1 - O Scale Trains Magazine Online

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The Cabin Creek LineArticle and Photos by Don EastmanCabin Creek Line was a coal haulin’ branchline of theChesapeake and Ohio Railway. This branchline wandered 18miles up the ”holler” through some of West Virginia’s richestKanawha coalfields. During the ’30s and ’40s, there were 51coal tipples along the route with no roads in sight. All suppliesto the coal tipples and company stores were moved in, andcoal was moved out, on a single rail line.Motive power, because of the stiff grade, consisted of 2-6-6-2 Mallets. Tandem 2-8-0’s, 0-8-0’s, and 0-10-0’s did theshifting of the hundreds of coal cars.During the late 1980s, layout and benchwork for my OScale Cabin Creek branchline model got underway. A gridworkof 3/4” birch plywood, cut in 5” strips, was drilled so thewiring would not hang below the gridwork. The backdrop is1/8” Masonite, attached to the wall for the ‘sky’. Cardboardmountain shapes were erected on the benchwork, free-standingfrom the sky. Contours of cardboard and masking tape,covered with Sheetrock 90 plaster and paper towels, form themountain scenery.All rock outcroppings were hand-carved and painted witha mixture of latex white and oil-based black paint, mixedtogether in the same can. This resulted in excellent rock painting.The forest effect of West Virginia was achieved with bagsand bags of lichen. The roadbed was band-sawed, from oneinchbarn pine, to the curvature of the track. The ties were cutfrom basswood and stained with Jacobean stain. Code 125plastic tie-plates were pre-painted and handlaid, precedingthe weathered nickel-silver rail, hand-spiked at every third orfourth tie. There is a total of 250 feet of track.Turnouts were kit-formed and are from Old Pullman. Themaximum grade is 5% for the Shay to climb to the sawmill;otherwise the total trackplan is at zero, or 54” from the floor. • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07The railroad is controlled using a MRC Tech 3 Power Command9500 and an Innovator 2000 hand-control.On my O Scale layout, all the actual structures are fromthe West Virginia area, and were drawn to scale and scratchbuiltto an exacting detail. More than 100 structures were allbuilt from basswood that was cut in my wood shop, althoughNortheastern and Mt. Albert Scale Lumber Company suppliedthe wood siding. Most of the windows are commercial, butsome prize models were built from scratch.All coal hoppers and C&O cabooses were scratchbuilt ofcardstock, wood siding, styrene and brass angles. Trucks werefrom Jim Watson (Old Pullman).Let’s take a ride in a Weaver 2-8-0, #701, up the branchline.This locomotive is pulling the daily mail car and a convertedC&O coach from the 1880’s. This car has been rebuilt1

to include an enclosed vestibule with a headlight for the conductorto ride while backing down the branchline. Since thereare no roads up the branch, many family members walk therails and the train is the only way for the extra miners to get towork and home again.Photo 1: #701 is leaving the station at Cabin Creek Junction,crossing the Chesapeake and Ohio mainline, andproceeding up the branch to the coal mines. C&O Brill gaselectric#9055 is picking up passengers on their way west toCharleston, WV. Number 9055 is scratchbuilt, with a NorthwestShortline drive. The workers are replacing a section ofrail and a couple of men are taking off the cribbing on thearched bridge repair job.Photo 2: On our way up the branchline, we pass a GP-7pulling empty hoppers soon to be loaded under the coal tipple.The new construction on the tipple indicates a new largercoal seam has been discovered and increased storage is nowneeded. The foreground retainer wall keeps the track fromslipping into Cabin Creek.2Photo 4: C&O #701 is passing the main structure of theImperial Carbon Company’s tipple. Each coal company has itsown power supply, welding shop, water supply and company store.The long conveyor on the left brings coal to the tipple from amine on the other side of Cabin Creek.4Photo 5: Behind our train is the Consolidation Coal Companytipple. It is a more modern building, with a vertical shaftto the underground coal seams. This tipple replaced the oldwood one on the right. Some new and experimental aluminumhoppers are being loaded. A sample company house canbe seen in the foreground. A small Wheel Works metal 1934Ford pickup is available for some yardwork around the tipplearea. These trucks were brought into the ‘holler’ by rail, asthere was no outside road.5Photo 3: There is plenty of activity at the Imperial CarbonCompany Store as our mail/coach train approaches. In thebackground are the coke ovens. Large chunks of coal arehand-picked from the screening at the tipple. The electric coaltruck dumps them into the ovens.3Photo 6: Our train stops briefly behind the ConsolidationCoal Company store. We see plenty of activity here on thestore’s front porch. Some local carpenters are building a newcompany house. These houses only had one plan, and couldbe built on posts on any hillside. The water tank in the backgroundstores water for area use. Water must be brought in byrail as the quality is poor in coal areas.Photo 7: The last of the miners exit at the Carbon FuelCompany General Store and United Miners’ Union Hall. Atthe left is an unusual three-floor tower. The old Hocking Valleycaboose is now a resting spot for the train crew, while theNov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains •

69710shifter arranges the loaded hoppers to be pulled back downthe ‘holler’.Photo 8: C&O #701 is on the runaround track of the CarbonFuel Company tipple. C&O ”cow-and-calf” #6000 and6000-1 are waiting for a morning pickup.Photo 9: We see our train leaving the congested area of theCarbon Fuel Company tipple and crossing the old pin-connectedtruss bridge. Above the bridge is a favorite place toclimb and watch the eagles. If you look very closely, you can118 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07see a bullet hole in the basement window of the tower.Photo 10: Here is a busy scene at the Carbon Fuel Companytipple. #6000/6000-1 are in position to pick up somesand at the small sandtower. Lots of traction is needed to pullthe heavy loads of coal.Photo 11: Farther up the branch, an old Pere Marquette0-8-0 is used to bring in fuel oil for the Diesel fuel depot.Mountain water is caught in an old water tank for the smallpowerhouse across the tracks.u

Nov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains •

The Spectrum ® On30 Baldwin 2-4-4 ForneyLocomotive of ChoiceO n30OUTSIDE FRAMESANDY RIVER & RANGELY LAKEItem No. 25476OUTSIDE FRAMEPAINTED UNLETTEREDItem No. 25478OUTSIDE FRAMESANDY RIVER & RANGELY LAKE #12Item No. 25494OUTSIDE FRAMEPAINTED, UNLETTEREDItem No. 25498 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07DCC ON BOARD (speed, direction, and lighting control)MSRP: $275.00 eachDCC SOUND ON BOARD (sound, speed, direction, and lighting control)MSRP: $375.00 eachTMINSIDE FRAMESANDY RIVER & RANGELY LAKEItem No. 25477INSIDE FRAMEPAINTED UNLETTEREDItem No. 25479INSIDE FRAMESANDY RIVER & RANGELY LAKE #11Item No. 25495INSIDE FRAMEPAINTED, UNLETTEREDItem No. 25499Characterized by a trailing truckpositioned under the coalbunker/water tank, the Forney designintegrated the locomotive and fuelbunker on to one frame, allowing forsmooth operation in tight curves.Ideal for fast-paced railroad operation,Forneys were the perfect choice forurban elevated railroads and narrowgauge short lines during the middle tolate steam era.Choices abound with the Spectrum ®On30 Baldwin 2-4-4 Forney. Offeredas inside- and outside-frame versions,you can also decide if you’d like yourlocomotive to be DCC-equipped (forspeed, direction, and lighting control)or DCC sound-equipped. Either way,you’ll have chosen wisely. Visit yourlocal hobby retailer to learn moreabout the Spectrum ® On30 Forney andBachmann’s complete line of modelrailroading products.Features include:• DCC-equipped orDCC Sound On Board versions• Die-cast frame, boiler, and cab• Vestibule cab with operatingdoors and interior detail• 5 pole, skew-wound motor• Operating LED headlight• Separately applied detail partsBachmann Industries, Inc. • 1400 East Erie Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19124 • www.bachmanntrains.com

Tame the China-driveMany of us find the top speed of the current twomotorvertical drives to be, shall we say, optimistic.These things kite along in such a frisky fashion that wefind only about a quarter of our throttle ranges to beuseful before the speed is beyond that of which the realthing might be capable. As scale guys, this bugs us. Here’s asimple quick re-wire job that will slow ’em down a bit andgive more controllability just because you’ll need about twicethe throttle change to get the same speed change as you didpreviously. We’re just rewiring the motors from a ”parallel” circuitto a ”series” circuit. Pop open the body shell, and unclipor unsolder one motor lead from the circuit board. Go to theopposing corner of the board and undo that lead from theother motor. Hook those two leads together, using a piece ofwire and plenty of shrink-tube. On Atlas Diesels, the two yellowmotor leads are the guys you want. On other folks Chinadrives,you’ll have to experiment to get the right pairing ofleads such that the motors both run in the same direction andthe lights are synchronized with the direction of travel. In thephoto, you’ll see how I’ve done it. It helps.Scace Falls in it AgainI fell into a trap, the other day, and the tawdry tale probablybears the telling. I was prowling around under the railroad fora new-old project... What’s a ”new-old project”, you ask? It’sone of those things you started some years ago, and neverquite got around to finishing. (You, of course, have neverfallen for that one, now have you?) Now that the railroadis running, I’ve been taking a break from construction anddigging out things like freight cars I need to decal, locomotivesI’ve been meaning to finish or re-power, or other suchprojects that have been seasoning for a little while. I letteredup a pair of tank cars I painted in 1999, re-did the drives onsome Weaver FA’s I bought back in the ’80s and a pair ofOverland DL109s have been awaiting their just dues sincebefore I got married. In the O Scale scheme of things, I mighthave been rushing things a bit. Anyway, the next project wasto finish up a nine-car stainless steel ’41 Empire State Express.Out came the boxes and the tools. One by one, each car wastwiddled and tweaked until the entire consist rolled proudlyand reliably behind a pair of Overland E7s. It was impressive.It only took a couple evenings before it came off the railroad,but a lot more thought before it became clear why. Theproblem is that it’s visually too impressive. I’ve never had thathappen before. This train is no longer than a mail train I’vebeen running pretty regularly, but it is so flashy that it visuallydominates the railroad. Many of us have sorted a freight car ortwo off the railroad for being too colorful, a ”lollipop” car, orjust not fitting in. Here, though, is an entire train that is so eyecatchingas to be a distraction. My railroad isn’t very large,and I’ve been working hard to create the visual illusion of itbeing larger than it really is. A train that bright and flashy actuallyruined the illusion, because you couldn’t help but stareat it. Staring at it makes you realize how large it is, comparedto its environment, so off it came. Reality can be somewhatannoying, especially after all that work. With that, I’m back tothe pile of new-old projects, lettering up another green baggagecar (built and painted some ten years ago) to add to themail train. It all looks just grand. Hey buddy! You wanna buyan Empire?Let’s go Exploring!uNov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains •

P&D 31280 Hobby Shop P&D Hobby F Unit SaleModel shown is #8001Groesbeck,Fraser, MI 48026586-296-6116Open Mon-Fri 10-8,Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5Fax: 586-296-5642www.pdhobbyshop.comPOWERED F “A” Units: Reg. $350, SALE $289.99#7001 EMD F3-Ph4, F7-Ph1 early , 36” low fans, 36” dynamicbrake, 2 portholes, horiz grilles#8001 EMD F7-Ph1 late, F7-Ph2, 36” low fans, 48” dynamicbrake, 2 portholes, Farr (vert) grilles (shown above)#9001 EMD F9, 36” fans, 48” dynamic brake, 2 portholes,Farr (vert) grillesUNPOWERED F “A” Units: Reg. $225, SALE $189.99#7002 EMD F3-Ph4, F7-Ph1 early , 36” low fans, 36” dynamicbrake, 2 portholes, horiz grilles#8002 EMD F7-Ph1 late, F7-Ph2, 36” low fans, 48” dynamicbrake, 2 portholes, Farr (vert) grilles#9002 EMD F9, 36” fans, 48” dynamic brake, 2 portholes,Farr (vert) grillesF Unit “A” Body KITS: reg. $99.95, on sale $82.99#7000 EMD F3-Ph4, F7-Ph1 early , 36” low fans, 36” dynamicbrake, 2 portholes, horiz grilles#8000 EMD F7-Ph1 late, F7-Ph2, 36” low fans, 48” dynamicbrake, 2 portholes, Farr (vert) grilles#9000 EMD F9, 36” fans, 48” dynamic brake, 2 portholes,Farr (vert) grillesPOWERED F “B” Units: Reg. $315, SALE $264.99#3001 EMD F3-Ph3, F7-Ph1, 36” low fans, 36” dynamicbrake, 3 portholes, horiz grilles#4001 EMD F7-Ph1 (late), F7-Ph2, F9, 36” low fans, 48”dynamic brake, 2 portholes, Farr (vert) grillesUNPOWERED F “B” Units: Reg. $200, SALE $169.99#3002 EMD F3-Ph3, F7-Ph1, 36” low fans, 36” dynamicbrake, 3 portholes, horiz grilles#4002 EMD F7-Ph1 (late), F7-Ph2, F9, 36” low fans, 48”dynamic brake, 2 portholes, Farr (vert) grillesF Unit “B” Body KITS: reg. $94.99, on sale $79.99#3000 EMD F3-Ph3, F7-Ph1, 36” low fans, 36” dynamicbrake, 3 portholes, horiz grilles#4000 EMD F7-Ph1 (late), F7-Ph2, F9, 36” low fans, 48”dynamic brake, 2 portholes, Farr (vert) grillesAll kits include brass etched grills, appropriate detailedparts, and preformed grab irons for indicated model.These kits include only the parts above the frame.

Building Clugston’s Store – Part Iby Martin BrechbielDesign & ConceptEvery rural town and village had some sort of local countrystore where you buy just about anything from fresh produce tomeats, various canned goods, tools, farm supplies, and pick upthe mail while you were at it. A country store was usually filledto overflowing with an accumulation of assorted goods andbrightly colored tins. These stores provided a gathering placewhere it was not uncommon to have a few of the local gentryseated around a wood stove discussing the events of the daywhile playing a studious game of checkers and enjoying a plugof tobacco. Well, at least I can vividly remember these scenes,and in some locales these scenes remain current.I decided that I wanted a good-sized country store as ascene on my layout that would embrace as many of the abovecriteria as possible and also serve as home to a relativelywell-off member of the community. To accomplish this goal, Ilooked into what kits were available. While doing so I acquireda Berkshire Valley ”Hank’s Country Store” detail kit. Lookingat the contents and floor plan therein, I decided that I wanteda much larger store with a much larger floor plan in a muchlarger building entirely. I sketched out in my mind’s eye whatI wanted, from my memories of those stores from my youthalong with a few that I still could visit, to incorporate in thebuilding of Clugston’s store. I also tried to keep the flavor ofthe building style to the region that I model, and to a late 19th/early 20th century era. Luckily, those remaining country storesare like time capsules of our past.MaterialsThe vast majority of the construction used commercial scalelumber from various sources (Kappler, Mt. Albert, and NortheasternScale Lumber), a number of other commercial buildingmaterials, and a collection of detail parts. The sources for allmaterials are listed throughout the article. The board-by-boardstyle of construction is also fairly close to techniques used forbuilding on the 1:1 scale, except for being glued together ratherthan using real nails.Foundation and BaseJust as with any structure, construction of this new buildingbegan with a good foundation. This fictional building wasplanned to reside on my Cumberland Valley RR branchline,operating in Franklin County, PA. A common foundation styleused in that area is cut fieldstone or limestone blocks with onlya small portion of the foundation visible after “planting” thebuilding into the scenery. Options included variations on plastercastings or blocks, though I’ve been using another commercialmaterial from Hunter Scenery Company. These “stones”are packaged with a rough edge on four sides and are of uniformthickness so they can be easily stacked into a wall. Theyalso are a blue-grey color that nicely mimics limestone, thoughthey can be had in a variety of colors and thicknesses as well.They appear to originate from a vinyl tile material that can beeasily cut with a pair of nippers, so that making that odd length“stone” is easily done.I built a foundation for the main building with outsidedimensions of just over 30’ x 40’ (I’ll use scale feet and inches,except as noted), constructed of these building blocks withthree courses of stone tightly fitted together with staggeredjoints. These went together very quickly and smoothly withCA. I should note that the entire structure was built on a sheetof 1/4” plate glass. The glass provides a good flat surface thatalso allowed a razor or scalpel to release any errantly gluedpieces of the foundation. The foundation of just over 15-3/4’x 11’ for the adjacent storage shed was constructed with thesame number of stone courses (Photo 1).By the way, I arbitrarily defined the compass for this buildingthus. The wall with the front porches was “South”, theopposite trackside wall was “North”, the storage shed was onthe “West” wall, with the remaining wall with a stairway to thesecond floor was then “East” (Figure 1, page 15).While I was making up the foundation, I put a little “jog” init, about eight feet north up on the west side of the foundation,leaving an opening that was about 18” wide. I left that open tosimulate access for a coal delivery chute that I later closed upwith a hatch made from a caboose toolbox lid casting (perhapsScalecraft?).21Nov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 11

