O

Jan/Feb 2004 IIssue

Jan/Feb 2004
Scale
Trains
ssue #12
#12 $5.95
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$5.95
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US $5.95
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• Can $7.95
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Display
Display until
until Feb.
Feb. 29th
29th

Modeling
for the
O Scale
Craftsman
P&D Hobby Shop
31280 Groesbeck,
Fraser, MI 48026
586-296-6116
Open Mon-Fri 10-8,
Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5
Fax: 586-296-5642

Power or Repower Kits for Red Caboose GPs

PDP2201K-Repower kit, Red Caboose GP9, P&D brass EMD Blomberg trucks

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The P&D TWIN TOWER DRIVE for the Red Caboose GP screws that are furnished in the Red Caboose body kit.
body kit is functionally equivalent to the P&D power units These P&D Twin Tower Drive kits can also be used to repower
already available for the P&D F units, GPs, RSDs, and the existing Red Caboose GPs. Two kits are offered: #PDP2200K has
Weaver FAs, FBs, RS-3s and GP-38s. plastic Blomberg trucks, while #PDP2201K features the P&D brass
The Red Caboose power kits provide only the necessary Blomberg trucks, which are truly some of the finest trucks on the
power related parts to supplement the Red Caboose GP market. Each kit also includes a powerful Pittman motor and all
body kit. These power kits fully utilize the underframe the necessary parts to complete the installation. Detailed instruc-
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on
Red Caboose
EMD, GP9 body Kits
RC500
$49.99 each
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10 for $300.00
Colors may vary.
 Modeling
for the
O Scale
Craftsman
Issue #12
Jan/Feb 2004
Vol. 3, No. 1

Editor/Publisher
O
Features
4
Scale
Trains
The Great Central Railway
Joe Giannovario
Mike Culham fit a beautiful O Scale layout into a modest space.
Art Director
Here’s how he did it.
Jaini Simon
12 Sandstone Bluffs
Associate Editor
Brian Scace
A trip to the home and garden center is all you need to create
beautiful cliffs says Herm Botzow.
Contributors
Ted Byrne 16 Converting a Lionel Gondola to Two Rail
Gene Deimling Another Lionel scale car and Mike Culham shows how to detail it.
Bobber Gibbs
Hobo D. Hirailer 24 O Scale National 2004 — Part 2
Roger Jenkins Brian Scace details the convention’s schedule for us.
Jeb Kriigel
Neville Rossiter 26 Working Caboose Markers
John C. Smith
Fiat Lux! Marty Iftody shares with us his circuitry and how he
Subscription Rates: 6 issues installed it into various caboose models.
United States US$30
Canada/Mexico US$50 30 Building Traditional Wooden Kits
Overseas US$75
Mastercard & Visa accepted Wooden kits can still be found at swap meets and many are still
Call 610-363-7117 during manufactured. In a world of plastic ready-to-run, Wm. Kendall
Eastern time business hours
says the wood kits are still worth building.
Dealers write for terms.
Advertisers write for information 54 Considerations For Laying Track - By Hand or Otherwise
or visit our website. The “how’s” and “why’s” of track laying as practiced by
O Scale Trains ISSN 1536-9528 George Muller.
www.oscalemag.com
Published bimonthly (6 times a year) by
O Scale Trains Magazine,
PO Box 238, Lionville PA 19353-0238
© 2004 OST All Rights Reserved
Printed in the U.S.A.
Departments
9 The Workshop – Neville Rossiter
Contributors: O Scale Trains 10 Easements for the Learning Curve – Brian Scace
welcomes your feature articles, photos, and drawings.
Such material should be sent to the above address for 14 Traction Action – Roger Jenkins
possible publication. If we accept, you will be notified 21 Modelers Shelf
immediately. For more information concerning article
preparation guidelines, please send an SASE to the 34 Crapola From The Cupola – John C. Smith
above address and request our “Guide For Authors” 36 Reader Feedback – Letters to the Editor
or visit our website. 40 Confessions of a HiRailer – Hobo D. Hirailer
42 Product News & Reviews
Cover: A GE 70 tonner does daily switching chores on
Mike Culham’s Great Central Railway. RY Models 50 Narrow Minded – Bobber Gibbs
makes the Diesel. Photo by Mike Culham. 53 Proto48 – Gene Deimling
Centerspread: A C&O Allegheny passes a Greenbrier 58 Buy-Sell-Trade Ads
at Sewell station while a track hand gets ready to 59 Advertiser Index
inspect the rails. The Allegheny is a Sunset model, the
Greenbrier is by MTH. The yellow railcar and trailer is 60 Events Listing
from RY Models. Sewell station was scratchbuilt by 61 OST Dealer List
Reed Artim of O Scale Realty. The scene was staged
62 Observations – Joe Giannovario
and photographed by Jeb Kriigel of Get Real Produc-
tions. ©2003 by Get Real Productions

OST is a proud Member of the

Model Railroad Industry Association
Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 3
 RA ILWAY
C E N TRAL
EAT
The GR By Mike Culham
Kilkenny Widget Company
My interest in O scale model trains started at a very early look back again to the smaller scales.
age. My father and grandfather were both O scalers; my father My grandfather’s layout was called the Great Central Rail-
had a trolley layout and my grandfather had a steam layout. I way and I have taken this name for my own layout in memory
was shown by my grandfather how to build bench work and of him and my father.
hand lay track when I was five years old and I developed my About the Great Central Railway
skills from there. The Great Central is a Class 2 railway operating during the
1960’s. It runs in the northeast corner of Maine connecting
with the Maine Central at Guilfoyle Junction in the south and
with the Canadian Pacific Railway at Inwood on the US/Cana-
dian border in the north.
The GCR has three branch lines as well, including the
Abbie Springs branch that connects at Inwood and runs down
to the coast. This is the section of the Great Central that I
model. Because of the light rail and the weight restrictions on
bridges, the GCR has a fleet of GE 70 ton diesels that handle
this line.
The engine house for this branch is at Inwood, and on a
good day you will see the 70 Tonners plus GCRs and CPRs
GP-9s. This makes for some very interesting railfanning. On
any given day during the week there are three trains that han-
A shot of my grandfather with a display of his O scale trains after he had won
dle the movement of freight on the branch, an early morning
third place in a Toronto Hobby Show In the 1950s. way freight, the mill turn and then an afternoon mixed train.
The Layout
When I was fifteen I started modeling in HO and did so for The layout was started in 1999 and is about 90% complete.
about 30 years. I went back to O scale about five years ago It runs along two walls, and through three rooms in my base-
after I built an Intermountain kit and found that I could see the ment. It measures 31 feet by 20 feet and is 32 inches at its
parts without the need of an Opti-Visor to see and tweezers to widest point. The framework is a boxed frame with the table
handle the parts. (The age thing is catching up on me) top made of layers of pink building insulation foam. I have
That was it. I was hooked again on O scale, and I will not used this method on my layout for four years now and have

4 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

 Industries in Tara Mills
Acme Steel
Construction materials: scratch built
using Evergreen styrene with detail
parts from Rix. Types of freight cars
received: gondolas and flatcars.
T. C. Food Products
Construction materials: DPM mod-
ule walls and scratch built sections with
detail parts from Walthers and Rix.
Types of freight cars received: boxcars,
refrigerator cars and tank cars.
R. Blackwood Furniture
Construction materials: wall parts
Acme Steel
not had any problems. The backdrop,
layout fascia and lighting valance are
made of 1⁄8 inch Masonite. (see Figure 1
for details of layout construction)
The track is code 125 nickel silver
rail, hand laid with four spikes per tie
and is detailed with Right-O’-Way track
details. The turnouts are a mixture of
B.K. Enterprises and Right-O’-Way and
are fully detailed. Turnouts are powered
with Tortoise slow action motors.
The layout is operated with a Digitrax
DCC system with plug-in outlets every
twelve feet along the layout face. The
engines are DCC equipped and have T. C. Food Products

R. Blackwood Furniture Company

sound by Soundtraxx. All turnouts are controlled by DCC also, using Digi-
trax DS44 stationary decoders.
Scenery is made using Woodland Scenics products, employing the same
techniques as described in many of the “How To” books on scenery.
As you can see from the track plan, the GCR serves 10 industries on the Engine # 23 waits in the siding for #22 to clear on its way
modeled portion of the branch. Let’s take a look at these. back to Inwood.

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 5

 C. Hill & B. Lane Cold Storage
Construction materials: made from scratch with
Evergreen styrene. Types of freight cars received:
refrigerator cars and boxcars
J. Bird Feed and Seed
Construction materials: made from a Walthers
kit with extra details added. Types of freight cars
received: boxcars and covered hoppers.
Abbie Springs Pulp and Paper
Construction materials: scratch built using Ever-
green styrene, DPM wall modules with detail parts
from Rix, Walthers, Grandt line and Plastruct.
Types of freight cars received: boxcars, tank cars,
covered hoppers and pulpwood cars.
As you can see, a variety of freight cars by man-
Area where the Grain Supply and the Fuel Supply will go. ufacturers such as Lionel, Atlas, Intermountain and Red
from a Lionel freight house kit. Types of freight cars received: Caboose are used.
boxcars.
Kilkenny Widget Company
Construction materials: scratch built using
Evergreen styrene with windows and doors
from Grandt Line. Types of freight cars
received: boxcars.
The Fuel Depot & Grain Supply Company
Still to be built on a section of layout that
has just been added. When these are finished
they will receive tank cars, boxcars and cov-
ered hoppers.
Industries in Abbie Springs
Termite Lumber Company
Construction materials: made from two
Walthers lumber yard kits with extra details.
Types of freight cars received: bulkhead and
regular flatcars, plus boxcars.
Termite Lumber Company

The Great Central Railway has been, and still

is, a fun layout to build and operate in the space I
have to model in. Although I said at the start of
the article that the layout is about 90% complete,
as we all know layouts are never complete and
there are always changes. If you had chance to
see the article in the March 2003 issue of Rail-
road Model Craftsman magazine you will notice
there have been changes on my layout. The
motive power has changed, the SW, GP and RS
units are gone and have been replaced by three
GE 70 ton diesels made by RY Models. These
are excellent models and fit more to the operation
of the layout. Also, the paint scheme has had a
change. The logo has been replaced with a cigar
band with the name and number on it. A new
C. Hill & B. Lane Cold Storage

6 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

 J. Bird Feed & Seed ( Farmers CO-OP)

Abbie Springs Pulp and Paper Company

section has been added at Tara Mills with a new siding and this
means new buildings to be built; there's lots to keep me busy.
The diamond and interlocking tower have also been replaced
with a canal and a new building. Future plans include replac-
ing the staging yard
with the town of
Inwood, which will
include a yard and
engine house.
For a small layout,
the Great Central has a
lot of operation on it,
and keeps the crews
busy for at least 3 hours
every operating ses-
sion. I hope you have
enjoyed your visit to my layout as much as I have building it.
'til next time, Happy modeling!
◆

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 7

 Resources
Right-O’-Way
23682 Road 15 1/2, Chowchilla,
CA 93610
BK Enterprises
c/o Trout Creek Engineering,
12874 County Road 314B
Buena Vista, Colorado 81211
Tortoise slow-action switch motors
Train America Studios
4137 Boardman-Canfield Rd, Ste
LL02, Canfield OH 44406, Ph:
330-533-7181,
[info@scalecommand.com]
Digitrax
450 S Cemetery St, ste 206,
Norcross, GA 30071
Soundtraxx
210 Rocky Point Dr, Durango, CO
81301
Woodland Scenics
PO Box 98 Linn Creek MO 65052

Figure 1: Diagram of how the bench work on the GCR was built.

# 22
switches
the Abbie
Springs
Pulp and
Paper
Company

8 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

 Have you ever gone to a show
and admired those beautiful struc-
ture models entered in competitions
or walked into a hobby shop and opened up a “craftsman”
wood kit and wondered, how can I transform all those pieces

Fig. 1: Keeping in mind that jigs are not strictly reserved for structures Fig. 2: Commercial jigs can be bought to simplify bridge building. Here is a
alone, here is a wooden fence built from the jig shown in Fig. 2. “Black Bear Construction Co” plastic jig for trestle bents on the left. In the
foreground is the author’s fence jig.
of wood into the beautiful model on the box lid?
If you are like I was once, a disillusioned and frustrated the dance, but a device sometimes also called a template or fix-
modeler, there is hope. I am not going to tell you step by step ture. A jig will allow you to make accurate copies of an object
how to build your favourite craftsman model. Hopefully I will or shape. Being a “fumble fingers” myself, I have found jigs to
be the secret to better modeling and invaluable whether you
have two or 202 items to be made. Whatever you build, jigs
can be an important aid for your modeling. Take care in mak-

Fig. 3: A jig being used for one side of a crane boom made from styrene.
Fig. 4: A box of jigs that I have made over the years for various
try to put you on the right track with a few tips which will give kits and models.
you the confidence to tackle any kit you desire. That, in turn,
could lead to scratchbuilding as well. ing them and they will work wonders with that next project.
One of the handiest tools for building models of any I have enclosed some photos of various jigs that I have used
description, particularly structures like trestles, is a jig. No, not or are still using in my model building. ◆

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 9

 Nowadays, it’s pretty easy to build a ros- instructions. Did I mention that you need to “water-based” acrylic paints, such as Accu-
ter of freight cars to populate your railroad read the instructions? No? You need to read flex and the like. The big difference for us is
without having to paint and letter them. It the instructions (You read the instructions that the acrylic stuff thins with water (or a
was not always that way, back in the old before using, say, a suppository, don’t you? water/alcohol mix) and the solvent-based
days (oh, about last Thursday noon, or so). Maybe you should reconsider, especially stuff thins with brand specific solvent, or
Those of us old timers that started in O since the box says “Miracle-Gro!”). Any- “thinner”. Use both in a well-ventilated
Scale back in the late Plasticene Era (during way, read the instructions and then get a area. Follow the INSTRUCTIONS, regard-
the Bronze Age) painted and lettered all our compressor that will deliver what your ing such things as how to thin the paint for
stuff as a matter of course. You don’t have brush needs. You may want to spring for a airbrushing and the like. Although many
to, but sooner or later there will be a partic- small shop compressor with an air-tank. A folks think the newer acrylics are benign,
ular brass freight car or plastic kit that you suitable one from the Home Despot is not because they thin with water rather than
will find you absolutely must have for your much more than one of the little airbrush thinner, I would still use this stuff in a spray-
survival as a biped mammal. Unless you’re compressors from the modeling catalogue. booth. It coats your model nicely with a
going to send it out to a custom painter, you The airflow is much nicer, you’ll never hard durable finish. I imagine it would coat
are the one who will paint and letter this starve the air supply and the delivery from a your nose in a hard durable finish as well, if
puppy. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll pressure tank is much smoother than from a you were sitting in a cloud of it.
be painting a lot more than just the one car, compressor that’s running all the time. You Surround yourself in good tools and
because the ability to paint your stuff will can also use it for inflating tires and other good paints. Avoid junk; it always disap-
open up all kinds of new opportunities for things around the shop, not just painting points. Get a couple pieces of styrene sheet
you in your modeling. Here are a couple models. or sheet brass, and practice. Looks awful?
thoughts about painting and lettering. With that compressor, you need a regu- Re-read the instructions for the brush, com-
First, get good tools. Although many lator. This is the gizmo that you twiddle pressor, paints, regulator, etc. (Here he goes
folks may brushpaint, those really nice fin- with to set the pressure coming out of the again!) Have your friends teach you. Try it
ishes that you get with an airbrush are hard tank and into the airbrush. Also, get a water again. Practicepracticepracticepractice.
to get unless you (imagine that!) get an air- trap that goes in the air line. Pressurizing air Once you get the hang of it, try a junk car-
brush. There are several types of airbrushes, makes the humidity in the air condense out body, and then, when you’re comfortable,
internal or external mix, double action or as water, which is a big deal when it gets paint that new car with confidence. Doesn’t
single action, each having merit. Since spit through the airbrush onto your new it look nice? Set it aside to cure.
you’ve already surrounded yourself with freight car while you’re trying to paint it. Be patient. Although most paint dries in
modeling friends, as you’ve been instructed This becomes more important if you are a matter of hours, it may be days or a week
to do by this column, my recommendation painting outdoors because you haven’t or more until the paint actually cures. Good
is to talk to all your buddies and find out taken the advice in the next paragraph, and hard cured paint is what we want, because
what they are using. Most of us in our local it’s summertime in the Deep South. next time we will be abusing our nice fresh
klatch are using older Paasche airbrushes, Spray-booths are worthwhile, because color coat with lettering, a clear sealing
while I stick with the bombproof single you can paint indoors year-round without coat, and maybe some weathering.
action external mix Binks Wren. I have breathing all that noxious paint smell. The While you’re waiting for the mailman to
three, two with different sized nozzles and reason it smells bad is because it can harm bring you the next issue of OST, clean out
one used just for clear coats. That’s far more your health. Get a good spray-booth and the airbrush thoroughly. Any paint (acrylics
neurotic than you need to get at this point. read the instructions (There he goes again are especially prone to this) remaining in the
Get a quality tool, similar to what your with the instructions bit!). They will tell you works of that beautiful tool will adversely
friends are using so they can advise you. If how to put it in so that it will work properly affect the operation when you fire it up
they are happy with, and familiar with and save your lungs. Do it their way! Then again. Clean it out before putting your tools
Azteks, get an Aztek! (Ed. note: I have an use the d#%n thing! away for the evening, because when the
Aztek, Paasche, and Thayer & Chandler. Speaking of paints, they come in a cou- paint cures, it’s not meant to come off. It will
The Aztec rules!) ple forms nowadays. One is the time-hon- be all the harder to get out of the works of
Second, get a compressor now! Those ored solvent-based, usually with a your airbrush then. How do you clean one?
little cans of compressed air are not worth petroleum carrier/solvent. Floquil, Scale- You guessed it! It’s in the INSTRUCTIONS!
the... well, you know. Your airbrush will coat, as well as the various lacquers are all Meanwhile...Let’s go Exploring! ◆
have the pressure ranges you’ll need in the solvent based. Newer to our world are the

10 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

 SUNSET PRR Q1... FIRST IMPRESSIONS
"My Q-1 arrived -- and after a couple of hours of running, it's everything
I expected, and more. Out of box, it's 100% and a smooth runner, and
visually flawless -- naturally. - G.B.

TO CK
IN S OW
N

SKIRTED
Don't miss your last opportunity to own one or both ver-
sions of the finest PRR engine ever produced in O Scale.

Attendees at the York TCA meet were “Blown Away” watch-

ing this locomotive crawl around a multi level layout with-
out skipping a beat. This baby is built to run...

CALL YOUR DEALER TODAY!

UNSKIRTED
Features Include: - Fireman and Engineer Figures in Fully Detailed Cab
- Huge Pittman Motor with Flywheel - Glazed Windows with painted Handles and Dials
- Steel Ball Bearing Gearbox with Bronze and Steel Gears - Directional Constant Voltage Lighting
- Complete Running Gear with working oiler linkage - Lighted Classification and Market Lights
- 32” Length, 15 Lbs. of Muscle - Working Drop Scale Coupler on Pennsy Pilot
- 56” O Scale Track Ready - Kadee Ready Mount on Tender
- Working Cab Roof Vent, Turret and Tender Water Hatches

SUNSET MODELS INC.

37 South Fourth Street · Campbell, CA 95008 · 408-866-1727 · fax to 408-866-5674 · www.3rdrail.com
 d Easy
ick an
Qu

By Herm Botzow, Photos by Bob Simmons

Photo 1: Gas electric No.18 emerges from under a viaduct and skirts a vertical bluff made of sandstone castings on Herm Botzow’s Buckeye RR.
One level of castings separates the river from the roadbed and three levels of castings form the bluff behind the track. The gas electric is an
Indiana RR RPO that has been extensively reworked by Harry Hieke, Jr., of Eagle’s Nest Miniatures.
I recently discovered in my local The stones are often applied to exte- what less so that the top of the plywood
building and supply showroom a prod- rior masonry finishes of house founda- is hidden by the castings. The table
uct for quickly building realistic sand- tions for a decorative effect. The should be able to support the weight of
stone bluffs in those tight places company also offers limestone castings the castings and there should be a lip for
between the tracks and the back of the in this configuration. the bottom of the castings to rest on if
train table. The product is “Stacked It’s best if you can pick these up at your table is of open girder construc-
Stone” Sandstone manufactured by your distributor because they break eas- tion.
Eldorado Stone. If you call them they ily with rough handling. My first box Now, arrange the various pieces so
can provide you with the address of the included many broken pieces, but, that joints do not overlap with those
nearest distributor. when the broken pieces were placed above or below. Apply a liberal amount
“Stacked Stone” are pieces of cast next to each other on the layout, the of acrylic latex caulk to the plywood and
sandstone that are 4 inches high, a max- cracks were not very visible and, in any attach the first course of castings. The
imum of 11⁄4" thick and come in three event, looked quite natural. next course can be applied as soon as the
lengths: 8", 12" and 20". Within the 4" Installing these casting on the layout caulk for the previous course sets. An
height are three courses of sandstone of is quick and easy because sandstone almond color caulk is a close match to
varying height, length and thickness for bluffs normally are bedded horizontally the color of the sandstone. Attach some
providing a random appearance. A 20" (See Photo 1). lichen and trees and, voila, a bluff!
piece weighs slightly over 31⁄4 lbs. The First, secure a piece of 1⁄4" plywood To make a more complex bluff, cre-
pieces come in a box that is 24" by 18" vertically at least 11⁄4" back from the ate rock shelves by adding additional
by 91⁄2". The box of assorted lengths desired face of your cliff. The height of plywood with the thickest section at the
weighs about 75 lbs. and includes the bluff should be in increments of 4" base and a series of decreasing thickness
enough pieces to cover an area of 11 if you wish to avoid cutting the pieces above (See Photo 2). Remember to
square feet. and the last increment should be some- make the top of each tier less than 4"

12 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

 Photo 2: A Buckeye freight headed by an F-3
approaches Pittsburgh tower nestled at the
base of a sandstone bluff. The bluff is
comprised of five layers of castings, with the
two top layers set back from the one below
to provide space for trees and brush. The
top layer is only 1/4 inch in front of the wall
of the train room. The tower is set in a niche
in the bluff that is disguised by the vertical
row of lichen above the engine cab. The loco
is an Atlas shell and P&D Hobby chassis
painted in Buckeye colors and weathered by
Dave Widman.

high. For added variety, have these pro-

trusions end at different spots along the HARD TO FIND RAILROAD
bluff. Or, use just one piece to represent COLOR PHOTOS & SLIDES Now Available in
275 Companies and 1,500 views available
an outcropping on the slope of a plaster
hill. As a final touch, find some loose
in color. Major Railroads, Shortlines, O Scale
Industrials, Cabooses, Freight Cars, MOW,
sandstone and scatter it along the base etc., from the 60's to the present. Inventory 3-rail and 2-rail
and the various ledges to simulate fallen of over 24,000 types of railroad equipment.
stones. Also consider inclining the beds, Send for our 28-page catalog – $3.00
Colorado & Southern
especially if working with the limestone. Includes a free 5 x 7 photo! 40' steel boxcars
At some point, you may want to cut RAIL PHOTOS UNLIMITED
the castings to fit a specific space. This P.O. BOX 230 ● Joliet, IL 60434-2306 4 road numbers available
can be done with a sharp hacksaw or www.RailPhotosUnlimited.com
$40.00 with $10.00
more quickly with a carbide-tipped cir-
cular saw blade. Extend the blade at S&H
least 15⁄8" below the saw table and place
the casting outside on the lawn with the
Die-cast sprung trucks
finished surface down to make your cut. available $10.00/car
Be sure to wear goggles, a mask, gloves
and protective clothing. Your blade will
be dulled and your saw and clothing available from:
covered with fine dust when you are Joint Line Reproductions
through. ◆
Resources
P.O. Box 906
Eldorado Stone, Greencastle, PA 17225, Littleton, CO 80160
(717) 597-1969

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 13

Tra c t i on the background which is now a hotel.
The trolley operation follows the old
Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley
Electric Ry. right-of-way for some
Roger Jenkins distance and now runs through the one

A c t io n mile tunnel. I rode it this past summer.

