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Fantasy Portable Layout in N-Scale - Got Dinosaurs?		How to Wire Two Marx Motors to One Reverse Unit

Critter Gallery

Scale Models based on the small diesel switchers from

the H K Porter Company, Davenport, Plymouth and others

Small switchers powered by internal combustion engines are often called "critters" in the commercail press. I suppose some hobbyists and rail fans do so as well and have adopted the name. Some of the models pictured here are based on general design concepts rather than any specific prototype. Contributor Brad Smith has pointed out that they all have front radiators and would therefore not really require roof fans. Athearn used some of the designs from their larger EMD diesel switchers for the elements on the tops of the hoods. Lionel carried that forward for their HO Husky locos since those models were made from modified Athearn molds. Then, Lionel used very similar architecture on their O-Scale critters. The very slightly larger Marx shells also borrowed some of the concepts including two fans and the front radiator. Since the Model Power shells used the Marx molds, we see a lot of similarity among all of these models.

Athearn
Custom decorated Hustler - Left Side	Silver Hustler Number 58	Yellow Hustler Number 60
Custom decorated Hustler - Nose This image shows the early dummy headlight housing. It is partly above the top of the hood and is not punched through into the motor area.	Custom decorated Hustler - Right Side	Custom decorated Hustler - Rear showing difficult entry for the operators
Athearn Hustler Black Number 56	Athearn Hustler Black Number 56 w/custom painted Window Shade	Athearn Hustler Red 57
George Bollinger: Here is my favorite Hustler with the snow plow accessory	The very scarce Allied Chemical Hustler. Special run	George Bollinger: Original Hustler Yellow Box
Randy Volskay: Here is the later bronze Hustler.	Glenn Sanders 6101 Yellow Box Label	Athearn Hustler in Rio Grande Livery. To my knowledge, this scheme was the only one Athearn made with a prototype railroad name, other than special runs for fund raising.
Athearn Original Underside - Plain	Athearn Underside With Letters	Athearn Underside - Later
Van B Campbell: Custom Switcher set for a tie treatment plant on my layout!	Van Campbell Custom Switcher pair, another view
Custom Made Hustler Calf and Cow		Mike Sloane made this pair. The electrical systems are interconnected so that the combination has all-wheel pickup. His original intent was to complete the interior of the one with the cab - I guess that is the Cow part.
Custom Made Switcher		Jerry Cramer: It’s done. I kit bashed Two Athearn Hustlers together to make my fantasy center cab. It is mounted on an Athearn Blue Box SW1200.
Custom Made Double Hustler Switcher	‎PJ Kubiak posted these pix on Budget Model Railroading: FeF this is a blue box 'special' built by my long past friend Tom Mohn of Ardmore, PA. 2 Hustlers on a switcher frame. He put this together in '79 or '80	Custom Made Double Hustler Switcher

Lionel
Lionel M ST L w/o snowplow number 0055	Dust is free - horns are missing If you know of a source of the metal Lionel horns in HO size, please contact me and let me know. PS Seller closeouttrains1 on eBay has them.	Shows the frame from Athearn, motor from (perhaps) Mantua and the plastic label plate. This is a later version when the motor had gears rather than neoprene belts.
Lionel Husky Union Pacific number 0057	Note the details that match the Athearn shell	Lionel Husky Nose - A Little Worse for Wear
Lionel Husky Rock Island number 0058	Underside Missing the Lionel Nameplate	Lionel Rock Island Nose
Lionel Husky 0059 USAF Minuteman	The other side of a Minuteman

Marx
Some of the Marx Versions on the Number 10 Industrial Switcher There are more including a gray number 10 and a blue & gray number 10 Also, there were three produced inspired by prototype livery
For more information visit Steve Winter's handy reference for Marx Trains - especially HO-Scale
Marx New Haven variety 1 number 1621	Marx New Haven variety 2 number 1621	Marx Rock Island number 1962
Marx Blue and Gray from Steve Winter's Site	Marx Blue number 10	Marx Green number 10
Marx Bottom - View of Mechanism

Model Power
Model Power Southern Railway 6707	Model Power Nose - Good match for Marx	Model Power Union Pacific number 96713 w/Cab 270
Model Power Chessie System	Model Power Nose - Chessie System	Model Power bottom view of the Mechanism
Model Power Models	Packages - Two Styles	Model Power Burlington Northern 6706
Model Power BN	Model Power Pennsylvania 96709	Model Power Pennsy
Model Power Southern Pacific 6708	Model Power 6705 Santa Fe
Model Power Amtrak 6711	Model Power Amtrak w/knuckle couplers	Model Power The backside of Amtrak
Model Power Canadian National	Model Power CN Front Grille	Model Power CN Safety Orange Back

Putt Trains - S-Scale
From the collection of Bruce Weidner Side view with a clear shot of the roof - used by permission -	From the collection of Bruce Weidner The two locos in the background are modern production American Flyer by Lionel - Pacific and Mikado - used by permission -	From the collection of Bruce Weidner Nose Detail - Bruce added the engineer- used by permission -
From the collection of Dean Hall Putt Critter Right Side View - used by permission -	From the collection of Dean Hall Putt Critter 3/4 view - used by permission -	From the collection of Dean Hall underside view showing the drive mechanism - used by permission -
From the collection of Dean Hall Putt Critter Top View Horns and Stacks - used by permission - From the collection of Dean Hall Putt Critter Rear 3/4 View - used by permission -