A Grafar prairie was my first N gauge steam locomotive back in the 80s, I regret selling it over 20 years ago, I was very fond of it even though the detail isn’t up to much by modern standards, it was super reliable and would pull tons. I would love to find another when I have the spare cash. I find I’m tending more toward these older pre-bachman locos just because they do look the part from a reasonable distance and they are so much more robust and maintainable. Really enjoyed this video Simon, cheered me up no end on a bit of a tough day so thanks for that!
Hello again. I've been in my attic and had a look round with the camera. That video will appear in 3 weeks I think. They are quite reliable and they don't break. Just need a clean from time to time. This one got a clean. It was covered in oil and oil attracts dirt. 12v doesn't like flowing through dirt so it got a half hour on my bench, it's running much better now. Cheers
That was a nice Christmas present!!! It seems funny that the different types of track make engines run in a different way!!! There were a couple of hesitations just short of, and in, the bottom station but apart from that the engine appeared to run smoothly. A nice bargain for you!!!!
Hello again. The scale is 1:144 which means some things have to be over scale. Track is one of them, rail height specifically. Tall rails and big flanges = no derailments. Over time track has been fined down and some of these old locos don't like it especially the points. The hesitations are bits of track I need to clean, I'm a bit behind as nothing has run up there since October. I need to catch up on my cleaning. Bargain? Well I had a £20 voucher and spent another 45 on top.........but not bad for second hand, no paint chips, got all it's buffers and runs. Can't ask for more than that. Cheers
Hi Simon, That is a nice little engine, and in metal too. I was thinking about the size of those flanges they must be close to bottoming out on the sleepers so any loose ballast is great excuse to derail itself. Apart from a couple of hesitations it made short shrift of those inclines, pulling some really nice carraiges as well I expect Ron was in the pub ......
Hi David, Farish made the old ones out of metal, feels very weighty which helps with traction. Yes, the modern track has a much lower rail height which causes problems with the older engines, the hesitation tells me I've got some track to clean! There are one or two spots that need it. My overuse of ballast does not help either. Every time I run I find a stone or two that has to be levered out of position and hoovered up. Where was Ron? I'm not sure this time.
Hi Simon! Seemed to run pretty smoothly to my eye, at least at speed! Not sure those wheels would be happy on the code 55 track I'm currently working with as it has a really low profile! At least it's a good tool for detecting your loose ballast! :) All the best, Ian.
Hi Ian, it was a bit grumbly in places, I've got some track cleaning to do. A bit jerky too so I made a servicing video shortly after and it runs really well now at slow speed. But it really doesn't like code 55 at all. Plus my over ballasting. Consider yourself warned when you do yours, the less the better.
A Grafar prairie was my first N gauge steam locomotive back in the 80s, I regret selling it over 20 years ago, I was very fond of it even though the detail isn’t up to much by modern standards, it was super reliable and would pull tons. I would love to find another when I have the spare cash. I find I’m tending more toward these older pre-bachman locos just because they do look the part from a reasonable distance and they are so much more robust and maintainable. Really enjoyed this video Simon, cheered me up no end on a bit of a tough day so thanks for that!
Hello again. I've been in my attic and had a look round with the camera. That video will appear in 3 weeks I think. They are quite reliable and they don't break. Just need a clean from time to time. This one got a clean. It was covered in oil and oil attracts dirt. 12v doesn't like flowing through dirt so it got a half hour on my bench, it's running much better now. Cheers
Nice video👍, nice train👍.
Greetings Gert
A nice old one Gert. Not got the detail but then you can't break it. Cheers
That was a nice Christmas present!!! It seems funny that the different types of track make engines run in a different way!!! There were a couple of hesitations just short of, and in, the bottom station but apart from that the engine appeared to run smoothly. A nice bargain for you!!!!
Hello again. The scale is 1:144 which means some things have to be over scale. Track is one of them, rail height specifically. Tall rails and big flanges = no derailments. Over time track has been fined down and some of these old locos don't like it especially the points. The hesitations are bits of track I need to clean, I'm a bit behind as nothing has run up there since October. I need to catch up on my cleaning.
Bargain? Well I had a £20 voucher and spent another 45 on top.........but not bad for second hand, no paint chips, got all it's buffers and runs. Can't ask for more than that. Cheers
Hi Simon, That is a nice little engine, and in metal too.
I was thinking about the size of those flanges they must be close to bottoming out on the sleepers so any loose ballast is great excuse to derail itself.
Apart from a couple of hesitations it made short shrift of those inclines, pulling some really nice carraiges as well
I expect Ron was in the pub ......
Hi David, Farish made the old ones out of metal, feels very weighty which helps with traction. Yes, the modern track has a much lower rail height which causes problems with the older engines, the hesitation tells me I've got some track to clean! There are one or two spots that need it. My overuse of ballast does not help either. Every time I run I find a stone or two that has to be levered out of position and hoovered up. Where was Ron? I'm not sure this time.
Hi Simon! Seemed to run pretty smoothly to my eye, at least at speed! Not sure those wheels would be happy on the code 55 track I'm currently working with as it has a really low profile! At least it's a good tool for detecting your loose ballast! :) All the best, Ian.
Hi Ian, it was a bit grumbly in places, I've got some track cleaning to do. A bit jerky too so I made a servicing video shortly after and it runs really well now at slow speed. But it really doesn't like code 55 at all. Plus my over ballasting. Consider yourself warned when you do yours, the less the better.
Had one of those prior to starting, a bit agricultural compared to the new stuff, but more robust.
They do take quite a bit of abuse with my fists of ham. Plain and probably incorrect as Farish used the chassis for many locos.