Let me introduce you to number 5.
The " Poor Man's Live Steamer".
she has:
an LGB motor block
a Bachman boiler, that was cut down 2 inches at the firebox, and 1 inch at the smoke box to fit the chassis
a scratchbuilt tender, and pilot.
a "cabbage", or " onion " stack
She was inspired by the Argent Lumber Company locos
What did I get out of this ? At least some very basic knowledge of steam locomotive operation.
So, I would sit and drool over these catatalogues, the way many of Y'all did with Lionel and Flyer in post war days. ( notice I said " Y'all. I am from SOUTHERN California).
Not your average Bowser kit, by any means. ( of which, I have built a few ).
And there was another builder here in town, at that time. The " Railroad Supply Corporation". Everything a Gear Head could want, or need.
So, this became my quest ! I even had a paper route, delivering newspapers, but it does not add up to the cost of a live steamer. You can see I colored in the photos, to visualize what the paint scheme would look like.
While flipping pages in MR, there was an add that said " just bolt 'Em together ". This was from Little Engines, and they only asked $1.00 for their catalogue. This was about 1971.
I was either born too early, or too late. Many of you enjoyed Lionel, and American Flyer in the Golden Years of their popularity. For some of us, that ship had already sailed. In the late sixties, and early seventies, Lionel had all but vanished. I was reading Model Railroader magazine, and was inspired by the book " HO railroad That Grows". My trains were Tyco, and they were actually smooth running, and well made in those years. I had the " over and under" set, with a Santa Fe Gp20 pulling. Tyco had some operating cars ,too.
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