UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boy. Final assembly.
Imported by Key in 1987. Has many unique features: coast drive, 'see through,' walk boards, functioning sand hatches, turret hatches and cab vent hatch, glowing 'open fire box' door glow, functioning smoke box door with interior and tender functioning water hatches. A TCS 1517 decoder was installed including LED's for the headlight (engine/tender), marker lights, 'running board' lights, fire box glow below 'ash pan' and in the cab, and lighted cab.
Video: yard test plus 'coast drive' demo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdIXU5qePtM
Tender:
Had the wrong screw for the front trucks as the 'short' screw was for the tender...
and the longer screw to attach the front engine to the back engine.
Following my 'normal procedures, I attached the back engine and then tried to attach the front engine but it was too difficult to attach the 'sliding universal' while inside the boiler. Both engines had to be 'connected' before attaching to the boiler.
After attaching the the boiler I was getting a 'short' so 'disassemble' for diagnostics.
Thought the problem was in the boiler but one of the brass brake shoes (rear) was contacting the insulated driver.
Original screws were difficult (plus the screwdriver slot got 'butchered') for attaching the center steam pipe so 'new ones' were used.
Screws used to secure the two outside steam pipes to the boiler and piston assembly.
Headlight and 2-pin connector attached to the engine.
Unusual in that the front truck axles had to be 'press fitted' to the truck.
It appears this engine had little, if any, 'run time'.
Usually, I don't have 'left over' parts but I had no idea what this piece was 'for'!
Normally, this kind of piece would be on the front engine.
Large and small hex pin screw drivers. Even the small screws for the 'valve gear' had hex screws.
'Left over' wiring for the old incandescent lights.
Assembled, finally!
Front coupler rotates.
Fireman's side view.
'Heavily' detailed engine.
Even has the 'chain' guards on the 'valve gear' assembly.
Deck plate.
Glad I used a lot of short pieces of 'heat shrink' tubing as it was 'tight' between the engine and tender!
Fire box glow.
The cab has 4 screws securing it to the boiler so the interior roof could be painted green.
Functional tender water hatches.
Auger.
Functional cab vent hatch and turret hatches with interior detail.
Functional sand hatches.
Back sand dome.
MMMM: that 'low stick' scotch tape that's been on there all summer needs to have that residue removed!
Front sand dome with interior detail.
'see through' smoke stacks.
'See through' walk boards.
Functioning smoke box door with interior.
Engineer's side view.
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Next is the N&W Y-3 2-8-8-2 decoder install imported by Custom Brass in 1978.