My oldest loco still running is now 45 years old, it started life as a Fleischmann 7160, but soon acquired a Langley S15 body, It had a new motor a couple of years ago. I also have a few more 40+years locos
Two Minitrix Britannias from 1975/76.
Still only on second set of traction tyres, and they've done a fair bit of exhibition running in the past.
I also have a Farish J67/J69 from the same time which-just-staggers around if it has to.........
Martyn
Later;
I still use 2 x cl 20 chassis underneath cl 15 bodies from 1986 or so, but I admit that in part, they are 'grandpa's axe'.
M
I have a LoneStar Class 24 from the mid-1960s which runs, though technically it's OOO gauge and only runs on N gauge track until it hits some points, which it does with quite a thud.
The oldest proper N gauge loco I have, that I can date with some accuracy, is this Tomix ED75 (made in Hong Kong by Bachmann) from 1975~1977.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48080000312_a57d2bfd9b_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2gfEz1C)
Tomy ED75 (ED75 513) (https://flic.kr/p/2gfEz1C) by Rail Squid (https://www.flickr.com/photos/railsquid/), on Flickr
Noisy, but a reliable runner, though more of a museum piece than a proper layout loco.
The oldest one I have in regular use is this Eidai ED75 from 1979, which is a very good model for its production era:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48072808241_b0e7871b50_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2gf2H4p)
Eidai ED75 (ED75 91) (https://flic.kr/p/2gf2H4p) by Rail Squid (https://www.flickr.com/photos/railsquid/), on Flickr
On the British front, this Poole Farish 47 from 1981, if I recall correctly.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/1822/43102519232_72277f8c63_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28EPFij)
Graham Farish Class 47 (D1662) (https://flic.kr/p/28EPFij) by Rail Squid (https://www.flickr.com/photos/railsquid/), on Flickr
The earliest I have are both Farish 5 poled steamers......
1445 Castle carrying label £33.20
1905 8F carrying label £39.95
from, I think, mid 70s. Both still run a treat.
Quote from: Newportnobby on July 04, 2019, 09:52:10 AM
The earliest I have are both Farish 5 poled steamers......
1445 Castle carrying label £33.20
1905 8F carrying label £39.95
from, I think, mid 70s.
8F first came out mid to late 1980s.
Castle may be older, but is not 1970s - if is a 5 pole version it's 1984 onwards (1984 had white nylon gearing, so if black gearing 1985 onwards). 3 pole versions will be 1981/82 type time period.
Cheers,
Alan
I have a Farish GP tank dating from the early 80s still running. Also a pannier tank from same period.
Still have my Minitrix class 27 mechanisms dating from 1967-68, which are still running well, and will still haul any lengthy trains I have running. However they have been modified to fit under my fleet of AC Electrics.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/79/5731-040719102928.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=79144)
Quote from: Dorsetmike on July 04, 2019, 09:11:46 AM
My oldest loco still running is now 45 years old, it started life as a Fleischmann 7160, but soon acquired a Langley S15 body, It had a new motor a couple of years ago. I also have a few more 40+years locos
Not wishing to nit pic, but is that not a bit like 'Triggers Broom'?
:confused2:
Quote from: Dr Al on July 04, 2019, 09:55:15 AM
Quote from: Newportnobby on July 04, 2019, 09:52:10 AM
The earliest I have are both Farish 5 poled steamers......
1445 Castle carrying label £33.20
1905 8F carrying label £39.95
from, I think, mid 70s.
8F first came out mid to late 1980s.
Castle may be older, but is not 1970s - if is a 5 pole version it's 1984 onwards (1984 had white nylon gearing, so if black gearing 1985 onwards). 3 pole versions will be 1981/82 type time period.
Cheers,
Alan
Thanks Alan. Looks like I was a decade out. I'm therefore still a relative newbie :laugh3:
Oh to be a decade out.... I'd still be able to get under me layout!
The oldest loco I have is the 4-6-4 Baltic Tank I acquired and restored last year. It was originally a hand made brass body and Fleichman chassis from the mid 60's.
https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=41805.msg515603#msg515603 (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=41805.msg515603#msg515603)
The chassis was shot, and replaced with a modern Fairburn Tank chassis and is an eye catcher at shows.
Can't quite match the previous post for longevity, but I'm still using an unmodified Farish 94XX which I bought new in 1976. It has brass gears and you can hear it running from the next room, but it goes on for ever. It had the (then) new 3-pole motor and worked far more reliably than the Farish Holden tanks I also bought, which had can motors.
