On Oct. 15 I sent an email to bowser@bowser-trains.com
asking if they could make up some repowering kits for the K4 and N&W 4-8-4. They replied that some of the parts were sold out, but if I sent my name and address, they would make more parts if they got enough orders. I sent the address. On Nov. 20 I received both kits. The cost was $91 each.
Neat! I've had a hard time getting my 4-8-4 Niagara running as well as I'd like, so I may have to see if I can get a Bowser kit for it. I like my Niagara, but I don't use it much because its running quality is only OK at best.
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I just got around to constructing and installing the one I got for my Lionel GS-4. Great looking loco, ran like crap until it died, which is why I bought the Bowser kit in the first place. Before, it was all it would do to pull 5 Athearn passenger cars on a 2% grade. I'll have to get out more than the 10 passenger cars I used to see how many it will pull now.
It's a shame that they stopped producing them and the other locomotive kits. I guess not very many people are able or willing to take the time to develop the skills to assemble them anymore. I also have a Bowser M1a and a K4, both assembled from kits, the K4 even has the super detail kit. The new ones by other manufacturers don't run or pull any better, cost more, and since I assembled these, I can do all repairs to them.