Toronto, Canada 1935 in Colour

An astonishing video of streetcars in Toronto in 1935. My father would have been 9 at the time.

AI desires tramcars

I was going to post a few more photos of TTC streetcars going about their business. As I was building up the post in my head I wondered if 'desire' was actually the term for a group of streetcars - you know, like 'a murder of crows' means a group of crows - or if it was just something Robert Jowitt cooked up for his 1969 book, A Desire of Tramcars, a copy of which I finally bought a few months ago.

Like any other resident of the 21st century who wants to know something I asked Google if desire was the term for a group of  streetcars, and also typed in the book's title as the source of my question. Much to my surprise it came back with one of those AI summaries of Jowitt's book.

A few days ago in a long, late night discussion about the ins-and-outs of today's AI at a Toronto bar I tried to argue that AI seems to me to fabricate a lot, but presents it with great authority as if it were irrefutably true. I guess I had too much to drink to make a forceful case because I didn't make much headway with my argument, but I present the above unsolicited AI Overview as a sober example.

I present it because it's dead wrong.

The table of contents on the left gives you a list of the themes

Ok, well, yes some of the points it mentions are touched on, but what book on streetcars (or trams or trollies or whatever you want to call them) doesn't. What this particular book is, is a collection of the author's photographs of trams in operation in the UK and Europe, shot from 1958 to 1968, and arranged thematically instead of technologically or chronologically, which are more-or-less the standard organizations for these sorts of books. It's a book about the love of streetcars, not of their instrumentality.

I rather like Jowitt's book and often find myself leafing through it. If it does make arguments as suggested by the AI Overview, it does it romantically rather than analytically through it's use of photographs and themes instead of statistics and engineering. 

Although, Jowitt isn't adverse to explicitly making a point with words:

"Fools, fools are these little men who think they can live by motor-car alone. Fools are the Socialists who want to scrap what they think are stodgy old-school Conservative trams, at the same time protesting in towns where the Conservatives are mistakenly engaged on 'taking away the people's trams'. It is not the tram which is an anachronism, it is the men who scrap it thinking they are being progressive and modernistic. It is not the tram which causes congestion, it is the army of replacing cars and buses fighting in disorder through a fog of exhaust."

I suspect the AI can only deal with the words in the book in a particular manner and can't understand how the words, photographs (which are the main feature), and organization together make the author's case, if the 'case' is what you're reading this book for. It's a case that a human is making to other humans, and is unfathomable to the AI's software. The AI Overview makes the book sound like some sort of dry, required reading for MBA course work (although the student would likely just 'read' the AI Overview and consider it done), and not the pleasant and enjoyable book that works on several levels.

Some King St. streetcars in their natural habitat*

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*Observed on a anthropological field trip in late February 2025.

Bringing the Siku Bombardier tram to life in Casualized HO-9

I've had it in my mind for a long time to motorize Siku's Bombardier toy tram (SIKU 1895). In Toronto it seems to be marketed as a toy version of the TTC's iconic streetcar manufactured by Bombardier.

Siku Bombardier tram, SIKU 1895, straight out of the box

The box says it's HO scale, and I believe it, but it is a casualized representation of the vehicle. Ok, it is a children's toy so play value down on the carpet is more important than the fussy desires of an adult modeller. However, the shells are nicely detailed, and I thought they'd make for a rather decent casualized HO-9 vehicle for running around the Centennial Experimental Farm layout, or simply posing for scenic photos.

A TTC Bombardier streetcar as seen in Feb 2019

I started the motorization and casualization back in the fall of 2022. I thought it was going to be a rather easy conversion, but I was very wrong. There was a lot of trial and error before I even came close to getting it to run trouble free laps. At one point I was so frustrated I parked the project and only gave it another go just after last Christmas. Even though it now runs, and doesn't look too bad, I'm not completely satisfied with the approach I've taken. I'd say it's good enough for what I want, but it could be much better. What follows are some rather loose notes on how the build proceeded so I have a record in case I try this conversion again, or someone else is interested in learning from my mistakes.

The Siku toy taken apart

The toy is held together with 2 screws on the bottom of each chassis. Once removed the shells and baffle are easy to pry off the chassises. Now the fun begins.

Preparing the shells for re-spraying with white paint

I decided to work on some cosmetic changes first. The oversize Bombardier logo was the first thing to go. I rubbed it off with an abrasive track cleaning block and an assortment of fine sanding sticks. The damaged areas were then masked off and resprayed with white paint.