The bracket arm poles are typical
suburban line supports for the over-
head and have back-guys to hold them
The last article had photos that I did straight, as seen in the photos. They
not explain. They were taken at the are on opposite sides of the track here
Orange Empire Ry. Museum in Perris, as the line has an S-curve there and
California. Note the 3 rail trackage! The these poles are placed on the outside
inner rail is for the narrow gage Los of the curves to support the overhead
Angeles Ry. cars they have there and is better. Pull-offs are run to the back-guy #1 - Typical installation of a bracket arm pole on a
set at 3'6". Denver Tramways also had wires that are strung between poles. single track line.
this gage. Photo 2 shows a loop segment on
This month we have two photos of the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum near than in last issue's photos. These can be
overhead wire work. In photo #1, the Washington, Pa. The wire was strung duplicated by cutting the regular hang-
bracket arm poles are on the Electric over the new location for their end-of- ers in half. Some pull-offs are not fin-
City Trolley operation at Steamtown, line loop which was put up with a line ished here as the wire end is loosely
near Scranton, Pa. Many people will truck as the track was laid later. You can wound over itself. Later the line crew
recognize the Scranton RR Station in plainly see the half hangers here better will tidy this up by winding individual
strands around the cable to form a more
permanent connection.
Cheers!
rogertrolley.1@juno.com ◆

620 Wright Loop Williamstown, N.J. 08094 — 2-RAIL

SS PRR I-1 2-10-0 Original Unpainted ( SHORT TDR. ) $1,120

SS PRR Q-2 4-4-6-4 F⁄P $1,480
SS PRR S-1 6-4-4-6 F⁄P Shrouded ⁄ Unshrouded $1500 each
SS PRR P5a F⁄P BOXCAB $800
SS PRR FF2 F⁄P $850
SS PRR P5a F⁄P MODIFIED (baby GG1) $750
SS PRR B-1 F⁄P $750

#2 - Pull-off construction on a loop. SS PRR E-6 4-4-2 Original U⁄P $725

SS PRR N-1 2-10-2 F⁄p $1,150
SS B&O 2-8-0 F⁄P $750

T-BONE MODELS SS PRR J1 2-10-4 F⁄P $1,275

O Scale SS PRR HH1 2-8-8-2

SS PRR G-5 4-6-0
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$850
Realty CB PRR T-1 4-4-4-4- C⁄P Light. weathering $3,500
Realistic WSM PRR J1 2-10-4 C⁄P Light weathering $1,750
Weathered
Structures in
“O” Scale WSM PRR Q-2 4-4-6-4 U⁄P $2,500
WSM PRR M1 4-8-2 U⁄P Cab detail (NOB) $1,380
O Scale CUSTOM PAINTING & REPAIR
USH PRR M1a 4-8-2 C⁄P extra detail, by H. Hieke $1,500
Scratchbuilt Dealer for Pacific Limited
From Your Sunset & Weaver OMI PRR M1a 4-8-2 U⁄P Mint $2,300
Photos, OMI UP 2-8-8-2 EX N&W Y3 $2,550
Plans or T-Bone Models James Christensen
32264 Cleveland ALC PRR K-4 4-6-2 U⁄P Broadway Limited Streamlined $1,400
Ideas! Cottage Grove, OR 97424-9381 WIL PRR T-1 4-4-4-4 U⁄P 2 Railed by Trackside $1,100
(Will also build & weather your kits) email tbone@epud.net
WIL PRR L-1 2-8-2 2 Railed by Trackside $750
Reed Artim 541-942-5237
Ph: 973-472-7456 Send SASE for information Call 856-629-9702 Between 6 and 10 PM EST
75 Woodridge Rd, Clifton NJ 07012

14 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

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•
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Others claim higher outputs but
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•
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Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 15

Converting a
Lionel Gondola
to Two Rail

By Mike Culham
The availability of freight cars in O Disassembling The Car I use Polly Scale earth color #414311
scale is ever expanding; there are more Remove the trucks. (If you know any (Photo 2). Next paint the brake chain
and more choices. Atlas has over a half three rail modelers out there, sell them (Photos 3 & 4) using a matching color
dozen different cars and have more to the trucks. I do.) to the one used on the car. I also paint
come. Then there are manufactures such Remove the ends. This is done by out “Built by Lionel” (Photos 5 & 6). I
as Red Caboose and Weaver. They have pulling outward on the side and lifting can see the Lionel collectors cringing
a good selection and, while stocks last, the end out, (do both ends). already.
there is Intermountain, plus there are Remove the floor and weight. You’ll
other companies producing car kits. find two screws in between the center 2
In the past year, there has been a new- beams of the car, one at each end. These
comer to the detailed scale freight car hold the floor and the weight in the car.
market. Lionel is producing a series of Once this is done you should have seven
nicely detailed cars that match the fine parts from this car. (Photo 1)
work of Atlas. However, there is one Painting The Car
drawback with these—they are only pro- With the car disassembled, the first
duced in three rail. thing I do is paint the floor a wood color.
On the Great Central there is a need
for freight cars, and about a year ago I 1 3
saw one of these new Lionel cars for the
first time. It was their PS-5 Gondola.
This was well detailed and I knew I had
to get one or more. They are reasonably
priced so I purchased three of these
beauties. Now I will show you how I did
the conversion. It’s a job that can be done
in 30 minutes at a reasonable price.

16 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

 4 completed, paint the new bolster the Reassembling The Car
same color as the car. Once all the above items are done you
can reassemble the car, first the weight
9 12

Building The New Car Bolster

This takes a few steps but they are
easy. Cut off the raised bolster lug
(Photo 7). File a flat surface on the bol- Installing Couplers & Air Hoses and the floor, then the ends.
ster about 1⁄8 inch wide. This will enable Using the styrene strips mentioned Putting New Trucks On The Car
you to attach the new bolster (Photo 8). I use Athearn trucks any time I do a
10
5
13

6
puts the car at the right height for the
Make a new bolster out of Evergreen couplers to be mounted to the bottom of 14
styrene Part # 169 0.80" x 0.250". Make
two of these 11⁄8" in length. Glue these to
the car. (Photo 9). Also, out of the same 11

replacement on a car, as they are sprung

and track better than a rigid truck. I also
the car. Here I used Kadee #800 rust red
couplers and the boxes from a #804 15
black coupler. I cut off the trip pins from
styrene strip make two pieces 3⁄8" long. the couplers because uncoupling tools
These are glued to the first strip, making are used when operating on the GCR.
sure that it is centered (Photo 10). Drill Drill two holes and tap for 2-56 mount-
and tap the bolster for a 2-56 machine ing screws at both ends of the car.
screw (Photo 11). With the above steps Assemble the couplers as directed by
8 Kadee and mount them with a 2-56
machine screw,( Photo 12). I used delrin
screws because it is easier to cut them
flush with the deck of the car. (Photos 13 use Intermountain 33 inch metal wheel
and 14). Once the couplers are mounted sets (P/N IRC 20050). The face and back
add the air hoses (Berkshire Valley #314) of the wheels are painted as well as the
then paint them (Photo 15). axle, leaving the tread and flange
unpainted, (Photo 16) These can be
painted black or, as I did on this car, a

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 17

Converting a Lionel
Gondola to Two Rail
rust color was used (Model Master #4675). Mount the truck on
the car using a brass 3⁄8"
16 2-56 machine screw
(Photo 17).
The Finished Car
Once the car is assem-
bled and the trucks put
on, spray it with Testor’s
Dull Cote to take off the
sheen. Now you have a
good looking gondola for
your layout. I now have five gondolas on the Great Central
Railway and a total of eight Lionel O scale cars from this
series. This method can be used on all the new Lionel cars that
are coming out, and those that have been released already. (See
my product news in OST issue #9 for a list of cars). These are
limited runs, so put in
your reservations at your 17
local hobby shop.
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18 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

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20 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04
 These three photos are from Andy Romano’s now defunct
Ironbound RR. Andy says the Ironbound was, “... an experiment
to see just how small a functioning O Scale pike could be made.
It was a folding, three-section, switching pike mounted on legs
and wheels for easy movement. The center section was
approximately 2' x 5' with fold-down ‘wings’ hinged to each end
of the central section. So, when opened fully, it was 2' x 15' and
folded down to no more than 2' x 51⁄2'. Small enough to fit in
anyone’s garage, apartment or spare room.”

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 21

These three photos are all
Atlas gondolas that Pete
Trunk has repainted,
decaled, and weathered
for his O Scale pike, the
Philadelphia & Erie.

22 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

 Left A scene
from Joe
Fiore’s layout
in Alabama.
Those are
Overland GE
U50c’s rebuilt
by Stew
Kleinschmidt.

Right: A B&O wagon top covered

hopper by Ron Gribler. The car has a
wooden core with .010" styrene
overlays. The ribs are styrene strips
drawn through a die to shape. The
panels with embossed rivets are
paper labels. The ends are built from
brass shapes and ladder stock.
Commercial parts include decals,
trucks, couplers, brake components
and grab irons.

Below: Five of the many Lionel scale

cars on Mike Culham’s
Great Central Railway.

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 23

 9:00A-5:00P Contest Room Open
Time TBD Metro Shops Tour (Afternoon)
7:00P-10:00P Layout Tours
Friday, 26 July
8:30A-5:30P Registration Desk Open
9:00A-5:00P Sales Hall Open
7:00P-10:00P Layout Tours
Saturday, 27July
An
An Overview
Overview of
of SONC
SONC 2004
2004 8:30A-3:00P Registration Desk Open
9:00A-5:00P Sales Hall Open
2:00P Contest Room Closes
6:30P-7:30P Cocktail Hour-Cash Bar
O Scale National Convention 2004
7:30P-9:30P Dinner, Awards, Convention Bid Presentations
by Brian Scace
Last time, we looked at some of the attractions around the Sunday, 28 July
Washington area available to you and your family during As Available Layout Tours
your visit to the 2004 O Scale National. Now, let’s look at the
Convention activities themselves. The info here is up to date There are some 25 layouts scheduled for layout tours, rang-
at this writing, but be sure to check the website at ing from the modest sized to the gargantuan, representing
[www.2004onational.com] for updated information as Con- every discipline from scale/Hirail through Proto48, giving
vention time draws near. attendees an appreciation of the broad spectrum of O activity
Here are some general notes. in the DC area. We’ll be looking at some of them in the next
• First, the dealer’s hall will only be open during the day, issue of OST.
from 9AM to 5PM, so dealers can also enjoy the other activi- Then, in the May issue, we’ll tell you about some of the
ties planned. clinics and presentations scheduled, have a quick look around
• There will be layout tours on Wednesday (July 24), for the sales hall and contest room, and check some last minute
your convenience while arriving at the Convention, and Sun- details.
day (July 28) for that last look on the way home. Meanwhile, don’t forget about the Convention cars, photos
• Tours of Union Station and the Metro Shop Facilities of which are shown below and are featured on the website we
will be available on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday mentioned at the beginning. There will also be another con-
afternoon respectively. vention car, a new release, that will be available only at the
• Clinics, Meetings, and Presentations will be held on convention. To get your cars, and register for the convention,
Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The schedule for clinics, you can download the registration form from the convention
meetings, and presentations will be posted on the website as web site at [www.2004onational.com]. For the flyers, “2004 O
soon as it is in a final form, and also published in the May Scale National Convention”, and “Washington: 50 Things to
issue of OST. Do and See”, email [sonc2004@hotmail.com], or write to
Here’s the overall schedule of events as of this writing: Capital Area O Scalers
Wednesday, 24 July 2004 O Scale National Convention
1:00P-5:00P Early Registration Desk Open P.O. Box 42563
Time TBD Amtrak/Union Station Tour (Afternoon) Washington D.C. 20015
1:00P-5:00P Dealer Setup For hotel info, and reservations, be sure you mention the
6:00P-7:00P Dealer Reception (for exhibiting dealers 2004 O Scale National Convention when you contact:
only, not for early arrivals please) Hyatt Regency, Crystal City at Reagan National Airport
7:00P-10:00P Layout Tours 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA 22202
Thursday, 25 July
1-800-233-1234
8:00A-9:00A Dealer Setup
OST is a proud sponsor of the 2004 O Scale National. Are you?
8:30A-5:30P Registration Desk Open
“See you for a Capital Convention!” ◆
9:00A-5:00P Sales Hall Open

24 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

 Norm’s “O” Scale Trains
BLOW OUT SALE!
SGL Lines
RDG G3
2-rail: $695
3-rail: $795

SGL Lines
RDG “Blimp” Cars
5 car set: $995
2 car extra: $419

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3-rail: $695
Reading G1, #G1098 — Reading G2sa, #G1099

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2 Rail Inventory Reduction
Sunset Erie Camelback 0-8-8-0 $995
Sunset NYC J1a/J1d Hudson 4-6-4 $975
USH PRR K4 4-6-2 (several avail.) $795
Sunset PRR Q1 4-6-4-4 (skirt/unskirt) $1375
Sunset PRR N1 2-10-2 $975
Sunset SP F3 2-10-2 w/clamshell stack $995
Norm’s “O” Scale Trains, 41 Roosevelt Trail, S. Casco ME 04077
www.normsoscale.com • 207-655-2550 • info@normsoscale.com

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 25

 They're not hard to make

Marty Iftody
Photos by Gloria Hurtado Luna

Have you ever wanted working 1.5v grain-of-rice, 1.2mm diameter. The mine on big chunks of brass which also
marker lamps in your cabooses? package didn’t have a manufacturer. served as car weights.
Wouldn’t it be pleasing to have caboose Each bag contained 10 bulbs. Each circuit requires only one bat-
lamps that don’t flicker and are not You don’t have to make your own tery, the ones I used are “no-name”
affected by track conditions? They’re circuit. It may save you time if you buy NiCad because they came in sets of
not hard to make. Using the procedure a kit or a pre-assembled circuit from a three from a surplus store. Each one is
below, each caboose requires only 4-8 manufacturer. If you don’t want to build roughly equivalent to an AAA or N cell.
hours of your time depending on how a circuit, jump to part B. The resistor programs the chip. It gets
things go and how fast you work. Part A: Circuit Construction hot, too, so it needs to be rated for at
What You’ll Need: The circuit I used is a very basic one, least 0.5 W. The ones I used were rated
• Metal wheels. I was lucky with utilizing a programmable voltage regu- at 1W, 5.6 Ohms. Luckily, the combina-
these retrofits as they already had metal lator chip, LM-317T. It’s been in pro- tion of this battery, these two light bulbs,
wheels, but you may need to buy some duction for about 20 years now, and will and this resistor value worked well
from a company like NorthWest Short probably remain in production because together. If the LM-317T seems to be
Line or Precision Scale Company. computer manufacturers use it in power “straining”, your battery may be too big
• It’s easier to install a circuit in a new supplies. Model railroad uses of this for it, or the light bulbs may be drawing
model. One caboose I retrofitted had to chip were detailed in Model Railroader, too much current to allow the battery to
have it’s side taken off. With another, I October 1986 pp 94-97, and Railroad charge. If this happens, you may have to
went in through a removable cupola, Model Craftsman, September 1991 pp experiment with different batteries,
and on another the entire roof was 62-63. (Ed. note: Also see Model Rail- resistor values, or bulbs.
removable. roader, January 1981.) This circuit need not be expensive. I
• Metal marker lamp castings. The I chose not to use a PC board. There bought the batteries in Toronto, Canada,
metal will absorb heat: brass castings are so few components, a PC board will from a store called Active Surplus for
are stronger than white-metal or pot- not save space. This circuit gets HOT, so $1.99 each. The other components came
metal ones. it needs to be mounted on a heat sink. from another store in Toronto called
• Bulbs. The bulbs I used were red Use heat sink grease, too. I mounted Supremetronic for the following prices:
26 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04
 Some of these cabooses already had brass
marker lamps. This photo shows the brass
marker lamps removed. The lenses will be
removed, and they will be drilled out on three
sides, and through the back. I didn’t feel it Drill out the lamps. Make sure you are not Drill holes in the caboose body for the lamp
was necessary to install lenses because it distorting or damaging them with the vice. It wires. The holes should be directly behind the
would add considerable time to the project. may be necessary to use pieces of wood to lamps if possible, and should be as small as
Incandescent bulbs are more suitable for this hold the castings. Wear a faceshield! Do not possible.
application than tiny LEDs because they hold the castings with your fingers. Test fit
shine in all directions, with a more natural the bulbs in the drilled-out castings. If
looking light. LEDs are focused, so to shine necessary, drill again or use a slightly
light in 3 directions, you’d need 3 LEDs. bigger bit. Don’t force the bulb.

This is a scratchbuilt model of Canadian Pacific caboose 436957 with a completed circuit & brass
heatsink, plus the basic materials for constructing wipers: small squares of PC board, styrene, and
Each time you handle the circuit, you risk a sheet of phosphor bronze. This model was made from cardboard and wood in the 1950's and is
breaking a wire or a solder connection. Make currently owned by Stuart MacAdam.
sure the circuit works before you finish 220 Mfd, 35V capacitor: $0.50, 1A 50v cuit receives power for only a few min-
installing it! The removable roof on this bridge rectifier: $0.50, LM-317T volt- utes, the lamps will go out right away
caboose made this installation the easiest
age regulator: $0.50, 5.6 Ohm. 1W when power is removed. If the circuit
one yet. You can see the piece of brass the
LM-317T chip is attached to and how the
resistor: $0.12. These prices may seem receives current for more than a few
resistor is soldered directly to the legs of the outrageously low, but each part may minutes, the battery will charge and the
chip. The brass bar is attached to the floor have cost the retailer only a few cents. lamps will stay on longer. During an
with silicone, and the battery has been There’s no need to pay $2.99 for two operating session lasting a few hours,
siliconed in place, too, so it won’t bang resistors at Radio Shack and you won’t the battery will charge enough to power
around and break any wires when the car is find low resistor values there, anyway. the lamps for 30 minutes or more. A
picked up. The lamps are installed from the Some electronics companies offer mail completely dead battery will draw 1A of
outside. Wires are inserted into the holes and order service, such as Digi-Key, but current for about one second. This will
pulled from the inside. This operation is easy there may be a minimum order amount. go down to 0.1 A or less immediately.
unless the model has corner posts. It may
How the Circuit Works The circuit may also produce some
take some re-drilling to clear all wood chips
and burrs that prevent the fine wires from
The lamps will light as soon as there humming.
entering the carbody. is more than 3.6v in the rails. If the cir-

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 27

 Part B: Circuit Installation & Wipers
The material that works best for
wipers is phosphor bronze, and is
available from Clover House. They
offer two sizes, but go with the
thicker. Why use phosphor bronze
when you may already have some
brass or copper in your scrapbox?
phosphor bronze is springier than
brass. You can press it tight against
The wipers need not be large. In fact, the the back of a wheel, and it will still Finished pickups, "normal" installation. Note backs of
smaller they are, the easier they are to control. turn. A brass or copper wiper wheels are still black. They were completely cleaned
You can see how they’re shaped in a flattened would lock it up like a brake. phos- later when I realized this black oxide didn't conduct
“Z”. Cut them from the phosphor bronze sheet phor bronze can take a lot of bend- electricity.
with a razor saw, and shape the curved ends ing and manipulation without
with a motor tool. (Wear a face shield. It’s also breaking.
a good idea to wear a dust mask so you don't In most cases, I used small
end up breathing the material the cutoff wheel squares of single-sided PC board to
is made of.)
mount the wipers, raising it to the
correct height with as many as 3
pieces of 0.040"
styrene. All of this
was laminated
with CA glue. The
whole assembly Finished pickups, special installation for leaf-spring
was glued to the trucks. Angled pieces of brass have been attached to
back of the truck two 0.010" pieces of styrene with CA, which are
sideframe in the attached to the truck bolster. The styrene pieces
center, allowing insulate the wipers, which are soldered to the sides of
Clean the PC board pieces with steel wool or fine sandpaper. If any the wipers to the brass angles. Note how all blackening has been
grease or oil is present, wipe them off with lacquer thinner. After “track” their removed from the back of the wheel. Don’t let the
the styrene and PC board pieces have been attached to the inside wipers touch the axle.
respective wheels
of the sideframe with CA, tin the PC board pieces with solder. Tin
the side of the wiper to be attached, then solder it to the PC board
as the truck wheels. You can’t assume all chemical
while holding it tigh against the wheel with needle nosed pliers. equalized. Make sure blackeners conduct electricity.
the sideframe is clean, This circuit doesn’t draw much cur-
or the CA won’t rent, and it’s not critical (i.e., it doesn’t
stick. One caboose run the locomotive’s motor), so only one
had a nice set of pair of wipers is necessary. Adding more
trucks with work- wipers will add more rolling resistance.
ing leaf springs. It Make sure the circuit inside the
looked great, but I caboose body is not touching any metal
wasn’t able to screws or parts of the frame. Insulate it
mount wipers in as necessary with styrene, and fix it in
the usual way. place with silicone. One caboose puz-
Instead, I made zled me with a mystery short between
two brass brackets the truck and metal frame. I laminated
and soldered the pieces of 0.040" styrene together to
wipers to their make an insulated bolster. The short
sides. Make sure finally disappeared.
the wiper does not These wipers are non- adjustable. Of
Drilling holes for pickup wires. This is done over the pickup wheels. I
used leftover wire from the lamps to connect the wipers to the circuit.
touch the axle, and course, you can adjust their tension and
Whatever wire you use, it needs to be flexible and should not interfere clean off any paint attitude with a soldering iron and nee-
with the motion of the truck. Solid wire will eventually break, particularly or blackener from dle-nosed pliers, but you can’t remove
if it is made of copper. the backs of the the wheelsets from the caboose without

28 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

 2-56 machine screw
Attach LM-317T angled piece of 0.040" brass
to heatsink wiper contacts back
using 4-40x1⁄2" Apply heatsink of wheel
#43 hole
machine screw grease between
back of LM-317T phosphor bronze wiper
LM317T and heatsink (soldered to brass angle)

to
5.6 Ohm pickup glue to back of truck
in
out
adjust

1W resistor wipers sideframe with CA

#50 hole,
tap 2-56

+
1A 50v 3 pieces of 0.040"
bridge styrene laminated
220 paci

rectifier
together with CA
ca
mf tor
d3
5v

Fig. 2
Resources:
+ Northwest Short Line, PO Box 423,
1.2v Ni-Cad battery
Seattle WA 98111, www.nwsl.com,
Fig. 1
206-932-1087
Precision Scale Company, PO Box 278,
unsoldering the wipers. If disassembly luck with it. The lamps will draw atten- Stevensville MT 59870,
406-777-5071
for maintenance is necessary, try this tion to a part of the train nobody noticed Digi-Key Corp., 701 Brooks Ave South,
adjustable version, which can be used before. Best of all, this project won’t Thief River MN 56701,
on locomotives, too (See Fig. 2). If you take much of your time. ◆ 800-344-4539, www.digikey.com
try this circuit, I hope you have good Clover House, PO Box 62M,
Sebastopol, CA 95473-0062

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Models will be built with details for five
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includes 6 containers. Decals available
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7 Edgedale Court, Wyomissing, PA 19610 - Phone: 1-610-678-2834

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 29

WILLIAM KENDALL probably has all of this, or you can mail order much for a beginner.
Up until about 1950, about the first fifty them from someone like Micro-Mark. Again, The first thing to do with any kit is open
years of modeling railroading, only wood, you do not have to have them but the proper the box and count all of the parts to be certain
paper, and metal were available for the pro- tools really do help. They are a hobby (or they are all there. Sine most kit makers are
duction of scale model trains. It may surprise razor) saw, needle files, hobby (X-acto ) individuals, their service far exceeds any of
some familiar with only plastic models that knifes, cement, tweezers, and a small square. the corporations with which I have dealt. If a
such “traditional” kits still exist, and building Also needed are sandpaper, hobby paints, part is missing just write or call, and it will be
them is truly a connection with our heritage. wood (sanding) sealer, and brushes. Wood sent to you almost immediately. I often lose
At one time, the “ready to run” models takes brushed on paint very well. I use tradi- very small bits. Grab irons, and small plastic
and kits were so crude that if you wanted an tional Floquil paints, mainly because I have pieces, once shot off the work bench, tend to
accurate model you had to build it from been using them for years, and find they end in limbo. And, if your dog ate it, be sure
scratch. For years the only truly accurate work better for me than the acrylics. But if and tell the maker. They can use a good
models were built by scratch or by superde- you have experience with acrylics continue laugh just like the rest of us.
tailing one of the traditional kits. Today, that to use them. Experience in painting does Photo 2 shows the basic wood box. This
has changed, the incredible detail and accu- count. I also recommend that you start with a is your freight car, and must be square. Use a
racy of modern kits and ready-to-run models car that has preprinted sides. Decals are square, and then block and clamp the struc-
is almost impossible to beat by a home ture. Leave it to dry
builder. But, that does not mean that the joys 1 overnight. By "block" I
found by generations of modelers in build- mean a rough sort of jig. I
ing from traditional materials should be use the cut-off ends
denied. So, I hope this brief article will stim- (scrap) of a couple of
ulate those of you who have not yet tried this 2x4's to hold the car
aspect of our hobby. square while it is drying,
It is quite probable that you already have as well as my ubiquitous
everything you need to assemble a wooden rubber bands. This is a
kit in your home. However, a trip to most simple process, but needs
hobby shops will make the job easier. Tradi- to be done properly. If the
tional slow drying white glue can be used, body is not square the car
but I prefer Ambroid brand for a couple of will never be right. The
reasons. It dries faster. It is waterproof, and it glues used on wood set up
seems stronger. The faster drying is not as slowly so there is plenty
important as you might think, since a lot of of time for adjustment. I
assemblies really should be left clamped have sealed the wood
overnight (rubber bands do nicely here). But, both before glueing, and
in humid areas everything that you can do to after construction, yet I
cut down on possible warpage should be cannot tell any difference.
done. The two most important things are great, but to do a good job you must go There are adherents for both methods. Take
sealing all the wood, and utilizing materials through several steps, and be very patient. your choice.
which do not readily absorb water. If you do Decals absolutely must have a smooth sur- Follow the kit instructions and attach
these two things then, even if left outside, face for good adherence, and that means you printed sides, ends, bolsters, and other parts.
your wooden model will last for years. If you must put a gloss coat over the painted area Again, do not rush. Sides, ends, roof and roof
have been in O Scale for a few years, you upon which you wish to decal, then line up walks, and the basic underframe should all
have likely seen handmade cars fifty, sixty, or and affix the decals, and finally put another be dry before you start detailing. Photo 3
even seventy years old. dull coat over them to erase the decal shine shows an almost finished Ye Olde Huff and
Photo 1 shows some tools to use which and get the whole surface to have the same Puff kit. The doors slide, and the interior
will make life easier. Your local hobby shop texture/reflectivity. All of this can be too wood has been stained and scribed to appear
30 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04
 4
in scale when viewed. Yes, I will have to go and tie that one off too. There should be just come in all
back and paint over the shine of the lower enough slack to get the queen posts under kits, but not
brass door runner, but the car still needs cou- the line, and, voila you have instant truss everyone
plers, too. You may find that some wood rods. Many turnbuckles can be threaded places all the
needs to be trimmed. Use either the saw or right onto the line as you proceed. A drop of air lines. I use
knife depending on the size of the piece. Be glue on the knots, queen-posts, and turn- copper wire
sure to measure twice before cutting. With a buckles and you are done. to make all of
the brake line
details which
can be seen
by a normal
viewer. (The
lines are
unpainted in
the photo for
clarity.)
The photo
2 at the top of
page 30
knife do not try and cut straight through a HiRailers have it easy, since they get their shows kits
piece of wood, but make several light passes trucks and couplers in one unit. But they may from three
along the edge of your square or a metal want to remove bolsters to get their cars to different man-
ruler. This prevents crushing the wood and ride low enough to look right. I use metal ufacturers: All
tends to give you a cleaner cut. trucks. They add weight where it is always Nation, Ye
Wooden kits come with all of the brads, needed, down low. Boxcar Jim has great Olde Huff
and little metal bits you need for general truck kits. Have patience when installing the and Puff, and LaBelle. LaBelle is, in my
detailing. I predrill all holes with micro- truck springs. They easily escape your opinion, the Rolls Royce of wooden kits.
drills in my pin-vise. This will prevent split- tweezers, or knife blade and shoot into the There are other manufacturers in the
ting any wood. I like the metal ladders, air. It is always interesting to hear them hit Resources list at the end of this article.
steps, and grabs which come in the kits. something much further away than you ever There is still quite a demand for these kits
Once attached, they are practically inde- believed possible. by those of us who build our own cars. Kits
structible, and you have metal where the real Two railers, be sure to double check that like these give you the ability to build cars
cars had metal. Sometimes I will dip the end your insulated wheels are on the same side. few other people have and to detail them to
of a detail part in CA glue before insertion Yes, I (and probably everyone else) have whatever level you desire. Another benefit
which makes for an even stronger joint. Be noted after assembly that the insulators are of kits is that you are learning scratchbuild-
certain to measure, and lightly draw lines for on opposite sides. A beautiful short through ing skills. Someday you may decide to build
alignment where you want the detail bits your just-finished truck. It is usually easy to that unusual car no one offers but that you
before drilling. I usually spread a sheet of pop one axle out and reverse it, but it gives must have. Finally, an assembled kit will
wax paper on my bench and paint the detail me that Well-duh-I-know-better-than-this give you a level of pride no ready-to-run
items before assembly. feeling. Couplers are your choice. They need purchase can bring. For me, it is fun to build
None of the cars pictured have truss rods, to be the same height as those on the rest of and fun to see it run. ◆
RESOURCES:
Tools
Micro-Mark, 340 Snyder Ave., Berkeley
Heights, NJ 07922

Kits
All Nation Line, 25 W St. Charles Road,
Carol Stream, IL 60188
Boxcar Jim Watson, 900 Rochester Road
SE, Jacksonville, AL 36265
3
LaBelle Woodworking, 5101 Ridge Road,
but there is secret for making truss rods easi- your stock, so line them up with existing Cheyenne, WY 82009
ly. Truss rods can be bent up out of wire, but cars. There are coupler height gauges which Realistic Railroading, PO Box 972, La
I find it easier to use nylon line. You drill aid in this operation. One of the nice things Habra, CA90633
holes in the car floor where you want the about wood is that it is relatively easy to cut Ye Olde Huff n Puff, PO Box 1103,
truss rod to touch down. Then tie off one end away or shim to obtain the proper height. Lewiston, PA 17044
and thread the nylon line back and forth Photo 4 shows a car underframe with
through the holes until you reach the far end, simple extra detailing. The brake appliances
Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 31
Crapola would be a great tax write-off. And, he got the
son-in-law out of his construction business.
Since Ho Chul Lee spoke a reasonable
were still be signed by Ho Chul Lee. What
had happened to my friend? I kept asking him
why there was a sudden change in attitude,

from the amount of English and no one at the Hyo

Dong company did, all of my correspondence
was with him. This was fine with me. I knew
but only got testosterone back.
I had been contacted by other builders in
Korea. In fact after more than 15 years, I still

Cupola him pretty well, liked him, had dealt with him
and thought he understood me and my needs
pretty well. And after all, he owed a lot to my
get a letter, fax, package, or email almost every
month from a new factory in Korea, and now
China. All of them promise me that they are
John C. Smith friend Jun, and Jun promised me that he the best. All promise me big profits by working
would be an underground advisor. I had an with them. All promise me the moon, but in
Pecos River Brass HO Scale Santa Fe heavyweight passenger car this flooded economy, they are all as hungry as
project started with Gang San that was about we are for sales. Nobody sends me a letter say-
2
Chapter XI /3 built and all we had to do was issue a new ing, “We are Ding Dong Models and we des-
Hyo Dong (pronounced sho-dong) Con- Letter of Credit, finish them and ship, using perately build crap and would like to put your
struction Company, was where Pecos River the same people but different factory name. name on the box.”
ended up, after the folding of Gang San They even agreed to do it at the same price. I got a letter from Kim, Sang Ho, who was
Model Company. Young Sik Jun was out of the That was good for me because inflation had coming to the USA and wanted to meet with
picture totally now, still in hiding from the bill run amuck since I negotiated the original me. He had a company that had to do with
collectors. I would not hear from him for price, and good for them since they got about international trade, and wanted, for some odd
years. Ho Chul Lee was now in charge, or so I everything free anyway. It gets them started on reason, to expand into the model train busi-
thought. He was originally with Dong Jin a project they know and good money up front ness. He didn’t even have a factory or any
Models, and worked on many of the early to reinvest in the new venture. employees. But I met him and spent a couple
Overland and Hallmark projects as a designer The project was finished, shipped and sold of days with him in Dallas and liked him very
(draftsman.) He had joined with two other out very well. HO, Santa Fe, good price, good much. I suggested to him how he would
department heads to go to Jun at Gang San to quantity and everyone was happy. I paid start... the same way as all others, steal
start a new company, when he saw the hand- down the debt a little. We were starting on the employees with experience from other com-
writing on the wall at Dong Jin. next project, the same passenger cars in N panies. I knew one designer from my past,
When Gang San folded, he and the same and O Scale. All the work was done, just Park, Nam Il (a very handsome man that his
group took all the plan packages, machinery, doing them in another scale. They also came friends called “Hollywood”) that I knew was
built and half-built models and anything else in on schedule but didn’t sell as well. I was very unhappy where he was, and upon return
that they could salvage to start over. In Korea, not an N Scaler myself and had a hard time to Korea, Sang Ho bought a building, and
there was no government welfare. If you had a breaking into the N Scale market, being an hired Nam Il immediately. Nam Il also had
company and wanted to close it, you had to outsider. Same was true in O Scale. I was not connections to other workers who were also
buy off all of your workers depending on how yet locked into the O Scale community, com- unhappy. Yulim factory was started. I traveled
long they had worked for you. It was welfare by ing from HO. I had previously done SF pas- to Korea within a few weeks after Sang Ho’s
private industry. If you didn’t have the money to senger cars, and these head end cars sold visit here, and saw it all. A big six story build-
close, you had to do it a different way... disap- well, not fast, but well, so I thought they ing, rented out except for one floor, where
pear. In cases like that, it was explained to me, would be ready for coaches in variations. It there was a desk with Nam Il Park sitting at it.
the workers got the assets so they could go to took a long time to sell out of N and O Scale. I gave him a very simple project to start
another finance source and start over. In fact, I still have a few N Scale models here with, to learn the business, some storage tanks
This is what happened. They went to Hyo to sell. But unlike the HO project where my in N, HO and O Scale. Of course they wanted
Dong Construction Company. The owner had market was, I was back to borrowing money. steam right away because that was where the
a new young son-in-law that was screwing up The big problem came next. We had start- money was, but they were not ready and I was
his construction business. So he bought into ed to work on the Santa Fe Bx-3/6 boxcar still paying off the bank from my last steam
the model business to get the son-in-law out project with Gang San, including work cars project two years before. We started slow.
of his way. Why not? He got the machinery, and ice reefers, but didn’t get to them before It was at the same time I met Kim, Sae Bin
plans, prospects, production and workers that the bankruptcy. So we had to negotiate all (later changed the spelling of his name to
knew what they were doing... all for free. The over again. It had been a year since Jun and I Sebin) who had Maninsan Model Company,
inventory that was built or partially built was discussed this at their factory. I thought I was later changing the name to Geum Poong
free, and all he had to do was finish them and talking (by fax) with Ho Chul Lee, but the let- Model Company. He and I hit it off perfectly
sell them to the Americans for full price, ters started to change. The price went sky right from the first meeting. I liked him very
owing no one for subcontracting that was high, the person faxing was getting a real atti- much and liked his operation. It was a growing
done for a bankrupt company. Besides, any tude. There was no understanding at all about firm, already working with other US and Euro-
money that the new branch company did lose “my side” of the partnership. But the letters pean importers, and he had his own building,

34 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

and a large staff of about 70 employees. now with three other builders that wanted to runway to the terminal and lifted his foot to
I also met another builder named Kim who work with me so badly, they would build for a look on the bottom of his shoes, like he had
had a factory named DaeAh Model Company. fair price and finance the projects as well. stepped in something. I just smiled and said
He was the smallest of the new companies, When I got to Korea, and went to Hyo Dong, I “Welcome to Korea.” Yes, Korea even smells
but wanted to work with me very badly. I found out exactly what was going on. The different. I believe it has to do with everyone
needed to get out of debt, and in my eyes, the son-in-law decided to impress his daddy-in- eating so much garlic, the sewer system (or
way to do it was to produce as many models law and make him big money, by raising the lack of it), the frequent open markets where
as I could in HO Scale, steam era, Santa Fe, prices big time. He could not speak English, they sell fish, meat or anything else right out in
freight cars. There was no way that I could so he ordered Ho Chul to write me the letters the open, no ice or AC, and flies all over every-
finance all of that and the bank would certain- and sign them. These were not Ho Chul’s thing. The FDA would have a field day with it,
ly not help any more. I was now in debt over words. This man and I didn’t get along too but there is nothing they can do. It is every-
$50K, and the back room was filling up well, especially after I found out that he was where, and many people don’t have trans-
quickly, mostly with N and O Scale models. writing me letters with Ho Chul’s name at the portation to travel to a distant market every
Mr. Kim (please understand that in Korea, bottom. As soon as we finished the Bx-3/6 day. Many do not have a way to keep food
there is Kim, Lee, Park, Chun or Jun…..and boxcar project in HO, we quit business. I did fresh in their home so they shop every day, on
these are the “Smith, Jones, Peterson and get the boxcars and they were very well done, the corner. If the government shut them down,
Johnson”) like the other new builders was so but didn’t sell all that fast. I couldn’t figure it they would be back the next day a block
eager to build for me, they were willing to out. Same format (SF HO steam era freight away. In many ways Korea is as modern of a
finance everything. cars in variation) same quantity as before, but city as Chicago or Dallas, but in many ways,
Hyo Dong was getting to be a real pain in not as popular. it's still a developing third world country.
the back side. I could no longer work with A funny side story here, as a friend of mine This was a great trip for me, with my
them. Every conversation was adversarial in went to Korea with me on this trip. We had a friend, but in hindsight, the beginning of a big
nature. I just couldn’t understand why Ho great ten days. The longest trip ever. It started mistake on my part. I’ll tell you all about it in
Chul was talking to me like this. I had to go to when he got off the plane right before me and the next issue. ◆
Korea to find out what was happening, but the “Korean smell” hit him. He stopped on the

I would like to take this opportunity to CABEESE

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Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 35

Reader Feedback
Why Is So Much Stuff Done Incorrectly? brass, plastic and diecast. In a train even engine cover can be removed to show the
I sometimes have to wonder if we I can't tell what some of them are made motor. It really needs to be about 1⁄10 of
may have come too far in the detail, of until I get close and or pick them up. an inch down to give it more room to fit
electronics and quality of our “toys”. By the way, I still have several of in. (See photo below.) I can’t wait to get
Strange statement? True, but in looking those cardboard sided cars and they look this shelf queen off to a new life soon.
at all the chat groups on the web and just as good on my layout as the brass Thanks again for the great mag.
seeing all the stuff in print about this ones at “normal” viewing distance and Bill Trautmann (via email)
manufacture or that one, “...they didn’t they are a whole lot cheaper.
do this right... how come they made that If you can’t find some thing today to
version... only such and such railroad suit you, then maybe you should find
had them... why would anyone want to another hobby.
buy that?”. Ron Morse (via email)
Doesn’t it make you wonder why
they even bother to build them at all! If Best Way to Measure a Prototype?
you talk to the owners of some of the Say you want to measure a locomo-
import companies they will tell you that tive or railcar or building at a museum.
they do it because they love the hobby. I What do you do when you want to
have worked with a couple of them and measure something? Do you have a sys- Get The record Straight
I have heard them say things that are tem? Do you use something like a pho- There is a recurrent trail of misinfor-
basically unprintable when they look at tocopied plan with blanks where crucial mation regarding NWSL 0.145 inch
a pilot model or the first production measurements have to go? What do the wheel treads which I want to address.
model. They sure don’t get rich doing it. brass importers do? What about the The latest occurrence was in O Scale
When I started in model railroading guys who made the HO Proto 2000 Trains issue #11 on page 54 where the
(here we go Martha), in the late 1940’s, models? You can no doubt appreciate authors say, “The 0.145" width works
many car kits had sides of printed card- that it’s frustrating to make measure- okay on hand laid and House of Duddy
board and the underbody detail was ments, start on a plan or a model, and code 100 rail, but it doesn’t seem to like
made up of blobs of white metal cast- have to go back again, and again. running on the older code 148 Atlas rail.
ings! Today we have brass, plastic and Keep up the great work. This could be due to the way Atlas track
die cast locomotive and car models with Marty Iftody (via email) is gauged. The 0.145 tread width will
nearly every rivet and metal seam in find its way between and even drop
place. We have locomotives, cars and Joe G says: Anybody want to help between the rail heads at times.”
buildings ready to pop out of the box on Marty out? Send us your methods. The NMRA track and wheel gauge
to your layout. Locomotive models that which I used to build my layout meas-
a guy or gal could only dream of having Adding Weight to the GP-9 ures a minimum gauge of 1.255" and a
are flowing out of Lionel, MTH, K- Ok, first of all, great issue (OST#11). maximum of 1.280". NWSL 0.145"
Line, Weaver, Williams, Sunset/3rd Rail I will send my subscription at the end of wheel sets are 1.310" measuring from
and others, at an alarming rate! I know I the week. I loved the layout article in the the outside of one flange to the outside
can’t afford to get everything I want, nor front. That plus the computer graphics face of the opposite wheel. If wheels are
do I have room for them. really brought it to life. Then a story on in gauge and track is within NMRA tol-
Two rail... three rail... the “debate” how to convert my Red Caboose dog to erances, the wheels cannot fall between
goes on and on and on.They both have Atlas/Roco trucks. Guess what? I have a the rails. The “older Atlas flex track” is
their advantages and disadvantages. I brand new Atlas F3 that I got off of within NMRA tolerances and is not the
model in both. I have them both on the Ebay right next to it. problem. The problem is either due to
same layout. They share the same kit- Now, as for adding weight, I found an lateral or vertical kinks in the track (not
built, scratchbuilt and a couple of ready easy way to add quite a bit of weight. I the fault of Atlas) or trucks which do
made buildings. I have cars made of installed two sheets of brass vertically, not swivel and equalize freely which
wood, cardboard, tin, brass and a few one on either side of the body. However allow one wheel to climb the rail and
plastic ones. I have locomotives made of ,one note, I cut them flush where the top pull the other inside.

36 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

 I’m not just talking theory. All of my page 15). It should be available by the Joe replies: Several people have
rolling stock uses NWSL 0.145" time you read this anywhere MRC asked how Richard Gardner created
wheels. I have about 310 freight cars power packs are sold. Or, you can order those great graphical images in issue
and about 70 Walthers heavyweight pas- it directly from the MRC website. STA- #11 for his New Orleans Public Belt RR.
senger cars on the layout. I run 35 car COR is a brand name of transformer, So, here's how he did it.
(35 pound) coal trains and passenger probably the largest manufacturer in the “I did all of my preliminary design
trains as long as 15 cars around 60 inch country. Anywhere they sell electronic work in Adobe Illustrator using a track-
minimum radii and on a 3% grade and I components, they probably sell STACOR layout plug-in developed by Rick John-
guarantee you that wheels do not just transformers. son. Rick is a incredibly talented
“drop between the rail heads”. My trains As for Gorilla Glue and Plastix, they illustrator for Model Railroader and is a
run on about 3,000 feet of the older are both available at Home Depot and- computer whiz in his own right. You can
Atlas flex track which was laid 15 to 20 Lowes. I was able to find both at my two see his software offerings at:
years ago. local Home Depot outlets. http://personalpages.tds.net/~graffix/ He
My layout was featured in the Nov. Searching the Internet is an art not a has a number of tools for both Mac and
2000 issue of Model Railroader. science. Go to the Google search engine Windows operating systems.
End of Soapbox Oratory and then to its Options page “Once I got the basic idea developed,
Regards, James EuDaly (www.google.com/options) and you'll I imported it into a specialized 3D CAD-
find lots of specialized tools that can cut program called Form-Z. Go to:
Still Workin' on the Power Supply down on your search times. Also, enter http://www.formz.com/ for details. This
A couple of days ago I got a Micro the search term "google tutorial" and software is pretty pricey for the average
Mark catalog and looked at the #82721 you’ll be presented with many sites that model railroader, but since I use it for
power supply mentioned in a previous can teach you how to use Google (and my work I can justify it. There the vector
issue (OST#10, Brian Scace’s Ease- other search engines) more effectively. lines developed in Illustrator were
ments column). What does one use to Computers and the Internet are tools extruded into 3D images. Besides the
vary the power supply output? The is no that can be used to accomplish work, 3D information, there are numerous tex-
[controller] I can see on it. obtain important information, or pro- tures and images applied to create signs
More food for thought. A mention of vide entertainment. They can also be and such, as well as graphics on the
Gorilla Glue in issue #11. Never heard used to waste time and money. Which boxcars. Some were gleaned from the
of it. Never saw it in any store. Hobby you do is a matter of how diligently you internet (the Ford billboard) and some
shops don’t have it; they just say “Huh?” apply yourself to the subjects. were developed in Illustrator or Photo-
Next, a mention of Loctite “Plastix'. shop, imported and applied to the 3D
Hobby shops say, “Huh?" Auto parts How Did He Do That? wire-frames.
store carries Loctite epoxy and other Even though I am still a scale three- “Form-Z allows you to create light-
Loctite products but not that. railer, I thoroughly enjoy my subscrip- ing just like the real world. I used a
Bob Turner mentioned a STACOR tion. I have a lot of money invested in string of spotlights close to the front
auto transformer, gave name and price Ross trackage and can’t afford to make valance using warm bulbs (3200 Kelvin)
but not what it is or where to get it. Par- the change at this time. Of course, there and a string of bare bulbs down the mid-
tial info is worse than none. is always the future. I am planning on dle with cooler "daylight" bulbs (5400
One BIG problem with the Internet is doing things as close to scale as Hi-rail Kelvin) for fill. These are hidden under
there is so much of it; it can take hours allows with craftsman buildings, painted the valance. A couple of spotlights were
to sort through one search. rail, scale ballasting, operating signal- directed at the "staging elevator" and
Carl Phillips, Ore. ing, and all the rest. work desk. An inordinate amount of time
I was especially interested in Richard was spent adjusting these lights. I would
Joe responds: Carl, you are correct Gardner’s article in [OST#11] and was render an image only to go back, change
about the Crest power supply. It does wondering what software he used to cre- out bulb wattages and massage the
require a voltage regulator of some sort ate the renderings. I use RR Track and direction much like you would in real
to be useful for model railroading. have to go to CorelDraw if I want to life, then another rendering would be
Micro-Mark recommends their RC con- approximate what he did, but don’t even performed.
trol system. But, let me offer you a new get close. “Each rendering pass would take
possibility from MRC, the PowerG 10 Myles Marcovitch several hours to complete (I often start-
Amp controller (see the MRC ad on Newtown, PA ed these before going to bed) and I did

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 37

scores for each view. any companies that send out even basic your seemingly change of position
“Once all the rendered images were price sheets as freebies. I pay $3, $5 and between issues #10 and #11. In issue
established, I output high resolution more for these, some of which are no #10 Observations you sorta advocate for
TIFF images cleaned and cropped in more than Xerox copies of typewritten the “...40% of the population unwired to
Photoshop. All electronic information sheets. Walthers gets $19.95 for their the net...”, whereas in #11 the tone is
was burned on a CD. Hard copies were “reference book” which contains two more get with the program, you slack-
printed out and the package was sent to other scales and has text that’s repeated ers! Does John Smith carry that much
Joe at O Scale Trains. year after year. I gave up buying it years clout with your group?
“Hardware; all was done on an ago. I thought the cost of a catalog (both No, I am not trying for a spot on your
ancient Power Macintosh G3 running at time and printing) was a cost of doing all-time hit list, but you did ask for com-
333 MHz w/768 MB ram, a souped up business, same as advertising, and has to ments and feedback.
graphics card, dual monitors, and a be dealt with accordingly. Websites just Regardless of diverse opinions, I
couple of hard drives. Hard copies were magically appear and maintain them- have enjoyed your work with OST.
printed out on an Epson Stylus Photo selves without time or thought, I guess. Keep up the good work!
EX inkjet printer. Scanned images were I retired several years ago and we live Best regards, Phil Shuster
done with an equally ancient UMAX on a fixed income. I am sufficiently
Astra 610S scanner. blessed to have a few bucks left over for Joe replies: Phil, I haven’t changed
“I did not keep track of time for this model railroading. I cannot participate my position and I think that’s pretty
project as it was a labor of love, but I in buying $3000 locomotives or $300 clear from the next to last paragraph of
would guess it was well over 200 hours brass freight cars but have purchased my column in #10. It’s also why we’re
(some of it while sleeping). I wanted to numerous Atlas and Weaver offerings printing words on paper instead of
include as much information as time each year from hobby shops. Hobby doing an e-zine online. However, there
would allow so I kept fiddling with it shop operators I’ve talked to complain would not be an O Scale Trains maga-
and barely made the deadline. RG” that the Internet has hurt their sales, zine without either our two Mac G4
rather than helping them. computers or the Internet. Please see my
Remarks Got Him Upset The term “snail mail” also makes me reply to Carl Phillip’s letter above.
Issue #11 of OST arrived a couple of bristle. It’s commonly used by the com-
days ago and, as with the previous 10 puter set and is snobbery at its finest. In
issues, I was thoroughly enjoying it until the 4 or 5 times a year I renew a sub-
I came to the last half of your Observa- scription or make a vendor inquiry the
tions page. Some of the thoughts U.S. Postal Service serves me fine. So it
expressed there, especially those of John takes a couple of days to get there; why
Smith of Pecos River, raised my blood does a subscription renewal have to trav-
pressure to the bursting point. el at the speed of light? A nicely fur-
I do not have a computer (and there- nished computer would cost me $1200.
fore do not access the internet) but I am (minimum) and Internet access is at
not computer illiterate, having had to least $40 per month in this area; where’s
learn and use one at work. No one has my monetary incentive.
ever been able to show me how, in my I’ve been an O Scaler since 1948 and
life style, I could get sufficient use of a hope to be around for at least another 20
computer to justify the expense of own- years or so. If the vendors and publish-
ership. I have neither the interest nor ers do not want or cannot handle my
desire to sit on my butt for hours on end business without me being computer-
in order to “surf” and “chat” as I see ized, then I’ll have to find other sources.
other computer owners doing. If the They still sell model railroad supplies
makes me some sort of “second class” and reading material at the local hobby
O Scaler, then so be it. shops. In reality, I’ve probably got
Smith says “It is just too costly to enough stuff squirreled away to carry
print catalogs for a few people that are me through that time if I never bought
too stubborn (and) resist computer and another thing.
Internet technology.” I’m not aware of Also, I am somewhat puzzled by

38 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

 Now Available From O Scale Trains Magazine

A Guide To Modern O Scale

O Sca
by Brian Scace
le Tra
ins M For the first time, here is a guide to O Here’s a peek at the Table of Contents:
a
A Gu presents gazine
ide To scale two rail. This book was written 1. Welcome, and a little History
M 2. Concept of Operation
O Sca odern by O scale modelers with years of
3. Locomotives
by Br le experience in the hobby and they share 4. Rolling Stock and Couplers
ian S
cace that experience with wit and wisdom. 5. Space Prep and Benchwork
We’ll show you how to get started in 2 6. Track and Track Plans
rail O Scale, what you need and where with Joe Giannovario
to get it. 7. Structures and Scenery
with Neville Rossiter
Of particular use is the list of 8. Wiring and Control Systems
Resources at the end of each chapter. with Ted Byrne
9. Narrow Gauge
Get your copy today from your local O with Bobber Gibbs
scale hobby shop or direct from O 10. Consider Traction
11. Proto 48
Scale Trains, just $14.95 plus $3 s&h. with Gene Deimling
VISA & Mastercard Accepted. 12. Tools
with Neville Rossiter

OTSrcaainle O Scale Trains

PO Box 238
13.

14.
Useful Tables, Tips,
and Short Notes
Sources, Conventions,
s Lionville PA 19353-0238 and Meets
610-363-7117 15. Glossary of Terms
These ain’t yer Daddy’s trains!

2 0 0 4
‘0’ Scale National Convention
T
Washington, DC he Capital Area ‘0’ Scalers cordially invite you and your Five ways to get more info
family to join us in Washington, DC, for the 2004 ‘0’ Scale regarding the 2004 ‘0’ Scale
July 22-25 National Convention. The White House, the Capitol, and National Convention
Hyatt Regency, Crystal City many world class museums and monuments can be seen in this • Visit us on the web at
at Reagan National Airport beautiful, attraction-rich city. The 2004 ‘0’ Scale National www.2004onational.com
Convention hotel is conveniently located for access to all of the for information and
most popular sites. registration forms.
We have a host of activities planned for your enjoyment. • E-mail us at
The Convention features more than twenty ‘0’ scale layouts sonc2004@hotmail.com
including John Armstrong’s Canandaigua Southern, Ed Rappé’s • Look for articles and regis-
Pennsylvania RR with an impressive view of Horseshoe Curve, tration forms to be included
and Tony Lash’s spectacular hi-rail empire. There will be a in future issues of 0 Scale
fantastic trade show for buying, selling and g1
/4” Scale M Trains magazine.
in o
swapping, clinics, and model and switching • Visit our display at shows.
k

de
Lin

lers

contests. Numerous railfanning • Write to:

opportunities and good times 2004 S O NC Capital Area ‘0’ Scalers
with new and old friends are certain Ca pital Area P.O. Box 42563
S C A0 R S
to top off your convention experience. LE Washington, D.C. 20015
Show Cars Use convention registration form to order. Limited number. First reserved, first served.
Atlas 40’ USRA outside-braced box car. Exclusive run. Boxcar red lettered “RF&P”.
Red Caboose 40’ Fruit Growers Express reefer. Exclusive run. Four color paint with
silver roofs. (Available Now)

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 39

 for the investment. (Not with
this market!) However, every-
thing I do is done or redone
until it exhibits quality crafts-
manship and is attractive, so
someday if I should decide to
sell some of these trains the
price will be right.
All of us are on a journey
Confessions Of A HiRailer In Transition did my taste in model trains. The model in this hobby. Maybe you are a HiRailer
I am a HiRailer. My locos and rolling train magazines that featured toy trains like me. Perhaps you are already an O
stock are scale. My accessories, struc- and “helicopter” shots of jam-packed Scaler. Each of us must decide what is
tures, and scenery are scale. I like to layouts no longer held my interest. best for us individually. Each of us must
build, detail, and weather. I operate a Scale and prototype journals took their determine our level of detail. For me it is
large layout with very wide radius place. I enjoyed looking at the detailed scale. I’ve come a long way, and I’m
curves. I run my trains as prototypically modeling and the settings that looked still on my way. I enjoy the exchange of
as possible in a very realistic environ- real. I was growing. I was in transition. I information. Rivet counters don't bother
ment. You may have bumped into me at used to “play” with the trains. Now, I me. They are just on a different level.
a train show. Perhaps you and I did “run” the trains. “Listen and learn” is good advice. There
some business. I like to think that I’m a I remember well the first scale 3-rail is always something new.
nice guy. I like my trains and they run on locomotives; everyone thought no one Now here is the best tip of the day: If
3-rail track! would buy them. A William’s N&W J you haven’t received your copy of the
It all started for me more than 50 and Lionel’s Reading T-1 were the first new book, A Guide to Modern O Scale,
years ago with an American Flyer pas- to run on my layout. Why, I even had to get in touch with OST now. This book is
senger set under the Christmas tree. That modify some of the trackwork to help a road map on that journey to O Scale
set ran okay, but the cars wouldn't stay those locos along. Those locos made and is loaded with lots of information.
coupled; so it went back to the store and everything else look small... and, it was. Like Brian Scace says elsewhere in this
a Lionel freight set took its place. Sure it We have been fortunate over the last 10 magazine, “Let's go exploring!” That’s
had a whistle and smoked, but somehow years to have more scale equipment why this column was started, to provide
that 671 Turbine never looked like a real available than ever before. In fact, I heard some of that new information especially
train. Anyway, have you ever seen a real one manufacturer say, “It is a revolution!” for HiRailers. I will attempt to keep you
boxcar with Lionel Lines as the road- Change is inevitable! I keep search- informed about what’s new, exciting,
name? I built and operated several lay- ing for the most realistic looking things and challenging in HiRail. All of us are
outs starting with the traditional 4' x 8' for my layout. It looks nice, but I ask really in transition and getting more and
and grew up to a more sophisticated 24' myself, “Is it scale? Is it prototypical?” more scale all the time.
x 28'. I played with these trains on My rails and ties are painted and weath- Stay tuned. A lot of information is
through high school and enjoyed them ered. I custom paint, I add detail, and I headed your way!
for what they were: toys weather my locos, rolling stock, and HDH ◆
As I became older, I matured and so structures. After all, I didn’t buy these

O SCALE
14th Annual Meet
WEST Thur. - Sun. February 19-22, 2004
Westin Hotel Santa Clara Registration: $25 individual or family, $30
5101 Great America Parkway after December 31, 2003. Table Rentals: $35
Santa Clara, CA 95054 each, $45 each after December 31, 2003.
408-986-0700 To receive a newsletter with all the details
Thursday, Feb 19: movies, layout visits, clinics send an LSSAE to: O Scale West, 876 Boyce
Fri-Sat, Feb 20-21: sales/exhibits, contests, layout visits, etc. Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301-3003.
Sunday, Feb 22: layout visits

40 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 41
 Product News & Reviews
NEWS: C.A.B. Reflective NEWS: Big 4 Junction/ NEWS: Bills Train Shop (BTS)
Decal Film Trackside 'O' Specialties PO Box 561
PO Box 2185 PO Box 234, Danville IN 46122 Seffner Fl 33583
N. Babylon NY 11703 317-272-4690 813-643-1105
631-968-8105 bigfourjct@aol.com www.btsrr.com
cabtrainsliny@aol.com Dave & Brenda Clendenin have On December 1, 2003, BTS raised
C.A.B. announces reflective decal acquired Trackside 'O' Specialties from the prices on many of their laser-cut
film for use with model trains and Vince & Edith Waterman. Dave says kits. Over the last few years BTS has
other vehicles. The film is the same as he is working on a new catalog and had increases in material costs, utilities,
used on the prototype. Applied correct- should have it available soon. ✧ insurance, shipping, etc., all while
ly, the film will withstand most any many of their older kits were still
environment, just like the prototype. priced as they were five or more years
Available colors are white, red, yellow, NEWS: Pecos River Brass ago. So, in order to keep up with costs,
green and blue. A basic kit costs john@pecosriverbrass.com prices have been increased. ✧
$19.95 (plus $5 s&h) and includes a 4" www.pecosriverbrass.com
x 6" sheet, instructions and suggested As of October 31, 2003 Pecos River REVIEW: Atlas
applications both in print and on a CD. Brass has closed its doors. John Smith AC&F 11,000-Gallon Tank Car
Additional sheets are $14.99, plus s&h. reports that everything is for sale, Suggested retail: $44.95
✧ including the beautiful layout we saw Atlas O, LLC
at the O National this past summer. 378 Florence Avenue
John also says he is selling MTH, Hillside, New Jersey 07205
NEWS: Gloves In A Bottle Weaver and Atlas at 50% off retail. He Website:
Contact: Patricia House may not have much left by the time http://www.atlaso.com/wel-
Phone: 800-600-1881 or you read this. PRB will continue sell- come.htm
818-248-9980 ing their plastic boxcars as long as they
Email: trish@glovesinabottle.com have stock. The molds for the boxcars Reviewed by Gene Deimling
Many paints, and arts and crafts are for sale but John says he won't The American Car & Foundry
chemicals are absorbed dump them. ✧ 11,000 gallon tank car is the latest
directly into your skin, release in the Atlas O LLC product
causing skin disorders or line. The car is modeled after an ICC
just plain dry cracked skin. class 105A300W design produced in
Also, when participating in NEWS: Fast Tracks quantity from the 1950 period onward.
other activities from fish- 2208 17th St SW, Calgary, The car is jacketed with insulation and
ing to cleaning, gardening Alberta, Canada T2T 5Y9 is intended to carry liquefied gas such
to furniture restoration, or Contact: Ron Warris as propane. The 105A300W was oper-
exposure to harsh weather, 403-703-5859, ated by a number of private companies
you are further drying and www.handlaidtrack.com, either as a lessee or owner. According
irritating your skin. Con- ron@handlaidtrack.com to the 1953 Official Railway Equip-
ventional lotions attempt to Fast Tracks has introduced its next ment Register, Warren Petroleum
replace natural moisture generation of turnout and crossing owned 96 cars in this series all built in
with artificial moisture. assembly fixtures. These innovative new the 1950 time period. There is an
Unlike artificial moisturizers, Gloves In tools will help model railroaders of all extensive article on the earlier Type 27
A Bottle bonds with the outer layer of skill levels construct track work that cars in the Railway Prototype Cyclope-
skin to turn it into what works like an looks great, works great and is consis- dia, Volume 7. There are a number of
invisible pair of gloves. These “invisible tently accurate. Available for all popular references to this larger car. While the
gloves” keep moisture robbing irritants scales and standards, Fast Tracks assem- article is about the pre-war design, it
out while helping to retain your skin’s bly fixtures can be used to construct does given a fair amount of informa-
own natural moisture, resulting in skin turnouts, crossings, wyes, 3-ways, dou- tion on car construction, operation and
that is better hydrated than what is ble and single slip track work. Each fix- design.
achieved by conventional lotions. ture can be customized to suit the The Atlas car is typical of their cur-
Gloves In A Bottle is virtually unde- modeler’s specific needs, with custom rent ready-to-run products being pro-
tectable once dry, lasts four hours or designed fixtures available for unusual duced in China. My sample model has
more, and comes off naturally with track requirements. The complete line a very smooth and uniform finish with
exfoliated skin cells. of Fast Tracks assembly fixtures are very sharp lettering. My sample is dec-
Gloves In A Bottle is available at available now with prices starting at orated in the Warren Petroleum scheme
9000 pharmacies nationwide and hun- $89.95 (USD) for a single fixture. Fix- with billboard black lettering. The
dreds of art supply stores and arts & tures can be ordered directly from the upper portion of the tank body is paint-
craft stores. ✧ manufacturer's website. ✧ ed with a silver color that is incorrect

42 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

 REVIEW: Mine Loco and cars
Car & locomotive Shop
PO Box 20, Asbury, NJ 08802
Phone/Fax 908-479-4736
for the cars in the early part of their existence. The proper color paint should be www.car-locomotive.com
something called Cook's Gray. The car body is molded in ABS with separate safety carlocoshop@enter.net
Locomotive and 2 cars @ $499.95
Additional Cars @ $65ea for 1-2,
$60ea for 3-4, and $55ea for 5 or
more

Reviewed by Brian Scace

Henry Bultman, of Car and Loco-
motive Shop, collared me at the TCA
meet in York last fall. “Come see what
I’ve got!”, he said with absolute glee.
Now, we all know Henry as the
importer of some absolutely gorgeous
high-end brass steam engines, state-of-
the-art, museum-quality pieces with all
the details to please the most neurotic
among us.
grab irons on the ends and dome. The dome has a working hatch which compro- On his table was not the newest
mises the hinge details you would expect to see on the prototype. In my opinion, it C&LS steam tour-de-force, but a “Crit-
would be better to see a more accurate hatch than one that opens. The railing and ter”! After Henry and I played with this
ladder are molded in a black flexible plastic. The grab irons are a little on the heavy little guy for about a half-hour, I had to
side which is typical of products that are aimed at both the scale two-rail and the take one home. It is quietly running back
three-rail markets. The underframe is cast in metal providing durability and weight and forth on my desk as I write this.
to the model. The model's underframe has a reasonable representation of an AB Here’s what we have. The locomo-
brake system. The car comes complete with Atlas automatic couplers and metal tive is a two-foot gauge Diesel-
trucks. Most will simply remove the car from its plastic shipping tray and plunk it hydraulic jackshaft-and-siderod
down on the rails. industrial engine, and it comes with two
The model does not score well for accuracy. The tank diameter scales out to be V-type dump cars. Now, these are scale
95", 3" shy of the 98" found on the prototype. The truck centers are 5" too close models, not freelanced or simplified.
The scale is 1/19.2, which makes 1.25"
of track gauge equal to two feet. The
finish is flawless, and the attention to
detail is up to C&LS’ usual standards.
Both locomotive and cars are fabricated
in brass, with nice tight square construc-
tion throughout. All wheels and rods are
stainless steel. They are very robust and
handle-able, true scale models of a size
that young hands can grasp and manipu-
late without fear, yet suitable for some
very serious industrial modeling.
Operation is a little different than
together. They should be 27' 11" apart. The tank wrapper should have five panels, you may be used to. First, the power
not the six reproduced on the model. The brake wheel is roughly 19" in diameter source is a nine-volt battery that tucks
when the recommended AAR practice is for a 16" wheel. I suspect that most mod- in the hood of the locomotive. Brass
elers won't mind the errors. wire “wands” project out of the side
I will likely do a new underframe for my car and try to weather the silver to a windows of the cab, one for the throttle
color closer to gray. It appears that the errors in this car first appeared in the Atlas and one for the reverser. There is a
HO model. Noted freight historian, Ed Hawkins, had pointed out these errors to three position toggle switch, inconspic-
Atlas early in their HO tooling process*. At the onset of the project, Mr. Hawkins uously under the frame, which turns
supplied a significant amount of technical data to Atlas to facilitate an accurate power on to the locomotive only, the
model. While this O scale tank is more accurate than Atlas’ recent “USRA Rebuilt locomotive and lights, or turns power
Boxcar”, it could have much better. off completely (to preserve the battery
The model retails for $44.95 and may be hard to find by the time you read this charge). Once you turn the power
review. As with nearly all of the models done in China, they are delivered in lot switch on, select forward or reverse
shipments only once or twice a year. If you like the model and can find it in your with the reverse lever and advance the
local shop, buy it without an apology to anyone. throttle to the desired speed. You get to
*The above information was gleaned from several emails written by Mr. run this engine “up close and person-
Hawkins. ✧ al”. It would be an interesting project to

