Is there such a thing as information overload? I have bulging bookcases and file cabinets, stacks on the desk and floor, not to mention a small hobby shop in the basement. But I still seek, because I

I was just reading the GN plywood boxcar article in the June 2014 RMC. On page 66 the photo caption states “The 1944 vintage express boxcars in the 2501-2524 series were identical to the freight boxca

Would another factor regarding lumber loads be the species? Different species have different weights per board ft. And this will vary greatly depending if we are talking green (ie wet) lumber or dry l

John most lumber was not loaded through the end door (ie lumber door) on boxcars. It was loaded through the doors on the side of the car. The lumber door was only used for extremely long pieces, which

Jack you are correct, I had forgotten that is how the “lumber doors” were used. I have several videos of logging operations and sawmills that included scenes of loading lumber into boxcars. Very labor

Yep and equally distressing on the same page the announcement that owner Ron Roberts of Rail Graphics is planning to retire. Ron prints a lot of decals for those small independent decal creators. I kn

And Fairmont Railway Motor Co. made equipment for the spraying of oil to prevent the corrosion. Doug Harding www.iowacentralrr.org

Now also posted on Carstens website http://carstens-publications.com/ Doug Harding www.iowacentralrr.org

Tim the gon is full of steel wheels from agricultural equipment, think wagons, manure spreaders, and the like. Steel wheels were the norm prior to WWII, and are still used by the Amish. Do an image se

Interesting photos. I agree with others, the wood “walkway” certainly look like temporary platforms for moving blocks of ice. Construction is very similar to those seen in a photo I have of some FGE r

I have not yet acquired the book in question, but this discussion has intrigued me because of the possible M&StL context. Based upon the book’s description, I assume all the photos were taken in the s

Steve that is one of the photos I have. Here is the link to the bric-block replacement depot at Union. http://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/railroadiana/id/734/rec/51 Doug Harding ww

Don a quick look at a google satellite view of Union IA will show the tracks do run north-south on the far east side of town. There is an east-west road through the center of town that crosses the tra

Say it's not so! An icon of the south is to be moved, perhaps even removed forever, from its sacred resting place. I guess those photos I took years ago will become treasured memories, artifacts of a

Ben in the old days, a pro shaved rivets off an Athearn boxcar body and glued them on one at a time. Today they use Archer rivets. And they do not use MEK on very thin styrene for the reason you disco

If you reread the previous messages of this inquiry, esp the one by Mike Schleigh on Tuesday, you will discover these cars were rebuilt with steel sides in the 30’s. It appears they were originally do

To follow on Mike’s comments, I speculate that many of these cars were moved to hide service because they were no longer “tight” cars, ie no longer suitable for grain service or other weather sensitiv

Brian I attended, even presented, but I don’t recall any major announcements. However I will report Westerfield was present and he was showing some new item developments he is working on, including do

Clark yes some lasted into the 60’s and longer. From the BRHS list: According to the November, 1973 ORER, there were still four cars in the series CBQ 15615-16728. The XM-25/26 cars were covered in a

Remember there were two different meat packers with the name Cudahy. Patrick Cudahy located in Cudahy WIS, used reefers provided by Northern Refrigerator Car Line. Northern was bought by Merchants Des