I have been working on a project for the last few weeks. It's a combination of SR&RL and Rio Grand caboose. Everything is scratch and no plans are used to make this project. Just pics and my mind.

Dear Mr Bachmann
I've just started getting back in to the hobby but know I've ran into a problem. The train car kits the company produced are no longer in print. There great for free lance modelers and detail freaks "like me". By any possibility would they come out again in a few years, or are they derailed with weeds and small trees growing around them. scratch building is something I don't really want to do because farm work leaves little time to do much.

One more thing to consider when starting. Is were you want your trains to run. Don't start to large that you become a slave to your railroad, (it's taken me 4 years just to get all the track down). It's very easy to expand to a existing loop of track. There are so many possibility's that can be undertaken. When I started my railroad I had a bachmann 2-8-0 "lovely engine" and 5 flats in 1:20.3 to haul fire wood, I then added 12ft curves to each end with a bow inward on one side of the loop for a walking path. If you have the mind to plan in 3d for grading, looks, feel and interest It will reward you with relaxation and accomplishment in the end.

Get 2 photo sensors place one on each side of the crossing. wire all that up with a off delay relay so the gates and lights go up a few seconds after the train goes through.

I have some track after i dig them out of a closet in the basement lol. since most of my track now is athern 3 foot sections, I can posible mail them for free. no price since they do need cleaning if you want to run on them. Most of the track is LGB and 2 sections of athern brass straight

Recently A friend purchased a 2-10-0 with oil burning tender. He is modeling CNW and would like to convert the tender. Is there parts for that conversion that we can get or, was there any oil burners on the CNW with this wheel arrangement.

If you are weathering a steam loco I have real experience with a few. ashes will gather on the top of the boiler cab and tender easily if burning wood or coal. the drive wheels will pick up dust from any terrain and usually ends up below the cab, boiler, frame, pistons back heads and driving gear. I have weathered a few locos and they look very nice. If you don't want to do the job because of skill you can find a lot of books videos and helpful people. being on winter break I wouldn't mind having some extra things to do.

how are they one detail with hand rails and wood texture?
AH un arall o fy nhir cartref.

My father is starting to build a short line in Hawaii. Mostly on sugar cane lines and possible some lumber.

I have seen one of these cars in Duluth. They usually have one there to transfer from boat to shore. one section alone is 160'.

On30 runs on ho track hon3 is 3foot narrow gauge and hon30 is 2 foot narrow gauge, runs on n scale track. I have modeld both and found hon30 works really well for mines small lumber farms ect ect. Most of the 2 footers are in main so can only model a prototypical railway would be modeld. Hon3 is any narrow gauge line that can be found ranging from east broad top to C&S. On30 is 3foot narrow for O scale.

You can file down there face with a fine model file. The coaches are more of a brownis red, after fading.

It's a matter if the come off or do you have to cut them off. If you have to cut them off use a model hack saw. and cut a little large and file the dome down. then glue the new ones on and use putty to make them look nice.

I found gillpen ore cars also work nice for mine railways. I built 4 out of 20 gage sheet metal but never finished them. I can add some pics latter.

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=gilpin+ore+cars&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1440&bih=695&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnsfd&tbnid=Hx_iQc8pXmhtHM:&imgrefurl=http://www.discoverlivesteam.com/discoverforsale/sold/1_rail_truck/index.htm&docid=EUx_xiDwJvtpgM&imgurl=http://www.discoverlivesteam.com/discoverforsale/sold/1_rail_truck/Gilpin%252520Tram%252520%2526%252520On30%252520001_small.jpg&w=585&h=285&ei=ZWyBULj4Lor8qwGK8YHwBQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=411&vpy=409&dur=593&hovh=157&hovw=322&tx=184&ty=89&sig=102005459831465398719&page=1&tbnh=111&tbnw=228&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:0,i:108

I have built 4 gillpin ore cars from sheet metal. All that is needed are to glue hinges for the doors, trucks, knuckls ect. They are nice for ballesting and look good behind any loco. I'm willing to sell them for the cost of the metal.