Sill plates of HO 6” x 22” lumberwere CA’d on top of the foundations allthe way around. Then, side sills of 1/16”x 3/16” dimensional lumber were added,making a 30’ x 40’ box for the mainbuilding with a similarly constructedadjacent 11’ x 15-1/2’ box for the storageshed. Floor joists of 1/16” x 3/16” dimensionallumber were inserted betweenthe side sills, two feet on center, runningeast-west for the main building andnorth-south in the storage shed (Photo1, Figure 1). With the floor supportscompleted, both areas were floored overwith 1/16” thick Northeastern Scale Lumberscribed siding (3/32” spacing) andsecured with CA (Photo 2).The Front PorchThe front porch was built with a frameof 1/16” x 5/32” dimensional lumber tomake a 31’ x 8’ box with a 1/16” x 5/32”dimensional lumber center joist lengthwise,that was then decked over withindividual HO 3” x 12” boards. Four supportcolumns for the porch were madefrom more of the foundation stones; astack of four brought the porch surfaceup flush with the interior flooring. Theentire deck assembly was then attachedto the South facing side sill of the mainbuilding with CA.The Back Platform / Loading DockThis freight area was built in parallelto the front porch from 1/16” x 5/32”dimensional lumber to make a 31’ x 9’box with a 1/16” x 5/32” dimensionallumber lengthwise center joist that wasagain decked over with individual HO 3”x 12” boards. Supports for the platformwere made from scrap lumber, roughly6x6 posts that were mortised to fit underthe sill and cut to length to bring thedecking up flush with the interior flooring.A ramp was added to the West endusing the same 1/16” x 5/32” dimensionallumber that extended the sills and centerjoist with the angles at each end sandedto fit. A length of O Scale scrap squarestock (about three inches long) was CA’dto the end of the platform to supportthe mortised ramp joists. The ramp wasdecked over with more HO 3” x 12”boards. The platform assembly was thenattached to the North facing sill of themain building with CA.First Floor WallsThe first floor walls of the main buildingwere constructed board-by-board12 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07as sub-units, with the four finished wallsassembled afterwards to enclose thefirst floor. To make the walls dimensionallyacceptable to complement a fullydetailed and accessible interior, I optedfor board-by-board clapboard sheathingfor the exterior.All four pre-assembled wall unitswere built up using 12’ long 2x4 studson two-foot centers with a 4x4 on eachend (Figure 2, page 15). Doubling of 2x4studs, for the window and header supportsover the windows, were includedin all walls as needed. The South wall,the main front entrance, is 31’ long.Two pairs of #1018 Gould Company 3’x 11’-6” windows were modified to bedoubled in width with a Gould Company#1016 double-arched window commercialentrance pair of doors centered inthis wall (Photo 3). The Gould castings3lacked trim boards, so before painting,glazing, and installation, O Scale 1x6boards were used to trim out the exteriorof these windows and door castings.The North wall is also 31’ and thestuds were set to accept a Grandt Line#3603 door with transom to exit onto theback platform, along with a single Grandt#3701 double-hung 12-pane window thatlooks out onto the back platform.The East wall is a 40-1/2’ unit with asingle Grandt Line #3701 double-hung12-pane window that looks into the frontportion of the store (Figure 2). A doubleset of 4x4s were incorporated into theframing for this wall to provide a surfaceto tie the South wall of the storage shedto, and to provide an attachment surfacefor the exterior clapboard siding (Figure2, Photo 3). Also, I left a gap in the framingwhere the coal furnace chimney fromthe basement was planned to tie into theexterior wall. The fourth wall, “West”,was also a 40-1/2’ wall unit framed fora single Grandt #3701 window that mirroredthe window on the opposite wall.There is also a Grandt #3602 five-paneldoor to provide access into the storageshed.The exteriors of all of the window anddoor castings were painted Aged White(Polly S), glazed with polyacetate film,and installed after the exterior sheathingwas completed and painted.Since a fully detailed interior wasdesired, finishing the interior wallsbecame a necessity. The intent was to“plaster” the interior walls, add wainscoting,and then trim out the windowsand doors. The interior of the wall framingunits for the first floor were given avery quick application of CA, a sheetof 0.005” clear styrene (Evergreen) wasattached, and then held flat on the plateglass work surface under a lead-weightedboard. After the glue was well set, theexcess styrene was removed with a sharpscalpel, flush to the wall perimeter, withthe openings for the windows and doorsalso cut out.The exteriors of the wall units werefinished in individual clapboards madefrom HO 1” x 18”, no more than 12’ inlength, applied with staggered jointsstarting with an HO 2x8 kick-out boardglued at the base of the walls. The endsof the individual clapboards on the Eastand West walls were left approximatelynine inches long, to provide material forforming an appropriate overlap wherethe ends of these walls would mate withthe 4x4s of the North and South walls.The openings for all of the windows anddoors were very carefully trimmed andtest fitted with each window or doorcasting prior to assembly of the first floorwalls onto the floor.All of the interior window and dooropenings were trimmed out using OScale 1x4 lumber applied directly to the“plaster” surface. Wainscoting (3-1/2’high) was then added (CA’d) using Kapplerscribed siding (1/16” scribed x 1/32”thick) and the wainscoting was cappedoff with an HO 1x4. Gaps in the wainscotingwere left where the Post Officeunit would be installed (as a built-in unit)on the East wall, while an opening wasleft on the West wall for a built-in six-unitstore shelving unit (Banta Model Works#702). All of the wood trim and wainscotingwas painted in place using PollyS Light Green (which actually turned outto be rather dark), while the walls were

painted with Polly S Aged White.The four individual wall sections werecarefully glued (CA) onto the floor startingwith the West wall mainly to makesure that its placement would ultimatelymate well with the ends of the Northand South walls of the storage shed. TheNorth and South walls were put in placenext, making sure to set these as close to90 degrees to the floor and as close toparallel to each as possible when gluingtheir bases to the floor. At the same time,their respective ends were mated to the4x4 framing terminus ends of the Westwall. The East wall was inserted andglued into position between the Northand South walls.The Attached Storage ShedThe North wall of the storage shed isa 15-3/4’ unit pre-assembled with 2x4studs, 12’ high on two-foot centers, with4x4 ends. The 4x4 ends were for joiningthis wall to the East wall of the storebuilding and to the West wall of the storageshed (Figure 3, Photo 4). The Eastwall of the Storage Shed is a 10-1/8’ longwall assembled with 2x4 studs, again 12’long on two-foot centers (Figure 2).The South wall of the storage shed isalso 15-3/4’ long and assembled with 2x44studs, 12’ long on two-foot centers, with4x4 ends for joining the walls together.Framing for this wall was set to accept apair of modified Grandt Line #3610 sheddoors, along with a single Grandt #3702double-hung window. The exterior of thewindow and door castings were paintedwith Polly S Aged White, glazed withpolyacetate film, and installed after theexterior sheathing was completed andpainted.The storage shed exterior is finishedwith board-by-board HO 1” x 14”clapboards over an HO 2x8 kick-outboard glued at the base of the walls.The clapboards were pre-cut to be nomore than 12’ in length and appliedusing staggered joints. The ends of theindividual clapboards on the East wallwere left approximately nine incheslong to provide material for forming anappropriate overlap where the ends ofthis wall joined to the 4x4s of the Northand South walls. The openings for thewindows and doors were very carefullytrimmed and test-fitted with the windowand door castings. The three shedwalls were installed similarly to those forthe main building, with the ends of theNorth and South shed wall mating upwith those 4x4s left in the West wall ofthe main building. As such, all of the firstfloor walls were now completely interconnectedand very stable.Since I had decided to forego aninterior in the shed, I fashioned fivesimple A-frame rafters from 1/16” x 5/32”dimensional lumber. I set these intoplace with one flush against the mainbuilding, one flush over the exterior ofthe West wall of the shed, and the restspaced equidistant. The rafters werethen gap-sheathed with HO 1” x 24” fora metal roof. Stone steps at the doubledoorwere built with three courses of thesame foundation stones. All of the excessoverlapping clapboard at the cornerswas very carefully trimmed away using abrand new #10 scalpel blade. Now thatthe walls were up, it was time to addressthe installation of the first floor interior.First Floor InteriorLet me back up just a little in theentire process. Before I actually startedto build anything, I mocked-up a 1:1floor plan of components, such as thestore counters, display cases, and shelvingunits from Banta Model Works, theBerkshire Valley (BV) Hank’s CountryStore detailing kit, and an additionalsmall mountain of additional BV castings.All of these parts were assembled,prepared, cleaned, painted, stained, andplaced appropriately into this faux firstfloor space on foam backer board. I didthis to be 100% sure that what I builtwould actually hold the planned contentson the inside. By doing this mockup, Imanaged to define the dimensions ofthe store interior, set up where I wantedeverything to be installed, and find spacefor the Post Office.To make the Post Office (Photo 5), Iused two Berkshire Valley shelving units,a smaller Banta Model Works laser-cut5parts bin, and a BV roll top desk. I madethe front half of the Post Office, settingthe shelving units facing towards thepublic joined together top-and-backwith 1/32 basswood sheet scraps, leavinga space for a customer window witha sorting table behind them. I made theback half of the Post Office using theparts bin to represent mailboxes, joinedto the roll-top desk. The back was thentied to the front with some scrap Northeasternscribed siding on one end. Apair of Grandt Line shutters were cutdown to function as swinging doors,providing access by the post-mistress,and hung on some old reefer hinges toclose off the other end. All of the cornersand top edges were trimmed out withsome very small scrap quarter-roundtrim. The wood and castings were eitherstained, painted Roof Brown, or Polly SLight Green, to match the wainscoting.Additional castings were used to fill thescene, such as a typewriter, books, chair,safe, lamp, and the post-mistress (BerkshireValley, Hamm River) (Photo 5).The rest of the first floor was thenfilled with all of the remaining parts, afterthey were painted in a host of colors andtypes of paint (Floquil, Polly S, TestorsModel Master). Figures came from Artistta,Aardvark Arts, and Aspen ModelingCompany, including the checker playersand their dog by the stove. The signson the wall came from a collection ofjpeg files of antique signs for sale, scaleddown and printed on regular paper witha simple ink jet printer to get a slightlyfaded tone (Photo 6).Nov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 13

Since there was going to be a fullydetailed second floor that would compromisefuture access to the first floor, Ihad to install the stairway to the secondfloor at this point. The stairway wasmade by merging two Gould Company#1007 45-degree staircase sets, theproduct of which was painted to matchthe interior. The stairway was tied intothe North wall side sill for the secondfloor and later boxed in by the floorjoists for that floor. Lastly, the floor andall exposed wood surfaces were stainedwith Pecan Min-wax (Photos 5,6).The ChimneyI started building the chimney by settingup a foundation of seven coursesof “stone”, like the foundation material.This time, I switched to the redstones and made a chimney base thatwould fit in between the doubled 4x4sthat I had left in the West wall. Afterthat, I switched over to using a doubleoverlappingcourse of small red andbrown bricks from 135th ConstructionBattalion. I added gray bricks into themix, part way in, when I began to thinkI’d run out of bricks. These bricks arereal ceramic and take a lot of patienceto use, fit together, and glue. I initiallyused CA to assemble the bricks into thechimney but their porosity was a challenge.After I finished building the chimneyup to the base of the second floor,I found that I could build much fasterusing Walthers’ Goo on alternate rows.Fortunately, these bricks came togetherlooking pretty much as I’d hoped, representingthe use of salvaged brick fromsome other location.Jumping ahead a bit, after I had builtthe second story, I built the chimneypast the second floor and flush up to thesoffit of the roof. Since I planned for theroof to come off to expose the interior,I took a scrap piece of 0.010” styrene,about a brick course width smaller thanthe chimney itself, and started buildinganother chimney. After I had about tencourses assembled, I very very carefullyapplied Goo to just the soffit board ofthe roof and set this small chimney sectionon top of the two-story chimneysection. Seeing the joint between thetwo sections is exceedingly difficult.After I finished building the chimney toits final height, and adding a decorativeledge aspect, I went back and appliedtile grout to the entire chimney, removingthe excess grout with a small sponge andpaper towel. I concede that this chimneyexercise may have been just a little overthe top, and will probably get filed under“never again”.Well, having described that exercisein excess, this now seems like an opportunespot to take a break, having basicallydescribed how the entire first floorwas built, including the interior. I’ll pickup from here in the next installment, tocomplete building Clugston’s Store anddescribe how the second floor, the roofstructure, the second floor interior, andthe exterior finishing were done. u14 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07

Nov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 15

The Art of FinescaleMichael CougillI&W UpdateIt’s been a long time since I said anything about the layout,so an update is way overdue. Trackwork has progressed nicelyin recent months. Things lagged quite a bit over the last yearor two for all of the usual reasons. However, a flurry of activityhas brought this phase of construction to a close.At this writing, all of the track is in, completely spiked, andoperational. There are still cosmetic details to add, but everythingworks! Yeaaaa! Photo 1 shows the most recent work on1the south end of the layout. This is the end of the run-aroundwith the two tracks for the shingle plant next to the backdrop.The plant will be a shallow-depth building flat between thetracks and the backdrop. The foam panels are for mockingup the initial design of this building, which will run the entirelength of these tracks (about seven feet). I still have some backdropto add to the end of the layout to hide the room wall, butthat won’t be hard to do even at this late stage.The stub-ended track near the front edge is the pole trackdiscussed a few months ago. When I’m finally done with thescenery in the rear of this area, I’ll add the support frames forstoring the incoming utility poles and finish this scene.On the opposite end of the railroad, an area that I thought2was nearly finished (scenery-wise) has seen an upheaval withsome civic improvements. I had only modeled one road so far.Canal Road runs parallel to the old Whitewater Canal bed andcrosses the railroad at the interchange track to CSX. See mycolumn in OST #27. I wanted to include a cross-street or two,and model different kinds of grade crossings. These streets willhelp divide the layout into different mini-scenes, but where tolocate them? Well, some head scratching finally found a spotfor Mill Street (Photo 2).There wasn’t a way to get to the old feed mill, which stillsees the occasional delivery of potash (or whatever fertilizer)using a drop pit and portable conveyer on the mill track. MillStreet will remedy that and give me the chance to go nuts withdetailing some concrete and old brick pavement. Plus, the streetgoes through two switches, so there should be lots of visualinterest to hold the eye. There was some scenery with groundcoveralready in place, but I just cut it out and filled it in withthe base for the pavement and culverts. A little paint and newgroundcover and you’d never know anything was different.With the track construction now over, I can breathe a sighof relief and satisfaction, and run some trains. Future projectsinclude a lot more scenery work and some structures, like theWhitewater Shingle plant. Rolling stock is high on the agendasince I only have four cars operational at present. All of theseare, or promise to be, enjoyable tasks in their own right. So thefun is far from over.Best regards.MikeuSend $2 forPrice Info andCatalogR•BISHOP since 1985MO D E LCR A F TE R SP.O. Box 4153 • Burlington, VT 05406 • (802) 651-4005CUSTOM DESIGNED • HANDCRAFTED • SIGNED • COPYRIGHTEDU.S. Army 90mm "Pershing" Tank on 42’ Flat Car • 1/48 scaleU.S. Army 90 mm M26 “Pershing” Heavy Tank, Late WWII & Korea. All mounted on a42` flat car with chocks, blocks and tie-downs. Flat car has real wood plank deck &die-cast sprung trucks with Kadee couplers. Load and flat car are battle weatheredand each piece has unique numbering.Mod. No. AR22(OS)-OSFC3.2USA O-Scale-2 Rail Mail Order: $595.+S & Ins.COMMEMORATING THE UNITED STATES MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICEw w w . m o d e l c r a f t e r s . c o m e-mail: modelcrafters@yahoo.com16 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07

