I find the time I spend cleaning and lubricating a locomotive to be just as enjoyable as running it. Particularly in a case like yours it is a way of being in touch again with your grandfather. I have a little 3/4” scale locomotive built by my late good friend George Murray from Connecticut. As I sit alongside it cleaning and oiling around, I remember all of the good times and live steam chats we had together.Mjordan wrote: ↑Wed Nov 24, 2021 11:54 am Thank you, there was a lot of my grandfathers life put into this engine.
It usually takes me a couple hours cleaning the outside of the engine of all the coal ash and such. And about another hour to drop the ash pan, open the smoke box door and brush out the flies. But to me it’s worth it every time to make sure she shines at the start of every steam up.
Keith