Hi Richard! Yes, like I mention in the video, there are quite a few reports of over lubrication causing problems! However, mine has ran fine for nigh on six months, and has only recently been running erratically! I was even wondering whether mine required more lubrication! Lol! It's so annoying when our locos don't run as expected right out of the box, but somehow seems worse when they've ran well, and have subsequently ceased operating correctly! I'm glad Rails gave you a refund! All the best, Ian.

Good morning John! Thank you! There are some great photos around, especially if you search Flickr or explore Wikipedia! It's interesting that your Farish Pannier Tank degraded in time, just as my Dapol one seems to have done! At the moment, mine can be running fine one minute, then not the next! Also, one of my friends purchased the Farish Western Rambler train set, which has the same Pannier Tank as yours, and it suffers from similar running problems, so I'm sure these problems aren't confined to Dapol! I've been looking forward to your next update, but probably won't get to see it until tomorrow as I'm out today! Enjoy your weekend too! All the best, Ian.

Hi Frodo! :) That's interesting that they asked you about the DCC control system! I'm not a fan of the Imperium decoders, and I sometimes have trouble with them initially responding to inputs from my NCE PowerCab, but I've never seen them cause running issues like this! With this in mind, I've got a spare Zimo decoder that I could try - told you I'd end up having to take that cab off! Lol! Thanks for the info! Hope you get your loco sorted! All the best, Ian.

@@iansngauge Ian, To be fair I did ask Rails if reseting the decoder to factory settings might help. I'm new to this game and asked for guidance i.e. reset code, hence why they asked what I was using. Actually I'm using PowerCab as well. Watched "This Way Works" video and with my loco only being 7 months old, I'd rather not strip it down and degrease. Noticed that it is fairly oily (why do they tell you to oil before running if it's already greased?) so have used a tissue to soak up the oil between wheels and chassis, ran and repeated a few times. This has helped though not perfect but it is better. I've sent them a nudge earlier linking your video so hoping they respond today. Will keep you informed ;)

@@frodohobbits9684 - Ah, okay! Still think I'll try changing the decoder first! You never know! Yes, Rich at This Way Works makes disassembling and reassembling locos look fairly easy, but I'm pretty sure I'll struggle with it! Instructions that come with locos are full of contradictions, which is annoying! Let's wait and see what Rails have to say! Thanks for keeping me up-to-date! Cheers, Ian.

Good morning Jonathan! Thank you! Yes, it's odd that it only started running this way in the last month or so! With pickups on all wheels it should be able to traverse the insulfrog points easily, and indeed you see it do this at the end of the video! I'm currently at a loss to why it doesn't like going around curves - sometimes! I'm really glad you've had no issues with yours since switching to electrofrog points - you've had far too many problematic locos, so I feel for you! I too love this loco, and have featured it running well in most of my private owner wagon footage! I guess a redesign would be required to make it sound fitted, but Farish managed it with their class 08, so I reckon it could be done! All the best, Ian.

Hi Simon! Hmm! Runs like a Dapol steamer? Their diesels are, on the whole, really good runners! My friend got a Farish Pannier as part of the Western Rambler train set, and it has similar running issues to mine, so these problems aren't confined to Dapol models! Yes, points can be a problem, but even a small loco should be able to traverse insulfrog points when it has pickups on all wheels! Hopefully I'll be able to get to the bottom of the problem of it going around curves! All the best, Ian,

Hi Stephen! That's very kind of you to say! Glad you enjoyed the history segment, as I really like researching them! All the best, Ian.

I saw a couple on another channel. Same problems. I agree with the GraFar being better.

I have no clue about dcc, but I hear that a lot of people fit stay alives into 00 gauge 0-6-0 locos. Not sure if there's the room for that in n gauge? Best of luck solving the hesitation on your points. Perhaps trying out an electrofrog point as a replacement for the insulfrog one to see if it improves the situation? Nice review Ian. 👍

Good morning Wickford, and hello Paul! Haha! They don't have a great history do they? I believe the earlier ones only had two pickups, and a 3 or 5 pole motor, but all wheel pickup should mean much better running, especially over insulfrog points! My friend as a Farish Pannier, and guess what? It behaves very similar to mine! Yes, Rich did a great breakdown of the 57xx, which I'll be following very closely! All the best, Ian,

Hi Simon! I fear this particular loco is too small to fit a stay alive! I fear the loco has other issues as it always used to run over insulfrog points, and indeed, you see it at the end of the video quite happily trundling over them! When I build the real layout, I'll be using unifrog points! Cheers, Ian.

Hi Drew! Thank you! I'll try! :) I got my blue XPS foam from a number of places, such as B&Q and Wickes, but more recently I've been getting it from Amazon! I've got affiliate links in the description of the video that will take you directly to the products I've purchased! How wonderful to have a purpose built location to begin your build! Good luck! All the best, Ian.