Minitrix warships class 27 9fs Brits and Ivatts so basically Minitrix!!
I have at least one Farish steamer with the 3-pole motor. I found the slow running to be as good as with the 5-pole motor given a good controller.
Peco Jubilee Sept 1971 - £9.50 and still owned. That's 48 years by my count.
I sold the others from that era:
Britannia Dec 1971. about £7
Warship 1972. about £6.50
Farish Hall (awful) 1973. About £6.
2F 0-6-0T 1974. £6.50
2MT 2-6-2T 1976. £12.13 (inflation!)
Bob
I have a Farish 5700 pannier tank with a 3 pole motor which makes grinding noises and a very noisy and very big Lima Deltic, I keep the pair of them to remind me of how things have improved.
Of my older locos my Peco Jubilees and Minitrix Pacifics still run very well indeed.
Quote from: silly moo on July 04, 2019, 04:36:51 PM
I have a Farish 5700 pannier tank with a 3 pole motor which makes grinding noises
The 57xx is a mid 1990s model, and never came with a 3 pole motor - only the late 5 pole silver commutator version. If it does have a 3 pole armature with a copper commutator (or a 5 pole with a copper comm) then that's not original - someone's monkeyed with it in the past.
Cheers,
Alan
I have not owned it since new but probably my Wrenn Lima 2-6-4 Tank, bought off e-Bay mint and boxed even with the original price sticker on it (£4 something). It languishes in a box somewhere but it does run to the extent Lima models ever do (two speeds, flat out and stop.
Roy
Oldest N gauge (ish) locos I have are a couple of original Push-Trix from the early '60s. Unpowered unflanged models. I suppose they don't count but on the other hand they do still run when I push them :D
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/79/5885-040719191811.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=79156)
Oldest working N gauge (ish!) loco is probably a Lone Star 0-8-0, though it doesn't get much exercise nowadays.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/79/5885-040719191619.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=79155)
I do have some early Minitrix, Arnold and Piko locos from the mid- to late-60s, they come out occasionally for a run. Please excuse the sawdust on the roof of this Arnold Re 4/4, this old loco still gets used for testing during construction (in my garage)!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/79/5885-040719194019.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=79158)
Minitrix locos from the 70s, still lovely smooth runners, just as good as modern models :)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/79/5885-040719194504.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=79159)
I have several Arnold ET 420 multiple units, some dating back to the mid 70s, any of which can still form part of the regular roster on my layout at exhibitions depending on which liveries I fancy playing with :-)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/79/5885-040719200636.jpeg)
My late fathers OO stuff from the late 50s early 60s is still running on some friends layout, even after I used to service them for him, only new bits were motor brushes.
Quote from: Dr Al on July 04, 2019, 06:23:40 PM
Quote from: silly moo on July 04, 2019, 04:36:51 PM
I have a Farish 5700 pannier tank with a 3 pole motor which makes grinding noises
The 57xx is a mid 1990s model, and never came with a 3 pole motor - only the late 5 pole silver commutator version. If it does have a 3 pole armature with a copper commutator (or a 5 pole with a copper comm) then that's not original - someone's monkeyed with it in the past.
Cheers,
Alan
I've got my panniers mixed up :-[ It's a 9400, I have three very old ones with slightly different motors but only one shows any sign of life. They are all rather dreadful models by today's standards.
Yes, I think my pannier is the same model with a 5 pole motor, bought in London circa 1987.
Shocking detail, but solid and still running.
I was just amazed I'd acquired my first Western locomotive! :thumbsup:
I've got two of those and both still run fairly well :)
I have a Minitrix Brit, renamed and numbers as a Clan dating from late 70s. Some of the chassis under a few kit built locos date from the early/mid 80s. All still going strong. Most of the rest are now Chinese era of one sort or another.
My oldest loco is an original Farish Holden tank 0-6-0 with the can motor. I bought it second hand, so have no idea when it was made - early 70s perhaps? Like most of my stock it has been in storage for 25 years so runs fairly roughly and the wheels need quartering but I'm sure there's nothing wrong that can't be fixed.
Cheers,
Chris
I have an old Holden tank as well it was the second Loco I ever owned after the original Pannier Tank, it still growls its way around the layout on occasions. I bought it in 1972 at the tender age of 15 :goggleeyes: so its best part 47 years old, I also have an original Farish BOB with can motor, but that had a new Tender, nameplates and the chassis is held together with bent staples :laugh: