Lou, assuming those were metal wheels, you are likely seeing leftover cutting oil and the dirt it attracts. Several years ago, I replaced some .110 wheels with new .088 on a Tangent tank car, and was

Paul, I was imagining using phosphor-bronze wire for a springy equalizer. What was it that gave you trouble with the bent wire approach; the concept or the material employed? Thanks. Matt Goodman Colu

To Steve’s point, see the following article. I’ve had this bookmarked for years, with the intention of applying it to improve the ability to pull steam era freight cars. http://www.clag.org.uk/41-0rev

Thanks for taking the extra time and effort to look into the roof, Dennis. It’s interesting, even if (as you noted) this alone doesn’t help my date range. I’ll watch with interest any replies to your

It's funny you mention that, Larry. When I was getting the screenshot for Dennis last night, I wondered the same because the 8/S on the car side seemed to be a different size. I immediately discounted

Hi Dennis - hopefully the attached helps. Phillip, regarding the sign possibly lasting beyond 1930, you could be correct. The earliest photo evidence off the new name - Container Corporation - being o

That’s what I was afraid of Don (lack of distinct details). Thanks for taking a look! Matt Goodman

Hi folks. Recently someone stumbled across my website looking for information on the Mid-West Box Company’s strawboard mill. Specifically, they’re were trying to date the attached photo to determine i

Bruce, I’m watching the answers you get with interest. Based on your wording, it sounds like you are recognizing what I call the “wet” and “dry” ends of steam locomotive. As you hinted, there are a va

On second look, I think you are right about the shadow, Jack. Thanks for pointing that out. Thanks to Dave, David, Dennis, Elden and Tim (and anyone I forgot) for the feedback. This would make a good

Hi all. The car in the attached photo is lettered "The Portsmouth Byproducts Coke Co." with PBCX #502 reporting marks. What type of car is this (the small dome stands out), and what would it’s lading

My father designed and supervised the construction of the Age of Steam Roundhouse building and will be doing his presentation on the topic at Indy. The master plan part has a lot of overlap with layou

The Seagrave plant was hard alongside the C&O in Columbus, Ohio’s old south end. The factory building still exists and after a period of non-use, it’s being repurposed partly as an artist’s workshop.

I use a California Air Tools compressor for everything around the house. It’s far more than adequate for airbrushing, and works well for brad nailers, etc. when used at a modest pace. It’s not up to r

Thanks Doug. Ralston as the builder makes sense given they were an online industry of the T&OC (a close relation to the K&M). This photo is the most modern lettering I’ve seen for the K&M, which caugh

https://digital-collections.columbuslibrary.org/digital/collection/memory/id/79239 A couple of 50 ton gons apparently being unloaded at the the Columbus State Hospital (aka the Central Ohio Hospital f

It’s good to read this - thanks for asking the question, Bob, and answering it Gary and Jack. Before now, I’ve always done the opposite - the last hole that is a “go” is the drill size, as opposed to

An interesting story I heard from a railroader was regarding the “brake smoke” that was generated when descending a long grade. I assumed this was some mix of ballast dust and brake shoe dust. The rai

I made a mistake - Tamiya NATO Black is my good-enough wheel face color for the oily look. Especially for (but not limited to) coal hoppers where the overwhelming dust would be coal dust. NATO Black c

Jim, like Brian Stokes, I’ve been experimenting with simulating plain-bearing journal (and wheel face) oiliness for a couple years. I had better luck with the latter, until last July when a mistake un