I'd like to see it working.  Then, maybe I could understand it, compared to my simple layout.  Crossovers intrigue me when I see them at train shows.

 Thanks for the recipe, pdlethbridge!  I enjoyed the links,
J3a-614, showing the variety of pulpwood cars.

 Thanks, everyone, for your help!  I will print out your advice.  I looked on eBay, where I saw some cars without supports, but I am considering a Walthers Gold Line pulpwood car on sale in their catalog for $14, which has supports to hold the logs in place.  It about 65' long, which is close to the limit for my curves & a "lotta" logs!  I was born in Grand Rapids, MN, along the Mississippi R., where the biggest business is Blandin paper mill.  Blandin Foundation does much philanthropic work.  I've visited International Falls, where Boise Cascade has a big mill.  Here in Wisconsin, there are paper mills, too.  Nobody mentioned using wooden matches, but they wouldn't look as realistic as twigs with bark on them.

I just searched & didn't find any post on this topic.  At the local train show last Sunday, I saw some HO woodpulp cars whose loads looked so realistic with bark on the logs that I wondered if the hobbyist had cut twigs by hand to make the loads.  Since I thought I might hear, "Are you kidding?", I didn't ask my "dumb" question.  After the show was over, I suddenly got a craving to have a woodpulp car.  So has anyone here made his own woodpulp load of real wood?  Buying a plastic load doesn't appeal to me.

I'm glad Barry had someone from the Bachmann Forum to welcome him.  It takes a long time to look, talk & shop!
I expected to hear more sound locomotives.  I heard just a G steamer's whistle & an HO steamer's chuff.  I noticed many DC locomotives for sale still.  I guess I'll have to find a water tank on eBay.
Bill

 I didn't see anybody I know, except Bill Kane, who bought my 027 train sets last year.  Sorry I missed you, Joe & Barry.  I was at the show on Sunday from noon to 2:15.  I enjoyed it as much as last year.  I bought a Greyhound bus circa '50s, a UPS Truck, a Baker's tank car (so I'll have enough chocolate) & another GN boxcar.  Here's a link to my photos of the show in Photobucket:  http://pbckt.com/sA.tss
Bill 

Tonight, we were watching "Stand Up & Fight" (1939) with Robert Taylor & Wallace Beery.  It is set in 1844 & features an early locomotive with open passenger cars.  Nobody needs to smoke, because the engine gives them plenty of it.  On a hill, the locomotive loses power & goes backward.  The passengers must get out & push!

 I'm glad that you can come again, Barry.  I'll be wearing a Minnesota Twins baseball cap with Great Northern & DM&IR pins.
                                                                         Bill

 Thanks, Joe!  I expected it to be a week or two later.  I haven't received a notice by mail, even though I registered & spent plenty last year!  I may see you on Saturday, but Sunday last year had the most vendors, so I'll be sure to go then.
Bill Laine

Thanks for your comments & Happy New Year to you all!

WGL

 Here's a nice story about railfans & good neighbors:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6045962n&tag=related;photovideo

Joe,

I have the date on our bulletin board.  I'm still wishing I'd gotten the HO water tower I saw at the show in Menomonie.  I'd like an HO '50s greyhound bus, but $20 is a bit steep.

Bill

Joe, it's nice to hear from you.  Thanks for the information.

It would be fun to see a demonstration, but I don't plan to spend $600 for a live steam locomotive, plus about $50 each for passenger cars.  I wonder if they ever demonstrate live steam at the local train show.   I enjoy Historic Rail's catalog, but I haven't ordered anything from them.  Thanks for the cautionary tip.

I haven't bought any train stuff for 3 months!

Thanks for the information.  Coop, I hope that you will report how your Flying Scotsman runs.

 I'm looking at an LNER Class A4 4-6-2 Mallard Live Steam Set in HistoricRail catalog.  One fills the tender with distilled water & a "low voltage electrical heater in the tender safely heats the water & sends steam to the locomotive's drive cylinders for realistic operation."
 
Do any of you steam devotees have a live steam locomotive?  I wonder how they run:  how long on a fill & how fast.