Restoring old locos

[GeoffAlan2]

I do it with my n gauge locos. Some of mine are well over 40 yrs old and work now.

[Conmaira]

One source of 'spares' is ebay where old locos are often sold as 'Spares or repair' - depending on the parts needed it can be economic to buy an old loco with damaged body to use as spares, or a good body with missing wheels or motor.

Many parts are common to locos so buying one type doesn't mean you can use the spares only for the same type.

I have found ebay to be a good source of spares and usually a lot cheaper than the specialist spares dealers!

A couple of things to be aware of though, is don't necessarily bid or buy the first search item that comes up; there's usually a lot more listed. Also you might lose out to people who use specialist software to win items, which adds 1p or similar to outbid a winning bid in the last 5 seconds of an auction. Something I've moaned to ebay about for years.

[Conmaira]

I am slowly working on a loco chassis that I hope to get working. I plan to adapt an 0-6-0 to become an 0-4-0.

That's rather unusual; can you tell us the thinking behind the plan?

[Mountain Goat]

Ah. I had to think what I was doing at the time as I have many ideas... I happen to have an old Lima 0-6-0 chassis which is a bit too flexible. I bought it secondhand as a chassis. The plan is to mount the motor in a new chassis frame I am intending to build and convert it into an 0-4-0 instead.

[Conmaira]

Ah. I had to think what I was doing at the time as I have many ideas... I happen to have an old Lima 0-6-0 chassis which is a bit too flexible. I bought it secondhand as a chassis. The plan is to mount the motor in a new chassis frame I am intending to build and convert it into an 0-4-0 instead.

Thanks for explaining: I originally thought you were actually converting an 0-6-0 to an 0-4-0 - there are a few locos that look like they have an 060 body on a 040 chassis (usually industrial locos) and I was intrigued.

You'll have to keep us informed of progress!

[Mountain Goat]

Will do. It is more of an exploring what is possible type of thing.