About 1/3 the way through construction

The above photo is a bit deceiving because a lot of work has been done at this point besides re-painting the shells. As I mentioned in the beginning, there was a lot of trial and error during construction and I didn't photograph many intermediary steps. I'll note a few things in the above photo:

1. A big rectangular hole has been cut into the forward chassis for accepting the Kato 11-109 drive unit that powers this thing. It was cut out with a disc cutter in my Dremel motor tool. If you're going to do this wear safety glasses, and go slow. Once the hole is cut it needs to be cleaned up with files.

2. The forward interior insert needs to be cut up to match the hole in the chassis. At this stage both interior inserts were painted black.

3. There's a long and complex story about the trailer's wheels. I'll try and be brief. Although the model is more-or-less HO scale, the wheels aren't even close to standard HO gauge, or standard 9mm N gauge either. There was going to be lots of work fitting standard HO-9 or N gauge wheels to the trailer, and after much head scratching I decided just to grind off the wheel flanges and pull the trailer along the road with the power car as if it were a truck's trailer. For running on Kato Unitram track this works ok. And it turns out since the wheel sets are close to N gauge, the track rails inadvertently help keep the trailer more-or-less tracking the power unit when in motion. That does increase rolling resistance, but the power unit appears to have more than enough umph to handle it. More on wheels, tracking, and turning radius a little further on.

4. Speaking of wheel sets, the toy wheel set that would go into the back end of the power car was eventually left off. Only the trailer incorporates those ground down toy wheel sets. The only wheels on the power car are those on the Kato drive unit.

There's a lot of equipment on the roof

5. The shell roofs were enhanced a little with a few extra mechanical looking boxes glued on and everything up there was painted with some greys and blacks. There probably needs to be a bit of weathering applied.

Styrene blocks were used as motor supports

One of the trickiest parts of construction was installing the Kato drive unit. Obviously the couplers and their supports were cut off before starting. Again, there was a lot of trial and error in measuring and fitting styrene blocks to the chassis and power unit until I got the heights and positions just right. In the above photo those blocks numbered 21 and 25 have been previously glued to the power unit and the resulting structure is being epoxied into the chassis. Those styrene strips on the track are there to temporarily lift the chassis to the correct height until the glue dries. Ground clearance is something like 1.5 mm - very low.

The forward power unit is loaded with weights

From this point on there was lots of testing on the track. Again, lots of trial and error, but here's what I hope is a summary:

1. The power unit was loaded down with 'a lot' of weight: a strip of chicklet style 1/4 oz weights plus an old lead fishing weight (which can't be used to fish because of the lead) pounded a bit flat. The trailer has a bit of a bumpy ride and the extra weight up front helps keep the power unit's wheels in contact with the track in the presence of this transferred shaking motion. I probably should have added a little extra weight to the trailer - not as much as up front - to help it roll a little better. Maybe next time.

2. The only strong - aka, metal - 'connection' between the trailer and power unit are the two flaps sitting one atop the other. Note that there's no positive mechanical connection. It's the weight of the power unit that maintains the connection through the flap to the trailer.

The trailer connection casting is discarded

The reason for this setup  is the trailer has to be loosely connected to the power unit so that trailer motions don't transfer to the power unit and cause it to lose contact with the rails.

This also meant that the metal castings in the toy that connect the two shells had to be discarded because they made the connection between the two far too rigid. The tail would literally wag the dog when this thing was in motion with the metal connection castings in place and locked together.

Ok, well as you see in the photo on the side the trailer casting was discarded, but I kept the one on the power unit as it provides just a little weight over the flap connection to hold things in place. 

Toy's baffle is not very flexible at all

The other piece that had to go was the baffle that covers the connection between the two cars. It's far too rigid and prevents the cars rotating with respect to each other. 

Again, after lots of trial and error, I improvised a new baffle by slicing the ends off the old one and replacing the middle with a piece of micro fibre eyeglass wipe. The wipe was blackened with a Sharpie pen, glued over the baffle ends, and then whole thing was inserted and glued between the cars. 

Before running, the new baffle needs to be carefully folded so it will open and close cleanly as the vehicle goes around curves and doesn't prevent the cars from freely rotating. After a lot of test runs I'm thinking the micro fibre baffle might be replaced by either a silk, mylar, or very thin plastic one to further improve the baffle's flexibility. I like the visual texture of the micro fibre, so maybe it'll be a silk one to try and retain some of that look.

