derek

On 6/5/2024 at 7:19 PM, LNERW1 said:

I'd say cork is better for both easier application of trackpins, for a realistic ballast shoulder, and to dampen running noises. It's easy enough to apply as well, and I've some I could drop around to you if you want.

Yes, I would agree about having the effect of a ballast shoulder (ballast- shudder!) and the deadening of sound. I just used strips of 3mm hardboard as underlay(cos I had loads of the stuff) . I know plenty on here won't agree with me , but I fix track and ballast at the same time, using double sided tape. A bit more tedious but is way quieter than ballasting with glue. Go with whatever floats your boat as far as to underlay or not. Your layout is quite short, am I right, so your locos won't be going at any great speed. So the running noise should not really be an issue. (Unless you get a noisy mac noise loco, like I just did. But that's another story)

Well said Hope you enjoy the show

Ok, I have just completed the most enjoyable task of viewing all 71 pages of Tara Junction. (It was 70 when I began ). The thing is absolutely amazing Noel. The amount of stock you have is mindblowing. I read at one point that you had 60 locos on the layout with another 25 in storage! Saying nothing of the countless carriages and freight stock. Quite similar to my 3 locos( or not)  I hope you never calculate what this has set you back (or your wife never does) Anyway it is truly a work of beauty, and the videos are brilliantly done. The little touches like people in carriages , lighting , no smoking signs........ it just goes on. Brilliant. And of course all the buses and cranes etc. Keep up the amazing work I like it in case you hadn't guessed

23 hours ago, Signal Post said:

I see what you mean about the second video, in fairness I was really giving it welly in that one and the unsecured track on timber without any underlay is probably not helping. I ran one of the original batch (2013?) on the track just now and it sounds very similar to the new one and at very low speeds I would say that they are both comparable to the MM 121s. I also have the iPhone quite close to the loco, from a normal hearing distance (say 2ft) it doesn't sound that noisy.

But the stamp collecting might be cheaper!

I emailed the lads at IRM to ask about a possible repair or at least a check on the original to see if anything was wrong with it, instead of a replacement again. At least if I knew that the noise was normal, I would live with it. I just don't want to run a loco that is somehow faulty and make the matter worse. Still waiting on a reply, although it is the long weekend and the lads are only human after all. Will report back when I do get a reply. 

Just had a look at your videos, and to my ears your loco sounds quite like mine ( noisy) . Especially the second video. Think I will take up stamp collecting ha ha. 

22 hours ago, Signal Post said:

Hi @derek, that noise does not sound normal to me.

For comparison purposes I have uploaded a few clips of my new MM181 class (by co-incidence the same number) and I think you'll agree that they sound very different. I too have run mine in for 30 minutes in each direction but there was no appreciable difference in sound before and after. It sounds to me like your replacement loco has the same fault as your original one. One or two folk on here have suggested various repairs that you might attempt yourself which is fine if you have purchased an oldish second hand loco and have really no other option to make it work, in this case you have purchased a full price new loco with a warranty from a reputable dealer and manufacturer so if it were me I would definitely get back onto IRM for a further replacement or repair. In fairness I have found both IRM and Murphy Models (via Mark's Models shop) to be very good for warranty repair or replacement in the past

 

 

IMG_8620.MOV 36.82 MB · 3 downloads  

 

IMG_8621.MOV 23.23 MB · 1 download  

 

IMG_8622.MOV 44.82 MB · 0 downloads

 

Hope these are of some help.

 

 

 

Thanks @Signal Post. I can't view your videos on this laptop. ( have to update the app). I will check them on another device later on. It seems strange to me that I would get a replacement with the same fault, but who knows. I agree that I have paid enough for a new locomotive without taking the thing apart myself and compromising the warranty possibly. Won't be going there.  And yes, the lads at IRM are a pleasure to deal with. Looks like it's another email to Patrick then........ Sigh.... Your reply has confirmed what I was already thinking, thanks for that and for taking the time to post back.  Derek

11 minutes ago, Metrovik said:

 prototypicalish 

So  that's a word now? I like it

On 30/4/2024 at 8:34 PM, Gabhal Luimnigh said:

Or the Limerick council

No, don't think so Denis. I actually need the thing cleaned up.  Ah I am only ballhopping, Council lads. Shur, my late Dad worked for them........

I  suppose there is no word on the Park Royals? Just asking as I don't have one Goddam Irish carriage to my name.......

10 hours ago, Warbonnet said:

Just for clarity here, any returned model goes to a different address than where the new models are dispatched from. If something is broken, we wouldn't just send it back out. We would replace with the borked model going straight back to Murphy Models who will either refund us or replace with a new model for our stocks.

Well that is what I said Fran. There was never a question of me getting the same loco back as a replacement. It is just a pity that this one sounds just the same. Lovely model but it sounds like a piece of crap. The one I have from the original run sounds perfect. Dunno what the hell I am supposed to do now.

22 hours ago, WRENNEIRE said:

Running is essential for these locos, 20 mins in each direction dramatically alters the running noises

Dave, I ran it in for 60 mins in each direction and it still sounds rough (to say the least) 190sa I got from you a while back is perfect. Totally different animal. 

Really need to get the cleaners in

2 hours ago, DJ Dangerous said:

 

I think you've just solved a major mystery.

The big jump in price over the 121's was because these are DCC sound fitted, but the factory made a boo boo and installed Class 37 "Tractor" chips by mistake.

35 minutes ago, Gabhal Luimnigh said:

That noise is not normal Derek, did they send you back the same one?

26 minutes ago, ttc0169 said:

@derek-I recently purchased 174, it’s a normal noise for new locomotives - run in the loco-30 mins in either direction and then remove the bogies and check the amount of lubrication on the gears underneath-I had to put a drop of grease on them,the loco has considerably quietened down since. 