New! O Scale BirneyThis is a true O Scale 1:48 model. The die wasmade from the drawings of a real Birney!Norm’s O Scale TrainsThe model comes with a complete interior, less powertruck and lighting package: $35.95. We expect a 4-wheelpower truck kit in mid-April, followed by the lighting kit.Pa Heritage Models Ltd.715 Ridgeway Road, Birdsboro, PA 19508www.paheritagemodels.comNew Model From Atlas O • EMD F2/F3 Phase 1Highly detailed body with road-specific details. Available inA and B unit versions, powered and unpowered. All metalgrab irons. Die-cast metal chassis, fuel tank and trucks. Twinflywheel-equipped motors. Directional golden-white LEDlighting. Accurate paint and lettering. Close-coupling betweenunits. 3-Rail units include: EOB, TMCC, RailSounds, andelectro-couplers. 2-Rail Silver includes: All wheels insulatedw/8-wheel pickup, DCC-ready, operating Diesel exhaust unit.2-Rail Gold includes: all Silver features plus, QSI DCC withauthentic Diesel sounds, Doppler effect, air let-off in neutral,coupler impact sounds, helper mode and more.Roads available: CB&Q, NYC, RI, B&M, Lackawanna, Sou,and undecorated, A and B units. Two road numbers each.2R Gold or 3R w/sound, List $480 — SALE $409 +$15 s&h2R Silver, List $420 — SALE $359 + $15 s&h2R/3R Unpowered, List $200 — SALE $179 + $15 s&hRESERVE NOW! Norm’s O Scale Trains, PO Box 147,41 Roosevelt Trail (Rt 302), S. Casco ME 04077207-655-2550 • info@normsoscale.comAnother NEW scenery product from those creative wizards atwith a touch of floral color to brighten any lackluster scene.. Flowering Meadows are delicate fieldsgives a refreshing new brilliance to model scenery.SF72221Flowering Meadowsblend perfectly with the entire Silflor ®product line including Prairie Tufts andGrass Pathways. Available in four colorcombinations. Each sheet measures12”x 19” (30.5 cm x 48.5 cm)SF72222SF72223SF72224SF72221 Dandelions & White Clovers on 8mm Light Spring Meadow .......... $33.75SF72222 Red Poppies & White Foxtail on 8mm Medium Summer Meadow . $33.75SF72223 Violets & White Heather on 8mm Medium Summer Meadow ........ $33.75SF72224 Amber Marigolds & White Crocus on 8mm Autumn Meadow ........ $33.75Flowering Meadows are as easy to use as our popular grass mats. Take note howgrasses really grow. Wild fields never have a ‘golf coarse’ perfect look... at least not that wehave seen. We observe a patchwork of weeds, tones, colors, heights and textures. Lookthe next time you’re out... You’ll see what we mean.175 Sheffield Drive, #100 Delmont, PA 15626-1723Tel: (724)468-3106 • www.scenicexpress.comPlease add $8.49 shipping • Penna. residents add 6% State Sales Tax.Request FREE 216 page catalog with order or send $3 for postage.Nov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 17

Building a Small O Scale LayoutPart EighteenHere we are at Part 18, the end of my series on building asmall O Scale layout. This series of articles started three yearsago, in the Jan/Feb 2005 issue (#18) of OST. I’ve covered thetechniques that I used to build my layout, starting with thebenchwork, then covering everything from trackwork to scenery,buildings and roads. I hope that this series of articles haseither started you modeling in O Scale, or even got you tobuild a layout.If you remember, back to the first part of the series, I mentionedthat my wife and I had to sell our house and moveto an apartment where I built my layout in a ten-foot by tenfoot second bedroom. At first I wondered if I could build anO Scale layout in this small space that would be fun to buildand operate and keep my interest going. Well, after two yearsand the layout about 98% finished, I have found out that an OScale layout can be built in a small space that is fun to operateand can keep my interest in the hobby going. A full operatingsession, using switchlists, takes just over an hour to complete,not bad for a 38 square-foot layout.The Layout ConceptThe Great Central Railway is a freelance bridge line thatruns through the fictitious city of York, with a belt line thatserves the industries there. The modeled portion representsthe east-end industrial area in the late 1950s. A fleet of GE 70-ton Diesels is used to handle the tight curves and the demandsof this busy industrial area.Fig. 1Michael Culham12345618 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07

The LayoutIn Figure 1, the revised track plan of the layout, you willsee that there have been some changes to the plan from theoriginal one shown in Issue #19. One of the sidings has beenremoved, and the planned industries and buildings on theright side of the layout have changed. Also, I had originallyplanned to use removable cassette units for staging, but I amnow using a two-track pivoting sector-plate. I will cover moreon this later in this article. Photos 1-6 show an overview of thelayout, starting on the left side and working clockwise aroundthe layout to the right-hand side, giving you an idea of whatthe layout looks like.Industries Served by RailThere are four industries and a team track that are servedby rail on this layout. This keeps me, as well as visitors to thelayout, quite busy during an operating session. The four industriesare as follows:• T.C. Food Products is made from DPM wall modules. Itreceives boxcars, reefers and tank cars. Also in the photo youcan see the unloading ramp of the team track that receivesboxcars and flatcars (Photo 7).7910• C. Hill and B. Lane Cold Storage is built from scratchusing styrene. It receives reefers and boxcars (Photo 8).8• J. J. Terrier is built from Pecos River Brass structure modulesand is the largest industry on the layout. It receives boxcars,tank cars and covered hoppers (Photo 9).• Maxted‘s Clavichord Factory, which is made from DPMmodules, receives boxcars (Photo 10)There are also several industries not served by rail, andsome commercial buildings on the layout, that give a nicebalance to the look of an industrial area of a city, as seen inPhotos 11-14.Adding DetailsAs you can see from the photos, I have added a lot ofdetails as well as people and cars. This helps in creating realisticscenes on the layout. There are lots of manufacturersout there that make O Scale details. Don’t be afraid to look atsome of the other scales for useful details as well. I have usedmany 1/87 (HO) and 1/35 scale details on my layout.Locomotives and Freight CarsAs I mentioned earlier, I have three GE 70-ton Diesels,made by Rich Yoder Models (Photo 15), for my motive power.On a layout of this size you could use any small Diesel, suchas Atlas’ SW-series switchers. For freight cars, I have a mixtureof 40’ cars made by Atlas, Lionel, Intermountain and RedCaboose. You could use 50’ cars as well, but probably nothinglarger. In total, you would only need one or two locos andabout twenty freight cars on a layout of this size.ControlsAs mentioned in this series, I run my layout using a DigitraxDCC system and use Soundtraxx sound decoders. Thishas enhanced the operation, as I do not have to worry aboutNov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 19

111512blocks, and the sound adds another dimension to the overallaffect. DCC accessory decoders that are activated fromthe operator’s controller control all the turnout motors. Thismeans that the crew has to stop at the turnout, dial up theturnout by using the designated number, and then set thepoints in the right direction. This takes time, as if the brakemanhad to climb down from the engine and go over, unlockthe switchstand, and then throws the points, just like on thereal railway.There are two plug-in outlets for the controllers on thefascia of the layout, as well as computer mouse holders thatwork well for holding the controllers (Photo 16). There is also161314an uncoupling tool at each outlet, as I do not use uncouplingmagnets.Operating the LayoutAn operating session starts with the crew picking up theirengine, which is kept on the main by J. J. Terriers. They thenrun down to the staging tracks at the other end of the layoutand pick up the four cars from Track One. The placement ofthese cars at the industries is governed by the use of switchlist(Figure 2) that I create on my computer. The list also showswhat cars have to be picked up by the crew, as well. Once thecrew has dropped off and picked up their cars from the list,they then head back to the staging tracks with the cars theyhave picked up and place them on Track One. Then, they20 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07

1718 19pick up the other four cars from Track Two, with their correspondingswitch list. They proceed to place these cars at thedesignated industry and pick up cars from this list. Once thisis done, they head back to staging with these cars, uncouplethe engine from the cars and head back over to the main byJ. J. Terrier. These operating sessions last a little over an hour.From what I have heard back from the visiting crews, theyhave had a lot of fun.Between operating sessions, I change out the cars in thestaging area with different ones (so I don’t keep running thesame cars all the time) and make up switchlists for them forthe next session.StagingAs I mentioned earlier in the article, I am now using atwo-track pivoting sector plate (which will hold eight 40’ cars)instead of removable cassette units for my staging area. Thiscame about after trying out the cassettes, finding that theywere too awkward to handle, and pose the risk of cars droppingoff. After chatting with my friend, Ivan (from England), Ifound out that they use sector plates on their O Scale layoutsinstead of cassettes for the same reasons, so I built one andhave found it quite to my liking. Photos 17-19 show my sectorplate and how it works. Photo 20 shows it removed and thesupport unit folded up out of the way of the utility room door,which we need to access to get at the furnace and air conditioner.The FutureAt the time of this writing, my wife and I have been discussingpurchasing a new house and, all being well by the timeyou read this, we should have done so and be moved in.This will give me more space, and I will have started onthe expansion of my layout. This will consist of the west-endindustrial area with a small yard, an engine shop for my locos,and a larger staging area. I will keep you informed of its progressin future articles.Final noteI hope you have enjoyed reading my series on ”Building aSmall O Scale Layout” as much as I have enjoyed writing it.I hope I have been able to show you that you can have an OScale layout in a small space and still have fun operating it.I would like to thank my friends, Trevor Marshall, IvanMaxted, Dan Rowsell and Pete Mulvany, for their helpfulsuggestions as Ibuilt my layout, Joe 20Giannovario (ourbeloved publisher ofthis great magazine)for publishing myarticles for the pastthree years, and myfather and grandfather(may they restin peace) withoutwhom I would notbe in this greathobby. Last but notleast, special thanksgo to my wonderfulwife, Terry, who hasallowed me to buildmy layout in ourapartment, and forall her help in editingmy articles.Season Greetingsand a veryHappy New Yearto everyone. Sountil next timeHappy Modeling uNov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 21

Rail Yard Structures from B.T.S. !Freight House#17500 $169.95At the freight house, the goods were loggedin, the paperwork and billing done, and thegoods were stored until the next outgoingfreight car was available. Incoming goodswere handled the same way.This is a variation of a CB&Q prototype andconsists of laser-cut basswood, plywood,and cardstock, tarpaper roofing, and detailcastings.The footprint of the building is 74’x 20’ with a 30’ loading dock on the end. Itcan be built with scribed siding or board &batten as shown.MoW Shed#17501 $49.95Maintenance of Way, i.e., the maintenance of the track and roadbed requires the railroadto keep a stockpile of spikes, tie plates, switch stands, and other components.This kit consists of laser-cut basswood, plywood, and cardstock, tarpaper roofing,detail castings, and loads of character. It was based upon an AT&SF prototype. Thedoors are positionable, and individual battens are included, if board-and-batten siding is desired. The tabbed, well-engineeredconstruction provides fast and easy assembly. The footprint is about 22’ x 29’.Handcar Shed#17503 $49.95Track gangs needed a place to store their handcars when not in use as well as all theirtools and supplies. Sheds with tracks quickly answered the need. The prototype for thismodel was near Delta, PA on the Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad. This kit consistsof laser-cut basswood, plywood, and cardstock, tarpaper roofing, and detail castings.The footprint is approximately 18’ x 20’.Bridge Crane#18505 $119.95Overhead bridge cranes were located at various places including the team track, engine house,large industries and the freight house. It was used to move heavy loads from flats and gons.The model is a brass import. The hoist trolley is positionable on the bridge. The model ispainted and ready for you to simply hang the hook and chain on the hoist. Approx. Size- scale 20’ wide with 16’ clearance from ground to the bottom of the bridge. This is a limitedrun project that is sold direct only from B.T.S.P O Box 856www.btsrr.comElkins, WV 26241Shipping is $5.00 per order in the USPhone: 304-637-4510 All Scale Catalog - $5.00Fax: 304-637-4506 Celebrating over 28 Years of Service since 1979

Traction ActionRoger C. ParkerTower Hill Terminal, With Added Reversing CapabilityOne of the nicest aspects of preparing this column is thereader mail I receive. These often contain suggestions forupcoming columns. One of the most interesting was fromBill Culiton, encouraging me to write about the Niagara, SaintCatharines and Toronto terminal in Niagara Falls, Ontario, asdescribed in John Mill’s book on the line.The Tower Hill Terminal is large enough to have “presence”as the focal point of a busy home layout or module, yet thetrackwork is relatively simple, or at least it was in the original!Focal PointThe Tower Hill Station, itself, is large enough to create avery memorable structure, but is compact enough to be modeledin its entirety (as contrasted to a building flat). The tower,overlooking Niagara Falls, could become the focal point of thelayout. The carefully fitted stones walls of the terminal, built inEnglish Tudor fashion, would also set the Tower Hill Terminalapart from the ordinary. Walls were assembled of rough-cutmulti-colored stones of varying sizes and mineral coloration.Definitely, this is not your “everyday” structure!One of the nicest aspects to the building is that it looks asgood from the sides as it does from the front, providing viewerswith several pleasing perspectives. Also in its favor, as a modelingproject, is the structure’s emphasis on height, rather thanwidth or depth. With a little selective compression, if necessary,the building would be large enough to be noticed, yet not solarge that it dwarfs adjacent scenery.As a final plus in its favor, the Tower Hill Terminal buildingwas slightly elevated and set back from the road. Stone steps,landscaping, and grass separate it from the road and emphasizethe building’s height.Although it is considered by many to be one of the finestterminals of any electric railroad, it lasted just 14 years beforeclosure and destruction.Original TrackworkThe original track layout was very simple. Access was neverthe terminal’s strong point, as arriving and departing cars had toshare a single track running down adjacent Bridge Street. Insidethe terminal area, the tracks split into three stub-ended stationtracks, plus a freight track adjacent to a nearby street. The stubendedplatform tracks appear to be long enough for two- orpossibly three-car trains.There was also a passing siding along the side of the station,which could be used for either freight or additional passengercar storage.Adaptations and ChangesAlthough Tower Hill Terminal, as built, is a beautiful, noteworthy,yet eminently “modelable” prototype, I’d make a singlesignificant change. I want to be able to reverse train directionin order to accommodate single-ended cars as well as to addpotential revenue from First Class riders in observation cars (I’mpresently having a pair of LaBelle Sacramento Northern carsconverted into observation cars.)Thus, I’d add a wye-track connecting one of the stub-endplatform tracks to the passing tracks along the side of the station.This would add lots of operating interest, as reversingtrains would snake around equipment loading and unloading atthe terminal.The wye-track would also permit trains to arrive and departfrom the bottom of the module as well as the top, adding flexibilityto the layout in case it had to be relocated.To accommodate the added reversing track, of course, theterminal building itself willhave to be moved to theright. Hopefully, all of thekey trackage can fit on asingle module, simplifyingmoving from one locationto another.ConclusionInspiration can comefrom anywhere, books,reader mail, or old issuesof traction publications.More importantly, the originalsource of inspirationcan be modified as neededto add interest to any presentor future layout. uNov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 23

East GaryCar Co.Dept OST3828 St. Joseph CtLake Station IN 46405They’re Back!Former Indianapolis Car Company sidesare now available from new tooling.Parts #100 & #200$3.00 eachOrders under $50 please add $4.50 for postage andhandling. SASE for updated list.Repairs - Sales - InstallationsStandard & Narrow GaugesMerry Christmas & Happy New Year!•Sound •DCC •Couplers •Figures •Tools•Building Kits •Wood & Styrene •Chain•Turnout Throws •Tools •LubesSyracuse, NY 11/3-4 Allentown, PA 11/10-11Marlborough, MA 12/1-2W. Springfield, MA 1/26-27 - Amherst Show!Contact us for further show infoMail Orders - Credit Cards - Gift CertificatesProducts to make your railroad better !C r u s a d e rR A I L S E R V I C E S5920 Houghton St., Phila. Pa. 19128215-482-7530 crusaderrail@verizon.netRemoteControl Systemsof New EnglandSales and Service East of MississippiRemote Controls for “O” ScaleTrains. Batteries, Chargers,Sound Systems, and Installations.Systems starting at $170Don SweetPhone: (603) 321-1347Email: dsweet@rcs.mv.comwww.remotecontrolthrottles.comB R U M M Y ’ SPREMIUM GROUNDRUBBER BALLASTScale or Hi-Rail Size:Limestone White, Gray NewEarth Colors! (All sizes) Dry Dirt,Rich Dirt (Darker), Sand BoxBeige (Brighter) Coal - All Sizes.WE NOW TAKE VISA, M/C, and AMEXPhone: 330-825-3673Fax: 330-825-0214200 23rd St. NW • Barberton, OH 44203email: Dbrumagin4@netscape.netNEW! Iron Ore LoadsOur Iron Ore loads come in a set of four highlydetailed loads made specifically for the Atlasand K-Line ore cars. These loads were prototypedusing real Missabe Range iron ore sizedcorrectly for O scale. Check them out by visitingour website or call us for more information.St. Charles Model Works, Inc.www.Trainloads.com 815/457-2453www.modelbuildingservices.comAssembled buildingsfrom any manufacturer’s kit.Kitbashed, painted and detailed...“Just Like Real!”Kit by Model Tech StudiosModel Building ServicesModels built by Stu Gralnik264 Marret Rd • Lexington MA 02421Ph: 781-860-0554stu@modelbuildingservices.comhttp://RailsUnlimited.ribbonrail.com/email: railsunl@sbcglobal.net“We take time to give you full service”Unique O Scale models • Urethane cars; 40’ & 50’ boxcars, reefers,stock cars, milk cars, pickle car & circus cars.Full Service O Scale Dealer • Kits, DCC & Sound SuppliesBooks: new & out of print • Darkroom Services • Railroad PhotosModel Railroad Sales & ServiceTed Schnepf126 Will ScarletElgin Il 60120-9524 847-697-5353 or 847-697-536624 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07BF&MBaldwin Forge & MachineBox 5, Baldwin MD 21013How can we help you? Custom machinework, 3-R to 2-R conversions for steam,diesel or electric. Driver castingsmachined. General repairs to O Scale locomotives.Call Joe, evenings 7 to 9 PM.410-592-5275 or rrjjf@aol.comStevenson Preservation LinesO Gauge Kits and Parts from pastMaster ModelersCatalog 2005 Price: $3.00Baldwin Model Locomotive WorksLobaughAdams & SonsLenoirKansas City KitHines LinesAlexanderPearce Tool Co.Bob Stevenson, 2326 230th St. Ames, IA 50014

Two-Railing an MTH PRR R50bExpress ReeferHarry NeffThe MTH three-rail model of the Pennsylvania RailroadR50b express refrigerator car can be the basis of a two-railmodel that would please most serious Pennsy fans. A few simplechanges will make a pretty accurate car that will look greatrunning in an O Scale passenger train, but the construction of acontest winning effort would require a far more extensive article.This is a project where a modest effort produces a beautifulmodel fairly quickly.The Pennsy R50b is one of those distinctive designs that isuniquely Pennsy. In 1929, 550 of these cars were built in thenumber series 2501 to 3051. Today, many more of the cars arebeing built by MTH, in several popular road names, to satisfythe demand in the imaginary world of toy trains. Pennsy fanswill find two PRR paint schemes offered in the 2007 MTHcatalog. The car with black trucks and a black roof representsthe paint scheme that was applied when cars were repaintedbetween 1945 and mid-1954, the date when the ”RailwayExpress Agency” lettering was dropped. The paint scheme withthe green trucks was from an earlier period. The Pennsy expressreefers were always painted in Pennsy passenger car colors.They were not washed or painted frequently, so they were oftencovered with grime. They did not appear on the premier trainsduring the glory years.The PRR modified the R50b somewhat over the years. ByJune, 1944, all cars had received freight car safety appliances,which included ladders, grab irons and a brakewheel as theyappear on the MTH model. Some cars had side ladders androofwalks removed as early as mid-1952. By 1960, 154 carsremained in service and, by the Conrail merger, none wereoperating.The R50b express refrigerator cars had collapsible ice bunkers,making the entire interior space available for express servicewithout refrigeration. Most baggage and express cars have enddoors, allowing railroad employees to walk through the cars. TheR50b had no end doors, so it would usually be placed near thefront of the train, and was locked until it reached its destination.Carload shipments would take the car into interchange service, sothey’d appear on almost any railroad.Conversion to Two-RailMTH designed its R50b for use on three-rail layouts, whichoften have sharp curves. Fortunately, the carbody dimensionsare very accurate, and the compromises are limited tothe underbody. The car rides at least 1/8” too high, and thecenter sill is shortened (Photo 1). Heavyweight passenger cars1designed by the Pennsylvania Railroad had a center sill thatresembled a long narrow box running the length of the car,unlike the MTH sill which is tapered at the ends to allow thetrucks to make very sharp turns. The MTH center sill has thecorrect 24” width on the bottom sheet, so we need to extendits length by filling in the tapered area (Photo 2).2First, disassemble the car by removing eight Phillips-headscrews deep in the floor that fasten the roof in place. Loosenthe handrails where they attach just below the roofwalk, thenremove the roof. Next, remove the trucks. Take a strip of 0.250”x 0.100” styrene and cut four pieces 1-1/2” long, and shapethem as shown in Figure 1. Scrape the rivet detail off the slopedportion of the center sill and out as far as the truck mounts.Also, remove the black paint. Then, cement the center sillextensions in place. Enclose the bottom of the center sill with aNov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 25

0.250”Figure 1uncouple the cars by moving the coupler pins apart. I choseto space the cars further apart, allowing me to use the ”bighook” method of manual uncoupling (Photo 5). With the roof50.890” 0.610”1.500”piece of styrene, 0.500” wide by 1.500” long by 0.010” thick.If you have a rivet making tool, emboss rivets to line up withthose on the center sill.Next, disassemble the trucks, removing the two screwsholding each sideframe in place and three screws holding thecoupler in place. Saw the coupler mounting frame from thebolster and then reassemble the truck, but with two importantchanges. First, substitute pointed-axle 36” scale wheelsets forthe tinplate wheels. I used Northwest Shortline steel wheelsets(#8288-4). The sideframes have a plastic bearing that lets thewheels roll very easily. Second, the bolster must be attachedbelow the bracket on the sideframes, not above the bracketas manufactured. This change will drop the height of the car,and the top of the sideframe will be hidden by the side of thecarbody. The flat-head 2.5mm screws you removed shouldbe replaced by round-head screws, if available, to get a goodtight fit. An alternate possibility is to tap the bolster holes to 4-40 threads, which requires no drilling. See the pictures of thetrucks before and after rebuilding (Photos 3 and 4). Figure 23Figure 2BEFOREflathead screwbolster4AFTERremoved, reach inside6the car and removethe retainer lid fromthe buffer pocket andremove the buffer.Drill holes 0.475”apart and 0.070”back from the frontof the buffer pocket.Mount the Kadeecoupler pockets usingeither #1 wood screws 3/8” long, or 1-72 screws, which mightpass through the buffer pocket retainer lid. Notch out the rearof the buffer as required to clear the coupler mounting screws(Photo 6). Re-assemble the buffer, spring and lid.On most freight and passenger cars, the car’s weight istransferred to the truck bolster between the sideframes ofthe truck. On heavyweight passenger cars designed by thePennsylvania Railroad, the trucks have outside bearers, whichreceive the car’s weight where they contact the outer ends ofthe body bolster at the sides of the car. There is a reinforcementplate on the side of the R50b, so a pad that contactsthe outside bearer of the truck should be centered just belowthe reinforcement (Photo 7). I used strips of 0.060” x 0.100”7sideframebolsterscrewsideframeillustrates the changes in the bolster-to-sideframe mount.The couplers must be mounted directly to the bottom of thebuffer pocket. The buffers are sprung and work very well, buttheir design requires some careful measurement when mountingKadee couplers. If you want the buffers at the ends of thecars to actually touch on straight track, then you will have to26 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07

styrene for this detail. I placed a 0.470” long strip behind thecar side to widen the bottom edge, then I centered a 0.320”long strip below the reinforcement plate (Figure 3). The padsFigure 3Eagle’s NestPaint Work — 2 weekdelivery possible*MiniaturesBrass Work — 4 weekdelivery possible*Car side 0.470” x 0.060” x 0.100”0.320” x 0.060” x 0.100”do not quite touch the outside bearers on the trucks, to avoidpotential operating problems. The gap is not very noticeable.A few additional changes to the underbody will make abetter looking and more accurate model with very little effort.Remove the MTH brake cylinder with the attached pipes andlevers, and replace it with a Precision Scale Westinghouse 15”brake cylinder with slack adjuster (part #40455). The leversfrom the brake cylinders passed through slots in the side ofthe center sill of the R50b. Small strips of brass or styrene canserve as the levers. Remove the brake rod and lever that areattached to the larger of the two air tanks. Somebody at MTHgot a little confused on that detail. Replace the air brake distributingvalve with Precision Scale’s U12 distributing triple-valve(part #40444). If the finished car is viewed from eye level, theseunderbody details are easily seen. The steam lines and air linesran along the center sill near the floor, and passed through thecenter sill near the center of the car. At the ends of the car, acasting should be attached for the steam line coupling, keepingit clear of the couplers.I painted the newly added underbody details with ModelMaster Acryl semi-gloss black to match the MTH black paint(Photo 8). The wood step at the top of the end ladder shouldalso be painted black. Scalecoat II Tuscan, with a semi-glossoverspray, should match the body color fairly well, and can beused to paint the brake wheel and chain, and the steel roofwalksupports at the ends of the car. I used 3mm kingpin screws andsprings to attach the trucks from inside the car. On a secondcar, I drilled out the thread at the center of the truck bolster andran a screw from the outside of the car to a nut attached to theinside of the floor. Both methods worked well. Washers wereused to raise the car about 0.020”. Where the roof meets theside, a lip runs around the car. The top edge of the lip should be11’ 2-1/2” above the railhead.After the car is assembled and tested, you should considerweathering this very pretty model. You won’t find many ”in service”photographs of R50b’s in pristine paint jobs. u8• Custom Painting • Brass Detail Upgrading •• DCC Installation • Repowering •• Sound Systems •Japanese Quality by an American CraftsmanEagle’s Nest MinaturesHarry A. Hieke, Jr.harrys_trains@comcast.net856-625-5506*Ask about our premium payment plan!DYNAMIC RUNNING BASEGeneration IIJAK ROLLERFor Use With JAK ROLLERSO-Scale 2&3-RailOak DRB 4-8-4 w/ 2 JAK Rollers $139Oak DRB 4-8-8-4 w/ 4 JAK Rollers $174Available in Standard Gauge, G, O, S, HO ScalesOptionalDisplay CoversMaterialsFinishesSizesEngravingWired & Insulated - No setup necessaryJAK ROLLERS can be used independent of DynamicRunning Base for service, testing, and wheel cleaning!Generation II JAK Rollers Available with Wheel Cleaning PadsJAK Tool And Model, LLCTel (732) 610-5787PO Box 291 Matawan, NJ 07747INFO@ JAKTOOL .COMWWW.JAKTOOL.COMNov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 27

Scale Models From Around the WorldOshkosh P-Series Plow Truck1:50 scale #SW005Y $109.95Freightliner w/ Wabash TrailerSchneider logo 1:50 scale #SW3003 $239.95Peterbilt 379 w/ Nelson Ramp Trailer1:50 scale #SW2027A $229.95Valmet 941 Havester1:50 scale #SW008 $79.95TOYS for COLLECTORSwww.tfcusa.comShuttlelift 5540F Carrydeck Crane1:50 scale #SW2017O $79.95Freightliner w/ Brenner TrailerSchneider logo 1:50 scale#SW3001 $249.95This is a sample selection of over 40 Sword PrecisionScale Models available at Toys for Collectors.95 Public Square, Suite 401, Watertown, New York 13601 Shipping in Continental US:Toll Free: 888-445-3322 Fax: 315-782-8167UPS Ground insured: 7.95 Priority Mail:9.95Outside Continental US: Actual Shipping Coste-mail:tfcusa@northweb.comNos. 16001-18500 O SCALE/PROTO 48 • Kit #124/124-P … $49.95•Based on 1917 prototype builtby Mt. Vernon Car Co.•Double sheath with Dreadnought ends•Steel underframe•Andrews trucks•Kit includes couplers and decalsAlso available –SACRAMENTO NORTHERNBoxcar Nos. 2301-2350Kit #125/125-P … $49.95 Coming soon – SP Sugar Beet GondolaJD’s Trains Exclusive Custom RunsUP Challenger Heavyweights - An O Scale First!Atlas O Hills Bros. 40’ BoxcarNow Shipping in 2 Road #’s3 Rail - $54.95 / 2 Rail - $57.95Golden Gate Depot UP Challenger80’ Heavyweight Coaches - 4 Car SetOrder Today - Only 25 Sets Will Be ProducedEstimated Delivery: Fall 20072 & 3 Rail - $449.95 + Shipping $25.00Matching Tourist Sleepers Coming in 2008!UP PhotoIntroduced in 1935, The Challenger revolutionized passenger travel betweenChicago and the West Coast. Operating over CNW, UP & SP lines, by 1937 TheChallenger had become one of the largest-earning trains in the country.Secure on-line shopping at www.jdstrains.comAtlas O Berghoff Beer 40’ ReeferLess than 20 remain, Avail. in 2 Road #’s3 Rail - $62.95 / 2 Rail - $65.95Email: info@jdstrains.comPhone: 314-409-4451Weaver UP 40’ Express BoxcarFirst time in O Scale with correct mold.Now shipping in 3 Road #’s.2 & 3 Rail both only $49.95Includes diecast trucks & couplers2-Tone Grey Coming in FEB 2008!JD’s TrainsP.O. Box 8336 St. Louis, MO 6313228 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07

As a bit of a preamble, I’m fresh from an incognito visit to a(mostly) N and HO show, and I have to say that the performance,fidelity and compatibility of much of their ready-to-run productis better than ours. Their budget price-point plastic Alcos havecorrect stanchions and smooth low-speed drives, for instance.Freight cars have delicate stirrups, prototype paint schemes,even prototypes. Most locomotives have sockets installed forplug-and-play DCC/sound modules if they don’t come DCCequipped.Yet we in O Scale, as an example, settle for mechanicallyquestionable drives, the like of which the N Scale folkshaven’t seen since those Rivarossi E-units and FM C-liners of the’70s. Today, there are stock N Scale drives that run vastly betterthan what we O Scalers now are told are ”acceptable”. In HO, aKadee, or a McHenry, or whatever coupler you choose as yourstandard, drops right in. Not necessarily so in the current crop ofready-to-run offerings in the O Scale marketplace.Just in case you’re already rolling your eyes at ”another oneof Scace’s rambling rants” (which this certainly will be), considerthis. Our marketplace is small enough that, when someonebrings a particular model to market, the chances of that prototypebeing addressed a second time go to just about nil. If that firstmodel is a rushed-to-market caricature at best, that’s what we’veallowed ourselves to be stuck with as what probably will be theonly ”model” of that classic in O Scale (outside of, perhaps, thecollector/brass market). Does anyone here really think we’ll eversee a decent FT? Anyway, here we go again.Another Open Letter to Manufacturers/ImportersA couple years ago, I wrote a bit of a rant about the marketdrivers in O Scale. In it, I discussed those drivers that appeal tous, compared to those that appeal to the toy/nostalgia market thatis associated with us only by virtue of track gauge. Since then,much has happened, and I fear the message might not have gottenreceived very clearly.My point from a couple years ago was simply that, in the caseof O gauge, the toy/nostalgia market drivers (brand-loyalty beingthe most pronounced) are assumed by some to be the same asour motivations in O Scale. They aren’t. Fidelity, performance,and compatibility are, just like the other scale modelers want inthe other scales that don’t have a toy/nostalgia segment.Now, don’t get me wrong here. I’ve often said we’re livingin an O Scale Renaissance, and I still believe it. There is a lot toappreciate in the some of the modern affordable offerings we’veseen. A couple manufacturers are working very hard to bringthose three qualities to the fore. Even when some items havefallen short earlier on, they work to improve the product line, andwork hard. To them, I credit the renaissance. These folks have thedifference clearly in mind between toy trains and scale modelrailroading.To the other players in the field, I’ll put a couple thoughts in(hopefully) clearer terms with some examples. In O Scale, justlike in any of the smaller scales, compatibility is a basic requirement.If your control system is exclusive to your product lineonly, then you are crippling your sales potential here, just as sureas if your line used loop and hook couplers instead of knuckles.The NMRA Standards and RPs are written for that purpose. Wecare about compatibility, and the Scale World has cared deeplysince that organization was chartered.We caredeeply aboutfidelity. No,we aren’t askingfor $50locomotivesthat are perfecthighly detailed replicasdown to the opening hoodlatches. We aren’t that naïve.We are vitally interested in goodbasic form and dimensions. These arescale models after all. If it’s intended for the budget price-point,don’t add so many details, just get the basic model to the samestandards as you would to compete in the HO or N marketplace.What’s there should be correct, simple as that. Over-wide freightcartrucks aren’t acceptable in HO; they aren’t here. Stampedsteel folded up handrails that remind us of our childhood Lionel2346 Geep are wallet-closers, not wistful reminders of youth.Diesel frames that sit high off the trucks, and tiny pilot wheels on4-8-4s aren’t manufacturing necessities. They are flaws un-necessaryin N Scale, and they are flaws here.We care deeply about performance. O Scale is about drivesand couplers that allow you to approach a car on a siding, easeup to it, and just kiss ’em together. O has the mass to be able toexploit that. The vertical Diesel drives of today don’t take advantageof this opportunity to impress, and some couplers out thereneed a pretty obnoxious slam to mate, especially from one manufacturerto another. We’ve also outgrown the desire to see if oursteam locomotives will fly off the curves. Scale speeds, smoothacceleration, and controllability all the way across the range ofour throttles was ours in the days of Rollin, Max, and Levon. It isstill something we expect in today’s offerings.So where does this leave us? Look at your product. If youcan honestly say that your budget price-point product is in linewith the fidelity, performance, and compatibility of the currentmindset of the smaller scales, you’re OK. Does your higher-endstuff take advantage of the mass and presence of O to surpassthat offered in HO or N, and impress the smaller-scale peopleenough to join us? You’re good, the marketplace will grow, andso will your share. If the answer to any of this is ”no”, are youwilling to revisit your product before the next run and develop onit, based on these criteria? If so, you’ll do just fine.If, however, you still ascribe to the ”there aren’t enough tworailers,and the three-railers don’t care” mentality, I have somenews for you. The three-railers I’ve talked to (the ones who buythose scale-size models that would cross over to the two-railworld and who read this magazine) do care. They are scale-orientedfolks to whom those same criteria of performance, fidelity,and compatibility are becoming more and more important. Theywill leave you behind.Finally, if you think that you don’t need to consider the ScaleWorld market-drivers, and you will control what the customerwants based on brand-loyalty or some other such palaver, I inviteyou to go back to the world of toy/nostalgia.I understand they are a much larger marketplace thanwe are.uNov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 29

