A Pleasant Surprise

Around lunchtime today, FedEx pulled into our driveway... the moment I saw the box in the driver's hands, I knew what it was... my upgraded O scale Hudson steam locomotive!

It was packaged exactly how I had packaged it to send it in to the facility to be upgraded. I actually made a box to perfectly fit the manufacturer's box. Apparently, this worked out well since it appears to have arrived safely and securely. 

I haven't had a chance to put it on the tracks yet, but it is looking very nice! 

I had the electronics swapped out completely with the newest available today. The electronics that I had originally were two generations old and quite lame by today's standards. This upgrade also provides better control, far better sound quality, better chuffing smoke, and more sounds than was previously available. Mostly, however, I'm excited about the better control. Additionally, I had an engineer and fireman added to the locomotive... a firebox glow effect with LED's... LED marker lights added to the front of the locomotive as well as to the rear of the tender... and a rear facing headlight which lights up with in reverse.  

Engineer and fireman....

Marker lights and reverse headlight installed on rear of tender...

I'm hoping to test her out on a long section of track either tonight or tomorrow. I'm thinking of recording some video of her maiden run after this upgrade modification...