Brickworld is soon upon us and I’v been working on a little project for the charity auction this year to settle a promise I made in 2019. And to explain, we’ll need to back up a little bit to 2015.

The Esther Walner Memorial Charity Fundraiser

Each year Brickworld attendees rally together to participate in what has become an exciting and unforgettable event. The Esther Walner Memorial Charity Fundraiser features unique items donated by individuals, groups and companies to help raise money for charity. Proceeds benefit several deserving charitable organizations, including Creations for Charity, Riley Children’s Hospital, FIRST LEGO League, and the Make a Wish Foundation. Approximately 90% of the raised monies will go to these charities. Brickworld supports other opportunities to help kids with the remaining monies. 100% of the money is donated each year.

A Challenge Between Train Builders Begins

In 2015, Anthony Sava set off a chain of events with the donation of a custom built, updated version of his American “Standard” 4-4-0 locomotive, along with decorative display base. Custom models usually generate a lot of interest at the auction, and Tony’s 4-4-0 was no exception. All of us in the train community there at Brickworld that year were speculating on how much the little “American” would bring. There was a huge excitement in the air. 

As the 4-4-0 came up to the auction block, several of us train builders, including Tony and I, were sitting together in the crowd. Just before the bidding started, Tony turned to me and issued a challenge. If his model went for over $400, then I would donate a model to next year’s auction. I couldn’t back down from that challenge and agreed.

When the bidding had ended, the 4-4-0 had landed a sale price of $550.00, a full $150 above the mark set in Tony’s challenge. My fate was sealed, at the auction the following year, one of my models would be going up for sale.

The Mikado

So as Brickworld 2016 came, I decided to send off one my locomotives from my existing fleet for auction: my Baltimore & Ohio USRA Light Mikado. I chose this model because it was reliable, sturdy, and had classic locomotive styling. It was a good runner too. All things I felt would make it a good candidate to find a new home.

Tony, not being one to miss a good opportunity for some fun, decided to up the ante a little more for the auction. His proclamation was as follows.

“If this model goes for $1,000.00 or more at auction, I, Tony Sava, will build a custom 8-wide Caboose based on a Texas prototype and gift it to Cale Leiphart. 

Furthermore, if the model goes for $1,000.00 or more I will, publicly, in front of all gathered at the PennLUG/TBRR layout at Brickworld, bow to Cale Leiphart and declare him the better train builder.

Further, furthermore, should this model go for $1,000.00 or more, I will build a railcar with a billboard stating Cale Leiphart is a better train builder, and will run it at every Texas Brick Railroad display until Brickworld 2017, including the upcoming Brick Fiesta 2016.”

Not only did my Mikado bring $1,000 at the auction, it hammered home at an amazing $2050. And true to his word, Tony made good on his wager, I even got that caboose after a long delay. It was totally worth the wait though.

Anthony Takes Back the Title

Now we jump ahead to 2019. Tony is once again generously donated a model of his own design to Brickworld’s Esther Walner Memorial Charity Fundraiser. The model this time was an AB set of his fantastic Santa Fe F7’s.

I could not let a good opportunity to challenge Tony pass by, so I threw down the gauntlet. My challenge was as follows.

If Tony Sava’s Santa Fe F7 set could reach the $1,000 mark that he set for me in 2016, I would build a custom caboose based on a Pennsylvania prototype, and gift it to him.

Furthermore, If the F7’s sold for $1,000 or more, I Cale Leiphart would donate a new custom locomotive of my own design to the Brickworld 2020 Charity Auction.

Further, furthermore, If Tony’s models can beat the $2050 price raised by my Mikado in 2016, I would, publicly, in front of all gathered at the LGMS layout at Brickworld, bow to Tony Sava and declare him the better train builder.

Furthermost, if Tony’s Santa Fe F7 set sold for more than my Mikado did in 2016 at auction, in addition to the aforementioned custom locomotive, I Cale Leiphart would build a full train for said locomotive to pull, to be donated to the Brickworld charity auction.

