"Rescued Micheline"

Thanks to Carl for putting my Railcar as the heading pic - first time I've had that honour!

I found this a "bourse d'echanges" (also in Confolens - see other thread!)

It's "naive" african model of the Michelin railcar which the Michelin company rescued from Madagascar and restored for its own museum. The actual railcar did run on the Baie de Somme after being repatriated to France, but I don't think it's operational now. It's literally made of painted old tin cans. For a short second of time, I thought it might be motorisable, but it's actually quite small - somewhere between 0 and 1, although the track gauge is 40mm. The wheels are actually soldered to the track. A shame to spoil it, so I've decided it's just a collector's item: unique, I think and only 20 Euros!

It is a naive model but it does capture the character of the real thing and it's got the right number of wheels. I like it!

There are still 2 in Madagascar so I believe that are used for tourists.
Madagascar Micheline

Great little model Phil. Also nice link Carl, I never realised that Madagscar had a railway (you never see it on David attenborough programmes!). The journey itinary sounds fantastic!!

mikey

Very nice railcar!
It's amazing to see what beautiful things can be made from old cans.