Wrenn Railways "City of Birmingham" : Repair Request

[@michael1aaron]

Hi Bill :0), this is Michael the owner of this Wrenn B.R. City Class locomotive. A big thank you for the awesome film plus its repair :o). I look forward to getting it back, so when the sunshine comes out. Outside I will go, to sit back drink in hand, to watch my City of Birmingham run smoothly on my garden railway pulling a small rake of B.R. coaches. Again thanks.

[@czwij]

love to see this machine in your garden. It's beautiful..

[@terrycharleslewis7565]

Well done Bill yet again abd it was great to see my old loco Miles Beevor running in the background regards Terry 😊

[@johndrew3202]

Yet another reminder to all of us to service these locos fully and not to cut corners. Thanks very much Bill☺

[@duncanwatson9054]

A great service and a beautiful loco. I loved it. 😊

[@peternorris6438]

Great to see the workmen on duty

[@timtownsend1171]

I recently bought a 2-rail Hornby Dublo N2 locomotive. When I got it home it was very slow and intermittent. It seemed the issues were a loose armature (too much vertical movement) and sticky and dirty brushes (oh, and the armature needed a good clean). The armatures do need a bit of movement (but not too much) and mine's set perfectly now, thankfully. As for the brushes, one of them didn't move very well in its 'tube'. This was down to ingrained dirt and a dodgy (brittle) spring. I shortened the spring slightly and thoroughly cleaned the brushes and 'tube' and re-assembled. Those jobs and a thoroughly cleaned armature (with a little help from some contact cleaner) has now seen it right. It should be good for another 60 years now! However, one word of advice - regularly check the armature locking nut - they have a tendency to work loose. Keep the videos coming!

[@DaiElsan]

The layout is looking awesome. Another great repair.😊

[@ModelRailwayShed]

Another great repair Bill 👍

[@faizalhathy8433]

Hi Bill, I am from Sri Lanka. I watch your videos on and off but today I decided to spend more time watching as many as I can. This locomotive motor unit is similar to the old Hornby Dublo three rail models my dad in the 1940's had which are now with me. They still work when connected. . My layout is completely DCC. I was told that those vertical type motors are very reliable.My question is when was the last time this kind of motor unit was replaced by the XO types

[@Steve-le3jq]

Hi Bill , i think i once read the casting on the Wrenn City Class sometimes fouls the armature ! i have had one very close ! or maybe another faulty armature sometimes the commutator can have a chip in it ! which when stops because of the chip will only run with a push .....

[@donniblanco5239]

That was a Great fix - I’m very tempted to add a couple Wrenn tender Engines after watching Oscar P and Mr Snooze - I do like the Straightforward mechanics of them - Awesome 🙌🏻

[@russellbenton2987]

Nice model . I think that must be a later Wrenn City . The blue City in 73-76 was City of Glasgow, Birmingham was green . Looking at it the driving wheels appear larger too , so it suggests a later build , probably in quite small quantities . Wouldn’t be surprised if that models maybe a bit rare and valuable! Great video as usual . Well done!

[@oobill]

I did wonder if it was a repaint or re-number. It's been well done if it is.

[@russellbenton2987]

@@oobill it might not be Bill . In their twilight years Wrenn released increasingly smaller runs of locos , which is what makes later ones so valuable . I mean runs as low as 50 . City of Glasgow is certainly the most common blue one , made in its thousands

[@defibme]

I think this is defo a rebuild/repaint. The loco and tender are wrong. The tender was a much earlier plastic-wheeled one. Also, someone had a play with the choke system and banded them all together. I concur the issue probably was the binding tender wheels. I've about 2 doz, wrenn cities and really love them. As most folk will know, they are just rebadged Hornby Dublo late Liverpool and Londons anyway. @@russellbenton2987

[@astolatpere11]

Good looking loco and the layout is coming along nicely. Thanks for sharing!

[@czwij]

That is a gorgeous machine. British steam peaks my interest more and more. Might have to get a few. Oxford 0-6-2 in the horizon...

