Preparing Locos for Duty at Chadwick Model Railway | 87. 

Another great informative video Charlie, you have an easy to watch manner complete with humour but underlining full of great little tips ( like the 9v battery for testing the pick ups ) along with the video being easy to understand at a gentle pace for us watching and learning. Thank you.

Must admit I find your honesty refreshing and love watching your videos.

An enjoyable video. I though it would go into how you resolved the "wheel flat" and pick up issue, but I guess at 43 minutes the video is long enough. Love the ramblings, and that little giggle from your wife in the background - don't ever change the format, it add so much character to the videos :)

Charlie, I get so excited when I get a notification on your videos. They’re interesting, educational and very funny. Watching you look to the right, reminded me of a news reader getting distracted. Loved it. Keep up the good work and stay safe. 🚂🚂

5 Star video Charlie I love your sense of humour and your stories, by the way your model railway are amazing as well. Thanks for sharing Chadwick Parkway and your time.

Thanks Charlie. Every part of that was great. Very informative and entertaining. I had never known anything about British head codes on locomotives before - it's something we don't do in Australia. Great tips and anecdotes too.

Another entertaining and informative episode. Your videos are very enjoyable and your delivery, openness, and humor make for good viewing.

Thanks again for another brilliant vid, when you started talking about what certain engines meant to you got me thinking about the class 55 I have just ordered, which was named after the scottish regiment that I was attached to in the early 70,s. its a great way to restore memories of the past both good and bad (thats history)

Brilliant tip about using a battery to test the pick-ups - thank you! I shall be using that this weekend. Great video as usual.

There’s something rather special about having locos in your layout you have a connection with. Years ago I had 40122 D200 on an old layout in 00. I remember as a kid going to an open day at Cheshire lines in Warrington and getting to sit in the cab of my hero. Amazing. Keep up the great work and stay safe Charlie.

Hi charlie, your work on youtube has inspired me to start my own youtube chanel about modelling and model railways. Thank you so much for being an inspiration for me. Jack

Just got around to looking at this video Charlie..your videos are always very watchable with a good balance between detail ,humour and items of general railway interest..👍

I find you such a genuine good bloke Charlie thanks for all the vidoes they are great!

Another great video Charlie, you really do make these videos both incredibly informative and very funny, just what we modellers need in these troubled times! Mike

Well thought out description of how you prepare your locomotives. Practicala advice always available at Chadwick Model Railway! Thanks, Charlie!

Thanks again, Charlie. Great to watch, even if I don't model in British rail. Stay save, Mark.

thanks for another great video Charlie I will use what I've learnt today and put it into my model railway. thanks :)

Thank you so much for this video. I liked your 9V battery tip, used this to sort out pick up issues on a Ruston 48DS. Love your humour as well ("it's a cradle you dipstick", lol); don't be too hard on yourself... Stay safe and well!

From A Yank in Aurora, Co - I ''ve learned a lot from your videos and appreciated your humor snd chuckles, Dave Clifford

Excellent video Charlie with your fantastic human and humourous touch!

Thanks for another great video Charlie, I did my spotting at Pilning , mainly Westerns and Warships and later Berkeley Road where we used to put coins on the tracks, YIKES! Stay safe mate.

Great video as always Charlie, I'm now brave enough to pull apart my Dapol Class 22 and put figures in, lights were a nightmare though. I'm now checking all my stock with a 9v battery, great advice and help for us relative newbies to the hobby.

That was a great video with a lot of great tips. Love the weight loss technique you used for the crew. It is going to give you a great number of years of service. Sorry to hear the motor is not up to speed. Thanks for sharing. Ken

Charlie, I have the headcodes book too. Another book I use is the diesel and electric loco register - handy for dates locos were withdrawn. I also use the railway photography websites, though you can spend hours just browsing through! Thanks for another entertaining video..

Wow. This was an excellent video. I got so engrossed. Enjoyed this. Many thanks.

Thanks, Charlie, very cool to see the process you follow. Shame the loco isn't working as well as it could but hopefully you will be able to find some solution

Wonderful video, Charlie. Another well demonstrated and fun look into the workings of an older train and upgrading it. Sorry it all went sideways, but the "how to" part was great.

