All- I misunderstood the point of the blog….I thought the “AAR” lettering was as adopted by the SP and the lettering below was a further variation. I would be interested in seeing ARA / MCB full sets

All- The CB&Q Aurora, Illinois Testing Laboratories were doing paint sample boards like those in the 1880s. They had to rely on sunlight and snow/rain/ice to weather them. I wonder if that is why they

All- I happened to run across Tony Thompson's blog "Prototype Lettering, Part 2". In comparing the figures that are presented as "AAR" vs. the CB&Q ARA ST'D LETTER set originally drawn Chicago 10-05-0

John, Thanks for adding this to the knowledge base. I always thought the X cars were captive only between Proviso and Chicago. I wonder if they extended to other major terminals such as the Twin Citie

All- This discussion came up originally on the CB&Q@groups.io list because someone came across a photo of an 1899 20FT Burlington NM-1 Bobber body that has been preserved at the Pioneer Village, albei

All The Cullen-Friestedt Company, while the corporate offices were located in Chicago, had its plant in the former Love Brothers casting and specialty machinery plant in Aurora, Illinois. It was serve

All- If anyone has an email for Randy at Prototype Junction I would appreciate getting in touch with him regarding his project. Thank you, Charlie Vlk Railroad Model Resources Noticed that on another

Llyod Think about the dynamics of the three cars going over the approach and crest of the hump.....the load is not secured for extreme vertical curves nor the impact of running into a string of cars a

All- It looks like the underframe, at least the ends, has the characteristics of a Chicago Steel Car Company product. See the attached jpg. John Grace had connections with that company and when they e

I had the good fortune to make the acquaintance of Stanley D. Grace, Jr. the last family owner of Grace Tank Car Lines and grandson of the founder, John H. Grace. He was a Model Railroader and in late

Garth- I googled “Lucky Vancouver Railroad Brewery” and it returned the Lucky Lager the first beer produced by the 1934 General Brewing Company in California which formed a strategic partnership with

All- Popular Science and Popular Mechanics are a source of many good railroad (freight car) images and articles. Fascinating look into the past when people were interested in how things worked and doi

When I was visiting the Kato factory I reviewed the CNC milled positive aluminum trial of the N Scale RDC body. Over the 3D aluminum object we discussed the roof curvature and marked it up for correct

An old trick is to take some plastic sprue and heat it over a open flame or a soldering iron As it starts to melt pull on the end and stretch it thin. Cut it in the center and push it in the hole from

All- Slightly off-list but related…. CB&Q steam locomotive tenders had plumbing on the sill above the trucks for hoses to cool the bearings in case one started to run hot….sort of a fixed Keeley syste

Stupid iPad!! Sent previous message and THEN the photos appeared! Thanks! Charlie Vlk

Tom-I have an N Scale Shapeways blade for the CB&Q car and would appreciate the photos as well!! Thanks, Charlie Vlk

All- I wonder how far that excess height load got before taking out a wagon bridge or wires crossing the track?? Charlie Vlk

Could be for hauling dried processed sewage from the IC subsidiary Illinois Northern which could get it from the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Chicago. The MSDC had their own dump cars which presu

All- The attached image, although of a baggage car truss rod underframe, shows a camber intentionally built into the unloaded frame. The second image shows the car loaded up with railroad wheels, stra