Thomas Industries Shawnee Express O gauge

They also turned out an 1869 PRR coach (TPL-37) which is about 1 inch longer (according to the catalog) than the coach in the Shawnee Express (TP-1002)...and, of course they offered old time freight as well as Civil War freight cars

Coach TPL-37

Box car TP-1011

Caboose TP-1008

Note the hand written notes

That Thomas 4-4-0 is the best proportioned engine in the O gauge/tinplate world. I picked one up years ago when I was actively collecting; my fondness of toy trains was dominated by the like of the Thomas 4-4-0 and cars, the Mexican made F units, the 3 rail All-Nation EMD switcher and most importantly the AMT/Auburn/KMT/Kusan line. I managed to get several of the Thomas passenger cars, and also snagged a bobber caboose in a small lot of miscellaneous items. They are a nice contrast to the Lionel, American Flyer, Marx and MTH attempts at 1800's era trains.

I had the loco.    My dad got me one for Christmas when I was about 12-13.    The cataloque that came with it also showed a "999" version loosely based on the NYC turn of century 4-4-0 that set the speed record.   It was all black with a straight stack and possibly some other details.

Mine Shawnee Express was just  like the one in the photos.  

An aside, the reversing unit was always sticky.    My dad's solution was to drill a hole in the top of the boiler above the unit.   When it stuck, which was often, we just pushed a small screw driver into the hole to click it over.    The hole was just in front of one of the domes and only about half of it showed.     Later when I was an adult and built a layout, I bought a Lionel E-unit.   It was too big for the loco, and I put it in the tender and ran a cable into the loco.    I made a too high wood pile to hide the E-unit.

I sold the loco when I converted to 2-rail.   I think I still have the cab window inserts which were also diecast weights.   Not sure why I took them out, maybe to fit that cable in around the motor top.   If anyone needs those weights let me know.

@prrjim posted:

An aside, the reversing unit was always sticky.

My experience with the reverse units so far (I've worked on three) is that they're finicky to get right, but once they're properly adjusted they can be very reliable. I actually like them, they're a unique design and simple to work on.

Here's one of my Thomas 4-4-0's - these are definitely the nicest three rail 4-4-0's from their time. All metal, well proportioned, and one of the features that really stands out to me is the blued boiler - Neither the boiler or firebox are painted, but instead blued, creating a very good imitation of Russia iron.

Here's the original paperwork that came with the 4-4-0:

And a cutout card that would be taped to the locomotive:

Thank you for posting the additional paperwork..

I am pretty sure I remember that my  Shawnee Express had a black painted boiler.    But that was many years ago.

prrjim - that's the way my Shawnee Express set came.

My guess would be this was a later production.  The branch line version I have also has a painted boiler

@Robert S. Butler posted:

My guess would be this was a later production.  The branch line version I have also has a painted boiler

That's probably the case - The original box that mine came in is dated January 10, 1954, so it's early production. I think all of the Branch Line engines had painted boilers, as they represent a more modern style.

  If anyone has any Thomas Industries trains they would be willing to part with I would be interested.

Do you have those window weights https://ogrforum.com/...2#162194228087077152

Prrjim