Thanks Steve! I probably would have let it be with the wires going behind the framework, but they were just test wires! The servo wires need enough space to get the little plastic connectors through the hole, and I wasn't confident that they'd fit freely behind the framework! I don't think I'm lucky enough to drill straight down through a cross member unfortunately! Lol! The Tricky Bit is still proving to be tricky, as I'm having to redesign my servo enclosure boxes! More of that in a later video though! Cheers, Ian.

Thanks Clive! Yes, it's tremendous to see the class 08 running nice and smoothly again! All the best, Ian.

Hi Luc! Yes, I'm over the moon that the little 08 is running smoothly again! Hmm! Despite it being a little loco, I think it would be a giant amongst your 1:160 scale locos! Maybe you need a second layout? :) All the best, Ian.

Thanks Chris! Yes, I absolutely love the sounds that the 20 makes now! A sound fitted 40 is on my wishlist, which is my all time favourite sounding loco, but I never see them for sale - even non sound fitted ones! I'm hoping that they'll announce new tooling for one in the Bachmann Autumn Announcements! All the best, Ian.

Thanks very much Nick! I hope Mark can help! Yes, it's great to see the 08 back on track - and moving!!! Hopefully when you get yours it won't suffer from the same problems as mine! They really are wonderful little locos! All the best, Ian.

Yes, it's great to have the 08 running properly again! It really is a great model, despite having its running issues because of a badly designed / implemented pickup system! Peco wagons hit a nice middle ground between detail and affordability for me! However, I plan on using magnetic couplings eventually, which will mean having to chop out the existing coupler housing to install a NEM pocket, which will be a time consuming process for all of my Peco wagons! It's a shame you're leaving N gauge, but I fully understand! I would have gone down the OO gauge route myself had I had the space, but N gauge lets me have continuous running and the ability to model several different scenes! Sound in locos is very exciting, especially if you plan on doing some automation! I'm really looking forward to the time I can setup routines for triggering sounds when a loco enters or leaves a particular block! I think that's when a sound fitted loco be at its best! All the best, Ian.

Morning Simon! They certainly did, and it's great to see the little loco traversing the test track again! Cheers, Ian.

@@iansngauge 6 wheelers always have problems with points. Not enough pick ups. So it was nice to see it running properly again. I recently got an old tank engine in a job lot box of bits. I didn't want it but I did service it anyway to go back into a job lot of bits I was selling. On the straight it was fine but at the points it didn't really want to know. Such is old 6 wheelers.

@@ngaugeonashelf4417 - That may be the case with older small wheelbase locos, but the 08 has pickups on all wheels! Therefore it really shouldn't be having problems traversing points as the pickups span any insulated track elements! I think that the pickups are a poor design for the 08, as they're so delicate, and don't always seem to make contact with the wheel backs! They don't seem "springy" enough!!! Ian

@@iansngauge Oh yes. Pick ups that don't pick up and float in fresh air. I had the same problem with one loco. I cut a tiny piece of cardboard and stuffed it in to force the pick up on the wheel. You just don't seem to be able to bend them in situ to do the job they are supposed to. Another fix from Mr Bodgit!

@@ngaugeonashelf4417 - That's a creative solution to the problem! Must have been a teeny tiny piece of cardboard! Cheers, Ian.

Good morning Jonathan! Yes, it's fantastic to have the little 08 trundling around the test track again! My policy now is to return locos that have major running issues, but back in 2022 I was probably a bit naive about such things! I'm really pleased to have found Mark's Trains, and can definitely see me using them in the future! I'm about to try and service my class 57xx, which has begun to run "erratically" occasionally, so if it goes badly, I'll be sending that off! Ooh! I've also got the class 57 on pre-order, so that could be an option for me too! All the best, Ian.

Good morning John! Mark provides a great friendly service, so I'd definitely recommend at least contacting him about your pannier tank and bubble car! I think with n gauge locos being so small, if they haven't been designed with sound fitting in mind, finding space in the chassis for a speaker is key! The class 20 is definitely quieter than my 08, but then the 08 is quieter than the 5MT, which has a whole tender to locate a speaker! Obviously, the bigger the speaker, the louder the noise! I think I'm addicted to the private owner wagons, and may need help to stop collecting them! I'm soon going to have enough for two trains full! Lol! Yes, the Dad's Army ones will make excellent Christmas gifts! I initially wanted a stay-alive fitted to the 08, but Mark advised me that the decoder didn't have the required inputs, and that I'd need to install a different decoder that supported an alternative power supply! This would have been too costly, so I went with a complete service as well as replacing the pickups! It works great over the points, and I expect it to run even better over the Unifrog points! I eagerly await your next update mate! All the best, Ian.

