Happy train

I am a terror for anthropomorphising things. 

Which is why I own this locomotive. A sensible person would realise it is junk. I am, as you've probably worked out by now, not a sensible person. The good news, is it didn't cost me anything. 

Basically, there was an estate sale at Tony Green. Piles of American G gauge models being sold of for very reasonable prices. It seems that the owner liked to leave his trains outside, to weather naturally. Most of the wagons needed a good clean, but if you can work some washing up liquid, and a toothbrush, bargains were to be had. 

This poor little locomotive had stopped working, and been left to weather. And get broken. All the waggly bits are missing, as is a big chunk of the smokebox. But, it has gained some googly eyes. 

The moment I saw it, I felt sorry for it. Priced at a tenner, I'd have paid this just to give it a good home. 

But, by buying this loco: 

The "Happy train" became mine for free. I guess they decided no one else would be stupid enough to buy it!

Now, this isn't a panacea. The new loco is complete, but non-working. A quick look suggests the motor has given up the ghost, and a replacement will cost me the same as the loco. I knew it was faulty, and have ideas for a new control system for it one day. I like chunky prototypes anyway, and you do have to buy something from a model shop when you visit. 

As for "Happy Train", I've no idea. Maybe, in the long-term, a partial restoration is on the cards. But that might be too much change. For now, this little model is smiling at me, glad to have been saved from the bin. 

And that makes me happy. Possibly, a bit weird (would anyone else have saved it?) but happy.