Mullet Riverodel Works118 Huson Ct. • Plymouth, WI 53073Phone 920-892-8159WWW.mulletrivermodelworks.comO Scale Caboose ModelsSee your dealer or our web site for more photos> Laser cut plywood body with working windows> Full interior with roof ribs and purlins> Separate doors can be modeled in the open position> Working windows> Etched brass underframes403001 Soo Line Caboose with single window cupola $120.00403002 SOO Line Caboose with two side window cupola $120.00403003 DSS&A Caboose $120.00403004 C&NW Caboose with no end windows $120.00403005 C&NW Caboose with end windows $120.00403006 C&NW Caboose with all wood underframe $120.00403007 Big Four Caboose $120.00403008 Milwaukee Road Caboose with tall cupola $120.00403009 CB&Q 28' Caboose $120.00403010 CB&Q 30' Caboose $120.00403011 SOO Line 34' Caboose $120.00403012 Central of Georgia Caboose with tong and groove side $120.00403013 Yosemite Valley Caboose $120.00403014 Central of Georgia Caboose with plywood side $120.00403015 Colorado & Southern Caboose standard gage $120.00403016 C&NW Bay Window Caboose tong and groove side $120.00403017 C&O-Pere Marquette Caboose $120.00Silver Plume Houselaser cut wood building kit desinged from theoriginal building in silver Plume Colorado,the kit features laser lattice and picket fenceand reasonalby easy assembly...footprint is 8 1/2” x 9 1/4”#6091 O scale $134.95www.bantamodelworks.com421 Hopkins RoadDummerston, VT05301800-653-821430 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07

Secrets to LaBelle Car AssemblyRandy BrownPutting together a LaBelle kit is simply a matter of glueinglittle pieces of wood to other little pieces of wood to makelarger pieces of wood to which you continue to glue otherpieces of wood until you end up with a big piece of woodwith metal things hanging off of it which, if properly paintedand lettered, will bear a striking resemblance to a railroad car(Photo 1).There are secrets to make it easier. The first involves theinstructions. Read them through before doing anything else.They ask you to consider two basics before beginning assembly,glue and wood treatment. LaBelle recommends a woodglue such as Elmer’s Carpenter’s Glue. You are, of course, freeto make your own choice. Many might consider a cellulose oracetate cement like those marketed by Ambroid or Duco, andthey might be right. I found that it depends on the type of jointbeing attempted; I used several different adhesives, in fact,everything in the drawer at one time or another.Then, there is the matter of wood treatment before evenstarting. Again, LaBelle recommends a water-based acrylicsealing solution to seal everything up against water invasion(which WILL warp the wood). Now, this can be exciting anda little daunting; when you apply this stuff to some of thethinner pieces, they will curl right up before your very eyes.Then, they will uncurl as they dry, especially if you do bothsides right away. Even if they keep a little curvature, they willlie right down when the time comes to add them to the car.Meanwhile, you have thwarted Old Man Water in his attemptto get into your work. You will, of course, sand as you go tomake as smooth a surface as you want.Okay, you have chosen your adhesives and you havetreated your basic wood. Now you may start. First, grab ahighlighting felt-tip pen. As you go, highlight the steps as youcomplete them. Do NOT deviate! Follow the instructions, stepby step, EXACTLY! The plans cover all the LaBelle cars, so youhave to choose which one you’re building but, on the otherhand, you get to see what other cars are available and how toassemble them (See ad on page 38). Pay attention to the colorcoding of the several shapes, and do things in the order askedfor. I made a point of reinforcing all wall, floor and end jointswith unobtrusive 45/90/45 degree wood shapes (Photo 2).DeviationsI know! I said, ”Don’t deviate!” Well, I didn’t, really. Isimply cut the little windows into the sides to more closelyresemble an Erie car. They are merely rectangular openings, ofa size which looked good, trimmed with little pieces of anglefor the sash, sill and side trim (Photo 3).3RoofRoof construction will challenge you. The roof is a hollowassembly with square ends. Getting a nice curve to theends takes time and constant checking. The bead on the endsof the roof edge makes for some delicate curved cutting (forwhich they give you a template) and some body putty, but theresult can be outstanding! Sand everything some, and then doit again (Photo 4).Nov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 31124

You must decide if you want the roof removable. On apassenger car, I usually make the floor, or part of the floor,removable to allow a firm tight joint at the eaves. However,the floor in this car is such an integral part with the sides andends, and has so much detail, that I chose the removable roofinstead. I fixed a block of wood up inside the roof close toeach end to leave the clerestory windows unobstructed (Photo5) and drilled it to accept a flathead wood screw, whose headis countersunk into the floor near the body bolster (Photo 6).5thers’ Goo for these (Photo 7).TrucksAs you approach completion (you think), you’ll find thatLaBelle has given you a car of definite dimensions. They havemade no recognition of the plethora of trucks available in OScale which might fit your car. My car was a baggage car withsix-wheel trucks; I chose Walthers. The assembled car wouldhave sat too high, but rather than attack the basic carbody, Ichose to alter the trucks. I turned the truck bolster over and8CouplersIn spite of some recent discussions about the ease ofmounting Kadees in their freight draftgear boxes on passengercars, I prefer to follow the lead of the old-timers (Ellison andArmstrong) and apply long shanks to my couplers. I used KielLine part #48-145, fabricating the hanger iron from Code 70rail. Photo 6 shows how they are mounted.DetailsThe underbody details, such as the expected queenposts,tank-cradles, and other hardware to make the car look complete,are some very nice white-metal castings. I used Wal-76attached the side frames to the ”bottom”, now the top. Thismade the center axle foul on the bolster, so I milled out a slotfor the center axle and things worked out perfectly. By theway, I often ”mill” by hand with a big file (Photo 8). Keep testfittingas you go to confirm that the trucks will clear the trussrods.I installed tee-nuts to take the kingpin screws; somethinglike a 3-48 or 4-40 works nicely.PaintI wondered about using ”water-based” paint on so manythin-sectioned pieces and then fell back to my accustomedFloquil lacquer. The choice is yours; use what you know. Igave the whole car a spray of gray primer, inside and out. I leftthe inside gray just to have something there, since I didn’t planinterior details. The exterior got a coat of a green I rememberas being close to the Erie’s scheme, with weathered or grimyblack for the roof and underbody. The lettering came from aChamp decal set. A flat overcoat finished the car.You’re DoneA LaBelle kit will take a while, both for drying time andbecause you’ll get tired of it. So, relax. Go do something else.After a while, you can come back and resume your adventurewith little pieces of wood turning into a great big railroad car.Then you can say, ”Oh, yeah! I built it myself, starting withsome little pieces of wood . . .”uTHE WESTERN RESERVE “O” SCALE TRAIN SHOWCLEVELAND, OHIOSaturday, November 3, 2007 9:00 am - 2:00 pmAdmission: $6.00 6’ Tables - $37.00LAKELAND COMMUNITY COLLEGEI90 and ST.RT. 306 (S.E. Corner)Held in the Auxiliary Gym / Athletic Center24 Hr. Police • Public Welcome • Free Parking • 2-rail “O” scale only • Please no other gaugesSORRY NO PASSES ACCEPTED AT THIS SHOW • THIS SHOW IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE WESTERN RESERVE O SCALE COMMITTEE WHO ANNUALLY PUT ON A SIMILAR SHOW32 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07BOB FRIEDEN - 9695 CHILLICOTHE ROAD - KIRTLAND, OHIO 44094 - 440-256-8141 - FAX: 440-256-1749

THE EMERGINGLEADER IN DCCTECHNOLOGYWe didn’t earn our position as thenew leader in DCC technology withoff-the-shelf thinking. We focused oninnovative technology that’s in harmonywith user-friendly design. OurProdigy DCC family delivers capabilitiesyou won’t find in units costing30% more. That makes us the bestengineered value in the business andthe emerging leader in DCC.Leadershipruns in thefamily…MRC’S LEADING DCC TECHNOLOGY DELIVERS...The power of CVswithout the complexityWant to access CVs? MRC doesn’t intimidateyou with the need for a scientific calculator orhexadecimal conversions. We’re so elegantlyengineered that we deliver the same CV capabilitiesas everyone else without conversions or heavy instructionmanuals. In fact, if all you need is to change top voltage,start voltage, acceleration and deceleration, simply followthe prompts on your handheld LCD. It’s that easy.More capability right out of the boxBeing model railroaders themselves, our engineers thought aboutconnectivity and power from the get-go. Even the most expensivesystems only allow you to plug in one cab. For more cabs, youhave to buy extension plates. Out of the box, Prodigy Advance 2gives you the capability for three cabs, and we include a powersupply as well. Why buy a competitor’s DCC system then run outto buy more stuff to make it work.From 2 to 4 with easeTo enter a two or four digit address, orchange from a two digit to a four digitaddress, simply input the address and ourinspired engineering lets these Prodigysystems do the rest.Programming that’s on trackProgramming can be done on the mainline or programmingtrack. Either way, your operating session does not haveto stop if someone has to program a loco. Some makers includethis feature only in high end models; we include it in all Prodigysystems.Functions to F28If you want DCC that can access NMRA’s new standards upto F28, without an upgrade, you want Prodigy Advance 2 . Note:Prodigy Advance can be upgraded to F28. All MRC DCCsystems are upgradeable to future NMRA standards.TECHNOLOGY BREAKTHROUGH…THESE SYSTEMS CAN BE UPGRADED TO WIRELESS AND COMPUTER INTERFACE OPERATIONS

Barn StormingOver the summer I had the opportunity of taking a trip out to Chicago,then down to Atlanta. This was a trip done the old-fashionedway, by hitting the road. Before returning home, the trip had featuredover 3000 miles of remarkable geography. This was a real road trip(although not on a railroad, which would have been my preference).Flying this distance is great for saving time, but flying does not affordone the opportunity to get modeling ideas first hand, except forperhaps the modeling of clouds and blue sky. Driving along, I wasalways on the look out for items to model, and soon noticed severalmonuments of Americana.The rolling hills of Pennsylvania and the flat farmlands of Ohioand Indiana offered several examples of the American barn. Of particularnotice were some real relics of the past, those that carried theMail Pouch sign. The Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company of Wheeling,West Virginia, initiated a successful marketing plan back in thelate 1890s. Under their plan, barn owners would be paid between$1 and $2 a year for having the company painters paint a side or twoof their barn with the advertisement, “Chew Mail Pouch Tobacco.Treat Yourself to the Best.” Sometimes the farmers were awardedadditional compensation, like free tobacco or the option of havingthe rest of the barn painted with their choice of color. The companywanted their signs to look good, create attention, and represent theirline of products. Consequently most barns were on a continuingcontract, with a fresh coat of paint every couple of years. It certainlywas a win-win situation for the farmers and the company. Thefarmer got his barn painted and the company had a large permanentbillboard sign.It is no wonder that this marketing plan became the most successfuland oldest continuous form of outdoor advertising in Americanhistory. Many other companies soon copied the idea and tookadvantage of the rural ad space. Even though Mail Pouch had aprofessional painting team of painters, competition for the barnpainting caused lots of painters (including some hobos) to paintfor other tobacco companies, local feed and grain stores, miraclemedical remedies, soda pop, and even oil and gasoline companies.Everybody wanted in on the advertising. Lots of signs showed upon the sides of barns between 1900 and 1960, but the vast majoritybelonged to the original company, Mail Pouch. As my summer journeycontinued southward towards Atlanta, the barns along the waysoon took on new advertising schemes. Southern Indiana, Kentucky,and Tennessee had the famous advertising for Rock City, Ruby Falls,Jack Daniels, and Lookout Mountain. These signs sometimes covereda barn’s side, but many times they were painted on the roof ofthe barn to capture the eyes of passing motorists.Every model railroader’s dream is to take what they see in reallife and attempt to apply it to the model railroad. This hobo’s dreamis no different. Not to be philosophical here, but even the famouspoet, Alfred Lord Tennyson, said that he was a part of everything hehad met. So it is with my modeling. In the tradition of this columnof offering tips and techniques, this hobo offers some thoughts onpainting a model barn on your layout. Some people simply make alarge sign and glue it to the side of the barn and that works fine forthem, but for a much more realistic look (which is one of the goals ofscale modeling and a lot more artistic), I suggest the followingStart with a good model of the barn structure that you either buildor have someone build. Paint the sides and ends of the barn flatblack. Choose the advertising you want to model. Mask off a sectionof the wall corresponding with the lettering of the sign and paint itthe color of the sign lettering. Purchase some adhesive lettering froman office supply store that corresponds to the size and type-faceof the signs. Note that different size type and styles may be used.Allow the paint to dry thoroughly on the masked section. Apply theadhesive lettering on top of the new color. Press them on, makingsure that the letters are firmly attached. Then paint the specific area,including the tops of your lettering, with the same flat black. Whenthe paint is dry, carefully remove the adhesive lettering and exposethe sign! This technique really works and adds to the realistic look asif the sign were actually painted on the barn, which it was.Other types of advertising can be applied in the same manner toold factories, gas stations, and other buildings. Just remember to usethe background color as the base. Determine the color of the signlettering and mask off and paint that section. Apply the lettering,paint the entire area with the same background color, peel off thelettering, and you have a custom painted sign.Don’t mean to give you the brush off, but this hobo’s got a barnto paint! “No work, no eat” is the rule. Hope to see you next time ifyou “Chews!”u34 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07

