Since I’m hobby poor, meaning I cannot splash out $400 bucks for a shiny new HLW 4-4-0 I tried to see what I could do with a $15 christmas loco I picked up on Ebay. I basically just de-holidayed it, repainted and repurposed Santa. I added a new taller stack, new pilot, and a cut down but still taller Lil Big Hauler cab. What I started with:
What I ended up with:
Looks good with the diminutive New Blight passenger cars
That came out well, especially with new cab. Could be a light duty branchline loco from any one of a dozen different loco builders they had back in the 1800s.
Vic,
Thanks for the tip. Reindeer Pass (http://www.reindeerpass.com/) had a couple of these things in their “used” section for about the same price. Maybe next time I make an order from them, on of these little Americans might end up in the Triple O’s shops!
Eric
Edited because I was too dim to see who actually did this fantastic job!
Hanover Junction PA …love the American and I don’t even like steam !
Rooster;
It is a beautiful locomotive and train. I had to smile when I saw the one-lung air compressor on the locomotive (was not invented as yet in the 1860s - BUT so necessary for today’s operations). Also the step stools secured with bungee cords (the bungee cords are another anachronism - but so useful). My little Crown Metal Products 4-4-0 at Hershey Park had a semi truck air compressor driven by a chain from the front axle. We had to make a run after raising steam, and before carrying any passengers, to charge up the brakes. The steam driven one-lung air compressor is a much better idea.
Best, David Meashey