Very similar to the Hornby Dublo locos this Wrenn Diecast model has been been in my collection for around 40 years, given to me by my grandfather, it has been rarely been run and as you will see, just need a good service.
Great to see an old Wrenn loco brought back to life again. I still use mine on a regular basis and despite being crude in comparison to today's finescale models there is something magical about the simplicity and ruggedness of them. Real old skool engineering. Back in the early 1980s you could often pick new Wrenn up at heavily discounted prices as even then the interest in them was on the wane. So glad I was a youngster back then and able to take advantage before things went crazy for about a decade after the company closed down at the end of 1992. Prices have definitely moderated in recent years so it's a good time to buy as these things are quite literally made to last a lifetime.
Good old Wrenn, so sad they went under after so many years keeping the Hornby Dublo flame burning! Wrenn locos now seem to be worth more than their Dublo predecessors. When I was looking for an 8F a second hand Dublo 2-rail 8F was cheaper than the Wrenn one. Your modesty is a credit to you mate, I’ve learnt from OOBill too, he gives us the confidence to do these things ourselves, which coupled with Hornby Dublo’s fabulous engineering means these locos are very easy to service and repair once you’ve done one or two of them. I’ve just been doing a BR Dublo 3-rail version. I haven’t got a remagnetiser, so I replaced the Dublo magnet with two neodymium 7mm cubes. Got the polarity sorted with a compass and it runs a treat - just like this one. My 1952 Silver King got the same treatment.
These older locos are fantastic, there is just something about them, as I say I don't know a great deal about Wrenn other than it had a lot of the Dublo tools. I was please to see this one run again, its been with me a long time. At least the videos are encouraging me to service some to the locos that would not necessary be run. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Wrenn did a few livery variations on these 2-6-4 tanks, many fictitious. But then again dublo put a few oddball variations on the 0-6-2 N2 tanks too. Regardless they look wonderful and will no doubt be going strong in another 60 years. I find the replacement neo mags are a little too strong and can cause long term issues. So Mr Dodds remag Machine is a wonderful piece of kit. I ve nearly lost count of the amount of non runner dublos and Wrenns Ive managed to get running sweetly with just a quick zap and a basic clean and service. Your technique for getting these old girls running smoothly is as good as any. Keep up the good work. One tip Ive found, is that over the years many of these brush springs have stretched a little. So brand new brushes at full length seem to apply a lot of pressure to the commutator and can bind and cause slow running. New springs are available, but often I just file a mm or two off the end of the brush. All the best.
You are correct Mr Dodd's machine is one of the best investments I have made. Thanks for the tip about the brushes, I love working on these older models! Anyway thank you for watching and taking the time to comment.
Of course, it's not an LMS locomotive. It's a British Railways Standard 2-6-4T, introduced in 1951, three years after the LMS ceased to exist. Wrenn took the Hornby Dublo model, added Triang-type couplings, and painted it in a livery it never wore. They did the same thing with the Hornby Dublo Pullman coaches, producing a maroon version pretending to be LMS coaches. The average train set user didn't know the difference.
It never occurred to me the livery was fictitious but of course you are correct and as an average trainset user it did indeed pass me by, thanks for making me think! Anyway thanks for watching and taking the time to share.
Hi , very informative video , thank you. I just purchased one like yours , my first Wrenn , and I love it! Does not look as good as yours , no box ,no paperwork but it runs , and it runs very well. Looking at your remagnetising apparatus makes me wonder , will I need one sooner or later , will the motor stop running one day without remagnetising? kind regards jack
I have found with these older locos thay do loose their magnesium and their power over time, but its a bit strange, some go forever other just get slower. I am told you can replace the magnets if you have one or two locos as the re -magnetizer is quite expensive (£180) and not good anywhere near any electrical equipment. Thanks again.
I hope you have not lost the ball bearings at the top and bottom of the armature shaft. Yours seems noisey which may be an indication of lost ball bearings. Hard to tell when you run it flat out. My Wrenn, purchased new, sound like sewing machines but I have kept them in good condition so as not to need a strip down.
Yes the bearings are in there, and is actually very smooth and quiet, the reason it is so noisy is because I filmed it on my suspended layout, and as it hangs for the ceiling it is rather noisy without legs to suppress the 'drumming' of the wood, but that's down to the board etc. Anyway they are lovely models, thanks ever so much for watching and taking the time to comment.
Ha! A BR Standard Class 4 tank in LMS livery - how ridiculous! They were all lined black and of course they were all BR, not LMS which was long gone by then - so that one needs a repaint.
Sadly, this one as a lot of sentimental value so will stay a is, But as someone else pointed out a very strange livery to release. Anyway thank for watching.
That's very Kind of you, but there are those out there that are not so kind, so best to say this is just me enjoying the hobby and not 'telling' of how to do something. Matt