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 43

see if a couple small single-function R/C servos could be elegantly installed in the REVIEW: Sunset/3rd Rail
cab for radio control operation. B&M T1a Berkshire
I found the locomotive to run very smoothly and quietly. It has no trouble with Suggested retail: $999.95
3% grades while pulling a couple cars. The speed range is such that, even at the 37 S Fourth St
maximum throttle, the engine marches around elegantly and believably, with Campbell CA 95008
siderod and counterweight action to die for. It’s slick. 408-866-1727, www.3rdrail.com
Very thoughtfully, C&LS insulated the wheels on both sides, so you can run the
thing on just about any O gauge trackage without fear of electrical consequences. I Reviewed by Rich Godfrey
let mine loose on my railroad, which has a constant 20V DC on the rail for com- In 1945 the Boston and Maine Rail-
mand control, and it wandered off happily with no catastrophic effect. road sold 17 of its Berkshire fleet to the
Two V-dump cars are included with the locomotive, nicely finished and assem- Santa Fe and Southern Pacific rail-
bled. The detailing is as nice as the locomotive’s, even down to the holes in the roads. More than a half century later,
wheels (There is no hand brake on the prototype; you shoved a pole through a hole Sunset 3rd Rail has produced O scale
in the wheel to keep the car from coasting off to parts unknown). You get to pin the models of these engines for all three
chain couplings on (plenty of chains and pins are included), set the dump bodies on railroads. Since this was only the sec-
the car frames, add the builder’s plate to the back of the locomotive cab, hook ’em ond Boston and Maine steam engine
up, and you’re ready to go. By the way, if hands-off switching is your bag, you can on the O scale scene (Overland import-
install Kadees easily (Henry had done this to a couple cars and a locomotive for the ed the P2-b and P-2-d Pacifics in the
show). late 1980’s) I was bound and deter-
If I have one suggestion, it would be a short comprehensive instruction sheet that mined to have one, so I ordered two—
tells the new owner such things as where the builder’s plate goes, maintenance one each through two different
instructions, and the like. An example of the value of this is the fact that Henry rec- dealers—just to be on the safe side.
ommends no lubrication of the gearing at all, which is not at all what most of us are Luck was with me and I now have a
used to. pair of the most brutish looking loco-
So what’s the point? Well, first off, it’s motives to polish New England rails.
neat. It’s fun. The whole package just begs to The Prototype
be watched, what with the siderods and the Boston and Maine’s Berkshires
slack going out in the chain and pin cou- arrived from Lima in two classes, 20
plings. A kid can run it for hours, giving your T1a’s in 1928 and 5 T1b’s in 1929. All
stuff a break. It has the oft-forgotten play had Baker valve gear. The major differ-
value that we occasionally need to regain our ence was that the T1a’s were delivered
own perspective. with a short eight-wheel riveted tender
Now, you people who know me personal- and the T1b’s had a longer twelve-
ly know that I’m as neurotic as the next guy wheel riveted tender. In 1929 B&M
when it comes to my railroading. This begs purchased five heavy 0-8-0’s from
the question, what can you do with this thing modeling-wise? I’m planning a mod- Baldwin and ordered them with
ule as we speak perhaps with a coal breaker and coal dock. There is a large range of twelve-wheel tenders similar to those
usable 1/18 scale diecast vehicles available. Ertl makes a pre-war V-8 Ford pickup, on the T1b’s, but of welded construc-
for example, that begs for a father-son coal truck bed project. There are commer- tion, and swapped the tenders for the
cially available figures for the 1/20.3 Large Scale modelers, which are certainly originals on the last 5 T1a’s. It is this
close enough for use here. Henry’s cars and locomotive are robust enough for my configuration that Sunset has modeled,
son to run back and forth, dump coal into a coal truck or two, and learn a little about offering T1a #4015 and #4019, which
the fun of scale modeling. We’ll need to pick up a couple more of the dump cars, of became ATSF #4198 and SP #3509
course. At this rate, I’m never going to get that B&A J2 done! ✧ respectively, in 1945. The prototype
had a tractive effort of 69,400 pounds
with an additional 12,000 pounds
available with the Franklin trailing
truck booster. Although disliked for
their slipperiness, the T-1s could pull
over 100 car freight trains through the
Berkshire Mountains of western Mass-
achusetts.
Further details about the prototype
Boston and Maine Berkshires can be
found in Mainline Modeler (11/84), the
B&M Historical Society Bulletins
(6/74 and 9/76), the book “Minute
Man Steam” published by the B&M
Historical Society, and the Model Rail-
roader Steam Locomotive Cyclopedia,
pp 16 and 23. Boston and Maine fans
should also check out the web site
http://jbvb.ex.com/rr/bmrr/steam.html

44 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

Initial Impressions locomotive and the tender. Even in the closest drawbar hole
Taking the locomotive out of the box it looks just great, they are 52" apart while the prototype was 34 inches. A new
sporting the Coffin feedwater heater on its brow, headlight hole could be drilled in the drawbar, but the locomotive buffer
mounted low on the pilot deck, and lots of piping. Upon closer plate will have to be shortened or removed. Also, make sure
inspection, some piping has not been modeled, especially that closer coupling will not prevent the locomotive from
electrical conduit and lubricating tubes, but you can handle negotiating your layout’s curves. This modification will have
this model without constant fear of breaking something. Still, the added value of allowing the apron to then sit on the tender
it would have been nice to have the prominent cold water pipe deck. Note that some dimensions, both in the model and from
along the right side of the trailing truck. The washout plugs the B&MHS, do not quite agree with the Mainline Modeler
and boiler lagging clamps are well detailed; you will need a T1b drawings, and it is possible that there are some minor dif-
magnifier to appreciate the detail on the latter. The great pro- ferences vs. the modeled T1a. All wheels are the correct diam-
liferation of stay bolts on the firebox adds to the overall busy eter and the locomotive’s wheels were all in gauge. The tender
appearance. The welded tender, though, is (correctly) quite wheels had a slightly tight gauge but operated flawlessly.
plain, and a very nice rounded coal load is permanently Performance
installed. On the prototype the large four-wheeled trailing I tested Sunset’s model with 40 freight cars with relatively
truck supported the ashpan. On the model the ashpan is par- free rolling trucks and weighted to NMRA specifications.
tially modeled but is attached to the firebox, leaving a fairly There was a little slipping when starting but it handled the
large gap between the firebox and the trailing truck. On the train on level track including 360 degrees of 48 inch radius
model, as on the prototype, the drawbar is mounted to the curve. At 12 volts this train ran at 43 smph drawing 1.3 amps,
trailing truck rather than the frame. including the locomotive lights. Given the locomotive’s 63"
The cab roof vent and the tender water hatch cover open, drivers, Boston and Maine typically did not run their Berk-
but the sand hatches stay put as do the cab windows. This is shires much faster than this. Running light, the model’s speed
the way I like my locomotives. There is glazing in the front at 12 volts reached 57 smph drawing 0.7 amps. I was able to
half of the cab side windows but not the small front windows. throttle it down to a speed of 3.6 smph at 1.2 volts and 0.4
The backhead detail includes gauge faces painted white and amps. There is only a slight operating noise from the smooth
controls painted red, but no piping. There are seats provided belt drive.
for the figures of your choice. A dummy coupler is provided Lima’s early trailing truck was notorious for derailing
on the pilot and the tender mounts a Kadee coupler at just the while backing under load. Imagine my relief when Sunset’s
right height. The dummy coupler couples to a Kadee as I model backed that 40 car test train for over a scale mile,
found out when double heading these engines (reason enough including three times through a #6 crossover and the curved
to buy two!) legs of #5 and #6 turnouts.
The side rods are properly articulated and even the lubricat- Sunset lists the minimum radius for this model as 56", yet
ing fittings are modeled. There are no unsightly screw slots as my model pulled a train around a 42" radius curve with no
hex head screws are used. Counterweights extend out from the problem. Well, almost no problem... I did lose a dwarf signal
side of the drivers just as on the prototype. Unfortunately, the in the process. Perhaps Sunset is concerned about the cab
eccentric crank on the engineer’s side is behind the axle when overhang and the vertical pipes hanging down at the back cor-
the main rod is down on both my models. Sunset made only ner of the cab. One could replace them with jointed pipes
the left side crank and then used it on both sides, so the model (available from Precision Scale) so that they would swing
has one eccentric leading and one following. The lubricator freely on hitting an obstacle.
linkage on the right side of the locomotive is missing, Testing the locomotive “in the mountains” on a friend’s
although there is a hole in the lube box for it. The vertical layout, I found that the front truck had very little vertical
pipes appear to be a bit too far out from under the cab and movement and would occasionally derail when cresting a hill.
may excessively overhang on curves. I solved this problem by hand chamfering the top and bottom
Paint and lettering are excellent, and, I believe, represent of the kingpin hole using a counter sink. Be careful not to
the locomotive’s final paint scheme before being sold in 1945, enlarge the hole
except the capacity is missing from the rear of the tender all the way
(which is correct for those Limas that remained on the Boston through the
and Maine in the late 40s). Though delivered with tires, run- plate. See Fig-
ning board edges, and lower cab striped in white, this appears ure 1.
to have been removed or faded quickly. My pictures of work- The locomo-
ing locomotives in the early ‘30’s show no signs of these dec- tive weighs 5 lb.
orations. Berkshires with long tenders received a rectangular 11 oz. and the
white stripe on the tender side in the later ‘30s, which could be tender weighs 2
added to the model from a decal set. Pictures of T1a’s in the lbs. Ideally a
early ‘40s had this stripe but it appears to have been deleted four-coupled
during the war (WW II austerity or just obliterated by coal locomotive
dust?). I have a picture of #4023 (a T1b) taken in the early should balance
1950’s with the rectangular tender stripe, so stripes returned if m i d w a y
they ever left. between the 2nd
Dimensional Accuracy and 3rd drivers.
Comparing the model to the dimensions in the Mainline Sunset’s model
Modeler and Minute Man Steam drawings shows that the balances behind
locomotive is very close in all dimensions. The “major” the 3rd driver,
dimensional discrepancy occurs in the space between the so if you choose

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 45

 Three-quarter view of right side of Sunset’s Boston and Maine T1a Berkshire. The extended Coffn feedwater
heater gave these engines a distinctive “brute force” look about them.
LED classification lights on the locomotive. An improvement
would be to provide switches to turn them off as markers
would not be lit on a locomotive unless running light or in
pusher service. Also, white LED class lights for “running
extra” would be preferable for freight power instead of green
ones, which indicate “second section following”.
The drawbar brings the left-hand rail current to the locomo-
tive and a single wire brings the right hand rail current to the
tender lights. There is a rectangular hole in both the locomotive
and tender that will allow more wires to pass through for DCC
and sound decoder installation. The tender has speaker holes in
the floor and a “chuff” cam is pre-installed on the first axle of
the locomotive. I did have some initial problems with electrical
The side rods on the locomotive are well done except pickup on the tender because the truck springs are part of the
that the eccentric crank on the engineer’s side should be electrical path and they were epoxied in place. Four of 6 axles
“ahead” of the axle. were thus insulated from the kingpin screw. I solved this by
carefully removing the springs and scraping out the epoxy. A
to add weight do so at the front. The driver springing is excel- better method is to add an axle wiper to directly connect the
lent in that the locomotive does not quite compress the axles to the kingpin screw and eliminate the truck sideframes
springs, but each individual driver can be lifted slightly with- from the electrical path
out lifting the locomotive. The trailing truck and tender trucks Sunset has done a great job of providing the O scale commu-
are sprung a bit stiff, but that has not caused any operating nity with a good look-
problems. ing and fine operating
Sunset provides a good looking constant voltage directional brass model of a unique
headlight and backup light that reach full brightness at about 6 locomotive at less than
volts. There are also red LED markers on the tender and green $1,000. If Consumer
Union evaluated O
scale locomotives this
one would be rated a
“Best Buy”. ✧
Front view of
Sunset’s Boston and
Maine T1a Berkshire
reminiscent of the
lead photo in
Mainline Modeler’s
1984 article on these
locomotives. Note
the large shadow
cast by the overhang
Attention to small details such as the throttle support bracket of the Coffin
feedwater heater.
help give the locomotive a realistic appearance.

46 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

 REVIEW: Sunset/3rd Rail PRR Q1 be modified by making a small plate attached to the bottom of
Suggested retail: $1499 the coupler that you would slide forward when the coupler is in
37 S Fourth St, Campbell CA 95008 the up position. The lead truck wheels measure 27 scale inches
408-866-1727, www.3rdrail.com but should be 36 scale inches. It appears there is enough room
to replace them if you so desire. Brake shoes are installed on
Reviewed by John Sauers the lead truck as well as between the drivers. Drivers measure
Having had great success with a 10 drivered freight engine 77 scale inches. The space between the drivers is slightly short-
(the J1 2-10-4, derived from the C&O T1), the Pennsylvania er than the drawings but the overall length of the mechanism is
correct. The trailing truck casting is crisp
and sharp. Brake rigging is attached to the
casting as well as a booster motor. Lubrica-
tor linkage is installed and actuated by the
valve gear. Cab detail is exquisite. (I was
afraid to handle the engine as the pressure
gage was showing 320 psi. I was careful not
to get my hands above the relief valves for
fear of getting burned. The Q1 operated at
300 psi boiler pressure.)
The cab apron invited me to the tender.
On top of the shrouded version tender are
access panels on tracks. Sliding these
Railroad experimented with a single 10 drivered duplex loco- access panels towards the middle of the tender exposing the
motive, A duplex is a single boilered locomotive with a rigid hatches.
frame and two sets of cylinders. The advantages were sup- Marker lights on the engine and tender work. However, the
posed to be, lighter machinery, shorter cylinder stroke, less engine lights are green. I don’t think a freight engine would
wear and tear, lower piston thrust, smaller cylinders, and more have green markers. Green usually means second section on
stability at high speeds. passenger trains.
The Q1 duplex was a 4-6-4-4 wheel arrangement and had After reviewing the shrouded engine I unpacked the
opposing cylinders (the rear driver cylinders were tucked unshrouded engine and was surprised by all the detail. This is
under the firebox) so the wheelbase could be kept short. Dri- an impressive engine. Crisp and clean details are everywhere.
vers were 77 inches in diameter. The engine developed over The same features are found as on the shrouded version
81,000 thousand pounds of tractive force. Although not a rag- except many more pipes and details. The tender is modeled
ing success the PRR was pleased enough that it cancelled with the access panels removed exposing the water hatches.
orders for 25 J1s and redesigned the Q1 into the Q2 with 69 Right out of the box these engines ran beautifully. For what
inch drivers and a 4-4-6-4 wheel arrangement. The Q2 had its it's worth, here’s the technical data:
cylinders all facing forward. Forward 12V 1.5 amps ( with lights)
Sunset/3rd Rail had previously imported a model of the Forward Full Slip 12 V 2.5 amps
PRR Q2. Now they have imported two versions of the PRR Starts On 1 V ( Filtered DC )
Q1, shrouded and unshrouded . The first engine I took out of Approx. Speed 65 mph @ 12 volts
the box was the shrouded Q1. I was impressed that, compared Tractive effort 18 to 19 oz
to the photos of the prototype, all the piping was there. Also, My conclusion is that this is a must-have for any PRR fan.
the cab roof vent, turret hatch, and tender water hatch all open. The quality of these engines is as good as I have seen on
All major dimensions were accurate. engines costing much more. I was impressed with the running
Starting at the pilot, the drop coupler has all the rigging you characteristics. Sunset/3rd Rail should be commended for pro-
can see in prototype photos. The only minor problem I noticed viding this quality at this price. For myself, I can’t decide
was that the coupler didn’t stay up when placed in the up posi- which one I want to keep, so I guess I’ll keep both. ✧
tion. This was solved by placing a Viagra tablet in the coupler
pocket. That only lasted a short time and the coupler dropped
again. This is not a major concern and the coupler could

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 47

 Book Review Book Review The Public Delivery Track
Automating Your Model Train Layout The Routledge Historical Atlas of the Locomotives - 2 rail
by Don Woodwell American Railroads Atlas..RS-1..LIRR, NH, PRR, Rut.+ new ones..$339-$359
SD-35....B&O, CNJ, CSX, PC, NW, Sou, WM..$299-$349
122pp; $19.95 plus postage by John F Stover 144pp; $17.95 Dash 8's..$299-$349 GP-35's...$339-$359
Published by D&D Royalties Routledge SW's...RRiv, B&O, LV, Rdg, Susq, RI..$225-$329
11001 Mason Ridge Dr 29 West 35th St Weaver...K-4, L-1, Consolidation, GG-1, C-630.......call
..VO-1000..B&O,CNJ, GN, LV, MILW, PRR, Rdg, WM..$249
Raleigh NC 27614 New York NY 10001 ..U25's..BN, EL, LV, Rdg, MILW, NYC, PRR...$179-$239
919-870-7711 www.routledge-ny.com ..RS-3..Erie, LN, LV, NH, NKP, PRR, Rdg, Rut, Susq..$249
drwoodwell@cs.com www.bn.com ..RS-11..BN, CO, CN/CV, CNW, MEC, PRR, SP..$249
..GP-38's..C&O, CP, CSX, ICG, L&N, LV, B&M...$249
..U25's, RS-3's, GP-38's Non-Powered...$159
Reviewed by Joe Giannovario Reviewed by Joe Giannovario ..Shaft drive RS-3's, GP-38's, FA/FB's..CNJ, D&H, EL...
Did you ever wonder how to add: con- I was grazing through the Transporta- ..GN, NH, PRR, RDG, RI, SOU, WM, undec..$99-$150
MTH..PRR K-4..$695, Centipede..$895,..WP F-3's..$695
stant lighting to your locomotives; track tion section at my local Barnes & Noble Passenger Sets
signals to your lay- when I stumbled Weaver..80' Streamliners...EL, B&O, others...$275-$395
out; or animations upon this book. At ..P-B cars..NH, Rdg, CNJ, LV, others..2/$219, 4/$419
K-line...80' cars...Amtk, DRGW, PRR....$275-$449
like crossing gates? first, I passed it up Box Cars - 2 rail
Don Woodwell has but went back a Pecos River..NYC, SOU, SP, SF, CBQ, WAB...$35
collected these cir- week later and ..C&O, B&O, WM, PM, Erie, NKP; UP, SF end door..$45
Atlas..40' Steel...PRR, NYC, CNW, GN, Susq..$48-$52
cuits and many bought it. 40' Wood..P&R, CBQ, CNJ, NYC, PRR, SP, WM..$47-$52
more in his new After reading it 40' 1970's..Erie, L&N, MEC, PRR, SSW, MILW, B&M..$32
book Automating completely I had to 50'..ACL, RFP, D&H, NYC, MILW, MKT, SAL, SF..$55-$60
53'..Aloha, Purina, B&M, BN, CNW, FEC, UP..$35-$50
Your Model Train share it with you. 60'..DTI, MKT, NS, CSX, B&O, EL, RG, Sou, NW..$35-$50
Layout. Moreover, This is really a pock- Weaver..40' & 50'..ACL, ACY, ARR, ATSF, BAR, B&O,
B&M, CBQ, CGW, CIM, CNJ, CN, C&O, CP, CV, CR,
these circuits all use et historical guide to D&H, DTSL, EL, GN, GT, IC, MEC, LV, L&N, MP, NYC,
commercially available electronic modules the development of the railroads in Ameri- NH, NP, NYSW, PC, PLE, PRR, Rdg, Rut, SCL, SOU, SP
which means these circuits are easy to con- ca. The author, John Stover, is a noted rail- TPW, UP, WM, WP, CN, Rbox, RI, MRL, more...$20-$30
struct. Each module can be treated like a road historian with 10 books to his credit. Refrigerator Cars - 2 rail
black-box with inputs and outputs. Wire up This is another great book. Wvr/Crown..PFE, CV, CN, NYC, NP, BAR, REA, Hoods,
Whitehse, Dubuque, Nrn Refrig, Beers, more..$25-$30
the module correctly and it will work. The The book starts with a startling fact: for 57' Mech..PFE, CBQ, UP, SF..15 roads..$29. w/sound..$39
circuits are suitable for both 2 and 3 rail over 1800 years the maximum speed of Atlas..36' & 40'...oldies, newies, and custom..$42-$89
layouts. travel was no faster than a horse. Yet, inside Covered Hoppers - 2 rail
Don starts with a tutorial on good wiring of 20 years that would all change and the Weaver PS-2.. Bakers, Jack Frost, Wayne Feed, Purina
Revere, Goiden Loaf, BN, CBQ, CNJ, CNW, CP, CR, CSX
practices. This is a must for any electronic world would never be the same. The book DLW, DTI, EL, LV, NH, NYC, PRR, Rdg, WAB, UP..$25-$30
project to be successful. He then delves into contains maps showing the progress of rail Wvr C'flow or Grain..CR, CP, ONT, LV, NYC, PRR,
constant lighting circuits which is a good development almost every decade in the Sask, Sunbeam, Amoco, Sclair, Shell, Dupont, Hercules,
Rainbow, WC, MRL, BN, UP, SP, RI, CNW, MNS..$25-$30
place to start for novices. He then proceeds early years. Rail mileage roughly doubled Atlas..BN, Ches, NYC, IT, WGrace, GN, WAB..$35-$45
to track detection circuits, followed by sig- every ten years. It was fascinating to learn Airslide..LV, D&H, CSX, PRR, UP, Brach, Jfrost..$35-$45
PS-4427..BN, SF, MILW, LV, SOO, Wayne Fd, Cont..$55-$60
naling. Don next covers several different how my favorite railroad (the N&W) was
types of automated operation from a branch started from a couple bankrupt lines. Hopper Cars - 2 rail
Atlas..ACL, CNJ, C&O, D&H, LV, NS, Rdg, WM.. $45-$55
line to yard service. Finally, Don covers Stover weaves his story of American Wartime..B&O, C&O, CRR, SF, VGN, SOU, WAB..$47
DCC, TMCC and DCS Command Control railroads through the 1830's 40's and 50's, Ore cars..(Wvr trucks) B&LE, CN, DMIR, UP, undec..$27
Weaver..2, 3, 4-bay and Composite..B&A, CBQ, CP, CR
systems in a broad overview. There are also the Civil War, and onward to the 1900's. He CNJ, C&O, D&H, DLW, Erie, EL, IC, GT, NH, NS, NYC,
two Appendixes; one for references by works his way through the USRA era of NKP, NW, PRR, Rdg, SAL, SF, UP, VGN, WAB, WM..$25
chapter and one for suppliers by chapter. World War I and into the post-WW II era. Tank Cars - 2 rail
The book is written in an easy to under- Once he arrives in the 1950's Stover Weaver..Jfrost, GULF, BN, Trusweet, Allied, ADM, Army
Ethyl, Diamond, Hooker, DuPont, Sunoco,Bakers..$30
stand style. There are many photos tables leaves the general descriptions and picks Atlas..60'..Propane, CNTX, Union Tex,Tech Prop..$37-$50
and diagrams to help the reader understand up the stories of specific railroads that 1950's..SHPX. UTLX, Hooker, Gulf, Warren..$55-$60
any given circuit. If I had to nit pick any- formed the threads of the rail networks Flat Cars, Stock Cars, MofW
thing it would be the title. I hate the title. I we have left today. He covers the biggest Atlas..89' flats..$65. Trailers..$25. Auto Carriers..$85
Pulpwood flats...ACL, ATSF, BN, SCL, IC, L&N....$47-$49
think it will cause many 2 railers who like PRR, NYC, AT&SF and UP and Front runners......no trailer..$47; With trailer........$67
would benefit from the book to avoid it. some of modest size like ACL, GM&O, Wvr Flats..SF, Rdg, CN, Erie, LV, BN, TTX, NYC..$25-$30
Stock..BO, CNW, Armour, RG, PRR, Rdg, Erie, etc..$30
Automating Your Model Railroad or Model and the ICRR, and many more in MTH..Plows, Cranes, Schnabel, dump cars, etc..call
Railroad Automation would have been bet- between. He has a really great chart that K-Line Diecast Double-Stack $50. Coil cars..$35-$40
ter titles. Another unusual thing is that Don shows how 27 major rail lines merged 16 wheel flat w/load..NYC, NH, Rdg, PRR, UP..$45-$59
Scale signals..MTH and Brass..20+ types..$20-$50
says he'll update the book every six down into 4 (BN&SF, UP, NS, & CSX) Gondolas - 2 rail
months. in less than 40 years. Atlas..CBQ, CNJ, GN, MP, NW, NYC, PRR, Rdg, ..$32
That nit aside, this is great book for Of course, being an atlas, the book is Wvr..Composite..CNJ, PRR, LV, RI, SF, Rdg, UP, NKP..$27
beginners and accomplished model railroad- loaded with great maps showing general Cabeese - 2 rail
Wvr..CP, B&M, ICG, NH, NYC, Erie, LHR, LV, NYSW
ers alike. If electronics and automation turns railroad development and routes for ..D&H, Rdg, MEC, MMID, L&N, WM, Sou, PRR..$20-$35
you on, then go get this book. ✧ specific roads. Atlas..BN, CR, DH, RFP, Rut, GN, Chessie, RG..$50-$67
If you're looking for a gift for someone Wvr diecast tks..$12.50/pr, installed add $8.95
or just curious about the development of K-line 2-rail freight and Psgr trucks $13-$25