Chadwick and other online model railway diaries are helping me keep sanity while on furlough from work , many thanks

Hey Charlie Thanks for posting, I hope you are keeping well? I watch you updates every time they have come out and love the progress you have made. You have helped inspire me to start documenting my progress as I am about to start making changes to mine and add an extension to my current layout. So I have started making some videos thanks for your videos and inspiration, I hope I can be as good as you one day.

Great video thanks for keeping us going in this lockdown

Nice video Charlie .Like the humour in these strange times. I bought one of these models a while back and had the same issues. However after running it in and using on short pick up goods it runs fine. .May buy one of the new Class 29's , The Ian Allen loco spotters book brings back good memories of spotting at Waverley .East coast magic Deltics, peaks, class 40's etc .Real locos we will never see again .Take care .

Really just enjoyed your very interesting video. I am currently working and living in Frankfurt and are obviously at home and have plenty of free time. I have always liked the class 21/22/29 for some reason? and have a mint condition of the Hornby class 29 which is one of my favourite locomotives in my collection. The German connection regarding the sound chip was fascinating. Think I will research the headcode on my Hornby class 29 - 8A46 so another little task. Thank you so much for sharing this Charlie - take care and stay healthy.. best wishes.. Paul

Great video Charlie. Very informative. Thanks

I’ve subscribed! You’re a wonderful RU-vidr and your age is your strength! Wisdom comes from time. Peace!

Afternoon Charlie 😀 Great video as always and especially while I'm stuck in at home 🙂 Fantastic honest information on the class 22 👍🏻 Shame Dapol made such a poor locomotive 🙁 Oh happy memories going round Swindon I did back in 1974 with my friend all the way from Manchester. I've been Furloughed from work now due to this awful coronavirus 😞 Our wedding was cancelled too. But on a positive side because of you Charlie I've actually been in my garage after 3 years and started tidying up my layout 😄 As I've said before I'm a midland man living in Oldham but loved the old western region diesels. If I've got the confidence I'll do a small video again because of you Charlie. Also Dave class 47, Richard of Everard junction plus a few others on RU-vid that give great content and encouragement. Have a nice weekend cheers Stevie 😎

Nice step by step guide, the sound file is very familiar to me, I've used the same sound file for a Dutch class 2400. Since this is a diesel electric I've changed the soundfile internally and it's been a proper runner for years. Cheers and stay safe!

Thanks Charlie for all the videos you do, they really are very insightful. Joachim

Wow...a HM Duette! I had one of those on my home layout in my teens. Sadly went missing along with my entire train set during a house move. The one box I didn't want to lose (think it was placed outside the house, during a trailer unload, and someone picked it up and walked off with it.)

Great video Charlie. Lots of fantastic info. Straight forward and simple. Even though this video is from awhile ago. Still great.

Thanks Charlie for another entertaining and informative video.. I must say I've got a bit of a soft spot for the Class 21, 22 and 29's...

Charlie - you had me in stitches with the bit about Hogwarts....... Had to watch that a couple of times. Brilliant. You should be on prime time telly not RU-vid 😄😄

Love your work Charlie, another great video. I think the issue seems to be with the 3rd axle, no pickup plus it is rocking when on the rolling road

As always, a very informative and entertaining video. There are a number of good model rail contributors on RU-vid but your channel is by far the best, you keep the focus on model railways with excellent camera work and good humour. In the current climate your contributions are even more appreciated. Keep safe. My attic conversion isn’t quite ready for starting my layout but, in the meantime and with time on my hands I have built a small baseboard to get me started on my very first small layout. I have been collecting for almost five years so I have a very extensive stock which should hopefully allow me to complete a small scale TMD layout. However, I am still a bit apprehensive about starting my first layout. I have around 27 diesel locos, all are DCC ready, two have DCC decoders fitted, one has DCC sound fitted and I have just bought three Lenz Silver 21 plus decoders. I have a Roco Z21 controller, DCC Concepts Digital Cobalt point motors and a DCC Concepts rolling road. However, even after watching your latest video, I’m still not sure how to carry out basic maintenance on my locos many of which have been in their boxes for a number of years (where & when to apply oil on the loco / identify & checking pick ups etc) and most importantly, how to properly run in my locos.

