"Franken-Northern" is an early PS1 MTH scale 2900 Northern body mounted on a Legacy 3759 chassis to create an incredibly heavy but very good looking Legacy ATSF 2900. Why do this? Well, much as I love the 3759/3751, the 2900 Northern is my favorite loco, period - bigger and the most handsome steam loco ever made, I think. I have a 3rd Rail model, but it's in a display case at work, and this early MTH is actually handsomer: MTH used the casting from their slightly longer 5012 body, making it about 2 - 3 scale feet longer than the prototype). Of course, I could have upgraded the electronics in the MTH, but nothing runs as sweetly at low speeds in conventional, or sounds quite as good, as Legacy. Finally, due to an unfortunate accident (entirely my fault) I had a repairable 3759 Northern chassis. I could have repaired that 3759, but I have a good 3751, and a Legacy 2900 would be extra special.
Anyway . . . it came together quickly (five hours of work so far) and I'm a bit surprised it even works because it got brutal: I had to use a saber saw on both MTH and Legacy contributors to cut away metal so everything would match up, and then spend two tedious hours grinding away metal with a Dremel and trail fitting it dozens of times to make the fit perfect. I still have to rework the wireless connector (extend it about 1/2 inch), move the sound boards and all from the Lionel six-axle to the longer MTH the eight-axle 2900 tender body, re-connect the lights, and I might play with the rear truck (extend its wheelbase a bit) but this is a good stopping place for today.
It looks good, as you can see here . . .
And it really runs well, too . . .
