My model railway engines have been in a loft for years, will they still work?

It's almost normal for a model railway locomotive to be purchased, played with, stored in a loft for a couple of decades, and then rediscovered later in life. But will it still work after many years of dust, damp and spiders?

Much of the answer depends on how the model has been stored, but assuming it has not been exposed to too many elements, it should be perfectly possible to coax it back to life.

The main issue for stored model locomotives is their lubrication drying out. Models that originally used thin oils can be left void of any lubrication whatsoever, while models that used a thick grease can become clogged as it hardens.

Another common issue is oxidation affecting the wheels and some elements of the motor. The traction tyres may have become a little hard or brittle too. But all of these things can be rectified with a strip-down, good service and a few spare parts, and because older models are generally easier to work on, there shouldn't be any major issues bringing your stored loco back to life.