Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

A huge thank you goes out to a forum member here for the donation of a pair of Bowman 234's to my friend and myself for our new tinplate group and layout we are planning to display in the near future.  My friend chose the red LMS engine(still needs a tender, so I am hunting for him) to pull his Hogwarts train.  The LNER will stay at my place and join my old BL Super E.  I got the LNER running both on blocks and a short and very fast run(on 5 wicks, I have now capped the front 2 wicks to slow her a bit). The Crimson LMS will get its track test tomorrow, it ran great on the blocks.   Both are missing the oiling felts that wrap around the rods, is there a hack or a replacement for them?   While not the most pleasing engine design, they are one powerful beast!  Gonna have to use a length of chain between the tender and cars, these really are gauge 1 on O gauge track.  Its a shame the original Bowman coaches are so hard to find.    Thanks again to the forum member, my friend is super excited, once I track test his, I will send it on to him as he lives a couple hours from my place.  Our first loose lay train layout will be at the Danville, Indiana show this coming November.     Mike and Anthony.