10 October 2014
Originally when I first contemplated layout construction around 1967 the “white heat of the scientific revolution” (copyright Harold Wilson 1963) was in full flow and I had no intention of operating steam locomotives and this remained constant for a long time. However a few Southern steam locos have been bought over the years and at one stage I planned to incorporate a preserved line alongside the main line. That has not been possible – but I still fancy running a few steam engines around from time to time, mainly because some of the models now available are so stunning in terms of detail.
M7 LSWR 245
An early Dapol model this M7 was bought on ebay and like many of my acquisitions was not really opened for some time. Opening it now has proven interesting. Most obviously the handrails which run along the boiler have become seriously distorted on both sides and are now both curved like an “S” laid on its side. There are some mentions of this online but no reported explanations or cures.
The locomotive was placed on the rolling road supports and power applied. Then some oil and some more running in. I tend to let locomotives run for ten minutes in one direction before reversing and running in the other. Usually I do this several times and over a period the loco tends to run more smoothly at lower speeds without any lock ups. FInally I end up placing it on the test track and turning the controller on gently to see if it can move off at a relatively slow speed.
As an early Dapol design this is not one of the better locomotives for slow speed and there is not much which can be done to improve this further.
With the loco running reasonably smoothly it is put back in the packaging – a planned visit to a model railway exhibition should allow me to acquire something which can replace the distorted hand rails.
Terrier Brighton Works
Another, even smaller, Dapol locomotive of more recent manufacture with enhancements from the supplier. Looking at the loco it is hard to believe that it is possible for it to contain a motor. Side by side with the dmu motor bogie mentioned elsewhere the Terrier appears to be nearly half the size and yet there is drive to all three axles rather than two.
Still a very light locomotive and I follow the same running in process as described above for the M7. I cannot see the Terrier having a significant haulage power. The smooth running of the Terrier seems better than the M7 at low speeds. Both locos now deserve some suitable pre-grouping rolling stock – although for the moment the best I have are some Mark 1s!
Q1 Southern C21
This locomotive has previously been through the running in process but I took the opportunity to read the instructions (like most people RTFM rarely applies to me). Dapol advise oiling after 20 hours of use or 2-monthly intervals. Well and good – but with the fleet I have I don’t think I could get round all of them before the two months has long gone. So oiling before active service looks likely.
A touch of oil on each of the gears which sit under the loco and onto the rolling road. The motor is housed in the tender with a drive shaft through to the engine itself.
Looking at it sat on the rolling road the slow speed running looks much better than either the M7 or the Terrier – hardly surprising given that it is much later in the Dapol development programme and there was obviously a lot of learning going on as the new locomotives were developed and delivered.