Eighteen years ago I began construction of a little steam outline train engine that was to run around the perimeter of our small acreage. It was affectionately called the ‘grampa’ train. I insisted that it was being built for the benefit of my future grand children but most (including Janis) knew I desperately wanted a train. The engine was inspired by a large scale model train built by a friend of mine, Jim Wells from California. I had a blast working endless hours on the train. Eventually I got the little engine on it’s wheels and I pushed that heavy thing back and forth countless times while young Moth yelled ‘AGAIN grampa, AGAIN!’. A couple of years later the little 0-4-0 engine was briefly powered by batteries but electrical problems defeated our efforts in the long run. By that time my interest was sidetracked with a little model T truck inspection vehicle, complete with sidecar. I borrowed bits and pieces (including the wheels) from the train engine to complete that project. The steam outline engine was moved to the backyard for Henry and Juniper to play on. Last year we dragged it back to the parking lot with the hopes of refurbishing it and hopefully selling it as a stationary display engine for a future project. I designed it into a number of projects under consideration but for various reasons they did not proceed. Now, once again we have someone very interested in the engine and it may soon be refurbished with wheels and the many missing details it needs to at last be enjoyed by the public.
