When the town Christmas tree arrives on the morning train from the San Gabriel tree farm, it is a joyous time indeed. Few have shown up yet but the good news will spread quickly. If the townsfolk are lucky enough, they just might catch a glimpse of a special visitor on his John Deere tractor meeting the arriving conifer.

After having the opportunity to run John Buckwalter’s beautiful 2-1/2″ scale, 7-1/2″ gauge, 20-ton, 2-cylinder live steam Shay, I decided to build one too. Once I got it in my head that this was going to happen, I bought the plans and castings from John and began the search for the machinery to build the locomotive.

Read my ongoing build blog here: StockbridgeLocomotiveWorks