Can We Make This 70 Year Old Wood HO Locomotive Run Again?

I found this 1952 ho scale "doodle bug" on eBay a couple months ago and ended up buying it in unknown condition. It was likely made from some kind of kit and has a wooden frame, something pretty uncommon these days.
The locomotive is driven by a drive produced in the 40s by Varney, these are known for being pretty reliable and this one was inline with that, starting fairly easily when 18 volts was applied to it.
After several hours of disassembling, cleaning and re-lubricating the engine started right up and I was even able to pull three cars around the layout with good speed and acceleration. For something made 70 years ago, it's quality shines through.

[@cnwproductions]

SMT, a bit of history in that model. That model is a kit based on a Chicago Northwestern gas electric or “doodlebug” produced by Walthers in around 1940. When I saw the thumbnail I realized that I have the instruction sheet for this model. Once again, great video!

[@SMTMainline]

I guess it's older than I thought. As far as I knew the Varney drive inside this thing was developed in 1947 so I figured it had to be newer than that.

[@CR7659]

I was about to say it's a Walthers piece. I have a similar one. They made these for a number of years into the 1950s. The passenger car kits with similar construction (wood and metal) they made into the 1980s.

[@trainfan998]

Walters is that old?

[@EMDFAST]

@@trainfan998 yes 75 years

[@williammcgeehan3424]

@@EMDFAST Walther's was founded in Milwaukee Wisconsin in 1932 by William K. Walthers. I had their 50th Anniversary catalog in 1982. By that time his son Bruce was in charge of the company.

[@gls41100]

I remember seeing this particular model about 50 years ago. It was built and painted by a friend of mine - we were members of the same model railroad club back then. His model railroad was the Whitewater Valley Southern. I saw that logo on the side and it brought back memories.

[@RobertEHunt-dv9sq]

Excellent comment. A little more history please, original owner, location, etc. Great comment.

[@gls41100]

@@RobertEHunt-dv9sq The gentleman who built it was Norm Younger of Lima OH. At the time we both were members of the HO model railroad club in Lima OH. Norm told me he never used an airbrush or any other spray equipment to paint his models. He told me he just brush-painted everything. It's funny how a model railroad club can bring members from all over the country together. I was originally from Wisconsin. Norm was from Minnesota. Another guy was from Pennsylvania. Another one from Upper Michigan. Another one from South Dakota. There weren't too many originally from Lima, even though at the time we were all living in the area.

[@RobertEHunt-dv9sq]

@@gls41100 Gordon, for sure a model rr club brings people from many areas. It’s one of the fantastic parts of the hobby. I too was born in Wisconsin (Kenosha) belonged to clubs in Wisconsin, then California, then Virginia, and now Texas. Fantastic hobby and your legacy of buildings and trains lovingly built can remain well after we leave this world. Almost like being an architect and leaving a bridge or building behind for all to admire. Cheers

[@robertmcevoy24]

That’s a nice runner great job getting it up and running. Those pliers of your great grandfather’s are priceless I bet they have some great stories and what a sentimental tool to have. I have my Grandfathers lantern from when he was a signal man for the Illinois central back in the 1920s most of my family worked on the ICR starting in the 1880’s

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks a bunch. I have several other tools which belonged to him, all of similar history. It's nice to hear you have something of your grandfather's, I'm sure a railroad lantern would have countless stories if it could talk.

[@alcopower5710]

Your work and this video is Alco Power approved 👍 Well done

[@johnlongssilverrailz5873]

It is always a joy to restore and cherish a craftsman product from an earlier generation.This on may be from an early Walthers kit. Please keep up the good work and the love of the hobby which is a great inter generation hobby. Thanks.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks, this made for a great project.

[@colbeausabre8842]

Walthers first offered it in 1939

[@harrisonross4009]

Amazing after all these years just a good cleaning/service and away she goes . So awesome to see it run and you didn't even have to replace any of the original parts 👍👍

[@qwincyq6412]

Working on a vintage loco with vintage pliers. RESPECT. Hopefully some day I’ll have grandkids who use my dad’s tools.

