History Channel

American Restoration featured several train-related pieces they restored over the course of its 6 “Rick’s Restorations” seasons. A couple episodes even featured trips to the Nevada Northern Railway at East Ely — sadly none of which were available on DVD when I reviewed.

Fortunately, Season One, Episode 4 “Buttered Up” on DVD from 2010 tells the story of turning a junked backyard toy train into a beautifully-renovated masterpiece. [The show takes its name from a movie theatre popcorn machine simultaneously being restored.]

Rick Dale (seen above) spots the locomotive in a pile of junk and buys it (along with two gas nozzles) for $100 bucks from Eric the Picker. Can Rick and the boys turn this rusty, railroad-related relic into a regal ride?

Looks like they did. Here’s a sneak peak at the finished product. Read on for all the juicy details…

Rick’s son Tyler, Picker Eric, and Rick look over the hulk of what appears to be a rusted out toy train. I like Eric’s shirt!

The hood of the locomotive lifts up, revealing an automobile starter motor, cables for a car battery (not included) and other electrical gear. Two sets of trucks with flanged wheels indicate it was meant to run on railroad track of some sort.

A well-lit 3/4 view of the front (before Tyler and Rick haul it away) makes me think it was modeled after an Alco FA type locomotive. Whaddiya think?

Rick calls in Bill from Real Trains (who bears a striking resemblance to my old, childhood hero, Jerry Kramer). Rick asks Bill – “So this is what I got. What is it?”

Starting off with the basics, Bill says the train weighs 89 pounds and can hold a passenger weighing up to 100 pounds. It was intended as a child’s toy for use in the backyard running on hand-laid track. The locomotive came with two gondolas for kids to ride in. Rick will have to make these from scratch.

Here’s where it gets interesting. Bill provides full color prints of the original sweepstakes advertisement and views of the completed train set. An outfit by the name of Doepke Toys built and sold 200 units custom painted like that for the Popsicle Company.

This was a rich kid’s toy. Selling price in 1956 was $225.00 ($2,551.24 in 2024 dollars).

There’s quite a bit on the internet about these trains. Try googling “doepke popsicle red ball express”.

Rick looks over a picture as Bill explains about the track. From an actual set of instructions, it is shown that ANYONE can assemble this track — even June Cleaver in a summer dress. The reality is track assembly is HARD.

Rick is all smiles when he finds out that his $100 purchase will be worth $4,500.00 (restored) to a collector. Stepson Brettley is soon lugging the engine over to be sandblasted down to bare metal.

A blasting we will go, a blasting we will go… The engine shell and a truck assembly get a good gusting of sandstorm.

To save time, Rick purchases a few extra wheelsets and a copious amount of track from Bill at Real Trains.

Kowboy (my favorite curmudgeon on the show) is brought in to help Tyler construct the two gondola cars from bending sheet steel.

Rick and Kowboy do the final assembly of the wood and metal gondolas.

At last, a potential buyer/collector has been found (Hi, Bob!) and it’s time for the reveal.

Son Tyler is just able to fit on the locomotive and carefully rides to glory on the Popsicle Red Ball Express.

Detail shots!

Lifting the hood to see the innards. There’s a battery in there now.

Old and new

You got a deal! After some staged haggling, customer purchased engine, cars and track for $4,000.

Here’s what IMDb has to say about American Restoration – Buttered Up:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1834356/

If you have ANY information about this movie you’d like to share, please contact me at: Lindsay.Korst@gmail.com, or leave a comment.  Thanks and enjoy the blog!

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