the help of an old car battery just to see if it runs, but again, not sure if this is the right idea!

Many Thanks for any help
James

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I think the coal-box which I assume fits in the space in front of the cushion, means that driving-truck was made for steam as well as non-steam locos like this one.

What you have there is an "outline" model of a diesel shunting or factory-yard locomotive - I don't know what particular class or prototype and it could well be freelance (builder's own design) but in keeping with such locomotives generally.

It looks a fine locomotive, deserving some TLC.

Easy to determine the gauge - the distance between the roots of the wheel flanges. One way to measure it simply though approximately, is to run the locomotive across a sheet of thick cardboard, then measure the gap between the resulting grooves. That will give the flange-tip width - the gauge will be that plus a little bit, so round up as the standard miniature railway gauges in this sort of scale are 5 inch and 7.25" .

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Before you try it with a "car battery" - which is OK for a short test but not for regular traction-battery duty - find out what battery it does carry, if it's still in there (though probably now dead from disuse). The class suitable as the replacement is that listed as "leisure batteries" - used for mobility-scooters, horticultural equipment, etc.

Also, as I'm sure you realise, if the battery is missing, establish the working voltage and polarity before connecting any battery to it. You don't want to risk ruining the motor and controller.

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I would say it is saleable even if needing a new battery, and for a good price, but I would not like to guess what. Certainly hundreds of ££. Give it and the driving-truck a good clean, repair that slight damage to the cab roof (the up-turned left front corner and what looks like a small dent in the middle), and touch up the paintwork where necessary; before advertising - and you could much do worse than try the Sales section on this forum first.