Buy⁄Sell⁄TradeLSASE for list of SS Brass LocosGem PRR B6 0-6-0, C/P or N/P, OB..............................................................$575.00WSM PRR J1a, 2-10-4, C/P, OB.................................................................$1,650.00WSM PRR M1, 4-8-2, C/P, Nice, OB..........................................................$1,150.00Weaver Brass WP GS64 4-8-4, F/P, LN, OB.................................................$795.00USH C&O 2-8-4, C/P, Runs good, OB........................................................$1,275.00MG NYC J1e, 4-6-4, Nice, N/P, NOB..........................................................$1,175.00PSC #16145 PRR B6sb 0-6-0, C/P, OB.......................................................$1,250.00USH PRR M1a, 4-8-2, C/P, OB...................................................................$1,275.00PSC #17107-1 Crown Heisler, New OB (#4 of 11).....................................$1,795.00MG B&O 2-8-8-4, C/P, NOB.......................................................................$1,995.00OM N&W Y3 2-8-8-2, N/P OB....................................................................$1,895.00SS PRR I1 2-10-0, long tender, N/P, OB, new............................................$1,150.00MG PRR J 2-10-4, C/P, Icken gearsm NOB...............................................$1,895.00USH NYC H10, 2-8-2, Mint, N/P, OB.........................................................$1,375.00USH NKP S-2, C/P, OB ...............................................................................$1,250.00SS PRR DD1 Pair, F/P, OB.............................................................................$750.00OM CR SD80Mac, N/P, OB, New...............................................................$1,395.00OM BNSF C44-9W, F/P LN OB..................................................................$1,875.00MG PRR G5 4-6-0 C/P NOB runs good........................................................$950.00Atlas C&O SW9, 2-Rail, LN, OB...................................................................$249.00GEM Rdg 0-6-0 Camelback, Ptd, not ltd, OB..............................................$700.00IHM 42T Climax TCW Tks, F/P NOB, test run...........................................$800.00Layaway AvailableJim HackworthMODEL TRAINS(and Subsidiary JH Consulting)2631 Edgevale Road, Columbus OH 43221-1113Phone: 614-4514517 Fax: 6144514557Email: jhmtrains@msn.com • Web: www.jhmtrains.comLSASE for Complete ListShipping 6% - $6.00 Min., $12.00 MaxOhio Residents Add 6.75% Sales TaxConsignmentsJoe Fischer(??) PRR R50b Express Reefer...................................................$200.00OM PRR PAPBPA Set, Late Run, F/P, New..............................................$3,990.00MG PRR N5 Caboose, N/P, OB......................................................................$250.00GEM PRR A5 0-4-0, runs good, C/P, OB......................................................$625.00SS N&W J 4-8-4 Rebuilt w/Sound, C/P, OB..............................................$1,500.00Yoder GE 44T, F/P, Not Ltd, New OB...........................................................$299.00OM #0133 Gilpin Shay, F/P, New, OB........................................................$1,200.00OM ATSF Erie Built “B” Unit, F/P, New......................................................$899.00Weaver PRR N5c Caboose, LN, N/P, OB......................................................$350.00Scale Mod Ind Roundhouse kit......................................................................$195.00PRB BNSF 5161cf Covered Hopper, F/P, New..............................................$325.00PRB 40’ Airslide F/P BN, New, OB................................................................$249.00PRB 60’ Greenville Boxcar F/P GT New.......................................................$295.00OM 89’ TTX flat, C/P TTX Yellow, LN, OB..................................................$275.00OM #0026 Tri-Level Auto Rack, Ptd, not Ltd, OB LN................................$495.00PRB Sealand Gunderson D. Stack, set, LN, OB........................................$1,395.00PRB 62’ Boxcar, F/P MP/UP, LN OB.............................................................$295.00PRB BN Gunderson D. Stack, set, LN, OB................................................$1,395.00PRB #4712D CRR Caboose (ATSF Style), LN, OB......................................$295.00MG PRR N8 Caboose, N/P, NOB...................................................................$250.00Alco PRR N6a, C/P or N/P, each....................................................................$225.00SEND LSASE FOR LARGE LIST OF MG/USH KTM ITEMSEstates⁄LiquidationsCollection ReductionsNov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 35

The Dog Days of SummerOur first column last yeardealt with the weather effectsof Hurricane Katrina. To datethis year, there’s been no hurricanedamage. Instead, wehave been dealing with highheat and lack of rainfall onthe Birmingham Sub, whileother territories on the BNSFare dealing with the heat and excessive rainfall. You may think itodd, but clear skies, plenty of sunshine, and temperatures in the100+ degree range do have an effect on railroad operations. Myphoto that accompanies this column shows train E-PAMNAM2-30A stopped at North Shelby in Memphis on Tuesday morning,August 21, awaiting a crew change. We’ve had no problem thistrip with this column’s subject matter, since this was a “NightTrain to Memphis”.Most Class 1 Railroads have certain areas of mainline thatmay be subject to rail expansion and shifting of the track structureonce the temperature exceeds a specific high reading. Onthe Birmingham Sub, we have three separate sections of mainlinethat are prone to this problem, totalling 115 miles of our240-mile run. These areas are identified in the Division Timetablefor the train crew as ”heat restricted track”, with specificspeed restrictions and crew responses listed in the System SpecialInstructions. This is called a “Heat Restriction”, and impliesthe following. When the ambient temperature exceeds 90degrees, trains exceeding 100 T.O.B. (Tons per Operative Brake)are restricted to a maximum authorized speed of 30 MPH, andtrains less than 100 T.O.B. are restricted to a maximum authorizedspeed of 40 MPH, while operating through the specifiedlocation(s).This is not the only safety precaution built into operationsduring extremely hot weather. Some territories require that,prior to the movement of a passenger train or train transportinghazardous materials, the track must be patrolled by maintenancepersonnel (usually in high-rail vehicles) to determinethat is safe for the train to proceed. Also, during 100 degree +temperatures readings, mainline tracks will be patrolled multipletimes during this time period anticipating problems. The reasonfor all this caution is a simple two-word phrase called a “sunkink”.Most modelers know that steel rail is commonly produced in39’ lengths, a carry-over from the early days of steel productionwhen bulk rail was transported in 40’ gondolas. Take a newpiece of rail, regardless of the pounds-per-yard, and spike it tothe ties in a temperature range of 50 to 75 degrees. The rail willbe exactly 39.0’ long under these conditions. This same pieceof rail at a temperature of 0 degrees will shrink to a length lessthan 39.0’ and when exposed to 100-degree temperatures willexpand beyond that 39.0’.In the days when jointed rail was used on meticulouslymaintained mainlines with no gaps at the rail ends, sun kinksdid occur. However, they were not as common as they arein this day and age because railroads use continuous weldedrail or “ribbon rail”. Ribbon rail is formed by welding sectionstogether to produce a single length up to several thousand feetlong, depending on the length required for the location, or thelength capacity of the rail train used to transport it. A sectionof ribbon rail will respond to temperature change the same asthe single 39’ piece previously discussed, only the length it willshrink or expand will be much greater. A section of track havingnew ribbon rail installed will have to be “de-stressed” over aperiod of time, during normal temperature changes of the seasons,to prevent sun kinks during hot weather.With the best practice and safety precautions in place, sunkinks still do occur, as the expanding rail will find the weakestpoint in the track structure and shift the track to accommodateit’s expanded length. The result has a variety of effects on trainoperations, ranging from spilling the cup of coffee on the consoleto stopping traffic until repairs can be made. As modelers,with our layouts located in temperate controlled environments,sun kinks do not affect our trackwork (although changes inhumidity and the resulting effect on wooden benchwork canreplicate them nicely). For modelers who strive to operate theirlayouts like a prototype operation, one could add a new anddifferent concept during an operating session. Throw in a ”heatrestriction” to see if all the hog-heads are on top of their game.No special equipment will be needed, just a verbal or writtentrain order from the dispatcher or an addition to your timetableto specify a heat restricted area. Also, if you have that one railjoint or more that you can never get smooth, blame it on a sunkink and put a slow order on it.Things are beginning to return to normal around the householdwith the August 5th arrival of our first grandchild, Madison Renee,and time is being spent in the train room working on projects,rather than looking for tools to complete all the honey-do’s. I’mplanning several new articles for future issues concerning 3- to 2-Rail conversions of various pieces of rolling stock, loads for thoseempty flat cars, Atlas/Roco F-9 re-powering projects and truckupgrades, as well as more DCC conversions and DCC sound forDiesel motive power. So until next time, remember, “A good hogheadnever, ever, turns the coffee cup over”.uNov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 39

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Set UP New, 8 Car Set w/Trucks, KMT Japan ... $1,950Calumet PRR 5 Car Hvywt Set CP New, Combine, Coach, Diner, 12-2, 10-1-2 ...... $2,495Calumet PRR 3 Car P-70 Coach Set CP New, Coaches 1064, 3915, 3941 ............... $1,495SteamWSM AT&SF Mikado 2-8-2 CP L/N, Pro Paint, Ball Bearing Gearbox ................... $1,195USH AT&SF Pacific 4-6-2 CP L/N, Professional Paint and Weathering .................. $1,495USH AT&SF 2-10-4 UP New, Late Run .................................................................... $1,695Sunset 3rd B&O EM-1 2-8-8-4 FP Mint, Late Version, Road No. 7624 - 2 Rail ...... $1,495OMI B&O S-1 2-10-2 UP New, OMI O147, Road Pilot, Overfire Jets ..................... $1,395C&LS C&O H-6 2-6-6-2 FP New, Vanderbilt Tender ............................................... $2,895PSC C&O J3a 4-8-4 FP L/N, Crown Model, Road No. 614 ..................................... $3,195PFM D&RGW C-48 2-8-0 CP L/N, Pro Paint, Ball Bearing Gearbox ..................... $1,395PSC NYC F-12e 4-6-0 UP L/N, Straight Cyls, 5000 Gallon Tender ......................... $1,050PSC NYC F-12e 4-6-0 FP L/N, Straight Cyls, 7000 Gallon Tender ......................... $1,050USH NYC H-10b 2-8-2 UP Mint, Never Assembled ................................................ $1,095USH NYC Niagara 4-8-4 UP L/N, Late Run, PT-4 Tender .......................................... $895USH NKP Berkshire 2-8-4 CP L/N, Pro Paint, Ball Bearing Gearbox ..................... $1,125PSC N&W Auxiliary Water Tender UP New, PSC No. 15635 ..................................... $475Max Gray N&W Class J 4-8-4 UP V/G, Can Motor, New Gearbox ............................ $750PSC N&W Z1b 2-6-6-2 FP New, Road No. 1462 ..................................................... $2,595USH PRR 210p75 Riveted Tender UP New, For USH M1a ......................................... $350Sunset PRR 210f82a Welded Tender CP New, Full Scale Version, 8 Wheel Trucks .... $395Gem PRR A5s 0-4-0 UP EX, Early Version ................................................................. $395Weaver PRR A5s 0-4-0 FP New, Late Version, 1 of 12 ................................................ $750Gem PRR B6sb 0-6-0 CP V/G, Early Version .............................................................. $375PSC PRR B6sb 0-6-0 UP Mint, 2 Window Cab Version, PSC 15525 ....................... $1,395Sunset 3rd PRR E6s 4-4-2 FP Mint, 2 Rail, Road No. 723, Lights .............................. $850Westside PRR H6sb 2-8-0 CP New, Road No. 9102, Lights ..................................... $1,295Key PRR H8sc 2-8-0 FP L/N, Test Run ..................................................................... $2,495Key PRR H9s 2-8-0 FP L/N, Test Run ...................................................................... $2,495Key PRR H10s 2-8-0 FP L/N, Test Run .................................................................... $2,495OMI PRR HH1 2-8-8-2 CP L/N, Test Run, 1 of 10 ................................................... $2,595Kohs & Co. PRR K4 4-6-2 Postwar FP Mint, 110p75 Tender, Antenna, No. 5469 .. $3,695PSC PRR K4 4-6-2 Standard FP Mint, Prewar Version - 130p75 tender .................. $1,095PSC PRR K4 4-6-2 Standard UP Mint, Prewar Version - 130p75 tender ..................... $795USH PRR K4 4-6-2 UP Mint, Late Run, Correct Boiler .............................................. $995USH PRR L1s 2-8-2 UP Mint, Late Run ................................................................... $1,195WSM PRR M1 4-8-2 UP L/N, No Backhead Detail, PSC Detail Kit .......................... $950Max Gray PRR M1a 4-8-2 UP New, 210p75 Tender, Late Run ................................ $1,195USH PRR M1a 4-8-2 UP L/N, 210p75 Tender ............................................................ $895OMI PRR M1b 4-8-2 FP Mint, 210p75 Tender w/Antenna, No. 6750 ..................... $2,295Sunset 3rd PRR Q1 4-4-6-4 Deskirted FP Mint, 2-Rail ............................................ $1,295WSM PRR Q2 4-4-6-4 UP New, KTM Japan ........................................................... $2,295Weaver PRR T1 4-4-4-4 Duplex FP L/N, Repowered, Early Porthole Version ............ $850Sunnyside PRR T1 4-4-4-4 Duplex FP L/N, Late Version ........................................ $3,695OMI RDG T1 4-8-4 UP Mint, W/Decals, OMI No. 0150 ......................................... $1,795PSC SP AC-12 Crown 2-8-8-2 FP New, Crown Model, No. 4294 ............................ $4,995GPM SP C-8 2-8-0 FP Mint, 100-C3 Tender, Post 1946, No. 2698 .......................... $2,095GPM SP C-8 2-8-0 FP Mint, 70-C3 Tender, Post 1946, No. 2722 ............................ $2,095GPM SP C-9 2-8-0 FP Mint, Haystack Tender, Post 1946, No. 2799 ....................... $2,095GPM SP C-9 2-8-0 FP Mint, 100-C3 Tender, Pre 1946, No. 2811 ............................ $2,095GPM SP S-14 0-6-0 Switcher FP Mint, Sausage Tender, Post 1946, No. 1286 ........ $2,050GPM SP 100-C3 Tender FP Mint, Pre 1946 Lettering ................................................. $595PSC UP Bull Moose 2-8-8-0 FP New, SA FWH, Late Oil Ver., Road No. 3560 ...... $2,750OMI UP FEF-3 4-8-4 FP New, Late Excursion, No. 844 .......................................... $2,295C&LS WM Potomac 4-8-4 FP New, Test Run, Road No. 1407 ................................ $2,595DieselOriental ALCO C-420 Phase II High Hood UP New, High Adhesion Trucks .............. $795CNJB ALCO FA-1 A-A Road Diesels UP New, Can Motor, CLW Gearboxes ............ $450Key AT&SF ALCO PA-PB FP New, Warbonnet, 1st Run, Exquisite ........................ $2,750CNJB EMD E-8 A-A Diesels UP V/G, Can Motor, CLW Gearboxes .......................... $595Oriental EMD GP-20 Low Nose UP Ex, Can Motor .................................................... $450Oriental EMD NW-2 Phase IV CP Ex, Painted B&O - Fair Paint ............................... $595Elec. Shop NYC T3a 4-4-4-4 Electric CP Ex, Custom Built, Lightning Stripe ........ $1,350OMI PRR ALCO DL-600B High Hood UP L/N, w/Antennas ..................................... $795OMI PRR Baldwin Centipedes A-A Type I UP New, OMI Nos. 0271, 0272 ........... $3,395OMI PRR Baldwin Centipedes A-A Type II UP New, OMI Nos. 0230, 0235 .......... $3,395Key PRR EMD E-8 A-A Units FP Mint, Last Run, Brunswick 5 Stripe ................... $2,595Key PRR EMD E-8 A-A Units FP Mint, Last Run, Tuscan 5 Stripe, Buff ............... $2,695Key PRR EMD FP-7 A-B-A Units FP Mint, Tuscan 5 Stripe, Last Run ................... $3,595Key PRR EMD F7 A-B Units FP L/N, 1st run, Brunswick Freight .......................... $1,995OMI PRR FM Erie Built A-B UP Mint, OMI Nos. 0570(A), 0571(B), 2 Avail. ....... $3,250OMI PRR P5a Electric - Modified UP New, OMI No. 0237 ........................................ $995OMI PRR P5a Electric - Box Cab UP Mint, OMI No. 0219 ..................................... $1,195Key UP EMD E-8 A-B Units FP New, 1st Run, Samhongsa ..................................... $2,495Challenger UP EMD GP-7 Phase 2 FP Ex, Heavy Weathering, Road No. 119 ........... $895Oriental UP (MoPac) EMD SD-40 CP L/N, KES Drive, Constant Lighting ............... $795Rolling StockSunnyside PRR P85br Streamlined Coach FP New, Deluxe Gold, Road No. 4169 ..... $650P. Co. PRR X-42 Mail Storage Car UP New, 62' .......................................................... $425PSC ACF 70 Ton Covered Hopper UP New, PSC No. 15049 ...................................... $225PRB AT&SF Wood Caboose CP L/N, Weathered, Road No. 1363 .............................. $225OMI B&M Wood Caboose UP New, 2 Versions Available ........................................... $295DIVPT D&RGW Riveted Steel Caboose FP L/N, Orange-Silver-Stripes, Mod. Windows . $325OMI D&RGW 1400 Series Steel Caboose CP L/N, Road No. 01436, Ltd Markers ... $275PFM D&RGW Wood Caboose CP L/N, Road No. 01137, Lighted Markers ............... $195PSC NYC 30 Ft. Wood Caboose UP Mint, PSC No. 15437 ......................................... $325USH N&W 55 Ton USRA Ribbed Hopper CP Ex, Coal Load, Trucks, Kadees,Several Avail. ....................................................................................................... $125PLTD L&A (KCS) 1932 ARA Box Car UP Mint, 1 of 10, PL-2250 ........................... $425PLTD PRR 52' 6 War Emergency Gondola UP New, PL-1250B ................................. $250USH PRR 55 Ton USRA Ribbed Hopper CP Ex, Coal Load, Trucks, Kadees ............ $125Kohs & Co. PRR Gle Cement Hopper FP Mint, Freight Car Red ................................ $525TCW PRR N5a and N5b Steel Cabin Cars UP Mint, Several Versions Available ........ $250CNJB PRR N5b Cabin Car w/Antenna UP New .......................................................... $325ALCO PRR N6a Wood Cabin Car UP New ................................................................. $175Car Works PRR ND Wood Cabin Car UP Mint, 4 Wheel Cabin Car ........................... $375PLTD PRR X-24 Box Car UP Mint, Corr. Door, Plain End, PL-650 ........................... $295PLTD P&LE - NYC USRA Design Steel Box Car UP Mint, 9'-4 Inside Height,PL-1600 .............................................................................................................. $325PLTD SP B-50-14 Composite Box Car UP Mint, Braced Ends, Hutchins Roof, PL-700 .... $425USH Wabash 70 Ton Triple Hopper CP Ex, Coal Load, Trucks, Kadees ..................... $140OMI WM NE Steel Caboose UP New, OMI No. 0720 ................................................ $295Nov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 41

