This was just too nice of a performer to leave with that pesky coal load, aside from not being able to install a decent sound system in the tender. The wood is from the mesquite trees in my yard. Several minutes at the jig saw and the rest is history. It is epoxied in place, so isn’t going anywhere, and some of the sound excapes through the top as well. Based on Mr. Sheyers G.I.R.R. page, the sound is a modified bachmann board. The shay is COMPLETELY rewired for installation of a revolution unit at a later time (all wires meet in the tender). I also got rid of the flicker board, and installed an amber LED from radio shack, seems to me when a locomotive is making steam, the glow will be bright amber, rather than the occasional red blink, but maybe thats just me.
After all of this it received MANY coats of flat clear. I plan on making several ricks (half-cords) of wood for the sides of my buildings in the same manner. Seems like wood stove might actually need wood from somewhere…