[@andrewferguson5653]

That's a unique engine to work on. Good to see it running again, and I'll admit I've never seen a wood kit like this before.

[@jameshamrick5660]

Hey SMT, long time fan, Glad you won my auction and were able to get this locomotive up and running again!

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks, it sure made for a great project.

[@Alerrecks]

@@SMTMainline leave positive feedback 💀

[@historyotaku]

Remember to leave positive feedback.

[@warbabyproductions]

@SMT Mainline leave positive feedback 💀

[@crudecaboose8382]

Please remember to leave positive feedback

[@williamstander4877]

Nice to see these old kits from my childhood. You make repair look so easy, I have been repairing and rebuilding for over 50 years and it is great to see a young person so involved in a great hobby.

[@shnops]

The excitement you have when you get an old train running reminds me witnessing my son taking his first steps !

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks

[@colbeausabre8842]

Minor terminology correction, it is a "car" not a "locomotive". It voided the warranty on almost all gas-electrics if you tried to tow anything with them. A few were capable of towing a small number of cars. This is a model of a Brill built car. Brill - a leading traction equipment supplier based in Philadelphia - did produce cars with such capability (a minority) and even produced special light weight trailer passenger cars for these units that resembled an interurban car without electrical gear

[@Stanf954]

I enjoy the challenge of working on these basket cases.

[@sirremusrobinson1070]

Absolutely one of my favorite videos of yours my friend. Can't wait to see it again especially when you put a little time into it and really clean it up. That's nice!!

[@4everdc302]

New chapter for the SMT manual. Vintage Wooden kits.👍🚂🇨🇦🙋

[@yambo59]

Now that was a real treat watchin' 'ya get something that old and long forgotten running again, who knows what the story is behind it - could have been someones valued project from early in their model RR career or who knows maybe one of dads or granpas per projects from long ago --- either way im going to guess you may have a model there that the original builder of is possibly long gone - well done you have given life again to a neat little piece of someones history there.

[@williammcgeehan3424]

Those doodlebugs were the preferred way for railroads to offer passenger service on little used and/or deferred maintenance lines before abandonment.

[@SMTMainline]

I hadn't heard that before. Thanks for sharing.

[@williammcgeehan3424]

@@SMTMainline A little known doodlebug, other than local east coast railfans anyway, Pennsylvania Railroad doodlebug number 4666 operated for decades on the Black River & Western Belvidere-Delaware branch ( ex-Penn Central ) out of Ringoes New Jersey until 2015. It has since been moved by it's owner to the Allentown area where it may be running again.

[@STho205]

There was a horrible firey accident with a gasoline doodlebug, and part of the after accident changes was a conversion to diesel fuel since it won't flash fire with hundreds of gallons onboard with passengers. Eventually most RRs switched to RDC.

[@colbeausabre8842]

@@SMTMainline An engineer, conductor and maybe a mail clerk (paid by the PO). No fireman or brakemen. No ashes to clean, valve gear to lube and adjust - just add gas and occasional oil. Much cheaper than a steam drawn train.

[@jacobdorward8864]

@@williammcgeehan3424 4666 is on the 4-mile branch line called the Allentown and Auburn railroad. Located in Kutztown, Berks County Pennsylvania. The last owner of 4666 had passed in August this year.

[@nerd1059]

Amazing how quiet and smooth the motor is. Well done.

[@joallawestervelt6918]

That was so cool to watch. What an awesome buy. Thanks so much for sharing this one for sure 😊

[@anthonyj.adventures9736]

Wow never seen a wood loco. I bought a mixed lot of rolling stock had a couple of box cars and a snow plow. But all wood. The box cars had these little vents on the top that opened.i have them somewhere. They are old and missing a few parts but still great.

[@BlackcloudRailways]

Wonderful old model. So glad it is working instead of collecting dust on a shelf. Thanks for sharing.

[@richardsweeney197]

It's always inspiring to see these old trains come back to life, well done!!