Underside of the power unit

All these special provisions - removal of the toy's cast metal shell connector, replacement baffle, wheels with ground off flanges that run on the road surface, flap only connection between the cars - are needed because I'm trying to make the little vehicle run over curves that are far to tight for it, and because the connections between the cars, and between the cars and rail, are too numerous and too rigid. A moving vehicle needs flexibility to negotiate its travels and deal with upsets. A moving model needs that too. The basic toy doesn't because it's designed so junior can't break it - in that regard, it's a champ :-)

I know, I've skipped over some items like arms to the overhead wiring and new decals as they're relatively straight forward compared to the mechanical work.

Operationally, it's finicky to get set up and running. It has to be handled very gently when placing it on the track because the cars aren't really connected together by anything other than a thin piece of cloth. And that cloth has to be carefully folded so that it flexes in just the right way and doesn't cause the streetcar to stall on curves. But, once those are dealt with, it's smooth running, and I like the way it looks on the farm.

Overall, it's ok, but needs a lot of refinement: more flexible baffle, smoother running wheels in the trailer, and some sort of secure mechanical connection between the cars just to name a few. Another job for the future :-)

Streetcar Clip #4: King at Church

Streetcar Clip #3: Somewhere along King

If you watch carefully you'll see me in a Hitchcockian cameo.

Streetcar Clip #2: Somewhere along King

Streetcar Clip #1: Along King near Yonge

Uncertain days ahead for restoration of Ottawa streetcar #696

Image modified from this more positive post

You may recall that back in January 2022 I wrote a post about the efforts to restore Ottawa streetcar #696.

Yesterday I was dismayed to learn that the work may come to an unceremonious conclusion by the end of this month. According to this CBC article, streetcar #696 and the restoration team have been ordered to vacate the shop space loaned to them by OCTranspo by the end of this month.

Money for projects such as this one is hard to come by, and I can only imagine the scramble that's on to find money to comply with this order and a place to relocate, not to mention organize a move of the unfinished streetcar and all the associated  tools and materials.

I'm going to try and find out what's going on.

Dig that funky trackwork

Soon after motorizing the Hong Kong tram I started to wonder about the feasibility a small HO-9 streetcar layout built with Kato's Unitram track. I could have got out the pencils and rulers and measured things to do my wondering, but instead I got out the track and buildings and tram and ran a test. I videoed it and posted some stills back in December. The video seemed a little sterile, but I've recently learned how to add a music track with some of Youtube's fee free audio. So, here's the test, jazzed up with a funky soundtrack :-)

Oh, the test results? Things look good, but the tram is a bit too wide, and two can't pass each other without colliding. Still though, I kind of like the idea. Or, maybe it's just the music :-)

King Cars

Posting that video yesterday got me thinking about some short videos of the TTC's King Street streetcars I shot earlier in the month. Here's one. These day's I'm appreciating much more these seemingly banal scenes of normalcy.

Spire above the wire

I was in Toronto last weekend, and was lucky to walk by The Cathedral Church of St. James while a King St. streetcar was stopped out front.

Restoring Ottawa Streetcar #696

Front view of OER streetcar #696 in restoration shop

While investigating the whereabouts of the Ottawa streetcar models, I came in contact with some gentlemen from the Ottawa 696/905 Streetcar Restoration Group. They sent me a couple of photos of Ottawa streetcar #696 that they're restoring, and have kindly allowed me to post the pictures here.

Bill McKeown's book, Ottawa's Streetcars, tells me #696 started life as streetcar #633, a 45'-3" vehicle built by the Ottawa Car Manufacturing Company in 1917. In 1927 it was rebuilt and stretched out to 49'-6". It was then renumbered to #696, and remained in service until 1958. Ottawa abandoned its streetcar line in 1959.

Back view of OER streetcar #696 in restoration shop

I'm told restoration was paused in March 2020 due to the pandemic, and, like much else in our society, it's not clear when work will resume.

In the first photo you can see another streetcar body peeking out from behind the right side of #696. That's Ottawa streetcar #905. 

#905 has a similarly long history. It was built in 1933, also by the Ottawa Car Manufacturing Company. A new set of trucks were installed in 1946, and the vehicle remained in service right until the end in 1959.

