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.


Tomy ED75 (ED75 513) by Rail Squid, 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:


Eidai ED75 (ED75 91) by Rail Squid, on Flickr


On the British front, this Poole Farish 47 from 1981, if I recall correctly.


Graham Farish Class 47 (D1662) by Rail Squid, 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.

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'?

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

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

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