I was sent this old Wrenn A4 Class "Mallard" by Guy who said it was a very poor runner. Support - ko-fi.com/00bill73561 FAQ - ko-fi.com/post/FAQ-C0C6E0UO4
I’ve had my Wrenn Mallard since a child - my oldest locomotive, carefully looked after since 1972! I had the same problem. The real improvement in performance came when I bought a remagnetiser. It now runs beautifully.
The loco is in beautiful condition, I have a Hornby OO from 1962ish, Golden Fleece 60030 and while it was being looked after for many years my reinterest in model trains started back in 2004ish, and gained possession of it and it was awful, one or 2 rods were hanging off, it was an absolute disgrace. Anyway I sent it off to a guy who restored the pistons, and a great job. It runs well from crawl to faster and its rather loud, and your video just prompted me to make this comment.
When setting the screw-in bearing on these old Dublo and Wrenn motors, I'd suggest leaving a bit more play than is required for the armature to turn freely on the bench. That armature can get quite hot when the loco is run for a while, and the central axis will expand. If there is just enough play for the armature to turn freely when cold, you might find that it will lock up progressively as it warms up. I typically screw the bearing down until I first feel it bind on the armature, then back it off about half a turn, and lock it there.
Thanks Bill for this helpful video.I have two Wrenn Bulleid rebuilt West Country Pacifics currently running well but will take note about your advice on lubrication.
Great work Bill, and I certainly agree with your comment about their varying performances. I have17 Wrenns each with almost a distinct and different “personality”. On the top bearing cap there is a slot for a screwdriver and in the middle there is a small hole with a felt like pad. It’s worth putting a little dob of oil on that.
I've been doing a lot of Dublo recently. I test with a Gaugemaster Model LT tester that has an ammeter. If it doesn't run first I take the body off and test on a pair of leads on the motor to see what current I get then remag - nearly every time the current comes down - often to 50-60% of what it was. then a clean, oil and grease and good clean of the wheels and they are usually then good to go. I think a key thing with Dublo and Trian is a remag. I have one just like in the video and they are worth it if you're into old locos. Bought mine of Ron Dodd directly.
Runs wonderfully now. I agree these older locos are so much simpler to service and repair. I was curious to see how old this model is and looked it up. This example could be up to 54 years old! They were built by Triang/Wrenn between 1969 and 1979. Amazingly good condition for its age. I do wonder how many of todays premium super detailed locos will still be running in the 2070's? They will lose a lot of their detailing irretrievably and will be hard to repair when worn down by age, being so complex. Also I wonder how many people alive then will care enough to work on old model railway locos having played with AI based toys and games and not model trains in their youth?
Nice. The old wrenn is of ex hornby dublo tooling. When they took it over they got all the parts bins. So plenty of hornby triang tenders to use up. Later obliterated the names. Same as Dapol with ex wrenn wagons. Wrenn branding obliterated from the underside.
My old dublo west country would speed up the longer you ran it for, and as it gets warm you get that lovely old warm oil smell wafting over the layout. 😋
Great video on Wren loco. I don’t know if you have thought about an amp meter on your new layout. It’s a good way of checking what amps the locos are pulling. I have the DCC Concepts alpha which I’ve wired so I can use it on my layout and test track. I’ve got the re-magnetiser from Ronald Dodd and always remag after servicing my locos. Rgds from Down Under
Yes I will be including an amp meter in the new layout soon. I do test everything I feel is suspect that comes my way using my multimeter but it's too much of a faff to video. Having a wired in meter will be much better. Watch this space.
Wrenn are like the curates egg,if you have a good one,they run very well but the quality control on their armatures wasn`t always the best.I run quite a few Wrenn locos which i have converted to 3 rail but on the odd occasion,i`ve had to have the armature rewound,remagging made very little difference in performance.
Hi I’m Les. I have a SR Terrier that I got from a show, it’s transfers are in abut of a state but it was running ok until all of a sudden it just stop running all together. So I was wondering if could take a look at for me, if you can how would I send to you.
I’ve had my Wrenn Mallard since a child - my oldest locomotive, carefully looked after since 1972!
I had the same problem. The real improvement in performance came when I bought a remagnetiser. It now runs beautifully.
The loco is in beautiful condition, I have a Hornby OO from 1962ish, Golden Fleece 60030 and while it was being looked after for many years my reinterest in model trains started back in 2004ish, and gained possession of it and it was awful, one or 2 rods were hanging off, it was an absolute disgrace. Anyway I sent it off to a guy who restored the pistons, and a great job. It runs well from crawl to faster and its rather loud, and your video just prompted me to make this comment.
These old Wrenns have a lot of charm to them that you just don't get in brand new models! Very nicely done with the service Bill!
