Actually Jim you can still "stringline" your train on a flat layout. Free rolling cars produce less drag and are much less likely to do that, regardless of the amount of power up front. Another

Rob I have used Plano running boards for coil steel cars (running along the outside of the car) and these are supported only by short struts. But they are quite stiff in place and have no brass

Great story, Mike! Long ago I decided the best model railroad for me is more or less FLAT. After all, we compress horizontal distances so why not vertical distances? Tim O'Connor to line the

Bill Schneider writes: "The end result? I now have the majority of my fleet that can no longer be spotted on several of my spurs because they are on a slight downgrade and the car just refuses to

I'm building some very delicate HO tank car frames (using some 3d printed parts) and hoping the running boards will add additional structural integrity - particularly to the angle iron style running

Armand, I guess it's because I'm from the lost/left coast ... I figure if I don't need two 6-axle diesels to push it downhill it's "free rolling" ... ;-) Actually - the era/theme of your layout

Earl, I am glad to hear that Jerry is okay but I guess you and I are in the same boat. I have sent several emails that continue to go unanswered. None of these have been abusive, just asking for

Group, I am sorry for the off topic post, but I ask your brief indulgence with my request. I have recently purchased an HO scale Diamond Scale CT-406 200 ton steel Ogle coaling tower kit, but it

Touché! Seriously, when I started my layout my little Kato NW2 struggled to pull 6-8 cars up the helix. I went on a major wheel replacement program using Branchline, Reboxx and IM wheels, but all

Ok, I'll qualify my remarks to say that if you can't lay level track, stick with Kadee's old metal trucks. You can put a car on a 2% grade with those, and it will stay put. Tim

________________________________________ I have a drawing of a T&P bunkerless refrigerator car presumably from a book of T&P equipment drawings. I came across the drawing in 1999 while researching

Gentleman Please pass this along to other you know In "O" scale! Once again our Swap meet & Train show is fast approaching. This is for all you "O" On3 On30 p48 and high rail Modelers. If your

Tim, I’m with Bruce. I spent quite a while with truck reamers and various wheelsets and sideframes trying to get the best rolling performance from my cars because of the limitations imposed by my

Thanks Tim.Guess I need to build one.Any question about the degree of lateral movement?I have replaced the trucks and wheels on all but a few of my brass rolling stock.Unfortunately some of the nicest

Northwest Short Line has a wide variety of metric screws in different lengths and materials. http://nwsl.com/ Scott Haycock Modeling Tarheel country in the Land of Enchantm ent

Anal?Thanks Bruce.Armand Premo :-))

Bruce, it's not at all that simple. I have tested hundreds of cars, and there is a WIDE RANGE of performance. Not all wheels work optimally in every sideframe; there are definitely differences in

Armand I have a 4' slope (raised 1") with an 8' runout. Each 1' interval is marked . Cars with extremely free rolling trucks willl hit the 7' or 8' mark, or very occasionally, go further. Good

Armand, Borrowing a phrase from one of my other hobbies, "relax, don't worry, have a homebrew". I'm not at all sure why you need worry about this unless they are really grossly different. In that

I was recently building some IM tank cars based upon the Grace Car Lines info and decals provided by Martin at a recent Naperville.  In both kits the support brackets for the dome walkway had not