From Antique Automobile September 1996 we have the following-
In 1907 a vice president of the Erie Railroad bought a new Buick roadster and had it delivered directly to the railroad repair shops with orders to convert the car so that it had the look of a locomotive. The fenders, radiator shell, and floorboards were removed and replacements were cast for them in heavy polished aluminum. The fenders were cast as bicycle fenders with a large flange to give the appearance of drivers. The front radiator shell was cast as a round front (with holes for air flow) and trimmed with a brass ring similar to brass boiler bands. The floorboards are cast in the pattern of the floor of a locomotive cab. The car had brass foot rests which resemble the footboards on steam locomotive cowcatchers, and brass handrails similar to grab irons on a locomotive. The grabs are mounted on the sides of the firewall as well as around the backs of the roadster seats and on the passenger side of the floor. The car has a special two impeller water pump which is controlled with a dash-mounted lever, a dash mounted air intake control for the carburetor, a rear view mirror, oil pressure gauge, an oil level gauge, and an oil flow gauge. The propane lamps (headlamps, and interior lamps) are controlled by shut-off valves located below the seat. The gas gauge is a glass boiler gauge of the type normally seen on high-pressure boilers.
The car was restored in the early 1990’s and still exists.
I came across this guy one time that had a Dodge Caravan painted in Daylight colors. It had a steam whistle (electronic) horn and a bell. It was a sharp looking rig.
It was at railfair (91’ i think) in Sacramento and he was shuttleing people around. He was blowing the whistle to get people to clear the path. And of course he had the overalls and hat with a thousand RR pins on it.
There was a guy here in the south 'burbs of Chicago who had his car painted in SP Daylight colors. Can’t remember if it was a car or pick up and while I wouldn’t want it it was pretty sharp. Now Tuscan with cat whiskers that is different but my wife would not allow it I am sure without even asking.
I saw a picture once of an individual who had a late model Chevrolet pickup that was painted in the Santa Fe warbonnet theme (red and silver color). Maybe I can come across it and post more info.
A friend of mine had an AMC Spirit in “brunswick green” witht eh factory 2 stripe pinstripes. We added 3 more, following the factory installed lines. A railfan would get it right away, but it didn’t look “foamerish”
