Now that my emotions have settled down somewhat, I was able to further inspect my NYC Hudson that was liberated from the POW camp in Kentucky. My photographic memory was able to remember that I was pretty sure the cab numbers were not the classic AF 322 like my other two engines, but 325 or 326. This may explain why I am missing the pilot truck wheels and the hand rails and why the tender wires are disabled. I do believe in the haste to return my locomotive after 3 years of service, I received the wrong locomotive and tender! Can you imagine that? Well, they all look alike, "I reckon!" At this point, that would be kicking a dead man, so I have had enough. I will keep some of my S- gauge stuff just to have but the rest will be traded/sold off and I will be looking at building the NYC in HO scale for my main layout theme. Though it is quite ironic to get rid of a train that I waited 3 years to have returned, I cannot mentally look at this train as a wrecked display piece, let alone pay someone else to repair a locomotive that is in worse shape now then when I sent it in for service. Who does that? We all know who does now! So, to all AF and S-gauge fans, beware of sending your equipment to this place for any service. You never know what you will receive back! Going to re-rail my railroad with a new gauge and move on down the line. Thanks to all the encouragement from those who commented, and don't worry, I am not completely leaving the S-gauge world. Just expanding the NYC in a different gauge!
Happy New Year!
The Hudson Hogger