Show off your railroad with a wirelessvideo camera. Capture the Engineer’sview of your railroad and share thepictures withthe railroadcommunity. AComplete lineof wirelesscamera andreceivers startat $66.95COMING SOON!Interlocking machinewith cranks and leversmade of stainless steel.These photo etchedparts will fit any Saxby& Farmer InterlockingTower design. O Scale Mag Ad - 7.4 x 4.9, 07/12 - full color, v3.1.The IrishTracklayer2682 W. Palo Alto AveFresno CA 93771www.irishtracklayer.comHave It (Sounds) Your Way!There is a QSI Sound Module for Every “O” Scaler.Choose One That’s Right For You!✔ Conventional DCPower Pack + Quantum Module = Horn/Bell/Motor Loco Sounds✔ Conventional DC and Quantum EngineerPower Pack + Quantum Module + Quantum Engineer = 33 ControllableLoco & Sound Ops✔ DCC: All Major SystemsDCC Systems + Quantum Module = 33 Controllable Loco & Sound Ops✔ Conventional AC: “O” Gauge 3 RailPower Pack + Quantum Module = Horn/Bell/ Motor Loco Sounds✔ AC Command Control: TMCC, DCS, 3 RailCommand System + Quantum Module = 33 Controllable Loco/Sound Ops(DC Control) Quantum EngineerSolutionsPlease contact us for more information about all these new exciting sound options! 800-671-0641. Introductory offer $159.95 list.Distributed Exclusively by QSI SolutionsQSI Solutions c/o American Hobby Distributors, 57 River Road, Suite 1023, Essex Junction, VT 05452Toll-free (800) 671-0641 Fax 802-878-5550 e-mail info@qsisolutions.com Copyright © 2007 by QSI Solutions. All Rights Reserved.42 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07

Peoria and PekinUnion Railway - NW2By John S. Hubercould do this with a new All-Nation single-truck driveversion or have room for a cab interior.While attending a recent Midwest ”O” Scale meetin Chicago, I found some brass handrail castings (K&DCastings), a Cal Scale brass bell (#3002), P&D brasshorn (#5717) and air hoses, and the fireman and engineerby Arttista. The rest of the parts either came frommy scrap box or I had to make them.The Cab and Cab InteriorFirst, I made a cardboard pattern for the front wallof the cab interior. After I got it to fit, I used it to makea duplicate out of 0.030” styrene. On the inside of thebulkhead, I scribed a door on the left side (the door onthe fireman’s side of the cab). The bulkhead was thenglued in place. I had a soft metal cab interior from myscrap box (of unknown manufacture) and found that itwould just fit. I mounted it by gluing 1/4” brass angleon the sidewall of the cab, which was then drilled andtapped for 00-90 mounting screws. I then scribed adoor on the outside of the fireman’s side of the cab(Photo 4). Take your time with this. I scribed a line and4Recently I purchased an Atlas-O SW1200 and was very pleasedwith level of detail. It reminded me that I’d acquired a General ModelsCorporation NW-2 (with the original box) about twenty yearsago. I have always wanted to build an EMD NW-2 for the Peoria,and Pekin Union Railway with all of the extra safety railings on therear of the engine (Photos 1&2). I had thought this unique to theP&PU, but recently found photos of C&O and NKP switchers withthe same safety features.I started comparing the detail between the General Modelsand the Atlas model. I knew that I was going to have to do a lot ofwork to bring it up to the standards of the Atlas. The original modelcame with a wound-field (non reversible) motor. The direction waschanged by rotating one of the exhaust stacks. That had to go. Myfriend, Philip Decker, showed me how to rewire the motor with aRadio Shack diode (#276-1152).3 I strapped it to the motor with anylon tie (Photo 3), being carefulnot to interfere with rotationof the front truck. This left meenough room for interior cabdetails and a complete fuel tankwith details. I’m not sure if youthen went back and forth until I got it to the desireddepth (where I could see it). The original casting didn’thave this door detail. Then I cut two door hinges from0.010” styrene, taking measurements from the sideof the carbody. I drilled a hole for a door handle, andused an Intermountain Railway handle from my scrapbox. Finally, I built the step under the new door fromstyrene, using measurements from the Atlas unit.Fuel and Air TanksFirst I got out the hacksaw and cut off the fuel/airtank casting on the side (Photo 5). Then, I glued apiece of 1/4” brass angle to the inside where the tankswere located, equally spaced between the trucks. Ibuilt the fuel tank from 0.030” styrene (Photo 6). I tookthe measurements from the Atlas unit, which turnedout to be a mistake. The first tank I built was too largeand the truck would not turn, so I had to go back andNov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 43

5make a smaller tank.I turned a piece of 3/16” brass rod tomake the two air tanks. They are drilledand tapped with a pair of 2-56 holes tomount them to the inside on the fueltank. The piping was made from 0.015”diameter brass wire. I used two fuelfiller pipes (Detail Associates #5058)and modified two fuel sight-glasses (PrecisionScale #58556133) to suit. Theseparts were then glued in place. Now’sthe time to make sure that everythingwill fit and the trucks will turn withoutany obstructions. I used 00-90 screwsto attach the fuel tank to 1/4” brassangle mounted inside the car body,using much the same technique as wasused to install the cab interior.Detailing the EndsThe end platform castings werecleaned up and holes drilled for all ofthe wire grabs and stanchions (Photo 7).Depending on your prototype, grab ironpositions can vary. I used Grant Linenut-bolt-washer castings (#127) next toeach grab iron. Now drill a hole next tothe coupler housing for the air hose ofyour choice. I bent all new grab ironson the end of the cab from 0.015” and0.030” brass wire and soldered them7644 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’078together. Before the end platforms werescrewed into place, I located the fourpoling pockets (Photo 8) and drilled anindentation in place. While working onthe cab rear, I used an Intermountaindoor handle from the scrap box on thecab door. I made a styrene step belowthe cab door (also Photo 7), taking measurementsfrom the Atlas model. For theheadlights (Photo 9), I turned a brass9casting (NJ International dual sealedbeamheadlight) to fit the opening andepoxied it in place. I completed all ofthe grab irons on the cab back.Assembly and Some Final DetailingBefore assembling the cab front andback, make sure that the insides of thecastings are smooth so the window glasswill lay flat against the insides of the cabwalls. Now is a good time to make upthe window glazing, prior to assemblingboth front and rear cab castings in place.Cut and fit the glazing using clear styrene,or whatever your preferred materialmight be. It is much easier to cut andfit them now, while the cab is ”in theflat”. After all windows are cut, put themin an envelope until ready for use; thiswill protect them from getting scratchedon the workbench.I made sure that both the front andrear of the cab casting dry-fit nicelybefore final assembly. Then, usingepoxy to fill all of the seams, I tightenthe screws in place. Don’t remove theexcess epoxy; let it dry for 24 hours.After it dries, you can file it flat. Mygoal was not to see any of the seams orcracks on the roof, sides, or rear of thecab. I filed the rain drain off the cab roofand made one from 1/16” brass angle.Then, I soldered the cab awning to itand mounted it to the side of the cab(Photo 10). At this, time I brushed (yes,10”brushed”) gray primer over all of theseams to see if I could see any gaps orflaws. When I was satisfied with the finalfinish of the seams, I removed the primer.If you are patient and thorough at thispoint, you should not be able to see anyseams after you apply the final finish.Prior to mounting the end platforms,I used tread stock (made from extraIntermountain/Red Caboose freightcarroofwalk material) for the steps (Photo11). I filed the back of each cut piece to11make them as thin as I could, and gluedthem in place. When the glue is dry, filethe edges flush.The front end (side) grab irons weremade from 0.030” brass wire and Iturned a piece of brass tubing andsoldered to the two upright grab irons

12(Photo 12). I took a piece of ”I” beam,drilled a hole to fit the brass tubing, andthen cut off the top flange of the ”I”beam, (making a channel) then gluedit in place. Before mounting the grabsin place, I wanted to cover up the fourbolster screw holes on the top of thewalkways. I used some All Nation peeland-sticksafety-tread stock (Photo 13). Idon’t know if it’s made anymore. I put it13on the end platforms, going into the cab,and along the carbody. Before mountingthe material on the walkways, makesure that the four screws do not protrudeabove the floor. I had to file mine downa bit before mounting the tread stock.This makes for a much better appearanceand hides the screw holes.I fabricated armrests in the cab windowsfrom styrene. On the cab roof Iadded a vent (Details Associates #5066)and a firecracker antenna, made from1/16” brass tubing with a brass wiresoldered inside and protruding into thecab for strength. It was glued from theinside of the cab (Photo 14). I used apiece of brass channel to make a newairhorn bracket by cutting off the backside, folding it upward, and soldered it14in place. The side was then tapered fromback-to-front and a P&D (#5717) airhornwas soldered in place. I soldered a 2-56flathead screw to the back side of thewhole assembly and bolted it on fromthe inside of the cab (Photo 15).Also shown in Photo 15, I cut a 1/2”15x 2-1/4” piece of 0.030” brass to makethe plate on the top of the carbodythat the stacks sit on. I punched rivetsevenly (3/16” interval) around the edgesof the plate. This detail was never onthe original model. Next I mounted anew Cal Scale (#3002) brass bell on thebody. Following that, I bend two newgrab irons (Photo 16) on the top of thecarbody that line up with the three onthe left side of the hood. The front sidetwo grab irons are also visible in Photo16. They, and the two round ones on16the side, are made from K&D brasscastings. The front two grabs were solderedto a 0.010” brass plate with sixrivets punched in it. This plate/grab ironassembly was then glued in place.SideframesNow it’s time to work on the sideframes(Photo 17). First I drilled a smallpilot hole in order to cut out the openingnext to the springs with a jeweler’s saw.After the opening is cut out, carefullyclean up the edges with some jeweler’s17files. Next, I cut off the cast-on cylindersand replaced them with new cylindersconstructed from brass rod with fabricatedlevers. These assemblies weresoldered together and glued to the backof the sideframe. This improved theoverall looks of the sideframes considerably.I used two plastic nut-bolt-washercastings (Precision Scale #48219) belowthe springs. Next I made a letter ”T”out of 0.005” styrene to cover up thetruck sideframe screws (I have yet tofind a prototype sideframe with a largescrew in the middle of it.) I used a verylight application of glue to hold the”T” shaped covers in place, in case Ihave to remove them at a later date formaintenance. To me, if you do nothingelse on the trucks, this step is the mostimportant. I have seen too many modelscompleted and you still see this glaringscrew!Now I added windshield wipers(Precision Scale #56129), a tool box,(Precision Scale #2032), and underframerunning lights (Detail Assoc. #5068).This pretty much completes my version.Details may vary on your’s. Now, it’stime for the final assembly, testing anddisassembly for painting.My goal was to take a fifty-year-oldmodel and improve it (Photo 18). With18a little time and effort you can make anice looking NW-2 (Photos 19-21) fromthis venerable kit. I want to thank PhilipBecker for the wiring diagram for themotor, Robert Farris for the headlightsand diodes, and Dick Howard for thecorrect custom-printed P&PU decals.19Nov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 45

20ExclusiveSpecialRuns21Lackawanna “Phoebe Snow”Double-Sheathed Boxcar3-Rail (8314) 2-Rail (9314)$47.95* $51.95*Philadelphia Quartz70 Ton Hopper3-Rail (8377)$51.95*2-Rail (9377)$54.95**Shipping:$6.95 for1 or 2 cars$7.95 for 3 or 4 carsPeter Peerbolte Onion Sets40’ Reefer3-Rail (8191) 2-Rail (9191)$59.95* $62.95*All items above areavailable in two roadnumbersBill of Material:Brass Stock (K&S, for example)1/4” Brass Angle1/16” Brass Angle0.010” Brass Sheet0.030” Brass Sheet1/16” Brass Tubing0.010” Brass Wire0.015” Brass Wire0.030” Brass Wire0.032” Brass Wire00-90 Brass Screws2-56 Brass ScrewsEvergreen Styrene (various sizes)Detail Associates#5058 Fuel Gauge (Vertical-type)#5066 Round Cab Vent#5068 Underframe RunningLights#5014 Rerail FrogsCal Scale#3002 Brass BellPrecision Scale#2032 Tool Box#56129 Windshield Wipers#58556133 Fuel Filler with Cap#48219 Nut-bolt-washerRed CabooseTread Stock (for steps), DoorHandlesNJ International#0610 Dual Sealed-beamHeadlight (brass casting)BTS#12302 Air HosesP&D#5717 Single-chime Air HornScale Coat PaintPullman GreenRed OxideGrey (interior)Floquil PaintSilverFlat FinishRadio Shack#276-1152 DiodeK&D CastingGrabironsAll Nation#6016 Peel-and-stick Tread StockArttista#1226 & 1227 Fireman &Engineer FiguresAdditional Atlas O Special Runs Coming Soon:Oppenheimer Sausage 36’ ReeferBoston & Maine Trainman Box CarPayPalam-hobbies.com6 Delmar Ridge Drive • Wellsboro, PA 16901amhobbies2@hotmail.com(570) 723-1824See Your Dealer Today!Farmer’s Grain & Stock Company• This O Scale grain elevator’s compact size makes itperfect for your On3, On30, or O gauge layout• 100% Laser-cut parts with our famous Peel & Stickand Tab & Slot technology• Elevator features drive through bay with ramps,office addition, laser scribed decking, wood handrail,ladder, and simulated metal roofing• Also includes laser-cut lettering stencil and customprinted full color farm industry related signageO Scale Kit #472w w w . l a s e r k i t . c o mFor O Scale Catalog, Please Send $1 to:American Model Builders, Inc. 8229 Brentwood Ind. Dr. St. Louis, MO 63144Now Available!46 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07

