Re-creating my first train set in O-gauge

[submmbob]

I'm trying something kind of interesting that I've been kicking around for awhile. I am trying to re-create my first train set in 0-gauge. Since I came of train set age in the early 70's my first set was Tyco HO. It contained a Sante Fe Plymouth switcher, Swift reefer, UP gondola, and a SF caboose.  I ran the p!$$ out of this set and can still see the headlight glowing under the hood, hear the whine of the motor, and smell the heated motor as it went by.

The HO collection was added to over the years, but it all came to a screeching halt when I got hold of my father's Lionel #258 set in 1979.  My HO stuff never had quite the appeal after that. High school and college intervened and the trains went into storage, although I was finally able to repair the wheels on the #258 and ran it occasionally. I ended up giving most of my HO stuff away to a coworker who was settng up a layout w/ his son.  A few years back I dug out the #258 w/ the idea that I would pass it on to another family member. Well, suffice it to say, I got the 'bug' again.

It occured to me to see if I couldn't make up that original set in O-scale. There really isn't a matching O-gauge unit for the loco, but the 0-8-0 loco I just got is a SF unit. I always wanted a steam loco in HO at the time, but this was never quite realized, so I decided this would be  the set I would have wanted to have. I already have a couple of SF 'cabeese' so I manage to hunt down a 9855 Swift reefer and a 9283 UP gondola. These are not exact matches, but fairly close.

There was still a desire to have the diesel set in O-gauge though. Since I had a WBB NW-2 kicking around (I used to see a full size one of these regularly in the Tucson yard), I found a UP bay window caboose that will make it up in UP colors instead of SF.

When I get the two cars and caboose in I will post some pics.

Has anybody else tried something like this?

[David Barker]

Good luck.  You need to do a lot of searching, but most likely you will find what you need.

[rtraincollector]

Even thou I had HO befor O I concider my first O my first Train set as I remember getting it I do know I had an engine in HO but the rest where just comunity property between my brother and I.

I would like to get all the items I had with that first set. Between what came with it and what my parents gave to me untill I started getting more engines and all. I have a couple of the cars but need to get the engine and the rest of the cars again.

[Prairietype]

From the description of what you're trying to for have you thought about getting a Lionel dockside type diesel as a near equivalent of a Plymouth industrial? There is a general similarity of appearance profile wise; and Lionel locos are inconsistent relative to each other when it comes to scale. I think your recreation could look pretty close and nice.

[Firelock76]

Best of luck toward your re-creation of your first set!  You'll do it, all you need is patience and perserverance.

As an aside, my first train set was a Lionel steam set.  When I was a kid my friends had HO sets but they didn't impress me at all.  They just didn't  have the impressive size of O gauge and adddition always seemed to be derailing.  To be fair they were probably cheap HO sets but they left a bad taste in my mouth that persisits to this day.  I never had a derailing problem with the Lionels unless it was my fault.

[submmbob]

Prairietype - that's a good suggestion. Lionel made a 4-wheel switcher w/ the drivers uncoupled in the 90's that would be a close match. The paint scheme on my HO unit was red and silver which is something I've never seen on another, so it would require a repaint.

After some more hunting, it would seem that AHM made a near duplicate of the Plymouth in a 2 rail model. I guess I need to find one of these and convert it to 3-rail.

Thanks for the encouragement a suggestions. I'll be sure to post pics as I get the cars in.

[Hudson#685]

Bob,

What about the Plymouth Switchers that K Line made. I have 2 and they run just great. You can find them on ebay very reasonable.

John

[KRM]

Bob,

 The Wisconsin Central Plymouth K-Line switcher like mine is already red. It may not need as much work as a total repaint.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/K-Line-Wisconsin-Central-Plymouth-Switcher-Train-Set-K-1417-1-48-Diecast-/190812749499?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item2c6d537ebb