Hi John! Yes, I've missed the 08, and seeing it run properly again has been rather heartwarming! The pickups are so delicate though that I fear they will be problematic throughout the loco's lifetime! I didn't realise they were doing a new one in N, or were you referring to the new OO version? I absolutely love the sound of the locos, especially if they're ones I've had close contact with in the past! I think I'm addicted to collecting private owner wagons! I may need help to quit! Lol! All the best, Ian.

@@iansngaugesorry got cofused, yes that was OO, no idea why I thought it was N. Oh well. OO versions are plagued with similar issues without a stay alive. Funny isnt it, that these loco live in depots and sidings where there are lots of errmmmm.... points. Lol Private owner wagons anonymous lol

No problem John! Yeah, I'm a bit bewildered why stay-alives aren't a standard thing fitted to new locos with short wheelbases! If they can cram one into the NGS Hunslet, they should be able to fit one in anything! Haha! Sign me up to POWA! Lol! Cheers, Ian.

Hi Jason! I've not attempted a conversion yet, as all of my locos have either been DCC ready, or DCC fitted! I think a DCC conversion would be beyond me at the moment, although I'd like to give it a try one day! Cheers, Ian.

Thanks Jason! Yeah, prices have gone silly ever since Covid struck, and don't seem to have reduced now everything is back to normal! I'm just a beginner in N gauge, progressing rather slowly, and documenting my build in a warts and all manner! Hopefully you'll find some decent information, and at the very least the videos will keep you entertained! All the best, Ian.

Hi Jason! Hopefully if you get an 08 it will run better right out of the box than mine did! You may be interested in the review I made of the 08 last year? If you are, you can find it here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/brdha7aYkqrJlXU.html Good luck with your build! All the best, Ian.

@@iansngauge Cheers Ian I will take a look.

Hi Jules! My 08 needed the pickups replacing, which cost £40, but the cost for uou would obviously depend on what you needed fixing! I also had the 08 serviced, which was £35, so it may be that that's all you need for your tank engine? You can always contact Mark via his website and discuss various options! Cheers, Ian.

Hey John, give Oreo a tasty treat from me! Glad to know it's not just humans watching the channel! Lol! Cheers, Ian.

Hi David! After I'd fixed the paint overspray issue, the 08 had ran perfectly for over a year - then I encountered the pickup problems! Very pleased with how it's running now though! Don't think I've seen the RSS liveried 08 at Eastleigh - I must pay more attention next time I pass through! Yes, I think that manufacturers should do more testing and have better quality control! The pickups on the 08 are so delicate and move at the slightest of touches! I wouldn't be surprised if it stops running again in the future! I love the sounds! My plan is to automate them all when I get to that stage! Then I can automatically silence ones that are "off-scene" so the locos aren't competing with each other, and I'm just listening to noise!!! All the best, Ian.

Hi Euan! Yes, the little 08 is running better than it has ever done! If only they'd run like that straight out of the box! The livery of the 20 is a bit too dark for my liking, but as it's a Thornaby depot custom job, I guess I can forgive that! I'd love a normal BR Blue one, but I never see them! Maybe Bachmann will treat us to some more liveries in the Autumn Announcements? Or a newly tooled class 40? Or Deltic? Haha! Yes, do check out Mark's Trains! All the best, Ian.

Hi Gary! Yeah, I'm hoping that once I've got the Tricky Bit installed and wired, track laying will speed up! Although saying that, I've still not completely worked out how I'm going to do the inclines yet!!! Less said about England performances at the moment, the better! Shouldn't really complain, as they still finished top of their group, but watching them is like getting teeth pulled!!! All the best, Ian.

Thanks very much Chris! I said from the start that I was going to document my build, and show both the good and bad bits! I hope this approach gives confidence to people who are frightened of failing, knowing that not every modeller gets things right on their first go! All the best, Ian.

Haha! Hi Stephen! Thanks for the links to the drill bits! I only just ordered longer 6mm and 12mm drill bits earlier today, but I've just added the 2mm - 5mm set to my order as, like you say, they'll come in handy at some point! I can't wait to get one section of "live" track connected as it will be such a major milestone! I still need to work out some teething issues with my servo enclosure boxes, and where I'm going to mount the electronics to make them easy to access, otherwise all is looking good! All the best, Ian.

Thank you again! The rolling road is a great bit of kit that has come in handy on a number of occasions, but I'd wait until it comes on sale before purchasing! Cheers, Ian.

