A History of #478

As a 3rd grader in 1977 Stephen Balkum had become frustrated that his grandfather, John Enders, wouldn’t let him run his steam engine. Conveniently, he was given a school assignment to write a letter. Stephen decided to write a letter to his grandfather to ask him to build a locomotive he could run. The letter included sketches of a diesel and its controls.

Several months later, John wrote a letter to Stephen. The letter described a diesel he had just completed in April 1978, an RS unit numbered 478. The letter included photos and a drawing of the controls.

The RS unit was powered by two 1/4 hp aircraft electric motors energized by a generator on a 7 hp gas engine. It was a true gas electric locomotive. The body was wooden. The RS model with its cab located between the trucks was the ideal position for the gas engine. The frame was angle iron recycled from old bed frames. This locomotive could pull anything.

The initial livery was a solid blue with an Austin and Texas Central on the hood and 478 on the cab and front. In the early 1980s John repainted it in Santa Fe blue and yellow warbonnet.

Forward and reverse were controlled by a high amperage switch. This turned out to be the weak point of the design. Despite warnings from John, operators would throw the switch at too high an engine rpm. This would cause an arc in the switch and burn it up.

In the early 1990s having replaced too many switches at $75 each, John and his son Carroll Enders converted #478 to gas hydraulic. This involved shortening the frame and moving the engine to the rear. A new metal body was built as a SW model. It was painted navy blue with white striping at the front and down the length of the frame. The gear boxes on each truck are original.

After John passed away, #478 transferred to his daughter, Carolyn Balkum, and her Katy and Texas RR. Her brother Carroll repainted it red with similar white striping. Stephen provided new vinyl lettering. This is its current livery.

#478 is stored at the Houston Area Live Steamers track where Carolyn maintains her charter membership. Stephen maintains the diesel and regularly runs it at live steam meets at HALS. In 2021 Stephen even took #478 on a tour of the SWLS meets.