I am a conductor (CN) who regularly makes brake tests. And I must differ wtih you in regards to the brake cylinder always pointing toward the B end of a car. While they are not steam era, I

Though seldom modeled, this was common practice on most railroads for house cars, perhaps in part because cars were often loaded so that they could be unloaded only from one or another side. The "R"

Brian Chapman asked about HO coupler pocket standards. The NMRA has a coupler height standard (S-2, .391" to the center of the knuckle for HO) and a recommended practice for coupler boxes (RP-22,

The pockets are designed to an NMRA standard which has been around a long time and all couplers are designed to fit that NMRA standard pocket. Jack Burgess www.yosemitevalleyrr.com

Marty McGuirk wrote: Marty, In the earliest ORER I have the November 1925 issue, the SNE is not mentioned nor does it seem to be listed in All Westerfield's October 1919 ORER Disk. In the early

Mike, I can't speak for other roads, but the Pennsy did the same thing - perhaps to ID which side to unload from or perhaps to keep track of the door seals. Freight cars which unload from the

I've been studying the coupler pockets on models made by several manufacturers. I hope I might get a bit of information here about them. Basically, it appears, there are two choices available

I noticed a new book on reefers, focused on the 1950, 60's and 70's, by Gene Green at the hobby shop Sunday. It was shrink wrapped so I did not get a look but ordered one from my favorite book

Check out page 61 of the November issue of Model Railroader. There are three cars in a string without platforms on at least the photographer's side. Also of note is one of the cars has a ladder with

UP, perhaps realizing that some modelers in the future would either not be able to tell the difference between left or right or not be able to determine where the brake wheel is, benevolently

Andy Sperandeo wrote: Andy, Since Bill Darnaby's List includes only movements from the Swift operation in Frankfort, your answer should restrict itself to movements from that Swift plant in January

Yes when you tell someone how to do something you must make sure what you say will not get them hurt. I worked in a hardware store in NJ. People would come in and ask how to change a light switch.

so far the only one on the present market is a Sn3 one from Cimarron Model Works. Rio Grande Models is working on a HOn3 version and maybe a standard gauge version. eric

Larry Jackman said: Excellent point, Larry <LOL>. Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA 2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com (510)

Ed Mines wrote: Ed, you must have never seen either my or Richard Hendrickson's clinics on tank cars, nor my clinic on SP freight cars. But never fear, there will be PLENTY of such photos in my

Ben and Bruce, Thanks for the info! One note: I messed up; the new Kadee products are decals, not transfers. Good to see someone picking up the potential slack in the supply. Hope that they

Just back from the Central Vermont Ry convention where a good time was held by all (or at least me, everyone else seems to have had a good time . . .) I have a couple of questions that I would like

I can't recall seeing a photo of a tank car without a ladder. Photos of these cars would make a good feature in Ed Hawkins' publication, or Ted Culotta's (if it ever sees the light of day)or a book

Okay, here's the answer to the all-important question of which Santa Fe boxcars were carrying beans and bean meal for the Nickel Plate in 1948: ATSF 210497, class Bx11, 40-foot single-sheathed car

When I was working agency relief on the ICRR in 1967-1968 there was a (I think daily) grain door report the agent filled out. You kept track of the grain doors or had a bite taken out of your