Tim, good question and one I cannot answer. Steve was asking about insulated boxcars, I can not imagine where Accurail got the idea it was a reefer. Doug Harding www.iowacentralrr.org

Charles interesting reading. As always excellent research. I do wonder about the intended use of the blueberries in the loads. I question your idea the blueberries were destined for Griffin-Touhey. I

I doubt those are cucumbers in the hopper car. Cucumbers were not transported in a “dry” condition. The process of making pickles begins with collection the cucumbers from the field and getting them i

Denny I recall reading years ago how Malcom Furlow keep a box of dirt handy for just the job you mentioned. He would drop the vehicle in the box, roll it around a few times, and it was weathered. If y

The Pittsburg area had a number of glass manufactures. My wife collects Depression Glass and several of the patterns she likes came from glass companies in the Pittsburg area. It could be the car is l

My understanding is the CV car is 1’ too wide, designed this way to accommodate the too wide trucks and have the car look right with proper overhang sitting on HO trucks. To narrow the car requires re

Yes, sand, 1” or more, some railroads specified 2-4”. The ATSF called for 2” of sand, and noted that “cinders are very undesirable.” Instructions for livestock bedding is contained in the AAR Pamphlet

Dan, the atlas works fine with Firefox. The maps do have some animation, so you may need an addon or plugin to get them to function. Doug Harding www.iowacentralrr.org

Bill I went to my local tire dealer, had him order extra boxes of stick on weights ½ and ¼ oz the next time he placed an order. They came on his delivery truck with a couple of weeks, I had no shippin

Someone asked me off list, how much the weights I mentioned cost per oz. I purchased them at the local Goodyear store. The manufacture is Grey Products Corp of Wis. The box of ¼ oz stick on weights wa

Skelgas was propane or “bottled gas”, marked by the Skelly Oil Company, based in Oklahoma. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skelly_Oil Skelly stations were common in Iowa and through the Midwest. They had

Bill I really feel for you. Especially after shoveling crusted snow in -9 temps this morning, then walking down for the mail in the -20’s windchill. The mail did contain the latest MR that has an arti

Mike, what do those bones say about: The possible movement of a certain O&W hopper? The arrival of a rumored Meat Reefer? The possibility of attendees getting a hot cookie? The Polish bowling team wil

Mike, thanks for the humor. It does one good to laugh when the thermometer is reading below zero. Hope you have a good time at Cocoa Beach. Doug Harding www.iowacentralrr.org

Chuck, yes Kadees. As you say the plastic shanks shatter when it’s cold. Though the passenger equipment does has the McHenry passenger car couplers. But who cares about passenger traffic? The M&StL ra

Andy thanks for the update on the reefers. After debuting them in my clinic three years ago at Cocoa Beach, at Bill’s request, I was beginning to wonder if they were indeed fictitious. But if they are

Bill, glad to know you can sing. I, for one, look forward to seeing/getting this crucial freight car. I can always use a few more meat reefers. Doug Harding www.iowacentralrr.org

Eric, re the M&StL 63001s and 65001s hoppers, the information below is from Gene Green originally: First the 63000s Here's more than you ever wanted to know about the M&StL's used, open-top, two-bay h

Eric, Gene is a member of the STMFC list, he just posted something about an hour before your request. He has the AFE’s for the M&StL and is quite generous is sharing information when he has it. I have

Simple answer, YES. Esp when using acrylic paint. Last thing you want is a big drop of water spitting out in the middle of a paint job, sending splatters everywhere. You say no water when you drain th