Jim, Very beautiful stories and facts and history. Wish I could have been there too. Never got to work for a RR but applied to the SP twice. Always missed their hiring dates. Thanks for all the detail

A few days ago there was a discussion about the purpose of ribbed back wheels, and the answer was the "ribs" were there for cooling during forming - casting of the iron wheels. But, when did we see ri

Sorry Tony about not telling the strengthening part about the ribbed wheels as I remember discussed. But John Sykes input about their AAR 1968 cut-off date in interchange would mean that in 1950 (my m

I have an unpainted brass car that I've had for a few years and I'm getting around to painting it. It's been quite a while since I painted a brass car. Wondering what are the best current methods? In

Schuyler, thanks for the response. Found it new & interesting about etching with vinegar & salt. What kind of vinegar? (Type of salt = sodium chloride / "table salt"?) Sounds like this replaces having

Googled the following for all list chemists: Vinegar consists of acetic acid (CH3COOH), water and trace amounts of other chemicals, which may include flavorings. The concentration of the acetic acid i

Thanks everybody for the wonderful in-depth info on painting brass. My main concern is adherence of the paint especially on handrails & corners of parts. Grit-blasting down to clean brass and/or etchi

I was told that it has to do with Scalecoat (maybe all other paints ?) having to pay an import fee to Texas for "toxic" materials? This is hearsay, but my hobby shop told me this. Scalecoat didn't pay

Early form of local-industry-owned switch-engine. Could be a "Teamster Union" clarification needed here. Paul Hillman

Ben, Thanks for the link to Micro-Scale. While on their page I was looking at their adhesives. Could you help explain the meaning of their description for their MB-52 ? (highlighted in red & underline

My local hobby shop guru told me about "Slick 50 - One Lube", that it soaks into metal pores and is VERY long lasting with very low friction. He recommends completely cleaning a locomotive's gear-trai

Yeah, like I prefer caboose over "way car" and all the other terms. Is "caboose" an official term, or is another name more "official"? I don't care. They are all cabooses to me. Some call them cabeese

Thanks Mike. I feel much better. Paul Hillman

Here! Here! Mike. Well said, my man!!! Paul Hillman

Jack, Wonder what they were called when they were stub-type? (No points) Stub-switches or stub-turnouts. Paul Hillman

And NYC called their 4-8-4 "Niagara" Paul Hillman

In searching this list's archives it appears that the Bowser PRR H30 Covered Hopper is an accurate model, but what was their paint scheme for 1950? Bowser shows 1935 then 1962 schemes, and later ones.

Thanks Brian - Paul Hillman

Has it ever been answered if these other co.'s rivets are 3D like Archer, or 2D decals? I've read these many messages but don't recall that being answered. Paul Hillman

My question about the rivets is because Archer's patterns don't fit what I'm trying to build, but MM & MS patterns seem to. Thus, if MM or MS are 3D then I could invest in them. My local hobby shops d