the railroads in the U.S, I can easily recom- The Public Delivery Track • pdt@gis.net
PO Box 1035 • Drexel Hill, PA 19026
mend this book. ✧ 610-259-4945 • VISA•MC•AMEX•Disc

48 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

CABIN CREEK
COAL COMPANY
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Precise Laser-Cut
Engineered
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50+ Detail Castings
Flexible Positioning
Positionable Doors
& Windows

Master Creations’ O kit #18105 contains the tipple, headhouse, power house, storage shed, retaining
walls, and a ton of character for $549.95! The tipple is approximately 45 x 90 scale feet with the overall
diorama shown being about 24" x 48". Not all details are shown in the photo!
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Celebrating over 20 Years of Fax: 813-681-7326 $6.00 s&h on all US orders.
Service since 1979 Full Catalog - $5.00

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 49

Narrow primer and paint the backs of the wheels
and axles for the rusty wheel look. Fash-

Minded
ion a simple cradle or crib to hold your
pipes about 9" above the deck of the mid-
dle car of each three-car set which will
Bobber Gibbs allow the long pipes to overhang the two
idler cars on tight curves. I used standard
Another Industry, Another Customer DDT diesel switchers. gauge ties.
Bart Graham, General Manager of You can use any brand of HO Code Here comes the kicker, gentlemen.
the Northway Railroad, was quite 100 or Code 70 flexible track to create a Model Power created an HO Plymouth
pleased with himself. When he heard twisting railway around and between DDT Diesel switcher but it is much too
that a major construction project in Far- some of your buildings. The long pipes large for HO and almost perfect for O
way would require a significant quantity look very impressive slowly winding scale and 30" gauge. Many steel compa-
of 50" diameter pipe in 48' lengths, he through “es” curves, just missing struc- nies used tiny 30" gauge Plymouth
convinced a group of local businessmen tures, tanks and fences along the way. switchers with low cabs and this critter is
to bid for the contract. When they won HO Code 100 standard gauge flexible perfect right out of the box. Like the flat-
the contract, they quickly created the track scales out to about 70 pound rail cars, it is exactly 161⁄2 feet long and 72"
Ultra Pipe Plant and a tiny narrow gauge and Code 70 scales out to about 35 wide. You'll want to install knuckle cou-
railway to transport the pipe to a nearby pound rail. HO standard gauge ties scale plers and remove the raised lettering with
spur for loading into Northway 50' gon- out to about 54" long and 6" wide with lighter fluid. Paint your critter any color
dolas. Not only did the community gain about 7" between the ties, adequate for a except black, which does not photograph
a new industry and more jobs, but the small industrial line. You could also use well. Greys, yellows or industrial greens
Northway gained a new customer and On30 flexible track made by several show the details much better. The MP
another profitable switching assignment. manufacturers. With Peco On30 track, Plymouth DDT has four wheel pickup,
Of course, the equipment was shipped to ties scale out to about 60" long and 9" nickel silver wheels, a great motor and
the new plant on the Northway Railroad. wide with 15" between. You could also lots of weight to handle six cars on level
Following Bart’s advice, Ultra Pipe hand lay your own rail using your track. It runs nice and slow and can be
constructed a short 30" gauge line with choice of ties. Remember that a modern purchased from several sources for
one turnout leading to a maintenance industrial line would be well built to around $15. Be sure to insist on the
shop and another to a storage track. minimize maintenance and repairs. Use improved models in the white box. At that
They also built several special three-unit lots of ballast to cover the ties, just cover price, you can afford to experiment with
sets of flatcars to haul the pipes around some of the ties or pave over the ties and extra details, paint, lettering, weathering
some very sharp curves. Two rebuilt 10 have just the rail tops visible. I used and distressing with bumps and scratches.
ton Plymouth DDT diesels were pur- Peco On30 turnouts because they are I added a red bubble light to my roof and
chased and proved to be equal to the route selective and I can park a locomo- a figure leaning out the window to show
task. For uniform clearances, all of the tive on an unused spur without special the relative size. You will be pleased with
equipment was to be exactly 72" wide. wiring. The equipment will negotiate the extra operation for minimum cost.
Management was very impressed with curves as sharp as 10" radius. I’d love to see some O Scale standard
the ease and low cost of construction Look for two kits of Roundhouse gauge modelers build their own narrow
and is already planning to enlarge the #1502 Old Timer HO Flat Cars. Each set gauge feeder lines and send some pho-
railway and add some new equipment, includes three flatcars and will give you tos to me to run in a future column.
including a small excursion car to be two three-car units. These cars scale out to C’ya on the narrow gauge. Bobber
used for plant tours. 16 1/2' long and about 66" wide. They are Gibbs <bobber@sympatico.ca>
You can easily add a tiny narrow useable the way they are and the decking On the internet, check out:
gauge industrial feeder line to your O looks very close to 2" x 4" size or you can http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Otrains/
Scale railroad for less than one hundred disguise them as I did by redecking with http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Proto48
dollars. All you need are a few lengths O Scale 2" x 6" styrene or wood strips http://groups.yahoo.com/group/On30con
of HO or On30 flexible track, a couple exactly 72" (1.5") wide. Add knuckle cou- spiracy/ ◆
of HO or On30 turnouts, a few Round- plers and paint the bottom with tarnished
house HO Old Timer 26' flatcars and black, boxcar red or red oxide primer.
one or two Model Power HO Plymouth Touch up the archbar trucks with red

50 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

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OMI NP A4 4-8-4 unpainted, new TRO 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1795 PSC C&O T1 2-10-4, C⁄P, like new condition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2095
PSC D&RGW L-131, F⁄P Road# 3600, black boiler, tender has correct OMI UP DD40X F⁄P Road# 6931, like new w⁄Cockerham drive . . .$2250
spacing between the Rio Grande unlike the production run. No film OMI NP Z8 4-6-6-4, Unptd, New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3200
decals from PSC. New, never run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3695
OMI WM I-2 2-10-0, F/P Rd# 1120, new condition . . . . . . . . . . .$1895
Key SP E7 A&B, latest run F⁄P Daylight, new, never run (pair) . . .$2595
OMI GN FT A+B, C/P for OMI, Rd#402-A, New . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1495
Sunset PRR S2 6-8-6, Unptd., 1st run, like new, never run . . . . .$1495
OMI GN FT A+B, C/P for OMI, Rd#402-D, New . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1495
OMI SP&S Z8 4-6-6-4 Unpainted Very Little Tarnish TRO New . .$3200
PSC CB&Q S-4a 4-6-4, Factory Ptd, Rd# 3003 new . . . . . . . . . . .$2850
PSC SP AC-9 2-8-8-4 Coal 222 R-1 Tender F⁄P - Black Boiler New . . .$3195
Key SP E9a 2 A units, Latest run, F⁄P Daylight (pair) . . . . . . . . . .$2695
Key D&RGW L-95 2-8-8-2, F/P Green or Black boiler, Var Rd#s . .$3795
PSC NP Z5 2-8-8-4, F/P Rd# 5006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3295
Key D&RGW L-96 2-8-8-2, F/P Green or Black boiler, Var Rd#s . .$3795
Kohs & Co NYC J3a 4-6-4, F/P Rd# 5424, late version PT4 tender,
PSC N&W Z1b 2-6-6-2 Factory Painted Rd# 1438 New . . . . . . . .$2975 Boxpok drivers, plain rods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4000
Kohs & Co N&W Y6b 2-8-8-2, F/P Rd# 2178 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4000
PSC NYC S1a 4-8-4 C⁄P by Bernie Beedy Crown Series New . . . .$3995
Kohs & Co N&W Auxiliary Water Car F/P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$650
OMI 120 Ton Crane Open Cab Version Industrial Brownhoist Factory
Painted Black, Unlettered OMI No. 0027.1 New . . . . . . . . . . . .$1195 PSC C&O C-16a 0-8-0 Custom Painted for PSC Rd#242 . . . . . . . .$1750
PSC SRR Ps-4 4-6-2, F/P Rd# 1401 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1650
Key B&A K3n 4-6-2, Factory painted, Rd#506, New . . . . . . . . .$2550
C&LS C&O H6 2-6-6-2 F/P Rd# 1477 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3295
OMI UP FEF-3, F⁄P, Road# 844, new, never run . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2550
C&LS WM M-2 4-6-6-4, F/P Rd# 1201, late version . . . . . . . . . . .$2995

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 51

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Buy⁄Sell⁄Trade MODEL TRAINS
(and Subsidiary JH Consulting)
Consignments

2631 Edgevale Road, Columbus OH 43221-1113

Phone:614-4514517 Fax:6144514557
Email: jhmtrains@msn.com • Web: www.jhmtrains.com
WSM PRR Q2,4-4-6-4,C/P,OB,Phoenix Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,250.00 Gem PRR,B6sb 0-6-0,N/P,OB,Ex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$575.00
WSM PRR J1a,2-10-4,C/P,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,950.00 OM CSX SD70M #700,F/P,OB,LN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,775.00
USH Erie K5 4-6-2,N/P,Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,875.00 OM American Hoist Ditcher ,LN,N/P,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$495.00
SS C&O J2a,4-8-2 w/Extra Detail,N/P,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,395.00 Custom Built PRR GG1,Ptd Green,5-Stripe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$575.00
SS ATSF 2-10-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,295.00 SS FM Trainmaster,C/P SP Bloody Nose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,295.00
MG PRR 2-10-2,L/N,N/P,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,875.00 OL GN 2-D-2 #5001/5002 Set,C/P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,495.00
USH C&O 2-8-4,C/P,Runs good,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1375.00 USH SD45,C/P SP,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$695.00
MG NYC J1e,4-6-4,Nice,N/P,NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,475.00 USH #401 48' Gondola,N/P,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$149.00
MG NYC J3a,4-6-4,Nice,N/P,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,475.00 USH #305 Single Dome Tank w/Platform,N/P,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$149.00
MG N&W Y6b,2-8-8-2,Can Motor,N/P,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,475.00 MG #702 3-Bay Hopper,Rnd End,N/P,NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$199.00
USH PRR M1a,4-8-2,C/P,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,375.00 USH #705 Panel Hopper,N/P,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$199.00
USH NYC L4b,C/P,Kleinscmidt Dr,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,195.00 USH #402 52' Gondola,N/P,NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$149.00
MG B&O 2-8-8-4,C/P,NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,450.00 USH #302 D.Dome Tank,N/P,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$139.00
USH PRR L1,2-8-2,C/P w/Sound,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,200.00 PRB 70' Greenville Gon,C/P SP,OB,LN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$289.00
SS N&W J 4-8-4,Rebuilt w/sound,C/P,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,700.00 USH #505 2-Bay Composie Hopper,N/P,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$149.00
USH PRR K4 4-6-2,Late Run,C/P,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,250.00 PL#300 PRR R-7 Reefer,C/P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$295.00
MG PRR E6 4-4-2,C/P,NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,275.00 Priester C.Built Morrell Reefers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . each $159.00
MG SP MT4 w/Icken Gears,C/P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,895.00 MG #120 TT Flats,C/P PRR w/USH RB Tks(25 available) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .each $129.00
USH NYC H10,2-8-2,Mint,N/P,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,575.00 PRB 60' Greenville Boxcars,Variour Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .each $300.00
OM NP A5 4-8-4,C/P,Mint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3,895.00 PRB 62' PC&F Boxcars,Various Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .each $300.00
OM #0166 NP Z Class 4-6-6-4,C/P,Mint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3,995.00 MG PRR N8 Caboose,N/P,NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$250.00
USH AC12 4-8-8-2,C/P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3,595.00 PSC PRR Stock Car,N/P,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$250.00
USH UP 4-6-6-4,Can Motor,C/P,NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,395.00 OM#0752 NP Caboose,C/P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$375.00
PSC PRR K4,4-6-2,Slat Pilot,N/P,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,350.00 Alco PRR N6a,C/P or N/P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .each $225.00
PSC PRR B-6,0-6-0 w/Straight Cylinders,LN,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,450.00 BLW 20T Gantry,F/P Gray,New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$625.00
SS PRR I1 2-10-0,LN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,150.00 CB PRR N8 Caboose,N/P,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$295.00
CW H16-44 ,C/P ATSF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,495.00 PRB 50' Boxcars SD,End Door & DD Kits,Undec . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$37.50
USH GP35,N/P,LN,OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$495.00 PRB 50' Boxcars,Built,DD,End Door,SD,C&O/B&O/PM/WM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$47.50
(UP & ATSF End Door/ CB&Q & Erie S.Door)

Layaway Available
LSASE for Complete List Estates⁄Liquidations
Shipping 6% - $6.00 Min., $12.00 Max Collection Reductions
Ohio Residents Add 6.75% Sales Tax

52 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

The latest news on Proto48 and some
random thoughts...
In past columns, I wrote about the need
for certain cars to fill out choices in O Scale.
PROTO48 MODELING
It seems that Nick Seman of Middle Division
is filling the Pennsy quad hopper need with a
H-21. The car is being produced through
AtlasO, LLC for Middle Division
(http://www.middledivision.com/). Accord- GENE
ing to what I read on the Internet, details
such as grab irons are supposed to be closer
DEIMLING
to scale. It is nice to see someone stepping up
to the plate on this important car. I also men- Show-and-Tell is a wonderful way to learn. named it after his long-time friend Merle
tioned the need for a AAR War Emergency No matter how good a modeler you may be, Lauber. It is the kind of building that fit in
53' 6" flatcar. In this case, I decided to take you can learn from others. nearly any scene. The second picture is of a
the matter in my own hands and do patterns Recently, I received a couple of photos San Juan Car Company Fowler boxcar kit
for the Chooch Ultra Scale II line. The model from Robert Lerners showing some of his that was skillfully converted into a car like
will be cast in urethane with correct stake latest efforts. This is the kind of inspiration the ones owned by the Minneapolis and St.
pockets and other details cast in styrene. This to gets me going and building. The first pic- Louis. The door, trucks, brake rigging and
is a car widely used by a large number of ture is a fine old building based upon a Paul cut levers were changed to reflect this proto-
roads. It is a car that I want and hopefully a Larson article in the Railroad Model Crafts- type. Lettering was done using dry transfers
few others will share my opinion and buy man. The Larson article described the con- from Greg Komar and decals from multiple
enough to justify Chooch’s investment. struction of a building he had photographed sources. This is really neat stuff.
Now, we need to get some folks interest- somewhere in the Connecticut River Valley. Proto48 News
ed in a 1944 AAR boxcar design or its post- Paul incorporated this Eastern prototype in “It has been a quiet month in Lake Wobe-
war counterpart. The list of possible projects gon...” Garrison Keillor’s introduction to a
is endless. The scale continues to benefit segment of his Prairie Home Companion
from new projects such as the one men- radio show seems to be an appropriate
tioned above. description of this past month.
As a reminder, the O Scale West show There aren’t that many new items to
and Chicago March Meet will be held early mention in this issue. We are still waiting for
in 2004. Both shows have planned activities the release of Keystone Model Works’
for Proto48 modelers. The O Scale West Pennsy freight car trucks, San Juan’s new
show will feature Paul Martineau’s P48 passenger car trucks and Canter’s flexible
modular layout and James Harper’s new plastic tie strips.
clinic on Proto48 that will feature a lot of John Pautz has launched a new company,
images of models and layouts including his his Midwestern O Scale railroad. He had American Switch & Signal, with some
own. The Chicago meet usually has a get- raised freelance prototype modeling to a much-needed items. He is producing a new
together for Proto48 fans on Friday night. If new high in his day. Currently, we, including line of frog castings for Proto48 wheels. The
you are interested in meeting fellow Proto48 this author, are all caught up in proto-
modelers or want to learn more about the type modeling. We have created our
scale, you should make a point to go to one own traps and roadblocks since we
or both of these shows to meet other model- can’t do anything until we have the
ers who share your interest. exact right piece of informa-
In fact, there are a number of meets dur- tion. Maybe it is another
ing the year offering access to Proto48 mod- form of armchair railroad-
elers and activities. The fall Indy Show is run ing in disguise.
by James Canter who is a long-time Proto48 The original construction article used parts are done in Code 125 rail and are avail-
modeler. That part of the country has more wood as the primary modeling medium. able in a #7 and #10 (See Photos}. The frogs
Proto48 modelers than nearly any other. This Robert built his model using styrene with retails for $9.
past year featured access to several P48 lay- windows from Grandt and Simpson. Taking You can reach John at the following
outs as part of the tour. The other hotbed of a cue from Paul Larson’s project, Robert address:
Proto48 modeling is Reno, Nevada and American Switch & Signal
they have an open house in November 1945 N. 300 West, Winamac, IN 46996
which has a number of interesting layouts 574 946 7667 — jfpautz@pwrtc.com
including Jim Harper’s SP. Fellowship and John is planning to produce manganese
interaction inspires interest in modeling (at insert frogs for #7, 8, & 10 for Code 125
least it works for me). I always get fired up and Code 138. ◆
after seeing someone else’s latest project.

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 53

Considerations For Laying Track -
By Hand or Otherwise

George Muller
Figure 1. Westbound freight passing Sandy Hook station on the old Connecticut & Ohio RR
This is a presentation of track build- The grades are set by the gradient roadbed and saw kerfs into it every inch
ing methods used on my Connecticut & tool, a straight 1"x2" board with a screw from alternate sides so it can be bent
Ohio RR. I originally built the layout in protruding from the bottom located 25 around the curve, as Figure 4 shows.
stages from 1961 to 1985. It was fea- inches from the end. The screw is This saves material.
tured in O Scale Railroading in in July adjusted to the proper height, 1⁄4" for Ties
1980, May-June 1981, and July-August each percent of grade. A level is held on Ties are usually 8 scale inches by 8
1982. Figure 1 shows a scene from the top of the board to adjust the grade. Fig- scale inches by 9 scale feet in length. I
layout as it appears today. ure 3 shows the gradient tool being used cut 21⁄4" long ties from 3⁄16" by 1⁄4" North-
Since I moved to Cape Cod in 1996, I to set up a grade. eastern basswood strips for the mainline
have been rebuilding the railroad. Build- When the grade is changed, the track to allow sloping of the ballast on the
ing the benchwork in breakaway sections board is sprung up or down to the new sides. In the yards, I use 3⁄16" by 1⁄8" sugar
bolted together paid off, saving me lots of grade. This forms the roadbed to a gradual pine ties for the flatter ballast profile.
time in reconstructing the layout. Of transition, so that locomotive pilots do not Ties are lightly fastened down with
course, it doesn't fit in the new basement hit the rails, or wheels lift off the track. Elmer's white glue.
the same as before, so some sections Roadbed. Transitions between high and low ties
were reused. Others had to be completely The roadbed is cut with a saber saw are made by putting a dozen high ties into
disassembled and cannnibalize for the from 1⁄2" thick Homasote. Although this a sanding jig and sanding a slope down
new sections. The new layout is still the makes plenty of dust, the saber saw is from the high to the low tie thickness.
Connecticut & Ohio RR, but the modeled better than a circular saw. The edges are Rail
part of it is moved a little farther west cut at a 45 degree angle for the ballast In the olden days when I started, code
than before to get things to fit. slope. The Homasote is fastened down 172 steel rail was used for the main line.
Support to trackboard with a minimum of screws In the yards, code 125 steel rail was
Trackboard consists of one by four or to promote sound deadening. For used. Since then, I have used code 157,
one by six pine boards connected by curves, I sometimes make straight and code 148 steel rail as well. Transi-
splice plates for both curve and straight tions between rail sizes are done by cut-
sections. Sometimes, 3⁄4", 5⁄8" or 1⁄2" ply- ting notches in about a dozen ties under
wood is cut to shape. For flat areas such
as yards, 1⁄2"sheets of plywood are laid
directly on 1' x 4' joists and runners. For
hills, 1' x 4' risers form the joists and
support the track board. Figure 2 shows
a grade under construction. Figure 2: Graded roadbed under Figure 3: Gradient tool in use.
construction.

