Hi, So this picture and the one of the exterior of the same car got me to thinking (often a dangerous thing!) ... So you have your long ladder on the ground that gets you right up to the dome. Then yo

Hi, Someone mentioned "steam cleaning". I worked in a salmon cannery in the early 60's and one of my duties was on the clean up crew after the canning line was done for the day. We had long hoses with

Hi, It was the combination of the extremely small image (pixel wise) plus the number of boards along the top of that car that threw me off (was outside of my prior experience). And my experience in an

Jim Gates and all, I agree with all of your analysis - but that stock car still has me wondering. It is obvious, even to me, that it started life as a stock car. But I've never seen a stock car that h

Hi guys, Is this an example of an early ATSF chip hopper that has been converted from an O.B. box car? Cool car no matter what. This image is quite small and I can't make out the reporting marks even

Hi, Thanks for all the great suggestions. I think I can "go forward" with this project ... except I'd like to know the answers to the following 'extra credit' questions ... Does anyone have any idea w

Elden, Thanks ... I'll check it out. - Jim B.

Hi all, What product do you use for making an HO scale sand load in a gondola? I don't want to use any kind of food product (such as flour). I'm willing to color it with paint and washes. The only com

Hi, I've always heard them called "Tack Boards". There are many examples of terms used "on the ground" (i.e. by the crews) that were not used in official documents. At times it seems silly and even pe

Allen Reuter, Thanks for the pointer to the Bureau Of Mines Yearbook for 1950. Great stuff! - Jim B.

Hi, Thanks to ALL for your answers. I learned more than I thought I would. I have one followup question ... I get it that the coal suppliers (mines/etc.) priced by the BTU. But I don't think they were

Hi, How far would coal be shipped in hoppers? Especially as it relates to the West Coast. I'm talking about regular everyday coal for steam - such as to a railroad or to a cement plant (or any other l

Ed, My dentist uses UV cure products in my mouth ... it looks a lot like regular 2-part epoxy when he applies it (slightly off color and approximately the same thickness/thinness). Then the assistant

Hi all, Thanks for all of the excellent information about the various bonding products that are out there these days. I consider the use of adhesives to be one of the 'special skills' that we all need

Tony Thompson/anyone, That pic of the reefer with the stenciling on the ice hatch ... was there a reason why the icing crews needed to know the car number? For instance did they load different amounts

Hi, When using KK for windows ... KK does not normally dry in less than 4 to as much as 24 hours. It will usually skin over in about an hour. I normally set the model aside for 12 to 24 hours. After y

Armand and all, I have found the #148s to be very good. My biggest 'complaint' is that they are a little bit more prone to drooping. That is easily fixed by adding a small shim to the underside of the

Hi, What was the design point of the stepped ends on the PRR turtle roof box cars? As in the 'purpose' of them ...and why wasn't that feature 'successful' (not picked up or repeated)? - Jim

Hi all, I just saw an auction for some brass HOn3 cars ("Oriental" tag on at least one) and they have the cut levers mounted up between the second and third rungs of the end climbing ladders. They are

Hi, Since cars having this 'variety' in the running boards are rare perhaps one of the following speculations work ... a) This was some kind of "test car" that was used to compare the longevity or the