As much as I love the operating journal lids on the new trucks, be forewarned that groundcovers--especially thyme, veronica, and sedum--will reach out and open them up or pull them off. This seems to be more of a problem with the archbar trucks, as the lids are a bit looser than the ones on the hopper car.
I did manage to find three of the four that came off. :-[
Later,
K
Truck eating plants!?! :o That's a new one!
-Brian
Thanks for the warning. I have not had the problem with my flatcar yet. Luckily I don't have a lot of close track growing plants.
Kevin,
Pehaps we need an operating weed-whacker car for the garden. I beleive Soprano Industries in New Jersey offers one.
Weed-whacker car? Soprano Industries? Joisey? You Do know what this sounds like, don't you?
Rich
PS: Any word on the K-27?
Thanks for the "heads-up" :o on this potential problem, Kevin!
I don't have ground-cover plants to contend with (my railroad's built elevated) ;), but almost half my mainline runs OVER an existing box hedge (which provides some "ready-made scenery" :D. As soon as it starts to warm up here in MA (supposed to start this weekend, FINALLY!!! >:(), I'm going to have to keep close tabs on keeping the hedges trimmed back as soon as they begin to sprout (I've had sprouts grow completely across :o the track in a single night!
(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/TomLapointe/VGA%20photos/ConnieAndAnnieMeet.jpg)
(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/TomLapointe/VGA%20photos/HedgeCut.jpg)
..so far at least, I haven't had any problems with the journal lids on the 3 Bachmann 1:20 freight cars I've picked up to date (2 of the hoppers, 1 of the box cars); but if you look to the right of the passenger train in the 1st photo, you can see a few sprouts peeking through some extra decking I've added in this area; it's a narrow stretch behind our barrel shed, very tough to reach with the hedge trimmers (unless I actually climb up on the track!). A couple of weeks ago, these sprouts caught on the hopper doors when I happend to run them upgrade on the outside track (the same direction the "Connie"-powered freight is running) & caused a minor derailment ::), so I think I'm going to have to "terminate" >:( them before they cause me more problems! ;) Tom