I can’t help thinking that the kitchen table will sub in nicely as a work bench while you redecorate and rebuild your layout room. 😂great video, thanks for sharing!👍🇨🇦

And another successful runner. Excellent repair job to an "elderly" loco. I must admit I do find the older locos and coaches interesting and goes to show you the long life these models have. No bells and whistles just a simple loco that runs. Well done Bill.

Hi Bill, I had one of those green 08s when I was a boy back in the 1960s! Brings back memories!

Hi Bill Yes it is an Uncoupler. The idea was that you came to a sudden stop which then uncoupled the wagons behind. I have had one from new in the 1970's

Interesting video as I pulled out a very similar Hornby class 08 on Thursday evening. It hadn't been run for a number of years. All I did was oil the axles and lube the gear and off she went pulling a rake of wagons! After watching this I should open it up and do a fuller service!

This was the first loco I ever bought as a kid. Got it from the second hand shop that used to be located on the platform of bury Bolton street on the east lancs. Ended up looking an idiot as I took it home, ran it and it stopped working. So took it back, they opened it up and it was full of track pins. I'd left them on the track as I was building a layout, loco had run over them and got stuck in the loco. I was around 12 though.

This was (Rovex) Hornby's first attempt at the English Electric class 08 shunter, as the preceding (Rovex) Triang Railways / Triang-Hornby 0-6-0 shunter was based on the inside framed LMS Armstrong-Whitworth "Jackshaft" 0-6-0 350 HP shunter. The weighted hook contraption is so that abrupt halting of the loco, causes it to automatically decouple. This can give phantom uncoupling on dirty track & point frogs.

I customised mine (when I was quite small): painted Airfix/Humbrol matt Trainer Yellow ends and coupling rods, then drew on the wasp stripes with a ruler and fine felt pen. (Recently re-drawn using a pigment marker, as the originals had faded, which allowed me to refine my original less-than-perfect lines!). I also have a vague recollection of attaching a lump of Blu-tack to the dropper of the counterweight coupling, so it stayed connected when running along.

Ohh Yess - That was a mesmerising fix - poetry in Motion - well done Dr Bill 🩺 🚂🏆

Nice one Bill. I've got one of that model of 08 Shunter. As mentioned below, the extra lever on the rear coupling hook is supposed to throw the lever forward and raising the hook. The tension bar has a 'slide' on it so the wagon or carriage hook could slide out of the tension bar after being brought to an abrupt halt. Not the best idea with the shorter hooks introduced around the same time! I had to replace the spring power pick-up as I'd lost it years ago. It isn't the best solder joint, the pick-up being a spring or stainless steel, which doesn't take solder well. My 1st video was on doing that with a piece of bronze-wound steel cored guitar string. Handy things! A great video and how the eye for the slight details pay off. Now I ken how to stop mine from rattling like a tin can! Cheers Bill. Keep Safe, sir. Cheers now!

Wow excellent work. I’ve an old one and now tempted to have a go myself. 😁👍🍀🇮🇪

This hobby still has its surprises for me. Rear coupler with a counter balance arm with shunting fun to be had. A traction magnet that until tonight I new nothing about in Hornby locos and day light between magnet and plates which I shall now look out for. An enjoyable video thats educated me a little :0) Mike

The rear coupling is desigined to 'uncouple' when you stop the loco rather quicker than you would normally do so. The counterbalance weight, lifts the coupling hook, and it is supposed to stay lifted so that when you drive the shunter forward, it leaves the wagons/coaches behind!

That was a great service and repair Bill Enjoy your classic and good luck with the decorating Nick Australia

Nice job as usual. I know they're not as detailed as the most up to date examples but there's something nice about the older 08s

Nice job on that one Bill runs quiet and smooth.

Cheers Bill, a very nice addition to the layout - the 08 is obviously a good runner - I think that the Xo4s are good motors and certainly more robust than the ringfield types!

Evening Bill, an excellent addition to the layout. As others mentioned the coupler has a counter balance which when the engine is stopped suddenly the arm moves forward and the coupler rises; thus uncoupling the wagon being pulled. Don’t catch on so to speak. It’s great fun though moving wagons and coaches around. Have fun and Thankyou again for your time for this video…👍 all best Marc

hi Bill, i remember these in the 80s, that gadget is an uncoupler, just a gimmick really, this 08 was good and easy to maintain,

Hi Bill 😀 Just shows you if you give something some TLC it’ll come back to life 🤩 Nice fix that Bill 👍🏻

THE BEST TRAIN!

great job as usual

Introduced to replace old diesel shunter in 1976 the 08 shunter featured an automatic uncoupling device . I think the theory was that if you stopped suddenly the counterbalance weight shot backwards releasing the coupling hook . Never really caught on . I don’t think it ever appeared on any other Hornby model

I bet Charles wants it back now.

Back when Hornby didn’t care if their models were scale representative ! These things were nothing like the real versions. I had a blue one in the 80s that came in the diesel shunter train set, mostly the same model as this one, mine had the newer, smaller motor that went way too fast & had no real slow speed control.

It's a nice donation. I think the 08 shunter is as essential to any layout as a Jinty. Gosh, the traction magnet. Not necessary on your nickel track I suppose. I have been trying to find one of those larger ones for ages and they are very hard, if not impossible, to find. I'm surprised you didn't disable the 'automatic uncoupling' device as well. Cute idea but I think it could become annoying.

nice loco good vid on your get give it train thank four good vid

Hi Bill ,, I have a shunter like yours there (but my one has the NSW Railway livery of brown with yellow stripe on it) and it has eggzactklee the same deal happening for the long tall prong lookin thingy on it that moves back and forth and forth like yours does. The only thing i can see that being for may loose shunting as in giving the loco some power and stopping it dead and it relaeses the hook from the coupling and may be used over one of them uncouplers you use to get in the sets of tring and in peco uncoupling plates possibly. Anyhoo of ya find out what it does let us know plz.😁😁😁 or thats my guess at least. Cheers from John in Australia

Hey Bill, did you ever have a play with the auto decoupler? Have you ever used silicone spray for your locos? I've got some on the shelf along with goo gone and I'm sure they would be useful... Haven't the guts to test my theory. Goo gone should help with wheel cleaning, and silicone spray for lubrication... Obviously with small application brush

What kind of contact cleaner do you use?

That rear coupler is the Hornby automatic coupling. If you stop the loco quickly the weight at the top of the arm opens the coupler. It didn’t catch on as an idea.

Hi again Bill ,, ok so that thing ya done with the lining up the wheels with the ruler and when you put the tape on them to hold them together ,, so is this a part of the quartering process as I noticed you left 1 set of wheels in the chassis. Was that so you didnt have to do the quartering process ? Also have you done a video on quartering ? If you have could you let me know that around what date you did it as it would be awesome to know what to do as im still learning. The tape thing is a handy thing i have learnt tonight so thanks again. Cheers from John in Australia.

Hi Bill hope your well, am I right in thinking you only take one loco per person now? Also how can I sent a loco to you ?

How do I send u a loco request for repair I have a bachmann 08 dcc fitted and makes a terrible racket I think it needs a service but I not really done to meany If I was was to put it back to dc would u be able to do it a service

At this rate you'll need a bigger layout.

The little dongle on the coupling is for if you were to stop suddenly then it will rise up so you can have hand free un coupling

Contact cleaner on offer at toolstation