OK, before you say "big deal, just another Lionel 0-8-0"
I couldn't wait for a Lionel LionChief PE 0-8-0. So, I picked up a Pennsy Flyer LionChief 0-8-0 and went to work. This was not a simple shell swap deal. The PE 0-8-0 has much more detailed running gear. Even the tender trucks were different.
Both engines and tenders were stripped to the bare frames. Even the headlights needed to be rewired! If I had known then what I know now, I probably would have left this one alone.
The chuff isn't working yet.... May be just a matter of letting the little bugger stretch it's legs.
OK, am I the first to pull off this nonsense?
Gilly