Dear All,

Bachmann produced a VHS twenty years ago which showed a nice way to trench and use crusher fines for ballast.  Perhaps it is now on DVD ?  Chicken grit is crushed granite, comes in manageable small bags, very sharp and packs quite well.

Best Wishes,

Jack

Dear Yardmaster,

Is pic no. 4 a view of the rear coupler ?  Looks like it has to move side-to-side, eh ?   Does the front coupler move side-to-side, too ?

Best Wishes,

Jack

Dear Bill,

Glad to see you are considered to be "historical!"  At my age all the younger gals think I am a dinosaur ! 

Caberat is right about your giving very good advice.

Best Wishes,

Jack

Dear Kevin,

I have been procrastinating about building a battery car or similar for use with an Aristo Rogers 2-4-2 and an Annie.  Could you please contact me via email for me to get your thoughts ?  Loco Bill has been very helpful, and I was thinking about doing a battery car his way, not "Frank's" way  .

Best Wishes,

Jack Majcher, Altoona, PA

JSMVMD at AOL period COM

Dear Bill,

Good tip.  I'll try it with my Bachmann and Aristo rolling stock.

Best Wishes,
Jack

I would side with Jeff on the 155 pound rail.  My friend and his wife are gone now, and I have no access to his photos.  Nor do I intend to go snaking around the Rose Yard.

Interesting comments Jeff made regarding current power.

Dear Friends,

The Loram folks come through Altoona, PA from time to time.  A few years ago I saw them in action, at night, and the sparks were quite impressive !  There must have been 8 - 10 units hooked together, all self propelled.

On of their workers was in my business and told me he just goes around the country doing this.  When the engine wheels slip it puts irregularities and waves in the rail top.  The grinding restores the rail and extends rail life, thus saving costs.

Altoona at the brickyard has 141 pound rail, dated 1971, so the grinding must be doing its job.

A rail friend, sadly gone, told me the Rose Yard in Altoona had 160 pound rail in places.  This is not confirmed.  When I mentioned this to Wade Colyer, he could not confirm this, either.

Best Wishes,

Jack

Dear Friends,

Check Trainworld.  There is a 2-4-2 on the Bachmann sale page, plus there is a "Post show" coupon I got emailed.  Not sure if the 2-4-2 is a Lynn.

Best Wishes,

Jack

Dear Lee,

Would those be cable ties ?

Best Wishes,

Jack

Dear Mike,

Charlie Sheen to me ( Yes, Duhh !!! ).  Looked right at it and did not see it ! Thanks a million.

Best Wishes, 

Jack

Not mentioned in the Product Information page.  Are they no longer made ?

Dear "Pap" and "1,"

Thank you kindly !  Helps a bunch.  Our local club runs lots of Williams loco's and steamers to very good reviews from club members and the public.

Best Wsihes,

Jack

Dear Bill,

Great response, as usual !  Hope to get going on a battery install for my Annie, and an Aristo 2-4-2 Rogers to use in the living room and outside for a small patio GR.

One idea I have is to make a universal battery car that I can use for both locomotives.  Any idea which make or manufacturer would work for both ?  My Bachmann stuff hooks up OK to the Aristo and vice versa, but the differences are obvious.  One solution I see is to have a box car or gondola with Bachmann coupler at one end and Aristo at the other.  What thinkest thou ?

Thanks a million !

Best Wishes,

Jack

Sorry, Did not mean to offend.

Perhaps in the future I should request specific product information privately.  I have a remote system I am learning, and am interested in other systems.  My questions are purely academic.

Best Wishes,

Jack

Dear Friends,

Will the couplers Williams provide couple well and properly with Atlas, MTH, Lionel and others on the market ?  If not, are they easily tweeked, or do they need to be replaced ?  If so, what do you recommend ?  I have an MTH 2-8-0 and a Lionel Polar Express I wish to use for the kids.   I want to standardize the mix, and eventually use all Willliams.
Thanks a million !

Best Wishes,

Jack