I got some 2-8-0 from a train flea market for $15 last weekend, and from what I've learned/know this is that:
-It's a tender driven TYCO steamer with a good-condition body shell
-It's lettered as #638 for the Chattanooga, maybe part of a TYCO Chattanooga Choo Choo set from the late 70's
-probably has a steam generator, don't know if it works or not if it does have one
-It's got horn hook couplers
-The front truck does not like going into one end of my EZ track switches
Now my question is this: what hope do I have of being able to make this thing as good as any basic steam engine availiable in the marketplace? And by that, I mean replacing the tender drive system with a body mounted motor, or if that's not possible make the tender drive as good as possible.
And yes, I know $15 may have been a bit much for it, but the lowest price that this thing may have gone for was $35 back when it was new so I'm not complaining.
-It's a tender driven TYCO steamer with a good-condition body shell
-It's lettered as #638 for the Chattanooga, maybe part of a TYCO Chattanooga Choo Choo set from the late 70's
-probably has a steam generator, don't know if it works or not if it does have one
-It's got horn hook couplers
-The front truck does not like going into one end of my EZ track switches
Now my question is this: what hope do I have of being able to make this thing as good as any basic steam engine availiable in the marketplace? And by that, I mean replacing the tender drive system with a body mounted motor, or if that's not possible make the tender drive as good as possible.
And yes, I know $15 may have been a bit much for it, but the lowest price that this thing may have gone for was $35 back when it was new so I'm not complaining.