Your G-Scale Locomotive: An easy guide to care and maintenance

Your G-Scale Locomotive: An easy guide to care and maintenance
by John Lythgoe
Atlantic Editions Ltd.
United Kingdom
Web site: www.atlanticpublishers.com

Available in North America from:
Carstens Publications
PO Box 700
Newton NJ 07860
100 pgs; soft bound;
all photos in color
Price: $24.95
Web site: www.carstens-publications.com

Have you wondered what’s inside your large-scale locomotive? Or why an engine that used to run beautifully doesn’t any more? Or just what sorts of routine maintenance you should be doing to keep your engines at peak performance? If so, then this book is for you.

John Lythgoe is an experienced garden railroader and repairman and this book evolved from his many years of experience. It is aimed at electrically powered, mass-produced locomotives, and specifically those made by Aristo-Craft, Bachmann, and LGB.

The book begins with a discussion of different lubricants and which to use (and not use) for each application. This is followed by a brief chapter on the tools you’ll need to work on your engines (not many), then a chapter on cleaning locomotives (externally and internally) and track. (Did you know that LGB’s #5010 Smoke Fluid makes an excellent plastic-body cleaner?) An excellent chapter is included on the use of volt meters and ammeters, and how they can benefit you when troubleshooting a problem.

Aristo-Craft, Bachmann, and LGB are each given their own chapters. General guidelines are set forth, troubleshooting (called “fault finding”) methods outlined, and individual locomotives are examined. Disassembly, cleaning, lubrication, and (often) simple repairs or alterations are suggested. Motors, smoke units, sound systems, and more are covered. Not every locomotive made is included, but a large number of the most common ones are, and much of the information translates to engines not covered.

This is an excellent book. Printing is of high quality, as is photo reproduction. The writing style is readable and enjoyable. It’s straightforward without being unnecessarily technical. The biggest drawback to the book, for American readers, is that some of the products mentioned and all of the suppliers are British. However, that shouldn’t deter you. The book is a gold mine of information about our electrically powered locomotives and should be on the bookshelf of anyone interested in keeping their engines in good form.