Replacing Polar Express loco & tender

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

Any idea’s: I am replacing polar express loco & tender w/ loco & tender from keystone super freight w/ command control.(arriving June) Is it possible to have the polar express logo put in place of the keystone logo? I live in central N.J. is there any place wihtin 50 miles or so to have it done?

2

I would check with a local hobby shop. There should be a few in your area. There is a guy in my local store in Milford, Oh who will do custom painting and lettering. Look in the back of CTT or MRR for hobby shop listing if you don’t know of one.

3

Thanks, I’ll check my local hobby shop.

4

jerseyjoea,

Is it possible to upgrade your PE engine? There are compnies out there that sell the boards. Maybe it can’t be done but it wouldn’t hurt to look into it.

Tom

5

The engine & tender were sold already. I have the Keystone super freight set on order.I also have a lionel RS11 engine that I’ll use on the Keystone set.

6

Hey, Where in central NJ are you, Joe?

7

The movie folks I’ve read used the Prototype engine that Weaver is selling in the above link. If you want a “true” Polar Express Engine use that and have the fellow on the OGR Forum Jeff78 I think paint it for you.

8

It looks to me as though the Keystone set and Polar Express set share a tender shell. You could probably swap out their tender shells pretty easily and quickly. The engine would retain the tuscan roof and brunswick green characteristic of a PRR engine, but would have a PE tender shell. It probably wouldn’t take too much work to put a coat of black over the engine and add the apropriate decals(1225?).

By the way, the engine used for the movie was Pere Marquette #1225, a Berkshire much like the one Lionel included in the set.

9

I’m in Manalapan,07726 off Rt.9, about 3 miles no. of the Freehold Mall

10

You might be able to swap the shells on both the engine and the tender with the shells from your Keystone set. You just need to make sure the locomotive’s handrails are insulated from the shell, run the antenna wire to them, and solder them on.

The Keystone set has a die-cast tender shell, while the Polar Express has a plastic shell, but other than that they appear to be identical. Maybe the screws will match.

The engine castings are an exact duplicate.

Jon [8D]

11

Does anyone know where I can pick up these Polar Express shells?

Joe