Something incredibly satisfying about running a locomotive that’s truly yours — whether it’s a real-world prototype you had to kitbash from scratch, or a fictional unit that tells your own railroad’s story.
I’ve just started my first custom build: modifying an old GP9 shell into a freelanced shortline loco, complete with hand-painted logo and weathered details. It’s definitely a learning curve (hello, putty and patience!) but I’m loving every minute.
Who else here is into custom loco builds?
What was your first (or favorite) custom engine?
Do you start with a donor shell, go full scratchbuild, or use 3D printing?
