I don't usually actively seek commissions, though I don't say no if they come my way. In this case, I saw a post on the local Shedders & Fixers Facebook page (they happen to be based next door to me), asking if they could make a wooden train for a child's Christmas present, but as it happened they didn't have the capacity at that time. For some reason this tugged at me, so I contacted the lady (whom I shall call K) who had made the request and said that I may be able to help. K told me that she wanted to give it to her grandson as a Christmas present.
To cut a long story short, I started work on some drawings (well, sketches anyway) and came up with an idea, based on some suggested dimensions provided by K, then ordered in some hardwood. The train and carriage chassis' are made from sapele, the cab, tender and carriage bodywork and wheels from beech, and the boiler from oak, these being what I could get hold of in reasonable sizes at short notice. The funnel is from an unidentified pen blank that I already had in my stock. I have absolutely no idea what it is, but it has some striking colour and figure.
The beech was supplied in two 4 inch by 12 inch spindle blanks. Clearly I wasn't going to be turning from them, the plan being to slice the body panels directly from the blank. It was at this point I found that my bandsaw didn't have the capacity to take a 4x4 lump of wood! What to do? Well, obviously I tucked it under my arm and trotted round to the Shedders and Fixers, and asked if they had a suitable bandsaw I could borrow. I explained the story and they were delighted to help, which was really nice of them. Donation made, I came home with some resized beech which was ready for me to cut and dimension. Lovely!
Eighteen wheels. On a lathe. I'll just leave that there!
The whole train has been sealed and finished with a child-safe, food-safe lacquer and will, I hope, last many years.
I must say I enjoyed making this, though it took longer than I planned due to family members getting Covid half way through and requiring a lot of care and time away from the workshop. I am happy to report that everyone is now testing negative, though still recovering and slowly getting better.
A big shout out to the Wisbech Shedders & Fixers without whom this project would have stalled. Guys and girls, you are brilliant! The most important thing, though, is that K is absolutely delighted with the finished project and I think there is going to be a very happy little boy when he finds out what is under the tree on Christmas morning!
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