Another great Video Charlie to keep the spirits up in these difficult times. Looking at the Loco on the Rolling road there is some wobble on the right hand bogie. Perhaps the axle is bent.best wishes from Melbourne

Charlie - just watched your episode on preparing your locos out of the box. On low speed on your rolling road with your DCC it is evident that the wheel 2nd from right on your logo has a bent axle - that’s what getting that uneven running.

Another great and welcoming video. The second axle seems to be the one with the problem. It looks like a bent axle giving it the " thump thump" sound and a wobble.

Nice vid. I hav this loco, never had any of the issues of yours 🤷🏻‍♂️ its always on my list as an absolute flawless model, love it

Hi Charlie. Been suffering from the lurgy so this cheered me up no end. I am a tad older than you so rather than head codes, I used to nick steam loco shed plates at Exeter St David's shed and currently have 83D (then Plymouth Laira) fixed over my workshop door. I think the statute of limitations has run out on us! My layout is mainly SW steam but I have a green Dapol class 22 with sound which runs well and I love it - but it was new and I got Olivias Trains to do the work. Keep up the good work!

Another good video Charlie.. To help get bodyshells off, guitar plectrums are great, about £1 for 4. They slide in the gap and allow the body shell to prised open slightly to get the body over the chassis tabs ..

Love this!! Your added smurks and humour trific! Bravo Charlie... Informative vid to boot 😉😉😷

Good timing, I was about to eat and needed something to watch. ESU decoders from the Lokpilot4/Loksound4 family onward have an automatic motor tuning feature. Look at section 11.1.4 of the English manual. This can sometimes improve the running characteristics enormously. I know very little about British diesel engines, but if the class 22 is a diesel electric engine, the ESU decoders have an engine notching feature you might find interesting.

Great video, something you don't really think about. It reminds me that you just throw it on the track, as I did as a kid. Thanks

Hello again Charlie, It's Ronnie here again, I don't want to become a bit of a pain but I am currently catching up with your previous videos and loving the content. I think you should see a doctor quite soon as you seem to be laughing at yourself often, but it is very amusing and makes you just like the rest of us.... Mad! Very good to watch your channel, really enjoyable. Many thanks.

Hi Charlie,i struggled to get the crew in mine and your right the headcodes don’t seem that bright compared to my other locos,i got mine from Hattons as a used item and it runs really well luckily,oh the valences,you’re better off nailing them on just like the real thing 😂,another great video,look after yourself 👍

Man oh man it looks great ,sounds great, the only thing I did not see you do was fixing the 3rd pick up on the wheels. If you could show that at some point in the future that would be great. Thanks for taking the time to do the videos by the way always look forward to them.

Hi Charlie. I don't know about anyone else, but you're really keeping me going in these current times. I've been waiting with baited breath for your next video and you have failed to let me down. :) Looking forward to the next one. (PS self-employed so not going terribly well at the moment, but as soon as things recover, I fully intend becoming a patron as I would love to support you and would hate to think you stop doing these videos). Hope you and your wife stay well.

Great vid Charlie, amusing and informative. Charlie Frankenstein indeed, with a bit of thigh cutting. I have this model and personally think it is a winner. Smooth runner and does what it says on the tin.Getting those head code books is virtually impossible and will need a tour of ye old book shops to hunt them down. Lucky you have them.

Thanks Charlie. Very informative.

I model 1950s LNER, which never existed and I wasn't alive for. Modelling what interests you is all of the fun really Great video Charlie, hope you're keeping well

Well done Charlie and congratulations on your new Class 22 engine. Sure "it's a bag of worms" to start, but it gives you something to work on. I'd replace the malfunctioning wheel set or the entire truck and that may(?) solve the issue. Happy running and enjoy your weekend!!

Great video, and love you hummor at this rough times we are in at the moment , it seems like daplo are going for 100% authenticity with these baby warships as the real ones were a bag of nails too lol, I spent a enjoyable summer a few years back as a second man on a WR class 14 ' teddy bear' diesel- hydraulic loco at my heritage railway the spa valley ' and they were well know for there rubbish Paxman engines, but if you kept any eye in all the coolent pipes and regular checks it ran fine . I am building a small layout at the moment as been layed of with my job with Easy jet airlines , so keeping me busy ,so thanks for these , and stay safe .

