Fragile – Handle With Care This is a 1957 wreck photo from the Council Bluffs Public Library: https://www.councilbluffslibrary.org/archive/files/original/e9b445c24648e38d536b12ee1d8081e9.jpg Descripti

Alex Schneider wrote: “Did the MCB or later the AAR mandate how much brake effort a car should have, presumably based on loaded weight?” As recommended by the AAR’s Brake and Brake Equipment Committee

Many moon s ago had a stack of these publications. Unfortunately lost them all. Been looking at a few that I interested in purchasing. Big question, " How useful are they. Considering in some the scop

Guys, Here's the thing (from where I stand) ... Our priorities - primarily prototypical accuracy - are ... let's face it ... out there on the outer fringe of the modeling community. The mfgrs are, for

I'm returning to the Amherst Ry Soc train show in W Springfield next weekend. Is Bob's Photos still setting up in the hotel across the street from the fairgrounds? Sorry for the cross-posting.

I'm thinking of pre-ordering a couple of these. Unfortunately Atlas hasn't told us what paint scheme is appropriate for the 1950s. I think these two might be correct. Does anyone know for sure? Jeff W

Some time ago, I found this model at a swap meet. It was so nicely built, I bought it. Ever since, I have wondered if it was a kit, or scratch built. Does anyone recognize it? Thanks, Jay Styron Fallb

It's often said by those of us in the industry, and only partially facetiously, that the way to make a small fortune in model railroading... is to start with a large one. Bill Gould simply went on to

House car distribution on the Santa Fe 1929-43 House car distribution on the Santa Fe 1929-43 About ten years ago, I discovered a document at the California State Railroad Museum Library that was appa

Resin Car Works has produced a kit for a Missouri Pacific 1942-built steel box car. More details are in the latest blog post. http://blog.resincarworks.com/missouri-pacific-aar-box-car-kit/ Eric Hansm

Is Mount Vernon Shops still in business? I tried twice to place an order in the past week. I went through Pay Pal and both times my bank denied the charge as bring possibly fraudulent. The website (ww

Hello all, I'm looking for scale drawings for the ACF 70 ton covered hopper with the "triangular openings" (for lack of a more proper description!). Model Railroader in June 1955 had a "Dollar Car" sc

ScaleTrains has announced a new 40’ transition era steel reefer, full text below https://www.scaletrains.com/ho-scale/ho-scale-freight-cars/kit-classics-ho-scale-40-steel-reefer.html?availability=40 P

Hi Folks, Let me be very clear: on RealSTMFC, “members are permitted to criticize or praise manufacturer's products free from criticism from other members. Criticism of a manufacturer's business pract

I am reminded of an article on a local architectural model shop back in the ‘70s. The owner said he never hires anyone whose hobby is modelmaking because they want to pause and admire their work rathe

The Intermountain advance reservations for January show a number of series of cars which died on the vine several years ago as a result of factory collapses. I have no idea if this is all of them, one

I have an enormous degree of respect for ANYONE who electsto bring a product to market in the Model Railroad Business. Wether it is a large manufacturer or someone packing the product on in the kitche

I can only recall seeing a photo of a wood side gon showing daylight between the boards once besides the photo below. Any comments?

Please know that Roger passed away from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis on January 7th and I ask that you remove his name from your group mailings. Thank you, Ruth (his wife)

Rich Yoder stated these cars were forest green. I would appreciate clarification on the car color. thanks, brad Andonian