I had been dabbling in HO traction, but then bought this old Ken Kidder Illinois Terminal lightweight interurban with Wagner trucks, both new in their original boxes. Spent an enjoyable afternoon cutting the opening in the cars wood floor, blackening the side frames and installing the trucks. Next up is headlight castings and a basic interior before painting the car. Really like the ease of working in this scale, but also being able to run them in my tiny room I have for a layout. Something I have been unable to do with 2 rail in any other fashion that I enjoyed like a switching layout. I also have a Labelle kit on the way, one of the Lake Shore wood coaches. I purchased a later issue set of Wagner Baldwin trucks for it, they have a can motor instead of the open frame in the IT car. The Wagner trucks were hand engraved by the man himself way back in 1965, and have sat unused for all these decades. I did replace the magnet on the motor and clean out the rock hard grease from the worm and gear. This could be the nail in the coffin for my HO traction mini layout. Have to see how well it runs once I get some wire up, these trucks are not insulated, so its overhead wire operation only so that is how the car is wired. My other set of Wagner trucks are insulated, so they can be run off 2 rail track power, but thats not how that car will be set up once the kit arrives from Labelle and I build it this coming winter. Next up I want to get a Ken Kidder 2 truck Birney and put Q car trucks in it unless I find a correct set of Wagner trucks for it.
