Heckuva project! I sure understand your saying you are "sick" of USRA DS cars! Tony Thompson tony@...

Thanks to everyone who replied -- lots of photos! Great help. Tony Thompson tony@...

Would anyone on the list have, or know the location of, photos of the A&D 2200-series box cars? Any help appreciated. Tony Thompson tony@...

John Riddell wrote: Excellent article, well worth reading for anyone. It leaves the impression, though, that there was a "solid" set of codes used in chalk marks, at least on this part of the CP. A ma

Ed Hawkins wrote: You see this usage also in car service records, such as "replaced AR sideframe" (truck). Tony Thompson tony@...

Thanks for showing these photos, Rob. The car looks excellent so far, very nice ends. Tony Thompson tony@...

RJ Dial replied" Um, Guy was talking about what modelers often call the "lateral" or "corner" running boards, not the long one down the car center. Tony Thompson tony@...

Anything and everything a switchman needed to know: track numbers, outbound train numbers, consignee, repair or cleaning needs, date, time, MT or loaded, etc. Problem is, it’s mostly in local code or

Doug Harding wrote: Yes, indeed, and when I was in my various lecturing jobs, I really liked it for chalk boards, students could see it well. (The chalk is kind of soft, makes a nice bold line.) Tony

Jim Betz wrote: Sorry to differ, Jim, but photos of cars IN SERVICE clearly show that "almost all" is correct. Tony Thompson tony@...

Ben Hom, responding to Chuck Cover, wrote: Full agreement, and I know Richard Hendrickson had reached the identical conclusions. Incidentally, he pointed out that though white chalk was by far most co

Dick Harley wrote: I don't have a photo of both rectangles in use, but I do have a photo of the lower rectangle in use (below). I don't know the photographer; my friend Clark Bauer sent me this photo.

Mark Vinski wrote: I hadn't thought about it this way, but I think Mark is right about the intention; however, almost every photo I have of cars in service shows only the top box in use. The second bo

Bob Chaparro wrote: Obviously not a very good "class portrait" but a fine modeler's view with a number of details well shown. I like the missing board. Maybe I will try modeling that. Tony Thompson to

William Reed wrote: William is right, beat me to it. There are two boxes but they were used in sequence,, oldest one replaced with every repack. Tony Thompson tony@...

Lester Breuer wrote: Nice job, Lester, and nicely described as to the various steps in "correcting" the InterMountain foobie. They have released a single-herald R-40-23 a couple of times, and I guess

The 1920s UP color chip set shows both Armour Yellow and PFE yellow on it, though the two were similar. Tony Thompson tony@...

Garth Groff wrote: Having done some of those same restorations myself, Garth, I entirely agree with you. Tony Thompson tony@...

Robert Bond wrote: I grabbed the rod, and some .10 white plastic, and went to the kitchen. I cut a couple strips of the plastic, and fired up the oven. I placed the plastic on the rod, and let soften

Ray Hutchison wrote: It would certainly be an interesting challenge. Let's see, take a kit tank, heat it up until it softens -- or maybe make a new tank out of thin styrene -- Tony Thompson tony@signa