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    What items would you like to see the manufacturers come out with? Locos, cars, ETC.

    A RDG camelback 2-8-0. Wood underframe truss rod cars with modern quality detailing (there hasn't been a new plastic model of a truss rod wood underframe car come out in over 50 years). A 34 IL and 36 ft IL wood gon. A 34 ft boxcar. A left opening door 36 ft truss rod boxcar. A 30 ft hopper...
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    Plastic Manufacturing Question

    Or a fertilizer distributor that receives ammonia in tank cars and fertilizer in covered hoppers and boxcars.
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    Need your thoughts, opinions and suggestion on my designs and current projects at Proses.

    Can you do it for a train? Something 8 feet long with a change in elevation of 14-18"?
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    It a zoo in here

    If you want a Zoo next to the railroad, the Philadelphia area is the best place to t look. The Philadelphia Zoo is located next to the major junction on the PRR/PC/CR/AMTK, it's actually called "Zoo Tower". In Norristown, the ex-RDG Stoney Creek Branch goes right by the Norristown Elmwood...
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    home made ballast

    Why not just go to a hardware store and buy sand already the right size, then dye it.
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    What's happening on your layout?

    Right now it's recovering from some electrical work in the ceiling.
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    EOT Lights on Observation Cars.

    The lights on the side were called "marker lights". An EOT is a separate device that performs the function of a marker light. The marker light signals to a passing train that they have passed the whole train. Sometimes the big light in the center was a warning light that would light or flash...
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    Old war horses

    The SD40-2 is the "standard" locomotive of the 1970's to 2000's. All other locomotives get compared to it. As a matter of fact, one major railroad implement a locomotive power rating system and the based engine against which others are compared is the SD40-2.
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    dying stuff with Rit liquid dye

    In the January 2016 Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine (free on line) they suggest using various sands for ballast (sized by scale and type of ballast). They put the sand into a plastic bag and then add liquid RIT dye straight into the bag. Depending on the quantity they use a few drops to get...
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    Two identical locomotives in consist - one is dragging the other

    If you are "dragging" the other engine, does that mean : The 2nd engine's wheels are turning but not as fast The 2nd engines wheels are turning but in the opposite direction The 2nd engine's wheels aren't turning Three different problems. First is a speed matching problem. Second is a CV...
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    The Future of Diesel Freight Locomotives

    I see the future of both cars and locomotives as hybrids. Most engines spend most of their time idling or stopped. Build a two unit consist, one unit a 2000 hp motor generator set and the other a battery storage unit. Both engines have 4000 hp traction motors and electrical gear. Both use...
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    How Close Do You Spot Your Freight Cars

    Dave1905. Hope you are recovering nicely from your surgery Home now so all good. In my class yards, I put a marker with the track number at the clearance point, both as a clearance aid to help the yard crew keep track of which track is which. I also added thumbtacks painted with the block...
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    How Close Do You Spot Your Freight Cars

    Prototype railroads will paint a tie, or the rail, or sometimes put a marker at the clearance point.
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    Honestly, I don't know what to do

    Since Jonestown is a big flat piece, why not make the entire town of Jonestown removable, then just lift it out and work on the track. Has the extra added benefit that you can remove Jonestown and work on it "on the work bench" rather than trying to detail it way back on the layout.
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    Acrylic Washes

    Key is to try it on a surface before you put it on your model. Use an old sacrificial model and apply your paint, coating and decals (every sheet has some leftover decals) and then test the mixes to see how they react. Straight water as thinner will have too much surface tension to work well...
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    Graffiti and tagging in the 1960s and 1970s

    Most of the chalk marks on cars weren't hobo's they were railroad employees marking various things, such as switching instructions, spotting instructions, inspection info, etc. In the 1980's, every plain bearing car that came through the yard where I worked got an inspection mark by the carmen...
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    "Federal law requires that freight companies give Amtrak trains priority over freight"

    A lot depends on what you mean by "priority". Does it mean "thou shalt not receive any delay" or does it mean "thou shalt receive the least delay"? Part of the problem is relative speed. With freight trains you mostly have to worry about opposing trains. The railroad only needs sidings to...
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    Ballast Options

    It is if you glue it down. Use liquid RIT dye to color it. Put it in a plastic bag, add drops of dye to get the right color, mix it then let it dry. If it's glued down it can't get in the motor. If you are worried about dust, wash and dry it before you use it.
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    Early stages of planning

    Generally people use either an inkjet or laser printer, I think you have to get paper compatible with the type of printer. The biggest obstacle with homemade decals is that you can't get white lettering, well you can get a special white laser printer cartridge, but don't know if it requires a...
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    Penn Central Poll

    I grew up in Philadelphia in the 1970's so Penn Central was front and center. Obviously the success of a company is the company's responsibility, so their failure was ultimately their own fault. They did have a lot of national systemic things against them (which also caused many other railroads...




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