HO scale 4-12-12-6 articulated---in gold...

From the January '73 Model Railroader magazine, page 43. It reads;

"Except for the motor and eight helical gears, this 1:87 free-lance 4-12-12-6 locomotive was crafted entirely in 18-karat gold by R Damiano of Milan, Italy. The value of the gold alone is more than $2200; including some 3500 hours of construction, the builder values the model at $25,000. The design somewhat follows Union Pacific RR."







It's been 35 years, I wonder what ever became of it.