The Alville & Captown Railroad
The Weinermobile

My wife just happens to be a Weinermobile fan so I decided to make one for her for a Christmas present. There are several different sizes of Weinermobiles available ranging from a little whistle to a peddle car for little kids. The size I got is about 13 inches long and actually is a coin bank. The is a 9 inch version that also is a bank. A little hunting on eBay and I found one and bought it. Search for them as "weinermobile" and "weiner mobile". Got mine for less than 15$.

The conversion to a powered railroad machine was fairly easy. The original wheels and chassis were removed. If the Weinermobile runs on track that has no switches or crossing they can be reinstalled. A new chassis was made from tempered hardboard. The power truck is the one Aristocraft uses in their RS-3s and some other locomotives (ART29351). I drilled holes in the front and installed LEDs for head lights and a pair of red ones for tail lights. A small voltage regulator was assembled to provide a constant voltage for the lights. The tail lights go on when it runs in reverse.

A small Weinermobile bank was purchased the following year. It was equipped with train wheels. This model has a tab with a hole in it for a string so it may be used as a pull toy. I added a "trailer hitch" to the big Weinermobile and made a wire draw bar to pull the little one.

My thanks to whomever made the Weinermobile that I saw at Trainfest. My wife's weinermobile was a hit at all the train shows we have taken it too. It seems that everyone recognizes it. Lots of squeels of delight when a little one spots it.

• Wikipedia
  
• Oscar Mayer's web site