Car # 696 is looking good. Here's hoping this fascinating project can soon get going again once some semblance of normality returns to life.

Some thoughts on the Ottawa Electric Railway's Central Experimental Farm transfer trolley

Farm transfer trolley | Library & Archives Canada, PA-126776

Last week I bought a copy of Building Canada's Farm: An Illustrated Guide to Buildings at the Central Experimental Farm, written by Richard Hinchcliff and Patrica Jasen, and published last year by Friends of the Central Experimental Farm. The Farm is an Ottawa landmark, and one of my favourite places in the city to visit. When I saw the book at the local Coles over the Christmas holidays I knew it was for me. The book doesn't disappoint, and I highly recommend it. 

The Farm once came with a streetcar

Being a streetcar-guy, an added Farm bonus is that it was serviced by an Ottawa Electric Railway (OER) trolley line from 1908 to 1929. The federal government wanted to promote the Farm and have more people visit, so in 1908 they ponied up around $40,000 for the OER to run and operate a double-track line into the Farm.

Apparently ridership numbers were never great, and in 1924* the OER stopped running streetcars all the way into the Farm. They didn't terminate all service, and kept a stretch of track that ran along the Farm boundary paralleling Carling Avenue so they could provide service to the new Civic Hospital that was being built nearby. The OER also put in a loop near the hospital at the end of that stretch of track so the streetcar wouldn't have to drive down into the Farm in order to loop around for the return trip. So, now if you wanted to go into the Farm you'd need to get off at the hospital loop, and transfer to a small trolley** that could take you into the grounds. In the end though, there wasn't enough ridership to keep even the transfer trolley going, and its service was discontinued in 1929. And that was that for streetcar service into the Farm.

The mysterious Farm transfer trolley

You see the little, four-wheel trolley in the lead photo? That seems to be the only known picture of the Farm's transfer trolley. Building Canada's Farm, as well as the books Ottawa's Farm: A History of the Central Experimental Farm, and Ottawa's Streetcars: An Illustrated History of Electric Railway Transit in Canada's Capital City, all present that photo when discussing the transfer trolley. Although it's an interesting picture, I'd like to see some that have a few more details than what it shows. 

For awhile I've been thinking about building an HO-scale model of the vehicle. It would be powered by a NWSL Stanton drive I bought a few years ago. Given the trolley's small size, it should be possible to use some of the classic trolley model building techniques for its construction. However, I'm interested in getting more information on the trolley before getting started.

They say third time's a charm, and Building Canada's Farm is the third book I've seen that picture in, so I decided to contact the Friends of the Farm to find out if they had access to any more information about the trolley. They put me in contact with one of the authors, who generously provided a scan of the photo, as well as a little more information and a link to a brief related article they ran in their newsletter back in 2011. The article filled in some more information about the line, but the scan gave me some important clues about the trolley's possible identity.

Car 51, is that you?

The book Ottawa's Streetcars has some information about the Farm line and its transfer trolley, but it's scattered throughout, and the book has no index, so I spent some pleasant time searching through its pictures and text for applicable material. After pondering that information a bit, and cross-checking with the OER vehicle roster in the back of the book, I'm thinking the trolley in the photo might be OER Car 51. I can't be conclusive just yet, but clues are pointing its way, or towards similar cars in its lineage.

Left: Farm transfer trolley image sliced from PA-126776; Right: Car 51, Library & Archives Canada, PA-176783

Here are some clues and points of similarity:

1. That photo of Car 51 appears on page 144 of Ottawa's Streetcars, and the caption notes: "The car was in shuttle service between this point [Holland Junction] and the Experimental Farm". The caption also notes the photo was taken "in the early 1920s." I think these two statements may indicate that in the early 1920's, prior to the abandonment of service into the Farm's grounds in 1924, Car 51 may have been used for the entire Farm route when ridership numbers had dwindled to a level that no longer justified using a modern streetcar to service the line. Then in 1924, Car 51 became the transfer trolley, and was limited to running from the hospital loop down into the Farm's grounds. 

The OER's vehicle roster notes that Car 51 was still in service up until 25 September 1927, when it was converted into a grinder hauler. There's no exact date attached to the transfer trolley photo (PA-126776) other than it was taken sometime between 1924 and 1929. So, it's possible the transfer trolley photo is of Car 51, and later in 1927 another car was used on the line until it was closed down in 1929.

