Hi all;
I have a Bachmann 4-6-0 and do not like the low boiler.  The other evening I was looking at a Roundhouse HOn3 2-8-0 I happen to have, and thought about swapping boilers.  If it happens as I think, I would get a slim high-sitting boiler on the 4-6-0, and a "Patmore-esque" assemblage on the narrow gauge 2-8-0.  Has anyone had any experience with this?
Rich C.

Have decided to scratchbuild a wooden bay window caboose.  No, I don 't know of a prpototype ever existed, hence this post.  Any info would be grealy appreciated. 
Rich C. 

Hi Guys;
I am in the planning process (still) of my "wonder layout"...  and would like to know if anyone has knowledge of the following:  I would likew to build a facility that repairs and builds crucibles for the metal smelting industry.  I have a couple of sources of some really neat details relative to the steel industry, and think it wold look really neat having depressed-centre flats carrying loads like this, both in and out of the facility.  Your thoughts anyone?
Rich C.

I wish I could have gotten down to the Viaduct yestyerday and watched them clear the snow.  It must have been pretty interesting.

Recently; I had the occasion to delve into O scale-not for me, but for my grandson.  I had never really looked closely at Lionel cars, but this winter, I did, and was amazed at how much detail there was in these cars I had relegated in my mind as "toys".
The cost wasn't all that much different, all things considered.  Even the track has slimmed out and wasn't the klunky old "junk" I was used to.
Andrew is going on five (actually, he is mentally going on ABOUT 16...)  WHEW!!)  and he is really taken with trains.  I do hope he gets a really good paper route...  He might need it.
Grampy.
(Rich C.)

I have finally got up the nerve  to try to put some photos of some pf my equipment.  Could someone please tell me how I might qccomplish this?
Rich C.

I have recently purchased some brass on Ebay, nothing larger than a 2-8-0; and I am in the process of track-testing them, and although they are a bit cranky, they track well, and run smoothly.  I will be lubing them, cleaning old grease from the gears and replacing same, etc; but I am going to want to install DCC sound also.  Realizing that the tender shell is a pretty good conductor as is not plastic, I am going to have to insulate this stoff pretty good.  Besides getting the motors insulated from the frame, has anyone got some feedback regarding ins and outs, etc?  All feedback appreciated.  From what I have seen, all of the motors are Pittman open-frame.
Thanks in advance.
Rich C.

The other day I had stopped at "Connecticut Valley railroad" to just take some pictures.  here, they had a Chinese mike-the same mike that Bachmann produced.  I had purchased two of them, Americanized one; had some photos in the notebook I carry, took a lot of photos, and lso took photos of #40, one of the smallest standard gauge mikes I had ever seen.  I got inspired to take the second mike out of the box, and do a carbon copy of #40-and maybe revamp my roster to smaller engines.  The more I thought of it, the better the thought looked.  The one thing they did there was (it loooked like it anyway) to take the cab of the bigger mike, and cut arched windows in it a la New Haven and presto chango-a New Haven J-1...  A Chinese cab with arched windows-what won't they think of next?...
RIch

A while ago, Oregon Rail Supply announced new 2 and 4-track signal bridges.  Has anyone uswed one yet?

I have a situation that will need a #6 crossover that matches up with a Shinohara code 70 double-slip, and do not seem to find it.  The closest thing I have found is a Peco #6 diamond that is code 83; it looks just great and would match up to a tee, butthe rail height is off way too much and would cause problems that I do not want.  The short crossovers are incompatible.  I have looked on a lot of sites, and I come up with nothing.  would appreciate  knowledgeable answers.

This engine is an ideal size for a lot of layouts; BAchmann did a very good job in it's production; I just have one thought:
The layout I'm going to construct will operate prototypically in the capacity of a bridge road, running from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to Troy, New York; Pretty much in the manner of the B&M.
It will be focused upon freight operations with some pax activity.  I have two of these engines, plus a mantua 2-6-6-2.  Would it have been feasible for a road to have operated them, and what type of freight makeup would [it] have hauled?
Rich

Isn't there something in the by-laws about this kind of stuff?  If I want to be bombarded with ads, I will watch television.
Rich

Hi All;
It is hot this afternoon, so I tok five from the garden and wanted to find out some things here.
I am in the process of re-building my layout, and have been quietly gathering and researching parts for use on it.  Upon perusing "Central Valley"'s site some time ago, I had discovered" Jack Parker's tie-strips.  After looking it over, I had decided to send for a box as well as #7 turnout strips.  At the same time, I had purchased a bundle of code 83 rail.  Now, I have decided to use code 70-instead of the 83.  I am waiting for the shipment to come in.  Has anyone used this combination of parts?  The strip, turnout strips and parts included with same look extremely good.  I also stumbled across a sub-floor material used under the finished wood flooring that is black, sort of a soft plastic composition, and about 1/8" thick.  I am wondering if anyone has ever used this as roadbed.  THis stuff in theory, especially lends itself to yard trackage really well.
I want this layout to bw the culmination of my experience, as well as being dependable, good-looking track.  I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone this route.
Rich 

Has anyone here ever used the Tomar pickups that are (usually) installed on tenders?  Hoiw much trouble are they to install?  How easy are they to find?  Do they really do the job intended?
Rich

At the Springfield show this past Jan, there was a table with a lot of resin castings of steel mfgg equipment such as crucibles, bearings, framework, etc in plastic bags.  This stuff was dynamite!  If anyone remembers who the mfgr was, could you please tell me?  Thank you.
Ricih

Hi all;
from time to time I have heard about using a floor product called "future"  as a "preconditioner"  for decaling, and am curious as to how to go about it.
Thanks.
RIch