54 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

the rails deep enough to equalize the when I got ambitious. curves, 6, 8, and even 9-foot radii
tops of the rails. Almost always the tran- Ballast look better. I use a trammel to lay out
sition occurs at a block gap, so the rails I’ve used all kinds of ballast, from curved track centers. The trammel is a
do not have to be joined together. Model Hobbies to kitty litter to screen- long 3⁄4" square stick with holes
I paint all rail a rust color with Flo- ing my own. I usually put loose ballast drilled for a force fit on a pencil, and
quil directly with a brush. No primer is between the ties, and glue down the for a bolt to connect to a center block.
used, and I have had no trouble over a sides with a mixture of 50/50 Elmer's The center block was usually attached
35 year period. Where the rail was not white glue and water with a little dish- to my camera tripod as shown in Fig-
painted, the rail has held up well, despite washer detergent to promote wetting. ure 5, but could be attached to the
some drenchings from broken pipes or First I paint the glue on the roadbed, table or anything else. I used the
spilled water. I re-used rail for the new spread the ballast, and then drop more trammel to make curve templates to
layout, and have only had to do some glue on with an eyedropper. lay out curves where obstacles inter-
wire-brushing to clean it up. This method paid off when I moved. fered with the trammel method.
Once, I ran short of rail joiners during I just vacuumed up the ballast into vacu- 4. Easements
a rail laying campaign to finish before a um bags for storage. I could then just Easements are used between all curve
show deadline. Being desperate, I made pull up spikes, ties, and rail and re-use it and straight track sections. The ease-
lap joints and soldered the rail together. with little waste. ments allow longer cars and locomotives
The joints are I inch long, and each rail Aligning the Track to go around the curves by keeping the
is ground down to half thickness and fit- 1. Clearances couplers more closely aligned as the cars
ted together. The solder fills up the I try to have at least 6 inches between enter the curves. I didn't do it, but the
cracks, and some filing smoothes out the track center and layout edge. This helps easement can be used to gradually super-
joint. I solder it on my saw table with for scenery and also if another track elevate the track for the curve. When lay-
weights to hold the rail flat, and forceps needs to be squeezed in later. I kept to 4 ing out centerlines, an offset distance 'x'
to squeeze the rail together. I heat the inch spacing between parallel tracks on is left between the curve and straight
rail with a propane torch, then touch the main lines, both straight and curved. I centerline to put in the easement.
solder to the joint and let it flow in. If know the standard is 41⁄4" for 48 inch I use the bent rail method for laying out
needed, filling the cracks is done with a radius curves, but since I had no articu- the easement. Select a straight rail at least
Weller soldering gun later. This is great lated steam engines, this has worked 6 inches longer than the easement. Spike
if you want to simulate welded rail. fine for me. In the yards and on the the rail to follow the curve and straight
Welded rail usually comes in quarter- modular sections, straight track was centerlines exactly at the ends of the ease-
mile lengths, 271⁄2 feet in O scale. So 10 spaced 31⁄2" center-to-center. ment. Push or pull the end of the rail to get
pieces of rail would do it. Of course, 2. Straight Track the center of the rail to fall halfway
there probably isn’t 271⁄2 feet of uninter- I use a 6 foot aluminum bar from the between the curve and straight centerlines,
rupted length, anyway, so shorter sec- hardware store as a straightedge for and draw the easement centerline.
tions would be the usual thing. drawing centerlines. I also use a chalk For easement lengths and offset dis-
Spikes line for longer straightaways. tances, I use a chart taken from the
Walthers’ spikes, mostly 1⁄2" and 3. Curved Track NMRA data book. I drew additional
some 1⁄4" length, hold well. I usually put My minimum mainline radius is 48 lines to show where the numbered
four spikes in every fourth tie, and every inches, which handles my diesels, 89- switch curves, which are close to ease-
second tie on switches. In some conspic- foot autoracks, 85-foot passenger ments, fall. So it makes sense to use
uous places, I have spiked every tie cars, and a 2-8-2 PRR L-1. I use ease- easements which are close to the mini-
ments as discussed below. On short mum switch standard. I used approxi-
mately number 51⁄2 easements for my
curves. For example, on my 48 inch
radius curves, the offset distance was
5
⁄8", and the curved length of the ease-
ment was 27 inches.
Track
Figure 4: Curved homasote roadbed under Figure 5: Trammel attached to camera tripod. I lay track from the centerline drawn
construction.
Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 55
on the roadbed. I scribed a vertical line on down. The frog flangeway is filled with for number five switches.
my NMRA track gauge in the center of solder, and a cut-off hacksaw blade is 3. Curved Switches
the track gauge. So, with the gauge in used to carve out the solder to the proper I laid out the curved switches using the
place on top of both rails, I sight down depth as indicated by the NMRA flange- easements and radii of the track curve.
the line and align it with the centerline way gauge. Where the centerlines diverge to 11⁄4" is
before spiking the first rail down. I spike At the points, I grind off the base of the location of the frog point. I then deter-
every 16th or 20th tie at first, and then go the stock rail to allow the point to nestle
back to spike the rest. This serves to align against the head of the stock rail. The
the rail better. Then I go back with the curved stock rail is bent outward slightly
track gauge and spike down the second at the point to leave room for it and
rail. On curves, I widen the track spacing maintain the gauge.
within the tolerance of the gauge. I use selective control switches, so I
Figure 9: Double slip switch at Waterbury
just solder a brass 1⁄8" by 1⁄16" channel terminal entrance.
between the points. The ends of the chan-
nel are flattened to go over the rail base. I mined where I could put in switch points
use the NMRA point spread gauge to of a reasonable thickness. Figure 8 is a
insure that no photo of a wye switch which was laid out
shorts occur from using two easements curving away from
the backs of each other.
metal wheels. If 4. Special Switches
Figure 6: Housatonic River bridge approach. the gap is too nar- A double slip switch shown in Figure
Bridge Track row, I use the 9 was built for my passenger terminal. It
Bridge trackage usually has guard bench grinder to is a number six switch, and was origi-
rails which end in a point off the bridge. taper the outside nally built with movable frogs. But their
Ties are longer (about 10 feet) and are of the points operation gave so much trouble that I
connected at the ends by longitudinal more. The point changed them to fixed frogs. Filling the
timbers. They are also spaced much rails are just con- frog flangeways with solder to the prop-
closer than ordinary roadbed. (About 1⁄4" nected to the er depth kept the car wheels from fol-
center to center). Figure 6 shows the wing rails with lowing the wrong track.
entrance to my Housatonic River bridge. Figure 7: Handlaid rail joiners, Although the power can be routed
Number 6 switch.
Ballasted deck bridges are the excep- which are left through the switch points, I had trouble
tion. The ties are the same as on ordi- slightly loose to slide as the switch is from corrosion because the switch sat
nary roadbed, but there usually are thrown. right under the bathtub drain upstairs. So
guard rails here. 2. Regular Numbered Switches I finally used two 28-volt rotary relays
Switches I used NMRA turnout templates to to move the points, and used their con-
1. Making Points and Frogs lay switches and cut ties for number 6 tacts to duplicate the point contacts. A
For points and frogs, the rail end is switches. third relay changes power for the cross-
bent slightly inward, and the inside head Here's a ing frogs depending on the direction of
is filed off flush with the web at the end, photo of a travel through the crossing.
tapering straight back to full head width. number 6 Crossings
I miter rail to solder together for switch switch in Crossings were laid out using the
frogs, and taper the outside of the rail for Figure 7. I
switch points with my bench grinder. also used
Rail is cut and bent to form wing rails measure-
for the frog. A piece is cut from 0.005" ments from
thick brass sheet to go under the frog. John Arm-
This holds in the solder filler. The wing strong's
rail is spaced from the frog with an track plan-
NMRA gauge, and the rail is spiked Figure 8: Wye switch laid out ning book Figure 10: Modular yard track under
using easements. construction.

56 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

track centerlines as they crossed. The
track centerlines were either straight or
curved. Frogs were built the same way
as for the switches, taking the angles
from the angle of the crossing.
Flex Track and Built-up Switches
I used Atlas flex-track and Roco no. 6
switches for four 6-foot by 21⁄2' modules,
which have been exhibited at train
shows with other friends' modules form- Bob Garrelts, who detailed a Babbitt Atlantic in OST #10 and #11, built this Pearce 0-8-0
ing a complete layout. Everything is into a fair approximation of an Erie switcher.
done the same way as before except ties,
rail, and spikes are not needed. The track
is merely nailed down with headless
nails along the centerlines. I pressed the
aluminum straightedge against the side
of the rails to guarantee a straight track.
Figure 10 shows the track in the modu-
lar yard under construction. ◆

Finished track at Maybrook station module.

This SCL M5 caboose was kitbashed by Brent Reed of Coastline Customs. Brent started with an Atlas
caboose body, added an MTH cupola, Atlas 50 ton Bettendorf trucks and lots of custom paint and
lettering. Photo by Jeb Kriigel.

ow To: Get Started in 2-Rail

H
Scale
Eastbound coal train at Maybrook. Realistic • Accurate • Affordable
Come Discover Modern O-Scale Models at These 2-Rail O-Scale Meets
References: February 19-21, 2004, San Francisco, CA area October 30, 2003, Cleveland, OH area
Track Planning for Realistic Operation, 14th Annual O Scale West Meet 24th Annual Western Reserve O Scale Meet
LSSAE for information to: LSSAE for information to:
John Armstrong, Kalmbach Publishing O Scale West, Dept. OSK Robert Boeddener, Dept. OSK
876 Boyce Avenue 32165 Hickory Lane
How to Build Model Railroad Palo Alto, CA 94301-3003 Avon Lake, OH 44012
Benchwork, Linn Wescott, Kalmbach July 22-25, 2004, Washington D.C. area June 15- 18, 2005, St. Louis area
Publishing 2004 O Scale National Convention 2005 O Scale National Convention
LSSAE for information to: LSSAE for information to:
NMRA Data Book No. 2, National Model 2004 O Scale National Convention, Dept OSK 2005 O Scale National, Dept. OSK
Railroad Association, 1973 10401 Grandin Road P.O. Box 4357
Silver Spring, MD 20902 St. Louis MO 63123
Update on NMRA Standards and
Recommended Practices, NMRA September 17-18, 2004, Indianapolis, IN area
Bulletin, Jan. Indianapolis Midwest "O" Scale Fall Meet
LSSAE for information to:
1980 Special Issue. James Canter, Dept. OSK
1203 Rotherham Lane
Transition Curves, John Lukesh, pp. 20- Beech Grove, IN 46107-3323
26, NMRA Bulletin, Dec. 1980
Visit www.oscalekings.org for links to many 2-rail O-scale sites.
◆ This ad runs twice a year, so check it in 6 months for meets that have been added or changed dates.
To list your (2-rail only) O scale meet in this ad, please contact O Scale Kings, 876 Boyce Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301-3003
Ad sponsored by O Scale Kings, and the above listed meets.

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 57

Buy–Sell–Trade Ron’s Books
P.O. BOX 714, HARRISON, NY 10528
(914)967-7541 11AM to 10PM EST
FAX (914)967-7492 24HR
Buy-Sell-Trade ads are $5 for 30 words plus your address information. Additional words are $0.25
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a credit card. See our contact info on page 2. Check our updated, fully secure Web site regularly for
specials available only on the web: www.ronsbooks.com
e-mail us at: ronsbooks@aol.com
FOR SALE: Model Train Business, all or piece. Brass and some, $900; SS NKP 4-8-2, $850, lots of cars $50-$60, “WHAT’S NEW?”
100 PCC Trolley Cars Ran in Brooklyn - Greller . . . . . . .33.00
plastic models, plastic structures, retail and wholesale, Atlas #5.5 switches, Atlas and Old Pullman flex track, A Century of Subways - Cudahy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27.25
building and 45' X 60' O Scale layout. I will sell all or code 125, lots of misc. stuff. Chuck Burns, 803 Beaver Alco’s Centennial Remembrance - Steinbrenner . . . . . . .65.00
part. Contact john@pecosriverbrass.com. Lane, Copperas Cove, TX 76522-7601
Alco’s Century Series Vol 1 Four-Axle Models . . . . . . . . .31.50
Along the ET & WNC Vol 4 Freight Cars . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27.25
American Funeral Vehicles 1883-2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27.25
FOR SALE: Personal Collection of Santa Fe brass, includ- FOR SALE: Two Kemtron 25 ton Diesel locomotives, Around Manhattan Island & Other Maritime Tales of NY 31.50
Art of Lionel Trains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27.25
ing one of everything PRB imported, plus anything ready to run, Grandt line drives, $225 each. Phone: 408- Atlanta West Point Railroad Remembered S/C . . . . . . . .18.25
Santa Fe, all eras. All or piece. Contact john@pecosriver- 363-8560, leave message if necessary. Gene Howerton B&O Steam Locomotives - Last 30 Years (TLC) . . . . . . .27.25
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32.25
brass.com for list. Big Critters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31.50
WANTED: Amtrak Overland cars; diner, coach, sleeper, Birth of California Narrow Gauge - Macgregor . . . . . . . . .75.00
WANTED: Anyone in the Rochester, New York area inter- lounge, coach baggage, merchandise car, etc. Ph: 619- Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh in Color Vol 1 New York48.00
Buses of the ACF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27.25
ested in a new "O" Scale two rail club forming. Please 593-0886, hotrod57ford@hotmail.com, Albert E Central California Traction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60.00
contact me. I do not care if you are presently in another Espinosa. Challenger Locomotive - Kratville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40.50
Chicago & Northwestern Freight Trails & Equip. (TLC) . .27.25
scale or do not yet model any scale, rather if you have Cincinnati, City of Seven Hills & Five Inclines - White . . .31.50
interest in knowing more and participating. Please call FOR SALE: Lionel Smithsonian Century Club 20th Centu- Classic American Railroad Stations III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32.00
ry Limited passenger cars. All 13 different cars are serial Clinchfield in Color - C. K. Marsh Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48.00
me or write. Bill Young, c/o Genesee Valley "O" Scaler's. Flxible Intercity Buses 1924-1988 Photo Archive . . . . . . .27.25
Ph: (585) 586-1787 or PO Box 92415 Rochester, New #260. Slightly run. All original boxes. Beautiful set, From Wood to Steel - Canadian Passenger Cars . . . . . .59.00
York 14692 $7100. Lionel Smithsonian PRR K4 Torpedo, like new Getting Around-Exploring Transportation History-Grant .22.00
Grand Trunk Western in Color Vol 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48.00
with display case, roller base & original wooden box, Greyhound Canada: Its History & Coaches . . . . . . . . . . .23.25
FOR SALE: Adirondack Car & Foundry products, Weaver, $2000. Ph: 973-334-3399. Train Collector's Warehouse Hagerstown - Railroading around the Hub City . . . . . . . .19.25
Henry Ford: When I Ran the Railroads - Reprint . . . . . . .31.50
NWSL, Grandt Line, Kadee couplers, Athearn trucks, Inc., 1521 Rt 46 Eastbound, Parsippany, NJ 07540 How We Got to Coney Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40.50
Intermountain (while supplies last), OSN, OST. Contact Images of Western Railroading - Smollinger . . . . . . . . . . .32.00
FOR SALE: Atlas Coal Hoppers C&O Road#’s 300414,
Last Interurbans - Middleton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49.50
Ed Reutling, AC&F. PH: 423-477-5790. Email: Louisville & Nashville in Color Vol 1 - Borkowski . . . . . . .48.00
reutling@xtn.net, Ed Reutling, 160 Harwood Rd., Gray, 300422, 300437, Kadee Style Couplers - $49 each. Inter- Main Lines Rebirth of North American Railroads . . . . . . .45.00
mountain Railway 40' AAR Boxcars w/Intermountain, Missouri Pacific Color Guide to Frt & Pass.-Kinkaid -(Due 2/04) . .48.00
TN 37615-3728 Missouri Pacific Pass. Trains -The Postwar Years -Dorin . .26.25
Steel Wheels and Kadee Couplers - $49 each: Southern New Haven Dining on the Shore Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23.25
FOR SALE: Intermountain Builtup Cars! Large inventory... Railway Single Door, Boxcar Red, Road #11833; Burling- New Haven in Color Vol. 1 Battle for Profits 1945-61 . . .48.00
New Haven Streetcars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19.25
boxcars, Reefers, Gondolas, Hoppers, Tankers, $39. If ton (CB&Q) Double Door, Boxcar Red, Road #39290; New York, Susquehanna & Western RR - Mohowski . .31.50
you demand Intermountain quality, buy while they are Burlington (CB&Q) Double Door, Chinese Red, Road North American Railyards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31.50
Operation CUT - First 3 Years - Cleveland Union Terminal . .18.00
available. Ph: 727-391-3135. John Clemens, 5273 97 Way #9464. WEAVER PS-1 40' Boxcars w/single doors, Atlas P & LE Berkshires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40.50
N, St. Petersburg, FL 33708-3752 Bettendorf Trucks, Weaver Couplers - $24 each: Lehigh P & LE Gondola Cars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23.25
P & LE’s Mikados - New York Central . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36.00
Valley, PC Green, Road #65453; Lehigh Valley, PC Green, Pennsy Coaches, Sleepers, Parlor Cars - 3 books for . .40.00
YODER Chesapeake & Ohio hoppers, dreadnaught, Road #65490; Lehigh Valley, boxcar Red, Road #62250. Pennsylvania RR Passenger Trains, Consists & Cars Vol 1 .36.00
oval/notched ends, unptd, $175; Painted C&O cars all Crown Model Products 40' Outside Braced Single Pennsylvania Trolleys in Color Vol 4 - The 40’s . . . . . . . .48.00
Perfecting the American Steam Locomotive . . . . . . . . . . .40.50
versions $199; Pennsylvania Glca hoppers $175; West- Sheathed Wood Boxcars w/single doors, Atlas Andrews Pittsburgh Railways Vol 1 H/C - Beal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74.00
ern Maryland woodchips, covered hoppers $175. SASE. Trucks, Weaver Couplers - $24 each: Pennsylvania, Tus- PRR Triumph Vol 6- Maryland Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58.50
Railroad Signaling - Solomon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31.50
Ph: 727-391-3135. John Clemens, 5273 97 Way N, St. can Red, Road #109759; Pennsylvania, Tuscan Red, Railroading in Conneaut, Ohio (NYC, NKP,B&LE) Borsvold 19.25
Petersburg, FL 33708-3752 Road #107761. Petersen Supply Company 50' Gondola Railroads of Chattanooga - Walker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19.25
Railroads of Pennsylvania - Fragments of the Past . . . . .18.25
Pennsylvania RR, Tuscan Red, w/Atlas Bettendorf Santa Fe Heritage Vol 4 - Priest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55.00
WANTED: 2 rail - Anything C&O (except brass) - especial- Trucks, Weaver Couplers - $24. Petersen Supply Compa- Santa Fe Locomotive Facilities Vol 1 Gulf Lines - Priest .55.00
ly hoppers 1930s-1960s, passenger cars, Atlas SW 8/9s, Seaboard Coast Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19.25
ny 34' Covered Hopper B&O, Gray, w/Atlas Bettendorf The South Park Line - Ferrell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82.00
and structures. Email me for list, eef@medicine.wisc.edu Trucks, Weaver Couplers - $24. WEAVER 34' Covered Southern Pacific in Color Vol 4 Tunnel Motor Era - Boyd . .48.00
Southern Pacific’s Scenic Coast Line -Color Pictorial - Dill .55.00
Hopper, Pennsylvania RR, Gray, w/Atlas Bettendorf Southern Pacific’s Western Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65.00
FOR SALE: PECOS RIVER BRASS factory painted Clinch- Trucks, Weaver Couplers - $24 WEAVER 40' Pennsylva- Southern Railway Diesel Locomotives & Trains . . . . . . . .27.25
field, AT&SF cabooses, tankers, flats, Greenville boxcars, nia RR Boxcar, Tuscan Red, w/ Atlas Bettendorf Trucks, SP Vol 23 AC4 #4100 - AC6 #4150 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23.25
grains cars, Pullman-Standard, GATX covered hoppers, SP Vol 24 T & NO GS Class4-8-4 Pictorial . . . . . . . . . . . .23.25
Weaver Couplers - $24 Shipping charges additional. SP Vol 25 Steam Motive Power Pict. San Joaquin Division . .23.25
Airslides: $199. Listings, SASE. Ph: 727-391-3135. John Ph#: (301) 464-0611, evenings. Gil Stimson, 4506 Rising Steam Locomotives of the B&O Railroad Photo Archive 27.25
Clemens, 5273 97 Way N, St. Petersburg, FL 33708-3752 Steam Locos of the NYC Lines Vol II - Edson & Vail . . . .65.00
Lane, Bowie, MD 20715-3228 Steam Thru London - a CNR Mainline Div. Point- Wilson . . . . .48.00
Streamliners of the Twin Cities Photo Archive . . . . . . . . .27.25
FOR SALE: Weaver Pennsy N-5C caboose, Tuscan Red w/ Tank Cars From the American Car & Foundry . . . . . . . . .60.00
WANTED: Carworks Western Maryland ALCO S-5/6, NJ Thunder of their Passing-D&RG&Cumbres&Toltec H/C 50.00 S/C40.50
Yellow Cupola; Focal Orange w/Black Roof; originally 3- Custom Brass ALCO S-3/4, PSC 10 hatch covered hopper. Trackside Around Massachusetts 1950-70 w/Monroe (Due 2/04) .48.00
rail, now 2-rail conversion w/scale wheels, scale cou- PH: 503-452-2336. Frank Hillman, 10007 SW Balmer Cir., Trackside Around Ontario 1955-60 with Don McCartney . .48.00
plers, truck bolsters and underframe $250 ea. Weaver Turnpikes of New England-new edition of 1919 classic .21.25
Portland, OR 97219-6374 Union Pacific Diesels in Color Vol 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48.00
Pennsy NE (similar to N-5D) caboose; Focal Orange Union Pacific Drama - Olmsted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27.00
w/Black Roof; originally 3-rail, now 2-rail conversion Union Pacific Photo Series Vol 1 - 6 each . . . . . . . . . . . . .23.25
FOR SALE: Special inventory reduction! Weaver Quality Union Pacific Steam Excursions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18.25
w/scale wheels, scale couplers, truck bolsters and Craft Models’ Reading Railroad, passenger class G1 or UPTrackGuides-Salt Lake,West Idaho&Nam&LaGrange all 3 for .42.00
underframe $50. Shipping extra. Phone: (301) 464-0611 U.S. Railroad Traffic Atlas - Ladd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25.25
G2sa, Pacific. MSRP $895, while they last, either Read- Wabash Trackside with Emery Gulush 1954-1974 . . . . .48.00
eve., Gil Stimson, 4506 Rising Lane, Bowie, MD 20715- ing locomotive for only $550. Berlin Locomotive Works, Watauga & Yadkin River Railroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23.25
3228 Whiting, 20–ton Gantry Crane (early version), MSRP
West Virginia Central & Pittsburgh Railway . . . . . . . . . . . .30.00
$795.00 now only $650. Please add $12.00 for FedEx *$18.00 MINIMUM order for free shipping in the USA. Send $2.00 for latest
FOR SALE: USH, PRR K4, unptd, NOB, run some, missing list. All orders must be paid in U.S. funds. NY residents please add cor-
shipping and insurance within the continuous 48 states. rect sales tax. Print your name, address and phone number. Credit card
headlight, $500; Williams N&W 2-6-6-4 (2 rail), run Dave Richter 215-639-7290 dwrichter@att.net users add card number and expiration date. Allow 4 weeks for delivery. For de-
livery outside of USA please add $8.00 for the first book and $3.00 for each addi-
tional book. Make checks payable to Ron’s Books. Only inquiries which include a
SASE will be answered. Prices subject to change. WE BUY COLLECTIONS

