Nice photo, John. I would think both the string of gondolas, and the one box car, are getting new floors, possibly as a routine maintenance matter, possibly upgrades. This was periodically done by mos

Actually, Ron, it’s vises. Tony Thom

Bruce Smith wrote: I noticed the same. I was ready to buy some stuff!! Tony Thompson tony@...

Bob Chaparro wrote: Now THAT'S a billboard scheme! If the date is right, billboard schemes were just being banned. It's schemes like this one that make me wish I modeled in the billboard era!! but I s

Claus Schlund wrote: This sharp curve into the oil dealer facility looks like something model railroaders would do <grin> -- though most would omit the guard rail. Tony Thompson tony@...

Very nice-looking model, Bob, and quite an advance on what Front Range originally provided! Tony Thompson tony@...

Bob Chaparro wrote: KDKA still exists (or did until quite recently), and was "grandfathered" in the general pattern of Western station call letters beginning with "K" and Eastern ones with "W". Tony T

Paul Krueger wrote: Obvious thing to do is to check with Pat Wider or Ed Hawkins. Tony Thompson tony@...

I hesitate to speculate about what this particular vice might involve . . . Tony Thompson tony@...

You're welcome, Eric. I like the model too. Tony Thompson tony@...

Dennis Storzek wrote: This description of consignee behavior reminds me of what the retired PFE Car Department guy told me. Shippers who found floor racks in reefers to be "in the way" (usually shippe

I've just finished the weathering and other concluding touches on one of the Resin Car Works acid tank cars, and have shown it, along with some background, in a blog post. If you're interested, here i

David Thompson wrote: This particular high walkway does not look like the kind originally built early in the 20th century. It looks to me more like a homebuilt addition when it was in MW service. Tony

Brian Carlson wrote: Very interesting, Brian. I had never even heard of this list. Dated 1952, it's perfect for me. All the SP trains, of course, I already knew from the SP "Perishable and Manifest Fr

Good looking reefers, Fenton. Tony Thompson tony@...

Doug Harding wrote: I agree. The 1940s and 50s photos I have, definitely show tie-downs on all kinds of military loads, though chocks seemed to be the main restraint. Tony Thompson tony@signaturepress

Brent Greer wrote: Once could do so, within limits. Most of them have writing too small to reasonably see, but some have a large number or initial on it, and that could be done with decals. After all,

Bob Chaparro wrote: I count six cards or remnants of cards. Clerks would tell you they never bothered to remove old cards, but just added the new one that was needed. Tony Thompson tony@signaturepress

Actually, the railroads paid PFE by the mile for use of the cars (and also paid them for icing). The shipper paid according the tariff to the delivering railroad, which then distributed shares to the

Ron Merrick wrote: Can't speak for other owners, but the two PFE cars were perfectly fine in service, with minimal corrosion problems -- as the retired PFE CMO told me, certainly no more corrosion pro