The challenge was on, and Tony’s models smashed it. Anthony’s Santa Fe F7 set brought an amazing $2700 at the auction, the highest item of the night. What had I done?

My challenge was clear, I was donating a whole train to the auction the following year. Tony is still waiting on that caboose, but that’s ok, I haven’t forgoten, and he did make me wait a bit for mine so it’s all fair.

A New Challenger Appears

So a global pandemic called Brickworld 2020 and 2021, and some other circumstances prevented me from building a train for 2022. But despite my failure, there was another epic train model entered in the 2022 Brickworld Charity Auction. Rob Hendrix of Lifelites designed a single truck Shay locomotive and 3D printed the model at 400% scale.

Robs not so tiny Tiny Shay brought a crazy $3,4500 at the auction. Complete blowing away both Tony’s and my previous high marks. I was impressed, and also determined. I was determined to beat my good friend Rob and take the title back.

It’s Time to Sell a Train

I’m now less than two weeks away from doing the craziest thing I’ve ever done for charity. I’m going to sell a complete, working, highly detail LEGO model train of my own design at the 2023 Brickworld Esther Walner Memorial Charity Fundraiser.

So here is my plan.

To start things out we have have a steam locomotive and three cars for the regular train. Built to 1:48th scale (8 wide) this Illinois Central freight train is ready to run on your home or club train layout.

The locomotive is an authentic recreation of Illinois Central locomotive no. 790, a 2-8-0 steam freight locomotive now preserved at Steamtown National Historic Park. The locomotive model uses a Power Functions L motor to drive the drivers and features many custom parts. And there may be a surprise or two thrown in, you’ll just have to wait and see.

The caboose is a model of an Illinois Central wood side Baggage Caboose in its late steam era paint scheme.

The boxcar is a Pullman PS-1 40ft car lettered for the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railway (also known as the Monon). This is an new and improved version of my old design for this car. The flat car is a Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific AAR 53ft car with Caterpillar tractor load. Also new and improved from my previous design.

But wait, there’s more!

I don’t want to just beat Tony’s F7s, I don’t want to just match Rob’s overgrown Tiny Shay, I want a grand slam. I want to set records and have a heck of a story to tell.

To do this, I’m bringing in some help from my friends. To help set a record, I have three mystery bonus cars to add to the auction. Glenn Holland, Scott Roys, and Conrad Schlenker have each designed and generously donated a car for the auction train. What cars you ask? Well they are going to be kept secret until the auction, but trust me, they are awesome and you will want them. Here is how this is going to work.

Once the auction price hits $2700 (Tony’s F7s price from 2019), we will add on one of the special cars to the train. If the auction price hits $3400 (Rob’s Loco from last year) we will add a second bonus car. If it hopefully reaches $3600 (the record from what I’m told for any item at the Brickworld Charity Auction) we add the final car. If any of the bonus goals are not met, those cars will get auctioned off individually.

And that’s how you do crazy auction things.

Thank You to these Sponsors

Scott Hoffmeyer of Bricktracks will be donating a full circle of R104 Curve track to go with the train set.

Andy Mollmann of OKBrickworks is donating all the decal printing for these models.

Rob Hendrix of Lifelites has donated the 3D printed drivers for the locomotive, and other miscellaneous 3D printed parts for the build.

Final Thoughts Before the Big Event

It is just crazy for me to comprehend that I’m actually doing this. But it is the thrill of the challenge, and the camaraderie of friends engaging in fun rivalry that brings me here. And it’s for an awesome cause. I never been able to bid at the auctions like some out there, my budget is smaller than my dreams. But one thing I can do is build, and I’ve been accused of being an ok train builder. I may not have the paycheck to buy at the auction, so this is how I can give back.

I really hope this train brings a crazy price at auction. Not for my ego, but because it is going to help children’s charities. Helping kids is the greatest reward here. So if you can be there at the auction, bid generously, it’s for the children.

Thank you, and see you at Brickworld.