58 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

 Car & Locomotive Shop — SP 5000 4-10-2

Pilot Model Engine #5036

SOUTHERN PACIFIC 5000 CLASS 4-10-2, 3 CYLINDER: The C&LS is importing an O scale model of the SP-5000 in four
different detail versions based on engines numbered 5021, 5024, 5036, and 5048 late in their careers. The pilot model
pictured above shows our new builder’s willingness and ability to create models of the highest caliber in detail, quality and
operation. This superb model should be available by the time you read this. Checkout the C&LS website for more pictures and
information and future ads in this magazine.
Car & Locomotive Shop, PO Box 20, Asbury NJ 08802 — Website: http://www.car-locomotive.com
E-mail: carlocoshop@enter.net — Ph/Fax: 908-479-4736. Fax after 4th ring.

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Eagles Nest Miniatures 20 Rons Books 58 Too many here!!!! So, you’re the winner!
Get Real Productions 51 Russian River RR Co. 13 Black, 12 road #’s. Red, white and black
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but a complete set of 12, 3-rail or scale,
Joint Line Reproductions 13 SONC 2004 39 for only $240.00 INCLUDING
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MRC 15 Suncoast Models 18
$10 per car for diecast 3-rail trucks and
NCE Corp 49 Sunset⁄3rd Rail 11, 19 couplers. Add $7 per car for a Weaver
T Bone Models 14 cast coal load.
Norm’s O Scale 15, 25
ONLY FROM -
O Scale Guide 39 Tom Thorpe 35 ANDERSENS TRAIN STATION
O Scale Kings 57 Weaver 20 21 Central St y Holliston MA 01746
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email Norm_Andersen@msn.com
O Scale Signals 18 Ask for our current In Stock list

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 59

Events March 2004
6th, Wind Gap, Pennsylvania
January 2004 24 & 25th, Timonium, Maryland Eastern “O” Scalers – Plainfield Fire Hall,
9th, Villa Park, Illinois Double Show, The Great Scale Model Train 6480 Sullivan Trail – 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Scale Model Railroad Swap Meet, Buy, Sell, Show and The All-American High-Rail, O- Adm. $5; (spouses & children under 14 are
Trade Scale Model Trains. Sponsored by the Gauge & Collectors Rail Show. at the Mary- free), $16.00 for the first table (includes one
Prairie Scale Model Railroaders, An HO & 2- land State Fairgrounds. Admission: $6 adult, admission) and $12.00 for each additional
Rail O Scale Model Railroad Club. 6:30PM - $12 Family, kids up to 12 FREE. Return Sun- table. Information SASE EOS, PO Box 1781,
9:30 PM, Doors open at 5:30 PM for seller day FREE. Hours: Saturday 9-4, Sunday 10-4. Bensalem PA 19020; (215) 639-3864,
setup. At the Villa Park VFW Hall, 39 E. St. Contact Howard Zane, 410-730-1036, eostrains@att.net Bring an index card with
Charles Rd. Villa Park, IL 60181. (Located 1 hzane1@comcast.net your name, address etc., for a $1.00 off your
mile west of IL Rt. 83 on St. Charles Rd.) admission.
Admission: $4.00 (Spouses & Kids under 12 February 2004
free with paying adult) Tables: $10.00 (One 8 & 9, West Springfield, Massachu- 20 & 21, Chicago, Illinois
admission included with table purchase) setts Chicago Midwest O Scale Meet, sponsored
Please limit items for sale to scale model rail- Big Railroad Hobby Show 2004, sponsored by by Hill's Hobby Shop at the Sheraton Chica-
road and railroad related items (NO the Amherst Railway Society. Eastern States go Northwest (888-627-8093, ask for
LIONEL/TINPLATE). For more information or Exposition, 1305 memorial Ave., West Spring- Chicago Midwest O Scale rate). Saturday 9-
to reserve a table:Call: 847-702-0811 (leave field, Mass., 9 am to 5 pm. Admission: Adults 5, Sunday 9-2. Friday only for dealer/table-
message), E-mail: info@psmr.org, Mail: - $8, children under 12 - $1, under 5 - FREE. holder setup. Contact Hills Hobby,
Prairie Scale Model Railroaders, PO Box PLEASE NOTE: There is a $3 parking fee. For 847-823-4464, hillshobby@att.net.
5962, Vernon Hills, IL 60061 more info contact Robert A. Buck, Show Direc-
tor, Amherst Railway Society, PO Box 718, May 2004
10 & 11, Holly, Michigan Warren MA 01083, 413-436-0242 (noon to 8th, Merchantville, New Jersey
Detroit Model Railroad Club Open House, 6 pm). Email: ars@samnet.net Cherry Valley Model Railroad Club “Mer-
104 N Saginaw, Holly Michigan, 248-634- chantville Meet”, held at the Grace Episcopal
5811. Noon to 5:00 PM each day. Admis- 15, 22, & 29, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Church, 7 E. Maple Ave. Merchantville, NJ.
sion: Adults $3, Seniors 65 & up $2, Model Railroad Club of Toronto Annual Show Admission $4.00 (spouses & children under
Kids/Teens 5-18 $1.50, Under 5 FREE. at 37 Hanna Ave, Door #8, Toronto, Ontario., 14 are free), tables are $16.00 for the first
Noon - 4:30 pm each Sunday. Admission: table (includes one admission) and $12.00
10 & 11, Albany, Georgia Adults - $7, Children - $3, Seniors - $4. Con- for each additional table. Info/reservations,
Flint River Model RR Club of Albany, Ga., tact: Larry Barwick, 37 Hanna Ave, Door #8, SASE – CVMRC PO Box 192, Maple Shade,
13th Annual Model Train Show. Open to the Toronto, Ontario 416-536-8927. NJ 08052, Dave Richter (215) 639-3864,
public. Sat 9am - 5 pm, Sun 11am - 4pm. eostrains@att.net Chuck Jacobs 856-234-
Adults $3, 12-18yo $1, Under 12 free 20 & 21, Santa Clara, California
1898
w/adult. For info or table rental contact Jim- O Scale West, Westin Hotel in Santa Clara,
mie Swann during evenings at 229-883- Calif. , Hours: 9-5 both days. Admission: $30. July 2004
3517, or write to FRMRRC, PO Box 884, This is a one time fee and is good for all days 22-25, Washington, D.C.
Albany, GA 31702-0884. of the meet, and includes you, your spouse, 2004 O Scale National Convention at the
and children (yours or not) under 18. The cost Hyatt Regency, Crystal City, Virginia at Rea-
11, Youngstown, Ohio per table for rental is $45. There is no extra gan National Airport. Convention and Deal-
Youngstown Model Railroad Assn., Flea Mar- charge for electrical service. To reserve a er registration info is available from the
ket. McMenamy's Hall on Rt. 422 in Niles, room, call 888-627-8405, or fax 408-980- Capital Area O Scalers, 2004 O Scale
Open 10:30 am - 4:00 pm, $3.00 per per- 3990. Be sure to ask for the O Scale West National Convention, P.O. Box 42563,
son under 12 free.Info: Jim Pope e-mail: rate. For registration info: O Scale West, 876 Washington D.C. 20015, www.2004ona-
yomodelrrclub@yahoo.com or call 330-547- Boyce Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301, 650-329- tional.com, or email to
3614. 0424, rod@rodmiller.com sonc2004@hotmail.com.

60 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

OST Dealer List
Arkansas Florida Forrestdale, MA 02644 Solon,OH 44139-5454 865-428-8595
Hobby Shack Kirkland Hobbies 508-477-1186 440-248-3055
Texas
1200 John Harden Dr 187 Concord Circle Tucker’s Hobbies M&S Trains Discount Model Trains Inc.
Jacksonville, AR 72076 Panama City FL 32405 29 Bacon St 4157 W Broad St. 4641 Ratliff Lane
501-982-6836 850-215-1973 Warren,MA 01083 Columbus OH 43228 Addison, TX 75001
Mickey’s Model Works Georgia 413-436-5318 614-274-1178 972-931-8135
611 Court St, Ste 4 Riverdale Station Terminal Hobby Supply
Conway,AR 72032-5417 6632 Hwy 85 Michigan 10200 Springfield Pike Pecos River Brass
501-450-9423 Riverdale,GA 30045 Eureka Trains Cincinnati,OH 45215 560 E Church St
770-991-6085 1219 Eureka Rd 513-326-3613 Lewisville,TX 75057
Arizona Wyandotte,MI 48192 972-219-0202
Coronado Scale Models Iowa 734-284-0521 Western Hills Photo &
1544 E Cypress St Caboose Stop Hobbies Hobby Virginia
Phoenix,AZ 85006 301 Main St P&D Hobby Shop 6319 Glenway Ave Railyard Hobby Shop
602-254-9650 Cedar Falls,IA 50613 31280 Groesbeck Hwy Cincinnati,OH 45211 7547 Williamson Rd
800-642-7012 Fraser,MI 48026 513-661-2141 Roanoke,VA 24019
California 586-296-6116 540-362-1714
All Aboard Model RR Illinois Oregon
Emporium Chicagoland Hobbies Rider’s Hobby Shop Whistle Stop Trains Walt's Hobby Shop,
3867 Pacific Coast Hwy 6017 Northwest Hwy 2055 28th St SE 11724 SE Division St PO Box 1805,
Torrance,CA 90505 Chicago,IL 60631 Grand Rapids MI Portland,OR 97266 Petersburg, VA, 23805,
310-791-2637 773-775-4848 616-247-9933 503-761-1822 804-861-1333
Bruce’s Train Shop Des Plaines Hobbies Minnesota Pennsylvania
2752 Marconi Ave 1468 Lee St Second Ave Shops C&E Branchline RR Shop Washington
Sacramento,CA 95821 Des Plaines,IL 60018 173 2nd Ave SE 102 W. Grove St. Central Hobbies
916-485-5288 847-297-2118 New Brighton,MN 55112 Dunmore, PA 18509 1574 Gulf Rd #1136
651-633-5722 570-347-7909 Point Roberts WA 98281
Fulton Station Hill’s Hobby Shop 604-431-0771
454 Larkfield Shop Cntr 10 Prairie Ave Missouri English’s Model RR Supply
Santa Rosa CA 95439 Park Ridge,IL 60068 Marty’s Model Railroads 21 Howard St The Inside Gateway
707-523-3522 847-823-4464 9622 Gravois Rd Montoursville,PA 17754 14725 Northeast 20th
Just Trains Mike’s Scale Rails St Louis,MO 63123-4345 570-368-2516 Bellevue, WA 98007
5650-H Imhoff Dr 3008 N Sterling 314-638-8250 G&K Hobbies 425-747-2016
Concord,CA 94520 Peoria,IL 61604 North Carolina 720 Gordon St Wisconsin
925-685-6566 309-689-0656 Dry Bridge Station Reading,PA 19601-2312 Depot Drygoods
Rails Unlimited 236 N Main St 610-374-8598 220 W Wisconsin Ave
Original Whistle Stop 126 Will Scarlet Mount Airy,NC 27030 Neenah,WI 54956
2490 E Colorado Blvd Lin’s Junction
Elgin,IL 60120 336-786-9811 128 S Line St 920-725-8854
Pasadena,CA 91107 847-697-5353
626-796-7791 Nevada Lansdale,PA 19446 Greenfield News & Hobby
Indiana High Sierra Models 215-412-7711 6815 W Layton St
Railroad Hobbies Big Four Hobbies 4020 Kietzke Ln Greenfield,WI 53220
119 Vernon St Mainline Hobby Supply
1005 E Main St Reno,NV 89502 15066 Buchanan Trail E 414-281-1800
Roseville CA 95678 Plainfield IN 46168 775-825-5557
916-782-6067 Blue Ridge Summit,PA Non-US Dealers
317-837-1024 New Hampshire 17214
Reed’s Hobbies LLC Custom Trains 717-794-2860 Canada
Mishawaka Railyard Inc George’s Trains
8039 La Mesa Blvd. 410 S Spring St PO Box 48
La Mesa,CA 91941 Strasburg Train Shop 510 Mt Pleasant Rd
Mishawaka IN 46545 Bath,NH 03740 Rte 741 E, Box 130
619-464-1672 603-747-3492 Toronto Ontario M4S 2M2
574-252-7245 Strasburg,PA 17579 416-489-9783
Train Shop Kansas New Jersey 717-687-0464
1829 Pruneridge Ave Big Little Railroad Shop Switzerland
J’s Hobby Haven Tennessee Trainmaster
Santa Clara,CA 95050 5303 Johnson Dr 206 W Main St
408-296-1050 Somerville,NJ 08876 Adirondack Car & Foundry 3 Hochweidstr. Kilchberg
Mission,KS 66205 160 Harwood Rd. CH-8802
Colorado 913-432-8820 908-429-0220
Gray TN 37615 011-411-715-3666
Caboose Hobbies, Inc. Maine New Mexico 423-477-5790
500 S. Broadway Trains West Inc. United Kingdom
Norm’s O Scale Quince Valley Designs
Denver,CO 80209 PO Box 147 3351A Candelaria Rd NE Hobbytown USA, 8901
303-777-6766 Albuquerque,NM 87107 Town & Country Circle, 17 West Street
S Casco,ME 04077 Weedon,Northants
Delaware 207-655-2550 505-881-2322 Knoxville, TN, 37923, 865-
New York 690-1099 NN7 4QU
Mitchells’ Massachusetts 01327 341374
2303 Concord Pike K-Val Hobbies
Modeler’s Junction 277 Hinman Ave Smoky Mountain Model
Wilmington, DE 19803 88 Lowell St
302-652-3258 Buffalo,NY 14216 Trains Ltd
Methuen,MA 01844 716-875-2837 1933 Pittman Center Rd
978-683-0885 Sevierville TN
Trains & Hobbies
313 Newark Shopping Cntr. Ohio 37876
The Toy Doctor 20th Century Models
Newark,DE 19711 17 Meredith Road
302-266-8063 32575 Pettibone Rd

Jan/Feb '04 - O Scale Trains • 61

Observations
Joe Giannovario, Editor⁄Publisher

Happy New Year! Welcome MRC to the pages of OST, and sis is on ready-to-run equipment. Hardly anyone builds kits
welcome to our newest columnist Hobo D. Hirailer. Now, anymore. I’m beginning to wonder how many model railroad-
before you start writing me letters about 2-rail versus 3-rail in ers know which end of a screwdriver is the working end?
the magazine, let me explain. Back in October 2003, I attend- At OST, we emphasize model building craftsmanship, be it
ed a meeting of the Independent HiRailers held in conjunction from scratch or bashing from parts. It’s the only way to get
with the York TCA meet (yes, I’m outing myself as a card car- what you really want. You gain modeling skills from building
rying TCA member). These HiRail guys have been meeting stuff and you get tremendous satisfaction from saying, “I built
every October for seven years now. that!” So, if you have a favorite model you built from scratch,
I was impressed with the turnout. Over 100 people were a kit or bashed from parts, consider sharing it with us. Send a
present, many of them subscribers to O Scale Trains. I was photo for Modeler’s Shelf or, better, write up an article.
also impressed at the manufacturers who sent reps to the meet- Randy Lee, editor and publisher of Model Railroading
ing to show products and answer questions. What struck me magazine wrote a couple of interesting editorials about his
the most was that these guys are serious about prototype mod- visit to a model railroad show while on vacation in France. As
eling. These are NOT the guys running a C&O Allegheny on one might expect, European model railroading is as different a
O-27 track. These are guys like Bob Bartizek and Gary Patter- culture as European prototype trains are different from U.S.
son who run O Scale freight cars on O Scale sized curves. prototype trains. Most Europeans have less space so layouts
What I saw was a large group of fellow enthusiasts who grew tend to be modestly sized and model trains tend to be much
out of toy trains into scale model railroading by way of 3-rail. more expensive there. Consequently, European modelers build
(Okay, that’s enough sniggering in the back there!) Their rea- many more kits than we do and there is a whole cottage indus-
sons for using 3-rail are valid from economic and availability try devoted to etched brass kits.
standpoints: 3-rail is, generally, less expensive than 2-rail; and I spoke with Mike Calvert (a Brit) of Gilmaur Models at the
3-rail is much more readily available than comparable 2-rail. Indianapolis O Scale Meet about this. He told me in the typical
So, I made the decision to add a HiRailer to the masthead. British model railroad magazine he would see over 100 ads for
He’s someone that our HiRail readers can write to (care of the etched brass kits, ranging from simple goods wagons (freight
magazine) and identify with, just like our columnists for nar- cars) to full blown steam locomotive kits. He wondered why
row gauge, P48 and traction. Remember, the name of this pub- there weren’t such brass kits in the American market. Suffice it
lication is O Scale Trains. As long as we’re talking scale trains, to say, Americans don’t build enough kits to sustain that kind
I don’t care how many rails they run on, 1, 2 or 3. of market commitment. If you don’t agree with that assess-
Apart from adding Mr. Hirailer, you won’t see any other ment, why did Intermountain sell it’s O Scale line to AtlasO?
difference in the magazine, until and unless some of the By the way, if you’re not familiar with Mike or Gilmaur, he
HiRailers start sending me good material. No one has stepped makes exquisite etched brass Diesel locomotive kits. (Next
up to the challenge I laid out when starting this publication: issue we’ll have an article by Roland Marx on building an MP
Show me a 3-rail layout that’s built to 2-rail standards and I’ll 15DC from a Gilmaur SW1500 kit.) I’ve also heard from
publish it. So far I’ve seen three but they’ve been locked up by Mike’s former partner, Jason Dickie at Quince Valley Design,
other publications. Any others out there? and he’ll have a new Diesel kit out in 2004.
HDH is an experiment, on probation, if you will. We want We had trouble with the mailing of the last issue. The Postal
to hear your comments, both positive and negative. Service seemed to lose more than the usual number of copies,
Several editorials in other model railroad publications have and some copies took a month to be delivered. We’re investi-
bemoaned the lack of contest models at NMRA conventions gating solutions but we have no control over the Post Service.
and meets. Maybe it has something to do with NMRA contest We made a promsie to hold to our production schedule and we
rules and judging, but I don’t see any lack of contest models at have not missed a ship date yet. After that, we’re at the mercy
our O Scale conventions and meets. In fact, I’ll go so far as to of the Postal system. Not long ago I sent a Priority Mail letter
state that O scale modelers (in particular, 2 railers) are keeping to San Francisco. It took a month to be delivered. Go figure!
model railroad craftsmanship alive. In other scales, the empha- Keep high ballin’! ◆

62 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb '04

 Atlas O Has You Covered....
NEW! PS-4427 LOW SIDE COVERED HOPPERS

(Item #6381)

Y ou'll truly cherish these highly detailed and completely authentic covered hoppers from Atlas
O. With New Paint Schemes and New Road Numbers, you will want to put this hop-
per in service on your layout!

NEW!

(Item #6378)

(Item #6388)

For the NEW Atlas O 2003-2004

Fall/Winter Loco & Freight Car Catalog, (Item #6389)
please send $3 (plus $1 shipping) to the address
shown below.

3-RAIL 2-RAIL
ITEM # DESCRIPTION ITEM #
O PS-4427 LOW SIDE COVERED HOPPER
6375 Undecorated 7375
NEW PAINT SCHEMES!
6387 Rio Grande 7387
6388 Santa Fe 7388
6389 Pennsylvania 7389 (Item #6387)
NEW ROAD NUMBERS!
6378 Soo Line 7378
6381 Wayne Feeds 7381
For a complete list of features, please visit
Minimum diameter curve: O-45 (3-rail)
Four road numbers are available per road name except for www.atlaso.com/ops4427hopper2.htm
Wayne Feeds, which has two road numbers.

Atlas O, LLC. • 378 Florence Avenue • Hillside, NJ 07205 • www.atlasO.com

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Nov/Dec '03 - O Scale Trains • 64