Call me silly, but I love the fiction that the logo goes into the shed to be repaired!
Fabulous Job Bill. Thank you so much for getting her running again.
Better than anything you’d buy in the shops now - proper engineering in miniature- Gr8 Job Dr Bill 👍🏻
You're getting some pretty impressive low angle shots with this new layout, even without the scenery!
When setting the screw-in bearing on these old Dublo and Wrenn motors, I'd suggest leaving a bit more play than is required for the armature to turn freely on the bench. That armature can get quite hot when the loco is run for a while, and the central axis will expand. If there is just enough play for the armature to turn freely when cold, you might find that it will lock up progressively as it warms up. I typically screw the bearing down until I first feel it bind on the armature, then back it off about half a turn, and lock it there.
Nowt better than a short repair video from the Master on a Sunday evening 😊
Thanks Bill for this helpful video.I have two Wrenn Bulleid rebuilt West Country Pacifics currently running well but will take note about your advice on lubrication.
Hang in there with DC Bill.I love seeing things from my youth spinning free around the track…….who needs an APP to have fun.
Great job.
Great work Bill, and I certainly agree with your comment about their varying performances. I have17 Wrenns each with almost a distinct and different “personality”. On the top bearing cap there is a slot for a screwdriver and in the middle there is a small hole with a felt like pad. It’s worth putting a little dob of oil on that.
Yeah I always oil the reserves. Just didn't make the edit in this video.
I've been doing a lot of Dublo recently. I test with a Gaugemaster Model LT tester that has an ammeter. If it doesn't run first I take the body off and test on a pair of leads on the motor to see what current I get then remag - nearly every time the current comes down - often to 50-60% of what it was. then a clean, oil and grease and good clean of the wheels and they are usually then good to go. I think a key thing with Dublo and Trian is a remag. I have one just like in the video and they are worth it if you're into old locos. Bought mine of Ron Dodd directly.
Lovely old model
Nick Australia
Great runner Bill I have a Wrenn Dorchester that needs some TLC and after watching your video I am inspired to have a go. Thanks Bill
Runs wonderfully now. I agree these older locos are so much simpler to service and repair. I was curious to see how old this model is and looked it up. This example could be up to 54 years old! They were built by Triang/Wrenn between 1969 and 1979. Amazingly good condition for its age. I do wonder how many of todays premium super detailed locos will still be running in the 2070's? They will lose a lot of their detailing irretrievably and will be hard to repair when worn down by age, being so complex. Also I wonder how many people alive then will care enough to work on old model railway locos having played with AI based toys and games and not model trains in their youth?
Another word from the bill dictionary, Fluffage ! nice looking model .
I love 'scooch' 😊
@@DaiElsan yeah that’s a good one as well . 👍👍
Nice repair to old school loco great job again Bill
Beautiful!!
Looks very like my Dublo 'Silver King' on the inside. It is clear where the ancestry is for this engine.
Nice. The old wrenn is of ex hornby dublo tooling. When they took it over they got all the parts bins. So plenty of hornby triang tenders to use up. Later obliterated the names. Same as Dapol with ex wrenn wagons. Wrenn branding obliterated from the underside.
My old dublo west country would speed up the longer you ran it for, and as it gets warm you get that lovely old warm oil smell wafting over the layout. 😋
Yup that's kind of what they do. Makes them more real in some ways needing a lot of hands on interaction.
I love Wrenn locomotives
Good stuff.
Great video on Wren loco. I don’t know if you have thought about an amp meter on your new layout. It’s a good way of checking what amps the locos are pulling. I have the DCC Concepts alpha which I’ve wired so I can use it on my layout and test track. I’ve got the re-magnetiser from Ronald Dodd and always remag after servicing my locos. Rgds from Down Under
Yes I will be including an amp meter in the new layout soon. I do test everything I feel is suspect that comes my way using my multimeter but it's too much of a faff to video. Having a wired in meter will be much better. Watch this space.
Good i
Video thanks lee
😮 that motor looks brand new
They very often do but Wrenn didn`t always use the correct gauge of wire on their armatures.
Yeah I do suspect this armature isn't what it should be.
Wrenn are like the curates egg,if you have a good one,they run very well but the quality control on their armatures wasn`t always the best.I run quite a few Wrenn locos which i have converted to 3 rail but on the odd occasion,i`ve had to have the armature rewound,remagging made very little difference in performance.
What is a “squishie” and what cleaning / electric fluid are you using ?
Hi I’m Les. I have a SR Terrier that I got from a show, it’s transfers are in abut of a state but it was running ok until all of a sudden it just stop running all together. So I was wondering if could take a look at for me, if you can how would I send to you.
How can I get a locomotive to you for repair