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

Fantastic. Brought back some great memories. My father built Varney HO kits in the late fifties of this same construction. Wood chassis and roofs with stamped metal sides. Lots of freight cars and a full set of Pullman coaches. He used all spring loaded side frame trucks. Tedious to assemble. I still have and use his tools. Glad you got it running.

[@JuanGamer0202]

I love this channel bcs, he could obviously make it run again by replacing the old parts, but he aways tries to bring it back restoring the old parts.

[@greggibbs5742]

Love the old 50's and early 60's locos. Great job!

[@rosemarycornwell1528]

Walthers kit. Wood roof and floor, cast Zamac ends and some detail parts. Stamped sides probably no rivet detail at the time those kits were released. There was also a gas electric RPO/baggage/coach combine and accompanying trailer coach based on a Gulf Mobile & Ohio set used into the early 1960's if I remember. My dad shortened the body, eliminating the RPO apartment, It was remote red in the 1990's and ran as late as 2017.

[@avlisk]

I saw the video in my queue, and immediately heard in my head : "Weeeeeell, folks. . . .". Always a treat to see what treasure you have now.

[@MozanaRN]

Excellent video with the shots of your newly acquired ancient doodlebug brought back to life, running and with mechanism sound as well! Carry on young Master Harrison!! Bravo! And thank you for sharing this.

[@reconphil]

Have you ever looked into Ronald Dodd's Hornby Dublo Magnetiser? He has a KZbin video about it. I bought one & it works magnificently! It is particularly useful on this type of motor, gets them running like new & lowers current draw.

[@ArcadiaJunctionHobbies]

What a beautiful model and great job. Will be easy enough to fix that paint too.

[@Xpyburnt_ndz]

That's fabulous to see these old girls run again!!! Gr8 job!!!

[@ChamplainDivision]

I have one of these myself decorated for the "Grand Junction" railroad of a "retired" model railroader who, last I heard, was in assisted living. It currently has rail wipers for power pickup, so I intend to eliminate them with a similar system that your model uses. It also came with one of those lightweight trailer cars another viewer mentioned. One thing I noticed - that rear "bolster' that you placed between the truck and the floor of the model is a stationary part of the real thing, so it really should be glued back on. Great video!

[@ohiovalleyrailfan]

A nice find, I recently got a doodlebug very similar although it was slightly newer and was 100% brass. I upgraded mine to DCC sound and a new can motor with flywheel. I suggest you try it out too, it makes quite the difference when it’s running

[@SMTMainline]

I'm not sure how I would attach a flywheel to this model but I have no doubt it would improve it.

[@raymondo162]

m8 - it's a piece of history !! it has a legendary power unit !! to put a can motor in is cultural vandalism !!

[@Syracuse_rail_product]

Amazing vid SMT it's cool seeing you make old trains run again 👍

[@SMTMainline]

It sure was a fun project.

[@philliprowe2656]

Very well detailed ,I like all of the roof ventilators!

[@davidstrainsandlego]

I find these early wood ho locomotives very intriguing

[@SMTMainline]

It's certainly interesting to see how they used to make them.

[@johnsterling7420]

The wizard strikes again great job Harrison. 👍😇😎

[@mikeschumann7832]

That is the most awesome commuter train I've ever seen 👍

[@mercuryoak2]

This is exactly why I work on my locomotives. Absolutely love this . Especially the mixture of passenger cars at the ending made it look authentic to a scenic railroad but basically opened up and is on a budget . The observation car sounded like it had a hot box. I seen a similar motor drive system at my local flea market I may take a look at it . If it's still there maybe next week . What was your body drive system power locomotive still had the frame etc it was in a project box all for a dollar each shells motors gears drivetrain etc. I have seen wooden passenger cars and box car kits but they are rare mostly made of balsa wood. Those pliers I wouldn't get rid of them myself either sentimental reasons and all they need is a good penetrant oil to clean up some of the rust. Otherwise as you said if it ain't broke don't fix it. some people like to be so nitpicky and you see it mostly in the comments.