I purchased a western that was the type that originally took us from Hereford to Soton I called on glory days of diesel for help with the head code for that era (March 67) and Jim Churton helped me with the correct code ( we have continued to strike up a friendship since) how great this hobby is by the way I live in Auckland NZ

Great presentation Charlie. I happen to own two Dapol Class 22's, the earlier one doesn't run that well, but the one I purchased recently seems to run fine. The one observation I would make is when I do purchase a sound decoder, I always test it straight out of the package first, using an ESU Decoder Tester (51900), to ensure it's working fine before I go anywhere near it with a soldering iron.

Hi Charlie, another great video. I grew up in Swindon but that's enough said about that. I have had 3 of the latest versions from Dapol and they have been fantastic locos, I'm more annoyed that I just passed on my Inspection saloon as I thought the Blue Grey colour scheme was a bit late for the era I'm modelling and wouldn't have thought a class 22 would have pulled it.... oh well. Cheers Sam

Charlie, your videos are always informative and funny if not outright hilarious. They are also quite educational for us Yanks who enjoy picking up on British humor. Bag of Worms. Of course you did add a pair of homemade Lieutenant Dans for crewmen, but I'll forgive you as I was cackling like a madman whilst you went all Lecter on 'em with the snips!

Hi Charlie,I have a 29 with dapols own decoder in it and I must say the running is flawless

Great video, I know what you’re saying about not having a camera in the day. I have so many memories of Dawlish and Newton Abbott as a boy,like you all from books now ... never had the opportunity for head codes lol Andy

Has normal Charlie never disappoint with a video, another great talk though and great tips ☺ thankyou

Brilliant stuff, very interesting vlog.

Good Morning Charlie, another wonderful video. Due to a divorce, change of residence and all the chaos that entails I haven't been able to do much You tubing, but when I was able, your videos helped keep me sane, Thank You. Please take care and be safe.

Hmm, perhaps I better understand why I find your vids so satisfactory. You are a year older than me, and a fellow sailor (although I only had 24 in). Fair winds and following seas.

Top stuff Charlie. Keep safe buddy.

Hello Charlie, Nice i liked it sure your learn to love her once shes done Keep up the vids ! John from Chichester

Charlie , I really enjoy your videos. Good content and good humor too. Best wishes from the USA

Charlie I've watched most of your vids this one is probably the best.

Love the presentation. Really enjoyed this, and I stopped railway modelling in 1992/3.

Awesome vid', Charlie... that flat wobble sound matches the axle below the decoder. If/when you watch in the video, the light test and rolling it's very apparent. I wonder if it's the same axle that has that non-power when you tested with the nine volt battery. But, as you said in a previous reply, perhaps your next video will have that sorted out. Good show! Eventually, I will get my trains out and rolling again. John Staying safe in BC, Canada. p.s. Thanks for explaining those big numbers and letters on the front of locomotives: Head Codes.

I know you were not that impressed by the Dapol loco, but I loved the DCC sound . Great video again Charlie, thanks

Blimey Charlie you talked about nicking things off the Hymeks on the scrap line at Swindon. My memory of them is seeing them being made and tested at Beyer Peacocks, Gorton , Manchester as I walked past the works on my way to school. We used to see the works steam shunter pottering about the yard too.

The Class 22 is looking lovely on the layout. Interesting to see how you go about fitting out a new locomotive. Maybe this one wasn't the best...! GWR

Note to Dapol: be kinder to modellers. Watching you work with the scalpel to remove the cab interior was a bit of a worry though you have done it many times before am sure. Not needed that glue. Great video as always. Many thanks.

Crewe-Derby DMU's were usually BRCW (later class 104) 3 car sets headcode B6. The DMU's only had 2 letter codes. Sometimes they were Cravens (later class 105) 2 car sets on later services that ran through from Crewe to Derby/Lincoln.

Excellent as always Charlie.

Very watchable as always Charlie!

