Locomotive Repair

Garden Railroading
1

I am new to the forum…

I am wondering if anyone out there can recommend a locomotive repair shop? I have three Aristo locomotives in need of general service.

Thanks

2

Send them back to Aristo for repairs. I have heard they do them quickly and reasonably.

http://www.aristocraft.com/techinfo/pdf/warranty.pdf

-Brian

3

I’ll second that–send them to aristo. Turnaround is very fast. I’ve had to send in an aristo Mikado which was injured in a fall. It came back in a week. I sent an aristo Pacific in on Tuesday (three full days ago), and it’s on its way back already

4

Hi Saydan[#welcome] It helps if you put a rough guide as to where you are, then you may find someone may be able to help with service by recomending a good repair/service near to you Hope this helps

5

Send them back to Aristocraft. They have a service dept. Also check out the Aristo Forum @ http://www.aristocraft.com/

6

[#welcome] to the forums!

Toad

7

Welcome!! What do you mean by general service?? I agree that if you are having mechanical problems, send them to aristo. If you mean general maintenance like lubrication and cleaning wheels etc, you can do it yourself or I know someone who could help you out. Let me know, Michael

8

You are getting good advice. I learned myself the hardway to be careful of who I send my stuff out to for repair.

I sent out an Aristo FA-1 engine to an outfit in Pinellas Park Florida almost one year ago and it’s still bouncing back and forth between them and me. Each time they fix what they screwed up they screw something else up on it.

A big problem is with equipment that is no longer made or equipment where the maker is no longer in business. All kind of repair shops out there that advertise that they can fix stuff but when they get their hands on the equipment either keep it for months or send it back unfixed.

Right now I’m working with a guy in Waco Texas who seems to actually know his stuff and stand behind his work.

Another outfit in Saginaw MI seems to be on the up and up but they have a major backlog of work so your stuff stays with them for a long time. Probably a good sign though of good work.

9

How often are your loco’s needing repair? Are some brands more prone to breaking down? What is more prone to wearing out…the gears? I am realativly new to this hobby with a fleet of LGB and one Aristocraft. On a LGB site someone quoted $50 /hour plus material. At that price would it be better to mothball a broken loco and get a new one?