[@colbeausabre8842]

Actually, the added cars is wrong. On almost all gas-electrics, it violated the builder's warranty to use it to pull anything. And id-=f a railroad needed a gas-electric and three cars, they would have saved money by assigning an already paid for steam engine, combine and cars, not buying an expensive, tempermental gas-electric

[@mercuryoak2]

@@colbeausabre8842 ok and??? Funny part is they had couplers on those Doodle bugs and they did haul cars. They did the same thing in England. So I don't think it's wrong. Even Japan had a gas electric passenger car train thing and they had at least three to four cars attached to it. And it must have been popular because they included it in the 2001 train simulator Microsoft train simulator....

[@garysprandel1817]

Yep the gas electric Doodlebug was rostered by a lot of class 1s to protect passenger service on less traveled branch lines. Actually thought it was a representation of the Chicago & Northwestern's Namekagon until a closer shot revealed it to be a freelance road. Got that same pair of needle nose from my grandfather ( my being an old fart myself fills in for the great for yours) as well as a step ladder from him as well that's a veritable archeological dig of 3 generations of interior and exterior paint jobs.

[@colbeausabre8842]

The prototype WAS a C&NW car

[@randallellison6421]

Nice restoration Harrison and a very cool locomotive!

[@MattKonsol]

It is I agree man

[@humacao01]

I see you messing around fixing this locomotive and it brings to mind that smell of like metal or burning metal. I don't know how to explain it but people who had one know. My memory comes from one my dad had before he passed. I don't know where it is nowadays but I wish I had it.

[@robertcrundwell2782]

Very cool early passenger equipment. Glad to see it running . Local train museum doing a run.

[@WWIIREBEL]

I have one of these (gave it to my g/f who is also a train buff .) I also have several of the 1947 to 1965 Walther's "Pug" coaches ( 60' wood/metal kits). Recently i received one of their MP-54 MU coaches....still needs to be built.

[@FreihEitner]

Nice find! And good job getting it running again.

[@dbtech7914]

That's crazy! I found one of those in the bottom of a "mystery box" and figured it was a home made project since it was made out of wood. I'm going to have to go back and take a look at it. Good job on the repair as always!!

[@LBSCR-Productions]

ive never seen this class, as i focus on british locomotives in the area around me, and now i love it great video

[@Hammerhead9045]

Great job smt! Love the content! Keep it up dude! Going to a train show soon and watching your stuff only makes me more excited for it!

[@Thematt11]

I'm fairly sure those are circlip pliers with the ends broken off. It's lovely that you've kept them all this time but you'd have an easier time with some needlenoses.

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

I really like the video segments and angles you took them from on your layout of this running.

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

Fantastic video lots of information and very informative and interesting keep up the great work on the locomotive

[@newhavennscale]

Great save, SMT! I also enjoyed the railfanning at the end of the video.

[@johncloar1692]

Thanks Harrison I am 50s model myself, your train runs better than me.

[@RobbiesHobbies512]

Nice restoration love the paint scheme

[@douglasvillerailfan3994]

Its always a good day when we get a restoration video !

[@jacobdorward8864]

I've been following your channel for quite some time SMT, your content is awesome! Learned a lot from your videos, especially on how to service locomotives. My Athearn Blue Boxes run so much better thanks to you!

[@davidkaralus7464]

Love your videos!! That is an old Walthers kit, I also have one of those, as well as one built from a LaBelle kit.

[@XBOXShawn12thman]

I think its beautiful .... What a cool find on Ebay!!! 👍

[@robertcecere9040]

That is a walthers gas electric or doodle bug , i worked on one of those cars a couple of years ago. The front needed a lot of work. I ENJOYED TODAYS PROJECT ALOT.

[@Itsjustme-Justme]

The overall quality of the parts is amazing. That model must have cost a fortune when it was new. Probably there is only a very limited number of these still existing today. I really like its technology and looks. I think it is worth a proper restoration. Careful cleanup of all parts without losing the original paint and then carefully repair with matching paint and where required with remade parts. Did you ever think about starting an online museum with pictures, videos and all sort of information you have about old treasures like that one?