This stitched together story is speculation on my part, and would benefit from verification against original source material.

2. The cars in both photos are single truck, four-wheelers.

3. Both have six windows.

4. Both have dome roofs. Also, the clerestories, roof-top access ladders, and trolley pole connections appear the same.

5. Both appear to have the same type of front bumper, although in the Car 51 photo, the vehicle has elaborate safety scoops on the front and rear.

6. Both appear to have the same horizontal stripe under the windows.

Does a ghostly '5' appear in the red box?

And finally point 7, the admittedly weird ancient-aliens, reading-too-much-into-too-little part :-)

I think I see a very faint number 5 inside the red box in the image on the left. You'll have to enlarge the image, and squint your eyes a bit, to see it. There might be a number 1 beside it too.

There are a couple of problems with this observation. First, the pixels that appear to form a 5, and maybe a 1, could be simply just artifacts of digitization, which is the interpretation I'm leaning towards. And second, the number appears in an odd location. From the photo of Car 51, it should most likely be centred beneath the windows, not off to one side.

Although I have my doubts about the ghostly 5, I mention it merely for completeness, and entertainment value :-)

Now, none of this adds up to a conclusive argument regarding the identity of the Farm's transfer trolley, but it does provide a more concrete starting point for a model of a certain trolley, operating at a certain time, in a certain place. However, I now have a good photo (which includes a figure to give some scale) of a vehicle that bears a strong resemblance to the transfer trolley, an entry in the OER roster that tells me it was 28' long, and a note in Ottawa's Farm states that its colour was likely green.

However, over the 5 years the transfer trolley service ran, there could have been several different types of trollies used on the line, so any model probably won't be the definitive statement on what was actually used. We'll likely never know. 

*1924 or 1922?

The streetcar article in the Friends of the Farm newsletter implies that the OER stopped running streetcars all the way into the Farm in 1922; however, Ottawa's Streetcars says it happened in 1924. The article was published in 2011, the book in 2006, and the article says it was written with information provided by a third generation OER trolleyman. So, maybe it was 1922, which makes this year the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Farm's transfer trolley service. 

**A Jigger of Trollies

One last thing. Apparently what I've been calling the transfer trolley was know colloquially as the 'Jigger', because of the motion the passengers were subjected to as it ran. It's noted in Ottawa's Farm that, "as it [the Jigger] rolled over the rails it rocked from end to end - a soothing motion for tired workers at the end of the day." The caption attached to PA-126776 describes the trolley as, "The "jigger", the small streetcar loved by the Farm staff for its comforting motion...".

I find it a little strange that something called the Jigger was considered to have a soothing and comforting motion that was loved by Farm staff who rode it. Merriam-Webster tells me one definition for jigger is: a mechanical device usually with a jerky reciprocating motion. The application of the English language is a many splendored thing :-)

O-scale models of Ottawa streetcars #695 & #854

Model of Ottawa streetcar #695. (All photos courtesy of the builder)

Back in 2015 I wrote a post about some excellent scratch built O-scale model streetcars and a diorama I saw at the 2015 Ottawa Train Expo. Then in 2016 a reader noted it was a too bad that I didn't have any detailed photos of those models.

Recently I was contacted by the builder of those streetcar models. He generously sent me some great photos of these unique items along with a backstory on their construction. 

This photo gives you a good overall view of the diorama. There are two O-scale Ottawa streetcars, #695 & #854, on an Ottawa street circa 1954. To me, the street reminds me of Bank Street.

The diorama, as well as each streetcar, is unpowered.

The streetcar models are based on information the builder could find, supplemented with some provided by the Ottawa 696/905 Streetcar Restoration Group.

The diorama is 49" long, 15" deep, and 15" tall. All modelling is to 1/48 scale.

The builder told me the streetcars were built "mostly from 'junk', i.e. plastic packaging, electronic waste, etc. using no commercially available items." I wouldn't exactly call the materials junk, because as longtime readers know I'm a fan of models built from everyday items found around the house or workshop. As you can see from the high quality construction, these models don't give away their humble origins.

Car #695

The only commercial parts are "O-gauge freight-car trucks which had suitable wheel-base and diameter, and on which I practiced 'plastic surgery'."Again, it should be noted that the models are unpowered. 

Car #695

These models don't have interiors, but that doesn't detract from the overall look.

Car #854

The models and diorama were started in 2013 and finished in early 2015. 

