Class 08 Shunters

gavin_t · December 01, 2020, 02:44:46 PM

Afternoon all,

I have had my eye on a class 08 shunter since starting my N gauge journey as it would complete my yard area perfectly.
However due to their short wheel base I was having some reservations about running one on my layout as I built it up using set track and therefore isulfrog points were used.
Is anyone able to pass comment on if the little 6 wheeled locomotives are capable of reliable running on such a setup?

Also I am DCC so would need to get one converted. I don't trust my soldering skills enough to do it myself. Has anyone got a recommended company to get in touch with to get the work carried out?

Thanks for any suggestions. Very keen to get one but don't want to be disappointed and find that it doesn't like my layout :'(

ntpntpntp · December 01, 2020, 05:46:51 PM

I presume you're referring to the current production outside-framed 08, not the old inaccurate inside-framed model?

Well, actually the Setrack points have the shortest dead spot of any Peco insulfrog point - if anything you're more likely to get problems on the longer Streamline insulfrogs.

The important thing is clean and flat rails, clean between the point blades and of course clean loco wheels.

If you're going DCC with the 08 then ideally a decoder with a keep-alive buffer would help I think, assuming there's enough space to accommodate everything?

crewearpley40 · December 01, 2020, 05:52:41 PM

Gavin @gavin_t pm sent. Chris

GrahamB · December 01, 2020, 06:43:55 PM

Here's a very boring video of one of mine.
https://youtu.be/rRkDO1eGbjo DCC with stay alive.

I did them myself but I'm no expert. Kevin at Coastal DCC advised me and can do it for you. I would guess he's very busy so don't expect a quick turnaround if you want him to do it.

KevTheBusDriver · December 01, 2020, 08:14:06 PM

Quote from: GrahamB on December 01, 2020, 06:43:55 PM
Here's a very boring video of one of mine.
https://youtu.be/rRkDO1eGbjo DCC with stay alive.

I did them myself but I'm no expert. Kevin at Coastal DCC advised me and can do it for you. I would guess he's very busy so don't expect a quick turnaround if you want him to do it.

Love the very boring video - but the bobby will be going mad at the driver going that slow! Good job it was a Sunday?

GrahamB · December 01, 2020, 09:01:28 PM

It's an 08. Top speed is only 15mph - and I am a Bobby!

gavin_t · December 02, 2020, 02:10:50 PM

Quote from: GrahamB on December 01, 2020, 06:43:55 PM
Here's a very boring video of one of mine.
https://youtu.be/rRkDO1eGbjo DCC with stay alive.

I did them myself but I'm no expert. Kevin at Coastal DCC advised me and can do it for you. I would guess he's very busy so don't expect a quick turnaround if you want him to do it.

Great video I think I may have watched that before actually.

Process looks fairly straight forward but as I struggled to neatly solder my dropper wires onto the rails I don't trust myself soldering a box fresh £100 loco

My local model shop has pointed me in the direction of Kevin before so I will give him a shout. I am in no rush so the turn around doesn't concern me too much.

@crewearpley40 thanks for the links

And to confirm yes it is the newer tooling outer framed ones I am looking at. Particularly the rail freight distribution liveried one

My main concern was that it wouldn't run on the points. My track is new and clean and powered at every join with droppers. So hopefully all should be well!

crewearpley40 · December 02, 2020, 03:32:57 PM

gavin @gavin_t farish 371014 is what you need

gavin_t · December 02, 2020, 10:36:11 PM

Quote from: crewearpley40 on December 02, 2020, 03:32:57 PM
gavin @gavin_t farish 371014 is what you need

Indeed. Ken has one in his display cabinet and i have had my eye on it for months

BobB · December 03, 2020, 06:19:31 AM

My class 08 has been converted to doc with the decoder in the cab. It does not have a stay alive capacitor but it runs well through my fiddle yard set track points if both track and wheels are clean.

Is there a small decoder with a stay alive fitted that could be fitted for 08 number 2 ?

RailfreightTom · December 03, 2020, 04:36:55 PM

Converting it is possible, just a little fiddly. I've converted two, both with the decoder attached to the side of the motor and the stay-alive chip and capacitors hidden in the cab. The stay-alive gives me about a seconds worth of helping it over dead spots and really helps with slow speed shunting

I would definitely recommend adding stay-alive

gavin_t · December 03, 2020, 06:27:54 PM

Quote from: RailfreightTom on December 03, 2020, 04:36:55 PM
Converting it is possible, just a little fiddly. I've converted two, both with the decoder attached to the side of the motor and the stay-alive chip and capacitors hidden in the cab. The stay-alive gives me about a seconds worth of helping it over dead spots and really helps with slow speed shunting I would definitely recommend adding stay-alive

Cheers Tom. Yes if I am going to do it I will go full hog with a stay alive too. Even more so as I have plastic frog points.