225 Rolls Again

This is the first installment of my Fall 2026 Trail Drive during which I will restore the equipment I've collected from John L. Oliver's Pan Handle Rusty Route and Earl Benteler's Allegheny.

Having successfully reorganized my workbench and created space for the staging cabinet beneath the layout, I decided it was time for another Trail Drive.  Click HERE for the post that explains the Trail Drive concept and HERE for the current posts with that label.  There's a specific reason for undertaking this particular trail drive at this time but that'll be explained in another post.  For now I'm starting with 2-8-0 #225.

The United "Santa Fe" 2-8-0 is one of the most popular brass locomotives from what some consider to be a golden era of brass imports.  John Allen had one, along with similar 2-8-0s from United based on other prototypes, and they were popular with his crews.  I can understand why.  Beautiful detail, well balanced, and no doubt when new, smooth reliable runners, sure footed and strong.

But time has not been kind to many of these models.  While this one was in excellent condition cosmetically, it ran with a significant grinding noise.  After removing the motor and gearbox - a simple matter of removing a few screws - the wheels rolled freely and the valve gear motion was smooth.  The issue was the motor and gearbox.

I had purchased a "can" motor from an eBay seller several years ago, not long after acquiring the locomotive.  I knew I'd likely be replacing the gearbox but postponed that purchase until I could get the thing on the bench and look under the hood.  Now that I'd done that I could see the model would benefit from a better gearbox but funding for that purchase is not available at present, so I'd have to make do with the new motor and some model airplane fuel tubing for a "universal" joint.

A bit of research revealed I'd be in for a challenge removing the brass collet from the gearbox shaft.  Some persistent heat and pressure from a Northwest Short Line Puller II made the task relatively painless.  I reinstalled the gearbox and after some cogitating decided it best to mount the new motor using A-Line's double sided mounting tape.  This is by no means a permanent solution but for a proof of concept it'll do nicely.

And prove the concept it did!  I made a video showing the difference in the locomotive's performance before and after the remotoring.  This is without any supplemental lubrication so I expect a slight improvement in performance with some oil.  I disabled the lights as the old cloth insulation on the wiring was a little sketchy and I didn't want to risk a short.  Someday when I upgrade the gearbox I'll probably install new lights as well but for now this is enough.

Golden Time

Upon returning from an inspiring visit to the California State Railroad Museum, I spent a lovely vacation day adding bits to The Shifter.  It took the whole day, in a way, because I'd add a bit then step away to let the glue cure before adding the next bit, waiting, adding another, and so on.  The process is enjoyable, especially when all the parts are at hand and ready to install.

There are still a few bits to add.  Careful observers may notice that at some point in the sequence one of the pop valves falls off the auxiliary turret - not to worry, I have it and will reattach it along with the whistle.  There's also one pipe to run from the engineer's side tank back to the cab, and I need to decide if I want to run piping for the air hoses beyond the pilot.  Otherwise, the detailing is done...well...except for adding the headlight but that's more about the wiring and getting a little in-line plug installed inside the boiler.  That's next.

cab seats

piping from turret to injectors

piping from turret to compressor

"water glass" piping

gauges, before moving, and brake stand

gauges after moving and quadrant

injector control rods

injector water feed line and overflow with diffuser

 

Kit-Mingled 2-8-0 - Frame Work

This update is really Part 2 of the last post on screws.  I finally finished the frame extension and mounting plate for the boiler screw.  I've been working steadily on each, but the marvelous gray goo I'm using to weld the parts together takes time to cure.  Still, I'm very pleased with the progress at this point and looking forward to the next step; creating a boiler extension inside the cab and mounting the backhead casting.  After that it's just a matter of adding details to the boiler until I'm happy before painting, lettering and weathering.  This isn't a firm date, but I'm shooting for finishing this engine before Halloween.

There's a nut "welded" up above the brass plate in the last image.  I didn't get a shot of that before I put it in place in the boiler, but I used liberal amounts of the Loctite Weld to secure it to the brass bar.  Getting the headlight LED fed through the smokebox up into the headlight housing might be tricky.  I bought two nuts so that I could have a spare if something didn't work, but also I can use one to hold the cylinder saddle in place when the boiler isn't attached.  This has turned out to be a challenging project, but very satisfying working steadily, step by step.

Surprise Brass!

Recently my wife handed me a plaque she had long ago received and no longer needed.  I gleefully accepted, knowing that from this expired token of appreciation would arise...a diorama base!  The surprise came when I found the decorative facing was a rather thick sheet of brass.  Score.  The base is solid wood, not pressboard, and the usable surface is 8-1/4" by 11-1/4".  The brass is a little smaller and will likely be used for weight or who knows what. 

I pried the brass away from the wood with my favorite 5 in 1 tool, then used Goof Off to remove the double-stick tape and residue that had been used to adhere the brass to the wood.  Note the respirator.  I also wore nitrile gloves and disposed of the paper towels I used in a plastic bag where the vapors would be contained.  After drying, a sanding block cleaned from the surfaces what residue remained.  Now I have to decide what scene I will create on the base...someday.