New delivery.
NP Z-8 4-6-6-4. Made by Tenshodo in 1979.
Attention to detail: Shipper not only 'bubble wrapped' the box but, also, put 'soft plastic' around it.
Suppose to be from Jim Walshes collection who had a large inventory of steam engines.
Has a new foam insert as the foam in a lot of engines deteriorated after a decade and, if the engine wasn't properly wrapped in plastic, could damage the paint.
An extra long drawbar included.
At most, just test run on a test track.
Once PFM came out with their 'sound system' (around 1972) other importers started adding 'sound cams' to their engines.
Tenshodo started labeling their engines around 1974 indicating 'engine, when made and how many of total'.
The 'total' wasn't always THE 'total'.
A functioning SPRING-LOADED TENDER VESTIBULE DIAPHRAGM
Nicely detailed engine.
Functioning front coupler.
Hex head rod screws.
Nice close fit between engine and tender.
Back 'then' they applied the decal with no 'top coat' plus the quality of decals wasn't as good as 'today'.
No Kadee ever attached.
Challenger roster: 4-6-6-4.
Left to right:
GN Z-6, Tenshodo, 1971.
GN Z-6, Tenshodo, 1975.
NP Z-8, Key, 1981
NP Z-8, Sunset, 2013 (came with decoder and sound).
NP Z-8, Tenshodo, 1979
SP&S Z-8, Key, 1981 (railroad owned by NP and GN).
HMMMMM: never noticed those crooked ties, before; only been that way for 43 years!
GN never had a 'glacier' Z-6 but I do!
Ditto on the Grey NP Z-8!
UP challenger roster.
These engines were not as big as the 'Z' class.
Top to bottom:
UP late challenger, Tenshodo, 1973
UP early challenger, BLI hybrid, 2022
UP 2-tone grey challenger, cast metal engine and tender, BLI, 2019,
UP 2-tone grey challenger, Key, 1984, functioning sand hatches, turret hatches, tender hatches, smoke box door, cab doors and 'see through' walk boards.
PS: ignore that light tower laying on its 'side'!
