Puffy

'' This article discusses Puffy as he will appear in American Rail in the 2013 setting. There will be outdated information on this page. Information will be added as the story of American Rail progresses. ''

Puffy, aka Tarantula and William S. Davis is a character appearing in American Rail. He is a ten-wheeler built for the Southern Pacific Railroad and is currently running on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad.

Bio
Puffy was built in 1896 for the Southern Pacific Railroad. After decades of service, he was transferred to the Southern Pacific's Fire Train, and for many years spent his summers on sidings awaiting the call to action. When diesel traction began taking over, he was bought by a private investor who watned to use him for excursion services, though these lpans never became a reality. He finally ran once more in the 1970s as Texas State Railroad No. 200. In the 1980s, the Fort Worth and Western Railroad purchased him for their Tarantula Train excursions, and in 2005 was transferred to the city of Grapevine and lettered for the Grapevine Vintage Railroad.

His name is an enigma. His friends on the Southern Pacific called him... . Later, on the Fort Worth and Western, most simply referred to him by the service he pulled (the Tarantula Train) but the crews soon nicknamed him "Puffy." This nickname stuck, and this is what most call him, though now he carries the name William S. Davis on his cab.

Basis
Puffy is based on the real No. 2248, currently owned by the real Grapevine Vintage Railroad. As of 2017, he is undergoing overhaul, but is estimated to be ready by the end of the summer.

Livery
Puffy is painted in a light blue with a red cab and lettering & black wheels. "William S. Davis" is painted under his number on his cab.

Trivia

 * Puffy currently runs under his original number, 2248.
 * William S. Davis was instrumental in bringing the Tarantula Train into service, thus why Puffy now carries his name.