Beechcroft Model Railway - #34. Embarrassed!! Stanier obsessed?

#hornbyrailways , #modelrailways , #bachmann , #modeltrains , #oogauge
It’s time to start some maintenance on the locos, but embarrassingly I wasn’t even sure how many locos I have running on the layout. Turns out I have a very limited range of 23 engines, 11 of which are Stanier Duchess class locos.
I have no real experience of cleaning and lubricating so I’ll need to take my time and watch some videos for guidance.
I’ve also had chance to get a small running session in - and it’s highlighted some strange loco behaviour, particularly with my Duchess ‘City of Sheffield’ which seems to have a strange oscillating motion. Not sure what is causing this. If anyone has experienced something similar I’d love to hear from you!
Thank you, as always, for watching.
/ @grandadstrainroom-pn3tt
andyjxf​@yahoo.co.uk

[@michaelchester8997]

Excellent,can’t fault you on the big lizzies.

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Thank you 👍

[@howardavins1107]

Very nice! Well done Just subscribed Your layout looks awesome. Love to see a running session when you get organised. Many thanks Howard

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Thank you so much. Yes, will do 👍

[@cadian127th]

Lovely set of locos. I wouldn't worry about the number you have, we're creping up to almost triple figures now!

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Thank you. Wow, that’s impressive 👍

[@steveclark7971]

Great Layout, look forward to your update, I have over 70 locos. All DCC still building the layout and your is inspiring. Dont, like the sound it gets on my nerves. Being a Fireman for WCR and working on the real thing the sounds are nothing like. SO I just let others enjoy that. Keep up the good work and look forward to your next instalment.

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Thanks very much. 70+ locos - very impressive. I can’t keep the sound on for long periods on multiple locos - it gets too much! 👍

[@Tauraco00]

Very nice layout and Fleet🎉Regards Elizabeth

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Thank you very much. Regards, Andy 👍

[@route7railway567]

Hi…Never be embarrassed by enjoying the hobby. We are all builders, modellers and collectors. Your collection is great as is your layout. Regards… Steve 👍👍

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Thanks very much Steve. Take care, Andy 👍

[@Tauraco00]

I agree fully, to enjoy the hobby in full is to appreciate the smallest detail, the smallest collection of Locos, the smallest layout*Everyone has their story to tell🎊🌟💫👌🚂🚃🚃🚃⭐🙏Warm Regards Elizabeth

[@speleokeir]

I have similar tastes to you - Predominantly steam with a few early diesels. And I also love my Coronation class and A4 locos. They're magnificent aren't they? My layout is inspired by the LNER/LMS rivalry. I have an 'East coast' up and down line and a 'West Coast' one. I have sessions when I run my LNER and LMS stock and others when I run BR. I also have a few Southern and GWR locos on 'exchange trials' with some olive green Maunsell coaches and chocolate & cream Hawksworths. I also have a few pre-grouping locos on a branch line - Just because I like the liveries and to add variety. Strictly speaking they don't fit, but who cares? Some of their liveries are gorgeous!😀 I also have one HST in the original BR blue livery. This is because I have a soft spot for these as the father of my best friend and next door neighbour was a guard on one of prototype's runs in 1976 between Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads, so we were both very excited about it's launch. His dad gave us both a commerative paperweight of it's record run. I still have mine. I also remember travelling on one of the first HSTs a couple of weeks after they first went into service which as a 7yr old I found thrilling. Obviously it's not supposed to be a prototypical layout, just British steam age. I justify the HST to myself as a prototype which came out 10 years earlier in my parallel universe. And the mix of era liveries is down to paint shortages due to the war/Brexit/Covid, etc 😄 I can see you love your big pacifics as do I, though personally I like a bit of variety so I also like to run my big tank engines (L1 and LMS 4MT) and some small /medium goods trains like my K1 and J36. The princess's are a good shout. They're lovely locos and have the bonus of firebox flicker. I notice you don't have any stream lined coronations. As a kid I wasn't keen on them, but they've grown on me, mainly due to the matching coaches, especially the blue newly tooled lit ones. I'm hoping Hornby bring some out in the maroon livery too. I sold off my non DCC Ready locos from my childhood layout when I got back into the hobby. They had some sentimental value, but they were just sat in boxes so I decided it was better to sell them to someone who'd actually use them and to fund new purchases. Do you think you'll sell yours? Since returning to the hobby my loco collection has built up to about 80. I do like to run a variety of locos in a variety of liveries, but I'm currently trying to slim it down and sell off the ones I don't run much. I think it's probably better to have a smaller number of quality locos that get run regularly. Fortunately I'm a bargain hunter and have made a small profit on most of those I've sold. Naturally that money tends to go on new purchases!😊

