"Doodlebug"

[Old Coyote]

My father built "O Gauge" model trains and ran them on a layout that took up an entire 3-car garage and looped out into the back yard. I never got the train "bug", but I was fascinated watching him work with wood, metal, and plastic while building his collection.

My father died of a heart attack in 1976, and some of his collection has followed me around for over 40 years. I recently found one of the prizes of his collection, a partially destroyed Santa Fe motor car which he built originally in 1940. After studying the remains to this unique vehicle, I set out to rebuild this 79 year of piece of history. My intention was to just clean it up and fix as much of the damage as I could, leaving as much of his original build as possible.

The motorized passenger cars were unique little vehicles called "Doodlebugs". They plied the rural, low volume lines where large trains would be totally unprofitable. The unit I fixed represents a Santa Fe Doodlebug which I remember running the rails in the Texas Panhandle and New Mexico when I was a child.

Below are three pictures of what I started with, and four of my completed project.

 

[1930fordpickup]

I am glad that you are fixing this up. I like it.

[cobraman]

Cool that you still have this.

[Slimguy]

Very nice restoration John.  I still have a few of my trains from my first Lionel set I got for Christmas.  It must have been right around 1960 or 61.  I never really got the train bug but totally appreciate those who have.  Any old pictures of your Dad's train collection?  If you have any please post, it would be terrific to see them.

[Dave Van]

Fantastic work!!!! Like you I have been given some of my father in laws O trains......as I was the only model railroader in the family. 

You had a huge job to restore that model...well done!!

[jokar124]

Congratulations on a job well done and a perfect tribute to your Dad on Father's Day.

[bamadon]

Great job restoring that. And I'm sure it has much more meaning to you than just the restoration.

[mustang1989]

Wow!! Just Wow!! I enjoyed the back story just as much as I did looking at the before and after pictures. You must be very proud of this restoration project John. Excellent resto bud!