Dennis Storzek wrote: Tony replied: This is an interesting point, Dennis. I've routinely looked at freight car photos with this subject in mind (among lots of others of course), and I have

Most extant M&StL car cards show reweighs by giving weight, month and year and railroad but not shop location or symbol. Darn! Almost useful information. My memory of the cards is that most, if not

Dennis Storzek wrote: This is an interesting point, Dennis. I've routinely looked at freight car photos with this subject in mind (among lots of others of course), and I have the IMPRESSION

Dennis Storzek writes: "Oil was routinely sprayed on track during the steam era to kill vegetation, which in itself was a greater fire hazard than the small amount of oil." Perhaps so. And, I have

It appears that the focal length of the lens was what could be considered a mild telephoto; all the cars are foreshortened and that accentuates the bow. What is more interesting to me is the color

Oil was routinely sprayed on track during the steam era to kill vegetation, which in itself was a greater fire hazard than the small amount of oil. Dennis

Tim, It would seem that the simple solution would be to look the symbols up

Friction bearings required lots of oil. I can remember early in my career barrels of journal oil being distributed across the yard, with car inspectors dispatched to insure each journal was filled

That all being said, you'd think the repack data was the freshest painted item on the car.... Jerry Glow

Brian Carlson notes: The funny part of this is that it was true...although the dirt/sand covered the entire bottom of the side...for awhile. I noticed in some steam era videos that the ballast was

Tony, I couldn't agree more, like the friction bearing/Bettendorf issues.   Rich Christie

Since I model ca approx 1953, I usually do shop dates accordingly. Since most of my decals are printed to orders, I can change a few things for extra fare. It's going to be a waste for repaints, but

Both comments are correct and I fixed the locations in my illustration. Of course, placement on the model is up to your info and photo you're following. BTW the "Flour Loading" stencil to the left of

Mike Brock wrote: A perfect opportunity for an easy summer project, Mike. Overpaint those pesky dirty reweigh areas and fix 'em with Champ or Sunshine decals. Easy to do, looks great, AND it's

Mike: You need to get one of those History channel or Discovery Channel shows that investigate UFO's and other strange phenomena. Maybe you have some strange energy vortex down there, it might also

Brian Carlson says: I have noticed a rather strange phenomenon apparently associated with cars traveling over Sherman Hill and possibly other areas in southern Wyoming. The reweigh dates seem to get

Jerry, From photos I have, all pre-"Main Line of Mid-America" cars, plus most Main Line slogan cars with lines above and below the reporting mark and car number, indeed do have the Illinois

Tim; Read the information in the Champ packs. All the RR covered in the pack are listed with their symbols. You are correct the specific location isn't given but if I want to know I ask the list.

I think most rolling stock has some amount of camber that can be seen best when the cars are empty. I recall a few years ago when Walthers produced some correctly bowed Amtrak passenger cars

If you say so Richard, then I believe you. But since the dates and symbols come in separate packages, and the symbols are simply a jumble with no identification about which railroad uses which (except