This is a festival of vintage rubber band drive 1970s Jouef locos!! At this time, Jouef went through a phase of using rubber bands to transfer the drive from the motor, to the drive wheels below (like cambelts in a car). When in good shape, they actually work really well, with extremely smooth, low speed running. Unfortunately, if the bands are in anything other than tip-top condition, things can get rather hellish, to the point where you will often get a working motor that can't deliver power!!
The reason I got into fixing this kind of motor up was because Jouef made a really rather good BB15000, but it was beset with this drive. I nearly sold my BB15006 on, as although I had improved it so it looked great, I could not get it to haul the rakes I wanted. I bought one replacement band, but it was still not up to much. However, I tried one more seller who provided a slightly different version- success! Suddenly, the loco was able to haul 7 Gran Conforts with ease. I also bought a cheap BB150005- this is a good way to get a decent looking BB15000 in the early green colours (lasted till the early 80s), unless you have enough money of LS Models!! Finally, I had been after a BB12000 for a while and found that this had the same kind of drive (but the motor is turned 180 degrees into the middle of the loco). This also performed really well. So, if you fancy a nice BB15000, look out for one of these going cheap on eBay, then have some fun doing it up. Three things to note: New rubber band is essential, a good clean of the entire pickup system (they pick up only from the four wheels of the trailing bogie) and obtain new traction tires. The locos are light, so the traction tires are essential. My BB150005 still has bad traction tires, so you will see it struggling to get the power down. I also need to get a couple of replacement horns! One problem I did notice- I filmed this on a hot day and ran the locos for a long time- as the heat built, the performance of the rubber bands dropped off. However, this would not usually be a problem.
So, to the trains.
The Jouef BB15006 is in the silver version of TEE livery, so only good until the mid-70s. I have teamed it with a rake of Jouef Grand Conforts. These coaches are actually quite decent looking, though many lack interiors (you can buy them on eBay too). Later versions had NEM couplings and burnished wheels, but actually, the earlier versions are OK too. I think they are little below scale length.
My loco is fitted with LED lights, which really helps the look. I imagine this train is a mid 1970s Stanislas TEE (Paris-Strasbourg).
My BB15005 still has the original lights (Which stopped working halfway through the video). It is hauling an early 80s Intercity "Iris". This went from Brussels to Chur in Switzerland, and consisted of Swiss stock. At this time, it would all have been in C1 livery. My rake consists of 2x Roco SBB A Eurofimas, a Liliput UIC-X Restaurant (although this is a newer version with NEM couplings, it runs a bit higher than the other coaches, unfortunately), a Heris BPM61 B (new at this time) and two Liliput UIC-X coaches. I wanted to run another Liliput UIC-X- unfortunately, they have terrible rolling resistance and the loco couldn't cope as it needs new traction tires. As noted, the early BB15000s held on the green livery into the 80s. I found a picture of one hauling the Iris, but have lost it again. I will post a link when I have found it again.
Finally, my centre cab BB12000 is hauling a freight. Just to prove we are in the Grand Est, there is a beer truck and some grain wagons!
Eventually, Jouef changed to using simple gears instead of rubber bands. These are much more reliable, but nowhere near as quiet or smooth. The BB22000 is a case in point, if you ever see one.
Информация по комментариям в разработке