Problems with Flying Scotsman Locomotive

October 7, 2008

He is a question from a 15 year old from the UK – can you help?

“I’ve been having problems with my flying scotsman locomotive that I bought second-hand from my local model shop for just £25 I am only 15 and not very knowledgeable about the workings of model trains and why things go wrong.

My flying scotsman locomotive always makes a rattling sound from the tender.

I have tried taking the tender casing off and running it without it, but it still rattles. I have also tried putting oil on the gears, but there is still no luck and it also has trouble picking up electricity from the tracks.

I don’t know why it does this as I have cleaned the track and the wheels of the locomotive both on the main train and the tender and it still doesn’t work very well. I have considered buying a new one as it is very irritating.

I have also recently purchased a ‘virgin class 47 diesil’ locomotive from the new hornby railroad collection which constently clicks whilst moving, but only in one direction. Iwas wondering if it is normal for all trains of this kind, but I am also to worried about taking it apart to take a look as it is relatively new and for £45 it is quite a lot of money to me as I get £5 a week pocket money and took nine weeks for me to save up.

Thank you for offering this service for me to ask other modellers for help. I hope they can help me.”