G`day Folks, Yes an old Barclay Shunter......or an old Smokey Joe wearing a different body. Mass produced bottom end of the quality scale entry level model railway locos that run reliably, albeit too quickly, and really would be more suitable for small children..........the appeal to children being that these locos take off like a scalded cat and can do scale model speeds equivalent to a TGV or maybe a low flying jet..........anyway they go like the clappers because they seem to have slot car motors in them and the gearing is all about simplicity instead of prototypical acceleration. This particular loco was a gift included with track and other trains and bits and pieces that came from a family member who no longer needed or wanted them. So you never look a gift horse in the mouth and hopefully , I`ve accepted the gift and the kind intent behind it ,graciously, so as not to hurt anyone`s feelings. The bonus for me with this sort of gift, is the challenge of improving or restoring some of it and turning it into an asset for my railway. So this little shunter is part of the bigger story and some of that story is in the video below. Gormo
Nice work on the video and loco! What particularly impressed me was how you integrated the new small coupling, very clever. I might just borrow that idea. I got one of these small locos a while ago, hoping to use it on my shunting layout. However, as you say it runs like a scalded cat, totally unsuitable for shunting. However it was very cheap. I might just use your method to weight it though, as mine will soon have the use it was intended for, on my 3 track kids U-drive layout, the sort of layout which tends to be a rail equivalent of a racetrack. I will then be able to answer the question, what is faster, the Barclay Shunter, or Percy? I might have to do some electronic trickery to limit the speed though, or seriously bank my tracks. It's strange though, not every loco with what appears to be that chassis runs as fast, I have a couple of the Caledonian Pug locos, which are much more subdued in their running. Cheers Tony
G`day Tony, Yes I`m not totally convinced I will use the loco for shunting, unless I can do something about the gearing, which is unlikely at this stage. However, I can just see my little Grandsons having some fun with it...... The coupling is fairly easy to convert........I did the original removal with a knife and trimmed the new couplings with some pliers. The key to success is to make sure the new coupling sits nicely in the cavity and also that it sits horizontally when secured with the screw. Gormo
Enjoyed the video as always Gormo. Good ideas for adding weight and illustrating where it can be added for those who have a similar version. Cheers Toto
Thanks Toto, As I said above......it will never be a star performer, especially for shunting, but still enjoyable, for youngsters especially. Gormo....... will have to start thinking about a Christmas Special and new titles for next year too....?????