[@Northwestrailwayenthusiast]

Looked in lovely condition. another great job service loco. And your updates on layout great, its coming on well. Put alot hard work into it bill

[@ianhaynes5898]

Good repair there. I like a blue engine as well, as does my short sighted Persian Dilys. I have a Princess Marie Louise that she will sit and watch (or maybe listen) to for ages.

[@OOElectronics]

As it happens, I have a Wrenn City of Glasgow which I bought in 2017. It wasn't a great runner. A NEO magnet transformed it.

[@donniblanco5239]

Immaculate Wrenn models like this, that have been well looked after, seem to Exude Quality. Fab colour and Superb runner after TLC 👍🏻

[@rhiwderinraytube]

Hi Bill. Could you please do a short video explaining how you fitted your Ammeter to your layout???

[@platformten5958]

Hi Bill. Good job, well done! Scenery is coming along nicely and is slowly looking the part. Paul. 👍❤

[@garethparkin9498]

I once had a hornby Dublo 4MT tank and had a 5 pole motor put in it and it was a very smooth runner

[@les-halestation]

Hi. Great video. Love the new scenery you have made. Looks very realistic.

[@davidtate73]

Hi Bill i think I've posted on someone else's post but would also appreciate a short video on how to wire the amp meters and maybe a link to where you purchased them Dave

[@Nimq4]

The poor running coupled with a current of 500mA plus suggests to me the magnets are weak (demagnetised). This is not unusual for HD (Wrenn) AlNiCo magnets. Also the fact you mentioned a new armature was tried will mean the magnets will loose some magnetism when dismantled. I had a Duchess of Montrose with similar characteristics - once remag-ed it ran well with a current draw of around 200-300mA. HD magnets seem to suffer this whereas Triang magnets retain their magnetism better (never had to remag a Triang engine). Beware running for too long at high current, the motor will overheat and may burn out. Hope that's of some help.

[@garethparkin9498]

I love my Wrenn City of Stoke-on-Trent. Nice work Bill

[@RobA500]

The back to back standard now is 14.4 though some prefer 14.5 which is why the old Hornby silver seal wheels with square axels cause so many problems on non Hornby track that hasn’t changed since it was first made. Anything below 14 is a no go on Peco track.

[@oobill]

Yup which is why I stuck with Hornby standard points on my layout as I need to be able to run old stock with lower back to back measurements.

[@111greatbear3]

Every model old or new has character

[@stefanjarrett1667]

I've never seen inside a Wrenn before

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

good work on the channel thanks lee

[@Shauniboy1984]

Hi Bill top video as ever! Could I ask a favour could you tell me which kit your brick viaduct is please? Cheers Shaun

[@oobill]

It's the Metcalfe card kit.

[@Shauniboy1984]

@@oobill thanks Bill, could give me the model numbef if possible? Cheers Shaun

[@oobill]

@@Shauniboy1984 Po240

[@Shauniboy1984]

@@oobill thank you Sir 👍

[@stefanjarrett1667]

Love Wrenn

[@stefanjarrett1667]

LoveSevern Valley Railway

[@stefanjarrett1667]

That is my next Loco do you think Severn ValleyRailway has one

[@robertmarsh3588]

SVR is a fabulous place to visit but they don't have one of these. The real City of Birmingham loco is on static display in Birmingham Science Museum, and there's a working loco at the Midland Railway in Butterley.

[@mikeking2539]

What should the back to back mesurment of the wheels be?

[@oobill]

It depends on the thickness of the flange. Modern locos can be 14.4mm or 14.5mm because the flanges are very fine. Older locos like this one need to be between 13.9mm to 14.1mm. I always set wheels to 14.1mm and take it from there. Sometimes it needs to be less on older locos to negotiate Hornby standard points..

[@stevenarts5415]

the chasey looks so wrong who designed this?

[@neilclarkson3548]

Hi Bill, could I send you another loco to repair please

[@stefanjarrett1667]

I've got im after City of Glasgow Wrenn Loco I want to buy it

[@Gilstrains]

👍🚂🚞🚞🚞🚞

[@stefanjarrett1667]

8f Wrenn