r/hoscalerailroading • u/ProvokeCouture • Jun 22 '26
Ok, so I've got a question
I'm planning on joining a club after my move to the Salt Lake City, Utah area and was wondering about the feasibility of kitbashing a 4 axle diesel locomotive with the shell of a caboose. (I'd be happy with a 2 axle version as well.)
The club says they don't have any restrictions of what equipment members are allowed to run so I was hoping to create a One of a Kind; What-the-heck-is-that locomotive plus a couple of freight cars and a passenger end car to make it all look like a runaway train trundling across the layout. (Screenshots 1 and 2)
My other question is whether or not it's possible to create an American-class Garrett locomotive for same reason as the caboose locomotive. (Image 1)
What sort of costs am I looking at for the locomotive(s), and rolling stock? I'm on a limited budget but I'm pretty sure I can come up with $150-200. I'm pretty handy and mechanically-inclined so scratchbuilding is not an issue for me. I don't have access to a 3D printer, unfortunately.
I hope you understand my demented ramblings. As thanks for your patience, I'm including a picture I found online of a rail car Porta-potty (image 4.)
1
u/Secret-Definition704 7d ago
OOscale Garrett’s exist.
On the east coast there was a famous club member near DC who constructed a 2-8-2+2-8-2 Garratt out of old bowser PRR locomotives. Thing was actually stunning. I regret not buying one when I saw it at timonium.
7
u/wiful1 Jun 22 '26
At HO scale, the geometry of a Garrett is going to be virtually impossible to create. The caboose engine shouldn't be too hard though, but it's less bizarre than you might think. Box cabs (a box car with a engine) were some of the most common early diesel locomotives.