Nice looking locomotive ! Something else than my ones, they are still in original somewhat shiny black. I guess, though, having had them for a few years I could try a careful paint; it is all the difference.
Will have to look at cleaning pads then, but can't run a loop, it's strictly point to point. Another issue is I have handlaid code 70, maybe not a perfect size but, as the saying goes "don't look a gifted horse in the mouth".
All the track cost me has been a lot of fun work, and some corrections here and there.
But I'm straying off the subject, thanks for sharing your experience, and that fine picture !
Hopefully I too can share something useful some day
Peter

hi Sid,
another question crossed my mind as I reread your reply, cleaning pads. I would appreciate if you would expand that a little bit;  What's your experience with cleaningpads ?  any liquids involved ?
I ask because this is a real issue with my track, also have spots that will be hard to reach,so cleaning cars sound like a good idea.
thanks
Peter

Thanks Sid,
I needed a little new spirit.. 
One of my locos actually had broken gears, just as it "should", and I installed NWSL gears. It runs after that, but, again, noisy. Rechecked late last night( it is early morning now here in Sweden) and on one one truck a bushing had come off, so the two gears has any mesh they feel for; hopefully you understand what I mean, not sure of correct vocabulary here. NWSL gears are not that easy to fit, but I will check them and lube a little; as you point out, a little noise is bearable as long as the loco runs smoothly(and doesn't eat it's gears out).
The other loco is another issue; it runs smoothly and quiet forward, but jerks and stops backwards. On second thought this has to be one of the first gears moving on the axle, or indeed the motor shaft ?
Thoughts on that ?
Will have to take a deep breath and try disassembling it all....
Regards
Peter

Hi,
I have two of these nice locomotives, unfortunately they do not run well. One I think is the victim of
wheel gears not in mesh(think that is the word) it runs, but terribly noisy.

The other one is what I search help for, it runs good forward, but is noisy and will stop frequently when going backwards on the same length of track.
Ideas, someone ?  could it be a gear problem ?  if so, is there somewhere a disassembly guide ?

Also, the mesh problem is, of course, worth fixing......
any ideas are very welcome !