Hello folks,
Our train program has been donated 2 Bachman, Christmas 4-6-0’s, one with Christmas lights along the side of the locomotive boiler and along the side of the tender and in addition two complete Christmas trains. One locomotives was part of a Northern Lights set at one time. When they arrived, they were dirty, there were parts missing and they practically didn’t run at all. Both locomotives were such good-looking locomotives that we chose as a program to completely refurbish them to as close to new condition as we could get. With the amount of kids that we allow to operate the trains each year, we knew these locomotives would be fantastic. Both locomotives have now been completely refurbished as in the photographs and look fantastic but there is still one identical part missing on each locomotive that I have been trying to find unsuccessfully. I do want you to know that we have tried contacting Bachmann Trains but they said it is very rare for them to have these parts in stock and when they do, they sell out within a day or two. I have been continually searching Ebay for the past couple of months and have had no luck there either. I have found some parts locomotives but none of them are Christmas engines with the number 12, number plate on the front of the smokebox door and the Baldwin Locomotive Works name circling the plate. Besides all that, we really can’t put out the money for a full locomotive when all we need is a $2 number 12, number plate for each locomotive, since both locomotives are number 12.
I just thought I’d ask around and maybe run into somebody who has a Christmas parts engine with the number 12 that they would be willing to separate the number plate from the locomotive smokebox door or may be willing to send the whole smokebox door with the number plate. As mentioned before, we need two of these number plates for two separate locomotives with the number 12 on them. I have provided a few pictures of the exact number plate that we need that is on a friend’s locomotive. We are willing to pay for them so that we can finish both locomotives. Right now with the virus issue, our program is unable to take the trains out to the kids until that issue is obviously resolved. It does however give me a little time to try and find these two parts. I also have tried Trainz.com. and many online vendors, stores, Etc. with no luck. I do have two of the number 869 number plates out of a 4-6-0 parts batch that I obtained on Ebay, however, I am way to inexperienced to even attempt ruining those two number plates by trying to change the number from 869 to the number 12.
Maybe somebody out there has that experience or knows how to do that and would be willing to help change the number. It would of course be easier if we could find the correct number plate. Maybe some of you might have a number 12, number plate that you’re willing to part with and we could do a trade for the 869 or purchase the number 12 outright that you may have, if you have no more use for it.
Please let me know if anybody out there has any ideas. Since our program professionally represents Bachman and a lot of other train companies at public events, all of our locomotives/cars must have all original parts or at least come as close as we can to accuracy.
Appreciate any ideas. Thank you from all of us at;
Imagination Station Kids On Track Model Railroad And Train Safety Program
E.Helena, Montana