Car #854

The diorama was first shown to the public at the 2015 Ottawa Train Expo, held in April of that year, at the Ottawa 696/905 Streetcar Restoration Group's booth.

Car #854

I'm informed the diorama was donated to the Ottawa 696/905 Streetcar Restoration Group in late 2015, and that the last known location of the models and diorama was on the top shelf of a storage room in OCTranspo's Colonnade garage. Whether or not they're still there is unknown.

The builder tells me he's currently working on a 1/24 scale model of Ottawa streetcar #864. Unlike these static 1/48 scale models, this larger new one is going to be battery powered and radio controlled. I'm looking forward to seeing it when it's done.

If you have an interest in Ottawa's streetcar history the best source I've found is Bill McKeown's book, Ottawa's Streetcars: The Story of Electric Railway Transit in Canada's Capital City, published in 2006 by Railfare DC Books. 

[15 January 2022 Update: Some good news: I'm told by a representative of the Ottawa 696/905 Streetcar Restoration Group that the models and diorama are safe and sound in their restoration shop at the Colonnade garage.]

Motorizing Editions Atlas' Hong Kong Tram

Editions Atlas Hong Kong tram with Kato 11-104 truck

In Voie Libre #106 I read about an interesting HO-9 tramway layout called Plage Bel Air by Frederic Mottet. The first thing that caught my attention was it was a seaside scene with a kidney bean track plan much like the LOL, only considerably smaller. The second was the use of static trams by Editions Atlas, which Mottet motorized. 

I had a look online to see what Editions Atlas had to offer, and came across an HO scale double-decker Hong Kong tram. I've admired Bachmann's OO Hong Kong tram, but haven't been able to locate one for LOL Mk II. So, even though the Editions Atlas version is unmotorized, I thought I'd buy one and try my hand at motorization. I found one on Ebay from a German seller, and for a very reasonable $US 7 shipping charge it was in my hands in a mere 5 days!

Bumper pried off

There was nothing conceptually difficult about this project. In fact the hardest part was the most fundamental: figuring out how to get the body and chassis separated without damage.

First thing was to pry off the front and rear bumpers. This revealed 2 holes at each end of the metal frame where the bumpers attached. 

For some dumb reason I thought these might also be holes where screws were inserted to hold on the body. I drilled them out, but the body didn't release.

It turns out the trick was that I needed to drill out the front and rear lights. Behind the light is either a screw or rivet, and once drilled out, the chassis drops out of the body. I'll need to repair those lights during final assembly, but that's not a big deal.

The toy's truck is held on with 2 screws, as is the upper deck seating. Once those items are unscrewed, you're left with the metal chassis.

Now the fun begins.

I have 2 Kato 11-104 powered chassises that I bought a few years ago thinking I'd use them to build a quasi-freelanced O-9 model of Thaddeus Lowe's personal Mount Lowe trolley. 

After lots of thought and inspection, I figured I couldn't build what I was after with these Kato units, so they've been sitting on the shelf. 

Lucky for me the Kato unit fit the Hong Kong tram quite well. 

The only modification I made was to cut off the end platforms, buffers, couplers, and railings: basically, everything outbound of the screws that hold the motor in place was cut off. This reduction in size of the power truck meant a much smaller opening needed to be cut into the toy's metal chassis.

Cutting the opening for the power truck was a big job. It took me about 4 hours of on-and-off work with a drill, dremel with cutting disks and grinding stones, files, and sanding sticks to cut a suitable rectangular opening into the chassis. I probably should have made a video of the process, but I wasn't sure if my methods were best, or even if this was going to work out. 

One important thing to note. The metal beams that connect the front and rear platforms need to cut off for the power truck to fit. However, this weakens the chassis as all that is left to connect the end platforms are those horizontal metal strips you see in the picture. Once the beams are cut off you need to make sure you handle the chassis carefully or you might accidentally bend it during further cutting operations. 

Also, make sure you wear your eye protection and work gloves when doing this job.

Once the chassis is cleaned up it's just a matter of epoxying on the power unit. I've tacked it in place with some dots of epoxy, but I need to go back and see what edges and seams could use some extra epoxy to give the whole thing better strength.

And that's the end of what I think is the most important part of converting this static toy into a not too shabby HO-9 tram. Detailing and paint are next, but to check things out I temporarily slipped the body on the chassis for a quick run around the test track.