@DJ Dangerous, it sounds like a tractor no mistake. Very disappointing. @Gabhal LuimnighI wouldn't think it's the same loco back again. The "old" one was picked up by courier Friday afternoon and I got a notification same day to say replacement had been released for shipment. Turned up following Tuesday morning(last week). So the turnaround was too quick. And apart from all that, I am 100% sure the lads at IRM wouldn't try such an underhand tactic in the first place.  @ttc0169 I ran the loco in for 60 mins in both directions and this is the result. Bit apprehensive about removing bogies. Is it a big job? Don't want to f**k the loco up entirely. And what type of grease would I use? Thanks Dave, Denis and Noel for the interest

 The latest bit of  work done on the layout was to replace the old MDF walls around the church, with DAS clay ones. Took quite the while what with doing curved walls and then making, and fixing, capping stones individually. I did some work on the grass and paths as well while I was at it.  A wise man once said to me that this is a hobby for maniacs and lunatics. I'm beginning to see what he meant, but I think it was worth the effort. Here's the before and afters anyway........

before:

and after:

Ok, final update on the noisy loco. Sent it back to IRM and replacement arrived within a couple of days. And to be honest I don't really see any difference between the two. At least now I know that this noise is normal. Just have to live with it. Here is a quick clip of the new one. See what you think.

19 hours ago, Gabhal Luimnigh said:

Ta dah.....

Blue tape is the track, black cardboard is building and brown cardboard is platform.

Love the plate turntable Best of luck with this Denis

lLooks like a lot going on there. What is the overall size of the proposed layout? Good luck with it

14 hours ago, Patrick Davey said:

A bit of insomnia at the min so I may as well be creative…..

Count sheep like the rest of us Patrick

3 hours ago, Patrick Davey said:

Moving towards the endgame now, the fiddle yard board has been constructed.

Jaysus! I thought you were starting another one. In a way I suppose you are

Yeah, at this stage the loco is deffo going back. I have emailed  IRM with a view to this, so just waiting for a reply. Thanks for all the replies/advice. If the replacement runs the same, then I will at least know that it is normal. Pain , but what can you do?

You're under pressure now boy No half measures will do at this stage. Am I right lads?

10 minutes ago, leslie10646 said:

Thanks, Derek, for the good reference!

The layout is coming on very well!

Keep it up.

Leslie

Well deserved

With the recent arrival of some brown cement wagons from Leslie, this train is fast becoming the  @leslie10646 special. When I finally get around to assembling the two cattle wagons and the brake van I also got from him, it will really complete the picture. Those wagons of his are superb.

18 hours ago, BosKonay said:

Sounds like a broken gear tooth or definitely something off mechanicaly 

So do I need to send back the loco or what do I do? I had just about convinced myself to live with it, and said as much to Patrick in an email. But I don't like the sound of broken gear teeth or anything. Running it over time could probably make the problem worse?  It sounds like a kid running a stick across railings. That kind of a rattle. Thanks for the reply. 

Derek

23 hours ago, 226 Abhann na Suire said:

Not a bother Derek, happy to help if I can. Ohh ok that’s weird, I’m not sure  what happened there then, there’s not much to the videos though I was just demonstrating the sound it makes but looking at the video you have on the other thread, the sounds are similar.

Yes I’d say you’re dead right, it’s likely down to the controller. I’ve had a similar sounds off of other locos before so I presumed it was just the way certain locos sound on DC and didn’t see it as much of a problem, and to this day all of my stock runs perfectly. Do any of your other stock, MM or otherwise have similar issues? 

Ahh ok well that’s it then I’d say! Thanks a million for the help Dave, case closed!! 

On 14/4/2024 at 2:18 PM, Anders112 said:

Hi Derek and Oisin,my Irish rail 181 made a similar noise when I first ran it on my DC layout. Got worried like yourself thinking there was something wrong.

On the instructions it says you have to let the gear in the motor to bed in by running it for a hour in each direction without any load . Left it running for two hours and have noticed the noise has faded significantly

hope this helps

thanks 

Dave 

Hi lads, thanks for taking the time. Like you Dave, after I ran the loco in for an hour in each direction, the noise does seem to have diminished ( or am I just telling myself that). No, seriously it does seem better. And Oisin, I also run another 141 from the original run with no noise problems.

15 minutes ago, 226 Abhann na Suire said:

Thank you! :)) I’ll attach a few videos but yes mine emits a low kind of buzzing/humming noise at around 40/50% speed however when you increase the speed from then on up the noise gets much quieter so it might just be a running-in thing. My MM 071 does a similar thing at low speeds so it could be my controllers too but the noise isn’t really audible over the noise of a train on the tracks.

It’s DC operation and I have two Hornby train set controllers, one for the ‘up’ and ‘down’ line. They’re connected to the track with those Hornby power feed joiner yokes because I’m using Code 75 rail which obviously isn’t compatible with the Hornby power track and I’m also no good at/too scared to try soldering! When the track is in good nick and clean they do provide pretty good reliability in fairness. 
 

 

IMG_4794.mov 37.54 MB · 0 downloads  
Running light at 40/50% speed

 

IMG_4793.mov 42.68 MB · 0 downloads   Running light at 70% speed

 

IMG_4790.mov 37.74 MB · 0 downloads  
Running with a train, you can’t really hear the humming anymore 

Hi Oisin. Thanks for the reply, but I can't seem to download your videos. Thanks nonetheless  for taking time to upload them. From what you say in your reply, we seem to have similar set ups (and similar problems). I too use a pair of Hornby controllers. I have never had a problem before this with any of my locos. I have emailed IRM about it so we will see what develops. I wonder if anybody else is having this problem? (Although most probably use DCC) .Thanks again for the reply.

Derek