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Thanks. Sounds like you have a fantastic collection. I should really sell off some of my older locos - they’ve been sat away in boxes for years. I’ve still got my old HST from the early 80’s and have often been tempted to but a newer DCC one but in the original livery! I do also like the look of the Midland Pullman….. 🫣

[@Aviarius]

This is a fantastic layout and a wonderful fleet on it, i Love everything 😊👍

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Thank you very much! 👍

[@johnstephens649]

I have probably too many locos although a lot are older Triang, Dublo and Lima inherited from my late father, however have brought too much myself! I try to avoid duplicating types and classes and enjoy the variety. I have found I need to keep some record of what I have and when last any servicing or work was done. Also I have grouped my locos into eras so I get to run them all in batches rather than forget I have some!

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Sounds like a really good idea 👍 Thank you.

[@HentisRail]

looking great. Never be embarressed about how many of XX you have. its never enough. Up till September when my mum died, and i have to find a new place to livew I had just started my model railway hobby back up, bought some boards made them up. got some locos and rolling stock and decided to do a spreadsheet, that basicly lists the loco details, when it was last ran when it was oiled and had a run in. Since September everything has either been sold (the boards) or poacked away in boxes (the rolling stock & locos) butI I have just bought a rolling road and more locos....lol. So hopefully when I get into my new place I can get set up again.

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Thanks. Let’s hope you can get set up again soon. Love the idea of a spreadsheet 👍

[@breintonjunction791]

Nice running session to end with good luck on the servicing it’s going to take a while 😂 cheers Al

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Cheers Al. I’m more worried about damaging the locos!! 👍

[@GamingFnaticYT]

You know you can get black version of the unstreamlined duchess class aswell as a purple version for the jubilee. 👍🏻

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Yes, thank you 👍

[@delphjunction1168]

Hi Andy. Love the steamers, also the diesel locos. Haven't got a Sir Nigel but have 2 A4s. Absolutely love your turntable area, so well planned and constructed. Great running session Andy thank you. Stay safe. DELPH JUNCTION (Pete)

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Cheers Pete, hope you’re keeping well 👍

[@lms_steve6693]

I'm purely LMS, so have duchesses, 8F's, Jubes, Princesses and a super D. You can never have too many loco's despite what the wife says.

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Ha. Love it! 👍

[@Millsbritish4x4]

That looks amazing, you've done a fantastic job, given me a lot to think about and inspiration to boot. Is the elevated loop separate from the lower? keep up the good work!

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Thanks very much. I have an incline from each side of the station joining the upper level. I have to say some engines do cope better than others! 👍

[@mels1811]

Excellent video

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Thanks very much 👍

[@greatnorthernrailwaytother4711]

Good idea to have a running list. I have tick off list and try to do 5 laps each way once a month. Cheers Peter.

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

I like that. Great idea. Cheers, Andy 👍

[@colinmeredith7114]

Very good layout, a credit to you. If you're going to clean and service your models then I would suggest using WD40 Contact Cleaner for the motors. IPA is good for cleaning the brushes and springs but will destroy the laquer/varnish of the armature and modern commutator, especially Bachmann motors.

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Thanks very much for that. Really good to know. 👍

[@PaulSmith-pl7fo]

Hi Andy. If you're embarrassed, how do you think I feel - I have 80+ locos of all types and methods of control! I too started by buying steam only, but was soon seduced by both diesels and electrics. Don't forget, Rule One applies - *always*.

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Wow, that makes me feel better! ☺️👍

[@AllSortsOfStuff58]

I have a terrible case of 'collectivitis'. I have 00 British stuff and H0 North American. When I worked out what I had for insurance purposes I scared myself. It's amazing how one's collection expands over time. It's so bad in my case I daren't even tell you how many loco's I have...

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Haha. That bad is it?! Insurance is a valid point though! 👍

[@1BCamden]

Thanks for sharing, what’s your thoughts on the HM7000 decoders Best regards

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Thank you. I found them temperamental initially trying to get the profiles downloaded. I think they do perform better using the Bluetooth app compared to when I switch them to run on my Z21 controller. I think for the price they are fine for what I need. I’ve never purchased a more expensive sound decoder so don’t know how they compare. 👍

[@1BCamden]

@@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt thanks so much for your take on these decoders, Hopefully Hornby will continue development.

[@grahamparkyn1590]

Hi Andy, can you tell me the size of your layout please, I do love you vlogs, the shorter ones on here seem to keep my attention longer, best wishes for the future of this channel…

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

Thank you very much. The layout is 17’ x 11’ 👍

[@andrewwarcup684]

I heard from a really experienced railroad modeller, he would call it prototype inspired.

[@Grandadstrainroom-pn3tt]

I like that. ‘Prototype inspired’ 👍