I'm busy making platforms for Trepol Bay at the moment and am taking the opportunity to clean, oil and run every locomotive (I've got about 25 to do).
I first clean the wheels then oil (as recommended)before running each loco at a realistic (generally that's slow) speed for about 15 mins in either direction then give a short, sharp spell at fast speed (literally two circuits of the track) to finish off.
Would others generally recommend this course of action (say every 3-4 months or so) ?
It gives me the opportunity to run locos for a reasonable length of time which otherwise might not be the case.
Sounds fairly sensible to me although I'd be interested to hear what others have to say.
Yes I'd go with something like you described. I think the main thing that helps is just to run a loco for a few minutes every few months just to check they're still working ok and to remind yourself what a lovely shed full of locos you've got. Especially if your layout is still under construction and all you have is a test track like me
:beers:.
The only thing I'd add is to perhaps turn the loco through 180 degrees and then run it in each direction again. This can be solved by having a figure of 8 test track (which I don't)
Quote from: newportnobby on January 23, 2015, 09:05:14 PM
The only thing I'd add is to perhaps turn the loco through 180 degrees and then run it in each direction again. This can be solved by having a figure of 8 test track (which I don't)
Fair point. Thank you.