Once again a great video! but there is a but! When you had the loco on the rolling road from my perspective the wheels on the left appeared to be running true but the right-hand side bogie I could see a wheel wobble and noticed a noise-sound per revolution.

Charlie, I admire how you guys can persevere with these brands of locos. I don't mean to offend anyone! I enjoy your teachings a musings.

I have the same H&M Duette. Admitting to theft, vandalism and piracy on the same video? Good job the cops are too busy with folk who will not stay at home. Respect to the crew who were "socially distancing" in the cab. You make the best informative and entertaining videos Charlie. Keep`em up.

Good day Charlie, another great video. Great subject and good information. As for your problem with the stuttering of your class 22, in your footage while running on the “rolling road” I noticed a wobble in the model and I think it looked like one of the onboard wheel sets appeared to be out of alignment? It could be the wheel set that you had a problem with the pickups, I’m not sure. I hope this was helpful and you find and are able to fix the problem.

Somewhere there is a video of one of these double heading a steam loco at Braunton on the Ilfracombe line, which might give you a sound reference of one working. You may find it on You Tube. It was among other trains in the south west.

We came so close to having a preserved one, 6319, not long off a major Swindon overhaul was the subject in question. Purchase was agreed but the loco was cut up in error which led to 821 earning her place as the first privately owned mainline diesel.

Thats funny because ive just done the Crewe to Derby route today ;)

Charlie, The old Hamett & Morgan Control panels once upon a time these were the best.Built like a Sherman Tank. In the early 60's when a weeks wages was 12 pound a Duette panel would have taken a fair wedge of that. My one is still resting in it's box in storage. After the real loco's had been in service awhile the motor could take on a knocking. So to me it sounded very prototypical. Where would we be without the old Ian Allen books? Stay in your " Bubble " Cheers, Chris Perry.

I saw these at Exeter in the mid 1960s, where the only thing they seemed fit for was banking or double heading to Exeter Central. I am afraid I thought of them with contempt. Not only had they replaced my beloved steam, they weren't as good looking as Hymechs or impressive as Class 20s which could produce a turn of speed running in pairs. I saw many broken down, which probably coloured my opinion. After saying that, thanks for a useful video reminding me what I should do when I get a second hand locomotive rather just sticking it on the track.

excellent video charlie ive got a class 22 that had to go back for repair ,never had the guts to take locos apart but you made it look so simple ,like you i want to add drivers to all locos ,but to be honest they should all have drivers from new, i have noticed all the big players jenny, sam and a few others are doing live streams ,i think you should up the anti and do one too ,just wanted to plant a seed..................tony

Hello Charlie, Another entertaining session. 45 minutes this time, there's value for money. Anyhow, if you have a look at the loco on the rolling road part of the video, you can see that at least one of the axles on the right hand bogie (possibly both) is wobbling so that the wheel doesn't seem to be running concentrically. That might account for the loco wobble and possibly the noise. You mention two manufacturers of loco crew. Can I suggest that for at least one of your locos, your best loco, you put yourself at the helm. When the world gets itself sorted out and things are back to normal, have a word with Alan Buttler at Modelu (lovely bloke) and have him scan you for the driving seat. The results are very good. Stay safe and stay well. Best regards, Bob

Another good source for headcodes of authentic trains are old copies of British Railways working timetables. They were regionalised, sub-divided and split into passenger and freight. They will have a code index for the routes concerned. You can sometimes pick them up on eBay. 👍🍺

great video and good sense of humor easy to undertsand and good jokes do you do have any shows would love to come after this covid 19 stay safe

Another great video Charlie. It is a strange hobby when the first thing we do when we buy a new and very expensive model is to stark hacking about with it (sorry making it more prototypical) and voiding any guarantee. I was interested to know that you were a young lad in Swindon about the same time as me. I think I am just a year or two older. The memories of times spent on Swindon Station came flooding back to me when I saw the wonderful 'Spirit of Swindon' model railway at the NEC last autumn (in my favourite N gauge too!).

Hi Charlie, another entertaining video. I would disconnect the drive shaft from each end in turn and run the loco on your rolling road with drive to one end at a time, hopefully you will be able to identify with bogie is making the strange noise.

best regards. thanks, congratulation for yours videos