Here is a photo of a "wheel stick" in use. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Railroad-Shop-Practice-Book-/360417593088?pt=LH_Defa ultDomain_0 <http://www.ebay.com/itm/Railroad-Shop-Practice-Book-/360417593088?p

Jerry, yes a very sophisticated toolJ Don, thanks for the link to the google book. Unfortunately it appears the library rebound the book and the front cover photo is not included with the google scan.

The book with the cover photo is apparently still available in print http://www.lindsaybks.com/bks11/rrshop/index.html Doug Harding www.iowacentralrr.org

Ed, tractors came in many different sizes. And each manufacture had more than one model at one time. A flatcar load from the factory would be all the same brand and most likely the same model, or a mo

Ed Here is a photo of tractor loads taken at the International Farmall Plant in Rock Island, 1952. http://www.flickr.com/photos/nebbes61/4374215195/sizes/l/in/photostream/ Tractors in wreck http://www

The discussion of tractor loading led a friend to ask me: Is there anything to the story that in 1947 a wreck in the Chicago area changed the loading from across the flat car to in line loading of tra

Appreciate everyone's answers, and especially Charlie in sharing the accident report. Now we know all the details, including the size of the planking used to cover the flatcar deck (wasn't that a ques

Tim, I get the digest version. I am just now reading Richards answer this morning, but I posted my question yesterday after reading Charlie's response in the digest that arrived yesterday afternoon, a

Don, wasn't paper put around doors that like for loads like bulk flour? Ie loads that could not be contaiminated. Doug Harding www.iowacentralrr.org

Mark, the 28 hour law required a 5+ hour rest period after 28 hours in the car. Animals had to be unloaded, feed watered and rested a minimum of 5 hours, unloading and loading was in addition to the 5

Very interesting. Thanks for all the work. I see there was a movement of Military material (in 17 boxcars) to the M&StL at Peoria on Aug 5, 1944. Wondering where this was headed, via the M&StL. There

Weather report was for 32 in Orlando yesterday. Was 64 in Iowa today. Seems like that happens each time I attend. Maybe I'm glad I stayed home this yearJ Looking forward to reports on happenings and f

Rob, on the MSTL yahoo list we have accumulated a lot of material relevant to M&StL freight cars (all steam era as the MSTL disappeared in 1960), which is posted to our list. But if you are not a memb

David, detailed articles about freight cars can still be published, if someone writes them. That is the key, someone has to write them. I think Bill Schaumburg at Railroad Model Craftsman would be one

Elgin Car Shops is Pierre Oliver, an active member of this list. Did a nice presentation on finishing resin cars at Naperville a couple of years ago. And does excellent work. Doug Harding www.iowacent

Jeff & Fenton, I have had very good luck with ModelFlex, after a time of learning how . And my wife loves the lack of odor. I love the easy cleanup. Bruce lists some fine points. Here are a couple mor

Don, if you look in the book Tony cites, p. 180, you will find a photo of a Cudahy reefer with 4 hinges, with a build date of 1925. The car in the photo appears to come as close to the Atlas model, as

I want to know what golf has to do with the UP, Sherman Hill, or for that matter the town of Buford? It would appear that being the sole owner of such a spread (includes 10 acres) between I-80 and the

I believe I have photographic evidence of the captive NYO&W hopper car in the coaling tower at Harriman, taken the last time I visited Sherman Hill. The car was pointed out to me by one of those visit

Jim I have an image of an "Explosives" card that is lettered for the Minneapolis & St Louis. So it would appear some railroads had their own cards printed. I also have an image of several cards that a