[@Scraghunter]

Get a truck for the back that does pickup on both sides and that will really improve it. Just finished a 53-year-old Riv 0-6-0 conversion to DCC and power pickup all the way through the tender. Remarkable how well that thing runs now.

[@GrumpyFrogProduction]

OMG rough as guts repair or what, circlip pliers and mouse killer soldering iron lol lol lol love these comedy repair videos you do😂😂😂

[@meliketrolleys]

doodlebugs usually just pulled a single car, maybe a baggage, a coach, or a box car. Nice job. Those old pittman open frame motors are bullet proof.

[@stevekovoc3939]

I think the actual doodlebug body and stuff is from an old Walther's kit. I recognize the styling and whatnot. The drive is almost definitely from an old Varney from around the same time. I don't personally think the problem is with the brushes, I think it's just she needs to be run in, although it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to put new brushes in it anyway. Beautiful loco!

[@mynx_uk]

I am most definitly impressed.

[@engineerpat5290]

WELL DONE HARRISON!

[@iannarita9816]

Walthers made a lot of kits during WWII out of nonstrategic materials. Cardboard, wood, pot metal, etc. This looks like one of those kits. They would be sold no trucks, no couplers, for a modeler to finish when materials for those parts became available. After the war was over all kinds of "military surplus" small parts became available. Small motors, fine gears and a plethora of other small machine parts. That I remember reading Walthers made Doodlebug kits thru to the1960's and were still on hobby shop shelves into the1970's. You have a rare find.

[@jerrycurtis98]

Another good episode, but I especially like the video at the end. The closeups and variety were great. Jerry

[@michaelhardeman6004]

Great job SMT Mainline

[@captandysir8670]

Track level video and "drone" shots are great!

[@SMTMainline]

I've been trying to get better at filming those scenes.

[@jcure]

wow, After that I need to get to work. I have a beautiful brass SP doodlebug I bought from a friend. It's supposedly doesn't run, but have not messed with it. I ran across it packed away while moving some stuff around. To run on my layout, it would have to be converted to DCC, but I do have a DC test loop (and a whole second layout) so could play around. It's beautifully detailed model so I would need to be real careful. Thanks for the inspiration. PS, not a locomotive, these self-propelled railcars were considered differently. There was a whole big thing about their development in a recent (I believe) Classic Trains. Anyway, they were not intended to pull other cars; although they often did. The Railroads really overtaxed them in actual service, a testament to the original design.

[@GaryDavis-ir6fh]

as a kid back in the 60s when we went to a Grants Woolworths or any dime store that had toys the first thing i would look for was a toy train, and of coarse i wanted every one i saw! typical kid!

[@3ftsteamrwy12]

Models from the 1940's /50's if intact can be GOOD runners. You need to keep trying for older trains, you do VERY good work.

[@mrdreaded8865]

Hi Harrison, love the doodle bug !

[@SMTMainline]

Right on :)

[@kroy1037]

What a pleasurable video to discover, Harrison, after I had been away for a few weeks. The interurban is a real vintage find, and well worth the amount you paid on eBay and the effort you put into restoring it to running order. As a collector of traction models, I really appreciate the opportunities to see such equipment in operation. I seem to recall that you picked up another vintage streetcar / interurban unit at the OVAR flea market sale a few months ago. Did you ever get it to run? As always, many thanks for an entertaining and very informative interlude that clearly generated a great deal of interest and notable commentary. By the way, I also have a pair of pliers similar to those you inherited from your grandfather. Together with a couple of other prior-generation tools I have, they remain my workbench go-to preference for their reliability in addition to their nostalgic connection to my father.

[@SMTMainline]

The interurban from OVAR only needed a wheel cleaning and some fresh oil to become operational again so I never ended up making a video on it. It's still one of the most unusual finds I've ever seen from one of those flea markets.

[@kroy1037]

@@SMTMainline I agree, Harrison. It was definitely an unusual find. It would be interesting to see you run it on one of your live feeds, so I'll make the request when I catch your next video running trains on your layout. Of course, it would be great if you would bring it the next time you visit the train club so I could see it it three dimensions. Regards, Roy..

