We attempted the SAME thing later that morning. The Verdi Bird is long gone but I STILL have that ENTIRE train and track.....minus the Engine. I think I traded that in at our local Hobby Shop in the late 70s. I would later get another layout (Tyco Figure 8 with trestle) and buy other stuff. I need to drag it all out and set it up on the Den floor. Our cats would LOVE that! LOL