Thank you! Yes, I too had only seen servos fitted into aluminum channel with piano wire to throw the points! This design came about because I couldn't put the motors below the baseboard as with the thickness of the foam, the piano wire wouldn't throw the points correctly! I'm still working on the final design for the enclosure boxes! With the current design, the servo can easily be removed if the point rodding is kept short, but if it's longer, and goes beneath a track or two, you have to remove the hole point! However, I have a plan to circumvent this which will no doubt appear in a future update! Good luck with your implementation! All the best, Ian.

Hi Nick! Thank you! Yes, my plan is to dig out a channel of foam about half an inch wide from the bottom layer, then the servo motor wires can be run through the channel to a hole that will be big enough to accept the futaba connectors, and will avoid any baseboard framing! I'll eventually be exploring JMRI / iTrains, but not for a while yet! I don't have any problems with insulfrog points, in fact my test track uses them! I'm still undecided whether or not to power the frog on the unifrog points, although I'm wiring them just in case! I'm certainly no expert when it comes to model railway building, but by documenting what I'm doing, I thought people would see what can work, and what doesn't! I've been quite lucky so far that the majority of things I've tried have worked out well! Good luck with your layout! All the best, Ian.

Thanks Chris! I'm using 6mm holes as each hole will be for at least two wires! I'm using 20/22AWG wire for my droppers, and found that 4mm was too tight, and 6mm was my next drill bit size up! I'll be using some sort of filler to stop ballast falling down them when I get to that stage! Cheers, Ian.

Hi Terry! It certainly is! It's definitely a game of highs and lows! Mostly highs though! Cheers, Ian.

Hi Simon! Yes, fun and games indeed! I'm still trying to plan where I'm going to locate all of the electronics that the wires run to once beneath the layout - to make it easy for me to access them! Now that's even more fun! :) Cheers, Ian.

@@iansngauge I found that wiring came with many bumps to my head. Plus my knees took a hammering on the floor. Why can't we go wireless? Bluetooth points?

Good morning John! Yes, retirement is great! :) I've watched every single game up to this point! My plan is to remove a half inch wide channel of foam and route the servo motor wires along it away from the framing! It'll be interesting to see how well the glue has adhered the foam to the plywood! I agree, but I see the whole project as a puzzle, rather than a problem, otherwise I'd become disheartened!!! Good to know that the garage project is progressing - can't wait to see what you've been up to! Haha! I've not come across any cobwebs in my train room, but the odd large spider or two have popped up unexpectedly to freak me out! Oh dear, the more I watch England play the more I despair! So much talent going unfulfilled! Is it terrible tactics? Or the fact that the players are only just meeting on the pitch for the first time? Wish we played more like Spain! Hell, wish we played more like Denmark! Lol! All the best mate, Ian.

Good morning Paul! Yes, the football has been great - other than the England performances of course! Hopefully it won't be too long before the cliffhanger is resolved! Cheers, Ian.

Good morning Euan! Thank you! You know that I love a bit of meticulous planning! Lol! I'd not thought of drilling from below, but as below the baseboard is my least favourite place in the world, I'll probably stick to my original plan! This is to cut a channel into the foam that's about half an inch wide, then route the servo motor wires along the channel to avoid any framing! All the best, Ian.

Hi Jonathan! Thank you! Always love to follow a meticulous procedure! :) I can imagine in T Guage a 6mm drill hole would be large enough to lose rolling stock through! Lol! Yes, my plan is to remove about half an inch of foam nearest the wall to create a channel for the servo motor wires to run in! I'll then drill one or two larger 12mm holes to enable me to get the "futaba" connectors through the hole! Cheers, Ian.

Hi Luc! Haha! The hazards of drilling near walls! Yes, I'm enjoying the Euros so far - other than the England performances! The way I use the staples either side of the track, and pushed in at a slight angle over the sleeper edges means that there's no chance of the track going anywhere! All the best, Ian.

Hi Rob! It's a Peco brake van (NR-28E), but I've swapped the original white roof with a gray one from a Farish model! Cheers, Ian.

Hi Ed! Yes, the drill guide has been a revelation for me and has already been put to good use! The 128 is a fantastic runner, especially when fitted with DCC! All the best, Ian.

Hi Paul! Thanks for the confirmation of my pronunciation! You never quite know whether or not you're pronouncing words correctly when you've only ever seen them in print before - and you're from the North!! :) No problem, the servo horn flying off was quite amusing, and that section was included in the video for the entertainment value as well as to inform others what could happen when decreasing the servo position past zero! I think you're correct, I'm going to go with a much slower value that I've currently got set for the speed! I like that you can get a similar effect to the Tortoise / Cobalt motors, but at a much cheaper price with these SG90 motors! All the best, Ian.

Hi Stephen! Thank you! Yes, I never expected my model railway to attack me, but I'm glad I was up to the task of avoiding the danger when it occurred! I was definitely pleased to see the 33 tackle the section without issue! All the best, Ian.