[@PDLM1221]

This was real nice , cool train wish I had one, didn’t even know it existed!

[@13thBear]

Good job! Now you can offer your commuters service to and from the city for work!

[@bbtrainproductions1225]

Hey SMT I thought I would let you know but the CP holiday train is coming by my area so I think it’s would probably be coming near you to

[@bbtrainproductions1225]

(It’s 1hour 26 min from me)

[@SMTMainline]

I plan to see it this year in Smiths falls.

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

I am a fan of any type of self-propelled rail motor car probably my two favorite being this one the doodlebug and the later manufactured RDC budd car

[@alanwbelcher]

Great save, Harrison!

[@williamstander4877]

A great subject for a CN repaint.

[@poowg2657]

Ah yes, the old Varney "Namakagon" doodlebug based on the C&NW passenger service that ran in northern Wisconsin. Had a friend back in the '80s that put 2 NWSL power trucks in it and much later a DCC decoder. Be cool to slide in a Wow Sound decoder if one is available.

[@weijingburr2392]

I like the respect you have for these machines, you approach them as a doctor would patients. As one who's faith in humanity is sometimes shaken, you help me gain perspective. The comment about your Grandfather's pliers pretty much says it all, for me, about you and your respect for the accumulated knowledge of humanity. They may be, just machines, but, they are our creations and as such should be treated with respect. Thank you! young man.

[@SMTMainline]

I try my best to bring these things back to working order even when they aren't worth it from a cost perspective.

[@Timerman765]

He's right you don't see a lot of wooden model trains

[@SMTMainline]

They're quite rare now.

[@Timerman765]

Ya that seams about right

[@irenecraggs6123]

nice job looks great still riding the rails

[@stephenhenion8304]

I like the old pliers.. get some oil and 4x steel wool and 10 minutes of clean up... They will look great when you're done!!

[@christophermondone6864]

Hi Harrison, I have one to it belongwd to a dear friend who passed away in 2016, his fremd who bought out his shop a few years befor. I was helping him remodle the shop, he gave it to0 me for helping him. I got it running, it also had a second car not powered, my friend wasa a electritian for lakewanna, I'll send a video at a later date.

[@HotRodRodney25]

Another awesome video SMT

[@mikewilliams8510]

These doodlebug are Always interesting.

[@JohnGordon-x7l]

Another job well done.

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@casstelles]

Cool find on an old Walthers kit. As far as the Varney drive, it may be something that Walthers intended to be used for the kit. It wasn't unusual during this era of model trains to use other manufacture's parts to make a kit powered. Since Varney was a big player in the HO scale world during this timeframe, a Varney drive would make a logical choice.

[@amyreynolds3619]

Southern railway had some version of the doodle bugs too.

[@wjsj69]

Prototypically, doodlebugs only had enough power for themselves with maybe one other car in tow. Not sure if they even had enough air for braking more than that. That's all that was needed on low-traffic branch lines. Yours is a scaled-down overachiever!

[@johnramirez5996]

Another great video. You might want to in the future invest in sonic cleaner. they work great in stripping off yrs of neglect.

[@brandongaines1731]

SMT, that heavyweight observation sure seems to rattle and squeak lol. It sure is nice to hear the story behind those pliers - is that why you still use that old soldering iron, too? When you said that they don't wiggle around like a lot of modern pliers do, I was reminded of what you said earlier in the video about the model - they sure don't make them like that anymore!

[@GaryDavis-ir6fh]

did you ever have a battery op. bump n go floor train? i had a bunch of em as a kid but they are rather hard to find now exept on ebay, and antique stores.

[@josephrandazo2627]

Never fail to amaze me

[@thesheq5023]

I think wrapping those wire connections you made in heat shrink will protect the train a bit more and also eliminate some of the shorts

[@enriquemireles8947]

Good way to see which side is insulated use an ohm meter to check for continuity.

[@sergioarroyoguerrero5434]

I love diesel car. Good job in the repair. I wanna a diesel car in N scale, Kato.

[@tonydewey3023]

I enjoyed the video, maybe wood lazercut locos a thing to come.