New Expanded Website for Locomotives, Passenger and Freight EquipmentWWW.OSCALEREALISM.COM2-Rail STEAMMTH 2-Rail LocomotivesATSF Northern $1150CNJ Blue Comet Pacific $1200CNW Streamlined Hudson $900C&O Greenbrier $975C&O Steam Turbine $1100NKP Berkshire $1100PRR T-1 #6110 $1200N&W Class A 2-6-6-4 $1150SP AC-6 Cab Fwd $975SP 4-8-4 Daylight $1250UP Big Boy 4-8-8-4 $1350UP Gas Turbine 3 units $850Weaver 2-Rail BrassPRR K4 F/P Early $1100PRR K4 C/P ’35-’41 scheme $1400PRR K4 C/P ’42-’57 scheme $1400PRR L1 F/P $950RDG G1sas Crusader #117 or #118 $1200RDG Crusader 5-car passenger set as-built $750RDG Crusader 5-car set with corrected glazingand shades $950Other 2-Rail BRASSUSH PRR K4 C/P Full Striping $1650USH NYC Dreyfus Hudsoncustom ptd first scheme $1850OMI MILW 4-4-2 Hiawatha C/P #1 $1750PSC SOU Ps4 F/P Cresc Ltd. #1393 $2500WMS L5 Rdg Camelback C/P $750WMS SP Daylight 4-8-4 F/P $1100SS UP 4-4-2 Atlantic, vandy tdr $975MG Erie K5 Pacific, C/P mint $29002-Rail DIESELMTH PRR Centipedes $1250MTH ATSF F3 Warbonnet paint $500MTH T&P GP9 $32510% Off on All 2-Rail Items3-Rail Scale SteamLIONELSou Ts-1 4-8-2 detailed $1000N&W Class A 2-6-6-4 NIB $1000NYC Custom J1e Scullin disc PT Tndr $1400N&W K2 4-8-2 custom, #123 $1250N&W Y3 2-8-8-2 $1100VGN 2-8-4 $1000WeaverPRR Std K-4 F/P $950PRR K-4 C/P Early Low Tdr Striping $1450PRR K-4 C/P 36-41 Condensed Ltr $1250PRR K-4 C/P 41-47 Expanded Ltr $1250PRR K-4 C/P 47-57 Modern Solid Pilot $1350NHI-4, 4-6-2 w/Elesco, long vandy tdr,sound, smoke $1500PRR A-5 0-4-0 F/P $800RDG G-1sas Crusader $1100RDG Matching Crusader Cars $600RDG G-2 Pacific #177 $975SAL C/P USRA 0-6-0 Sound $750SOU C/P 4-8-2 Grn Stripes $1500B&O C/P T-3 W/Vandy Sound Smoke $1750WM H-7 C/P Dull Alt # $750C&O 2-8-0 C/P Dull $750UP ’49er S/L 4-6-2 $1100WilliamsRDG L5 Camelback C/P $750PRR E-6 C/P Late #6513 $950PRR B-6 C/P Dull #5244 $750PRR L-1 C/P Dull Dg’ Tdr #714 $950PRR L-1 C/P West Tdr #7345 $1100PRR K-4 Custom Modern #646Sound Smoke $1250SOU Ps-4 Custom w/Elesco systemGreen w/Stripes #6689 $1250N&W Class A 2-6-6-4 Detailed $1350N&W J 4-8-4 C/P #600 “dull” $650B&A Custom 4-6-4, brass, upgraded $750Westside BrassRF&P Custom Governor 3-Rail ConversionSound Smoke Stripes Logo Etc. $2750Sunset/3rd RailPRR H-6 C/P Late Scheme $975PRR H-6 C/P PRSL #6016 $1075PRR E-6 F/P Sound $1150SP 4-4-2 Std $1000SP 4-4-2 F/P Daylight $1150UP 4-4-2 F/P $1050PRR Turbine – Upgraded $1000UP Big Boy W/ Sound $1950ATSF Northern $1200GN S-2 4-8-4 Glacier $1200Sou Custom 4-8-2 Grn w/stripes, Weavermotor and chassis, #6693 $1650N&W K3 4-8-2 Water Buffalo $1300MTHACL4-8-4 Custom Mod 8 wheeltennder #1801 $1650C&O 4-8-4 Greenbrier $975C&O Custom Greenbrier Early #605 $1250C&O Kanawah 2-8-4 w/Psgr Announ $1250DM&IR Yellowstone $1650N&W Class A Custom #1216 Correct& Detailed $1500N&W Streamlined J 4-8-4 $1100NYC Dreyfus Hudson $975UP Northern #8444 $1250PRR T-1 Duplex #6110 $1250CNW S/L Hudson $800ERIE Custom Superdetailed K-5w/Vandy Tdr $1650PRR Custom G-5 #5720 W/Brass Tdr $1100PRR K-4 Modified As K-3 C/P #9999 $1000RF&P 2-8-4 Custom Modified W/Striping $1450WM H-9 2-8-0 c/p dull #802 $950WM Challenger, 2 numbers CALL3-Rail Scale ElectricWeaverPRR GG-1, Tuscan 1 Stripe & Silver1 stripe $850WilliamsPRR GG1-Bruns 5 C/P dull $475PRR GG1-Tuscan 5 C/P dull $475PRR GG1- Tuscan dummy $200SunsetPRR P5A modified-sound $800LionelDL&W MU pwd & dummey $650DL&W MU combine/coach dum $550L.I.R.R. custom pwd dum-Tuscan $900MTHMILW Bipolar $775NH E3B $700NH EP-3-M’Ginnis $875PRR GG-1, Tuscan 5 & Conrail $675K-LineNH EP5 $350RDG MU 70’ TT green pwr/dum $375RDG MU 70’ Blue/Wht pwr/dum $425PRSL MU 60’ Tuscan w/poles $4003-Rail Scale DieselAtlasGN SW8 Green/Orange $325AMTK DASH 8 #509 $395C&O RS-1 $375N&W SD-35 $375UP SW-9 $350WT (Wash. Terminal) RS-1 $400LIONELEL Alco PA A-A w/fact. sound $575MTHATSF F-3 A-B-A $700ATSF DL-109A/B custom fixed closed pilot $650B&O E-6 A-B custom fixed closed pilot $750B&O E-8 A-B-A $650C&O F-3 A-B $450C&NW DASH 9 $275FEC BL-2 $350GM&O GP-38 $300NYC E-8 A-A custom l/s $700MILW DL-109 $300NH DL-109/110-Custom pilot scale cplr $650PRR Centipedes-5 Stripe $1000PRR E-8 A-A custom Bruns 5 Stripe $700PRR E-8 A-A custom Tuscan 5 Stripe $700PRSL AS-616 custom #6000 $475SAL E-8 A-B-A Citrus Scheme $650SAL E-6 A-B custom fixed closed pilot $750SOU DL109/110-cust. ptd fixed pilot $700RDG GP7 cust pt 1st scheme #600 $475RDG GP7 cust. pt no dynam. #660 $525RDG Trainmaster 1st scheme #860 $550RI E-8 A-B-A $695WeaverB&O VO 1000 $199C&O RS-3 $250C&O RSD5 $250C&O GP-38 $275UP E-8 AA $375WilliamsCustom E7 Diesels - All with fixed pilots, scalelead couplers and diaphragms.ACL AB $550B&M A unit, custom single headlight $300CB&Q AB $550L&N AA $450Sou AA Custom Painted $650Correct passenger cars are available for most locomotives, custom and/or production. Inquire for availability.Railroad Collectibles, 86 W. Johnson St., Philadelphia, PA 19144Voice: 215-438-4330 • Fax: 215-438-7322 • Email:oguage.railroad@verizon.net

PLYMOUTH DIESELSWITCHER 0-4-0On3/On30Handcrafted in Brass$209.00/unitDelivery Winter 2007AMS (American Model Supply) division of Accucraft Trains33268 Central Ave, Union City, CA 94587, USA, T: (510) 324-3399, F: (510) 324-3366, E-mail: info@accucraft.com, www.accucraft.comThere IS a Cure for the Summertime Blues.Realistic Figures Bring Your Layout to LifeSend $1.50 for our full color catalog featuring the over 390 PEWTER Figures AND Accessorieswe produce in O Gauge All Made and Hand Painted in the USA with Pride. $7.95 S&H per order.VISA & MC orders call 1 800 316-2493. For Information:302 455-0195. FAX orders: 302 455-0197Visit us at www.arttista.com for color photos 105 Woodring Lane Newark DE 1970248 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07And WE have it.Painted / Unptd1463 Picnic Table ................... _10.75 / 6.25_1464 Woman to sit at table ....... _ 5.99 / 4.00_1465 Man to sit at table............. _5.99 / 4.00_1466 Girl to sit at table.............. _5.99 / 4.00_1467 Boy to sit at table ............. _5.99 / 4.00_1468 Food for table................... _17.50/ 8.99_1469 Redwood lawn chair......... _ 7.99 / 5.50_1470 Man to sit in chair............. _ 5.99 / 4.00_1471 Redwood lounge chair ..... _9.75 / 5.99_1472* Woman to lie on chair ...... _5.99 / 4.00_1473 Gas Grill........................... _8.99 / 6.25_1474 Man Cooking/ Diner Cook _6.25 / 4.00_1475 Basketball Backboard ...... _10.75/ 6.75_1476 Two boys playing one on one _12.50/ 7.75_1477 Woman with laundry basket _ 7.25 / 5.00_1478 Clothesline with Clothes .. _39.99/24.99_* available as nude on request

NEWS: American Model Supply, Ready-to-Run On3/On30Rolling StockAccucraft Company, 33268 Central Ave,Union City, CA 94587510-324-3399 • www.accucraft.comAMS, a division of the Accucraft Company, hasannounced the 2008 release of ready-to-run On3/On30rolling stock made of plastic with brass details. Their firstofferings are a boxcar and single-dome tank car. The carscome in four car sets with four different numbers. Sets retailfor $168. Contact Accucraft for availability and a dealernear you.NEWS: QSI Quantum PnP Sound DecoderQSI Solutions, 57 River Road Suite 1023,Essex Junction, VT 05452800-671-0641 • www.qsisolutions.comGarden railroaders and other fans of G/O Scale modelrail equipment, DC, DCC and battery powered, shouldwelcome the introduction of the QSI Quantum Magnum, ageneric G/O Scale sound decoder, suitable for installationin many makes of G/O Scale models.The Quantum Magnum uses the new Q2 format, whichallows upgrades of firmware and programming to be performedby the user with the Quantum Programmer, whichwas released in May of this year. These units will enable G/O Scalers to take advantage of the full range of QSI soundsand other options, at reasonablecost, for modelsusing either DC, DCC orwireless battery control.MSRP for QuantumMagnum decoders is$179.95NEWS: Scenery Materials, No MSRP SpecifiedWoodland Scenics, PO Box 98, Linn Creek, MO, 65052573-346-5555 • www.woodlandscenics.comWoodland Scenics has just released a new sceneryproduct called Forest Canopy. This product is great formaking dense forest canopies, individual trees, shrubs,bushes, dead trees and hedges. The special qualities ofthis product make it perfect for winter scenes, or for addingindividual dead trees to your forest. Forest Canopy isgreat for multiple scales, varies in height up to six inches,and provides economical forest coverage. Forest Canopyis available inLight Green,Medium Green,Dark Green andAutumn Mix.Every piece of theproduct is useablefor modelingany type ofscenery, and addsanother dimensionand textureto your layout ordiorama. Customizethis productby breaking itinto any size tofit your needs. Tosee the completeForest Canopyline, visit yourfavorite hobbyshop, or go onlineat [www.woodlandscenics.com].For more information,call WoodlandScenics at573-346-5555Deichman’s DepotATLAS O Scale 2-Rail2402-3 Erie GP-9 #1260 $350.003130-1 Chessie GP-35 # 3521 $295.007488 C&O 40’ Steel Rblt Box $46.707521 MN&S 53’ Evans Box $55.207632 GN EV Caboose $62.007660 N&W EV Caboose $62.007766 WM 55T Fishbelly Hopper $45.007767 NS 55T Fishbelly Hopper $46.707777 PRR H21a Hopper $61.707781 Virginia H21a Hopper $55.207782 PRR H21a Hopper $61.709103 Merchants Biscuit 40’ Reefer $53.509122 Harding Butter 40’ Reefer $53.509154 Oak Grove 40’ Rebuilt Reefer $53.509374 Edgar Clay 70T Cov. Hopper $55.209156 Lackwanna 40’ Reefer $53.509655 Wolf Head 8K Tank $55.209161 Miller & Hart 40’ Reefer $53.509707 CNW 40’ 1937 AAR DD Box $55.209855 Schmidt’s PS-1 50’ Box $59.459851 B&O PS-1 50’ Box $59.45ALL Trainman Rolling 2rl Stock $36.50CHECK WEB for AVAILABILITYDeichman’s Depot110 Ivyside Dr, York PA 17402Ph: 717-755-1108 • Fax: 717-840-9650deichmansdepot@comcast.netwww.deichmansdepot.comNov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 49

OSCALEby AMB LaserEllingtonMercantile$89.95Building Kits & AccessoriesFor The Model Railroad Hobbyistby Twin Whistleby JV ModelsCurvedTrestleBridge$79.95Orders over $100.00 receive free shipping in contiguous U.S. • AZ residents subject to sales tax. • All items listed on our website are in-stock.6032 E. McKellips Rd. • Mesa, AZ 85215 • We accept Visa, Master Card, Discover, and American Express credit cards – also Paypal, check or money order.Phone: 1-480-357-8800 • Toll Free (Orders Only): 1-877-385-020050 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07ArtDecoGasStation$49.95by Schomberg ModelsStiff LeggedDerrick$32.50by Model Tech StudiosWaterlineWork Barge$26.95Stone Engine House$124.95www.mesamodels.netby Crow RiverTwinDrumHoistingEngine$62.95by Scale UniversityO'Mally's Bar$64.95by Mesa Models, Inc.Hillside Church$59.95by SoddersFuel Drum On Stand$3.95OSCALE

REVIEW: PRR 01/01a, $999.95 MSRPSunset/3rd Rail, 37 S Fourth St, Campbell, CA 95008408-866-5764, www.3rdrail.comreviewed by Joe GiannovarioA Little Bit of HistoryIn the 1930s, electrification of the PRR was in full swing.The ”Standard Railroad of the World” designed three electriclocomotives that used many interchangeable parts: the O1 forlight passenger duty, the P5 for heavy passenger duty, and theL6 for freight. The O1s were built first and were a unique wheelarrangement for the Pennsy, 4-4-4, or 2-B-2 in traction parlance.Eight such locomotives were built but testing showed that, whilethey were successful electrically and mechanically speaking,a single locomotive was too light for everyday service. So, theO1s were run in pairs and classified O1, O1a, O1b and O1c. Themain differences were horsepower ratings and gear ratios. Subclasseswere never mixed.The O1s had roller bearings on all axles, weighed 150 tons(about half of that over the drivers) and had a top speed ofaround 90 MPH. Driver size was 72 inches.Fidelity to the PrototypeThe Sunset models I tested are production samples. Bothunits are numbered 7852 which is not correct. Scott Mann ofSunset told me that the production run models will be correctlynumbered in pairs for O1 (7850-7851) and O1a (7852-7853). Themodel is painted a dark blackish-green, which passes nicely forPRR Brunswick Green, and lettered in gold leaf, correct for PRRpassenger power.Dimensionally, the model is perfect. Every measurement Imade corresponded to the PRR diagram I found online. However,I found several differences between the Sunset model andphotos of the O1s in Staufer’s Pennsy Power and Pennsy PowerII. Most of these differences could be attributed to ”as-built”photos in Staufer versus ”in-service” photos that Sunset may haveacquired. I don’t know, but I can say there are a couple thingsthat are definitely incorrect.The class plates are located at the wrong end of the locomotive.This may not seem all that big a deal but if you are a realPennsy fan (lovingly referred to as an SPF), then the correctionto that error involves stripping the paint, unsoldering the plates,relocating them and then repainting the locomotive. Ouch!Another minor error is the classification lamps. They are too largeand in the wrong location, on the sides of the cab rather than thefront. Some air piping is missing along the underside of the caband a small air tank between the drivers is noticeably absent.An omission, rather than an error, is the fact that there is nopilot to speak of]. Photos in both Staufer books clearly show asteel pilot. Sunset opined that the lack of any detail below thepilot beam on the model was probably doneto accommodate a 3-Rail coupler on Hi-Railversions of the model. That seems a reasonablerationale. SPFs will want to fill in that space sothe model looks right.For those of you who run traction under catenary,there is a switch under the cab that willchange the power pickup from both drivers toone set of drivers and the pantographs. Neat!Compatibility and PerformanceThe O1a models were checked against anNMRA O Scale Standards gage and a Kadeecoupler height gage for basic compatibility withother equipment of my layout. They passed with no issues.I proceeded to test run the locomotives, singly and then intandem, using an MRC Controlmaster 20 fitted with an ammeterand voltmeter. Both units ran slowly (less than 3 SMPH) at 1.5volts drawing 0.6 amps. However, one unit ran smoothly whilethe second had a slight ”hitch in the giddyup”. More on thatlater. The headlamps illuminated at 2.5 volts and the class lampscame on at 7.0 volts. The class lamps are lit green and red whichis about the only way to tell which is supposed to be the ”front”end of the unit.Each unit weighed three pounds ten ounces which is a bitlight in my estimation. Under load, a solo unit drew 1.4 ampsmax on my three-plus percent grades. Running in tandem, theydrew a max of 2.2 amps under load. A single unit was not ableto haul my test train of ten mixed plastic and diecast freight carsaround the layout. The pair had no trouble at all hauling this trainbut the one unit with the ”hitch” did cause some bucking andsurging at slower speeds. It may need to just ”run in” or it mayneed some tweaking of the drive train.I separated the cab from the chassis to see the mechanismand it is quite simple. A DC can motor with flywheel sits offsetto one side of the floor. The motor drives the standard Sunsettoothed-belt drive down to gearboxes mounted on both drivingaxles. I would have mounted the motor over the drivers, asthe prototype did, to get a bit more traction. However, there isplenty of room for additionalweight and even DCC electronicsif one wishes to makethose additions.For PRR electric fans theO1 hasn’t been seen sincethe 1960s when Max Graylast imported a brass model.This Sunset model, althoughnot without its flaws, is avery nice addition to thePRR electric fleet.Nov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 51

REVIEW: New Haven 36’ Wood Boxcar MSRP: $84.952008 O Scale National Convention, c/o Tom McCarthy, POBox 162, Ware, MA 01082www.2008oscalenational.orgreviewed by Brian ScaceThe good folk putting on the 2008 National are offering aresin kit of the New Haven 36’ single sheath boxcar as one ofthe Convention cars. The 36’ box really hasn’t seen the representationit should, especially for the pre-war era modeler.To give you an idea, I ran the number series given by CDS(their lettering is supplied in the kit) through a couple ORER’son hand, and learned that there were over 6000 New Haventhirty-six footers in interchange service in 1940. Half of themsurvived the war to be rostered in 1945. The postwar era sawan immense surge in steel boxcar procurement nationwide,and these tired old cars were pared down to a mere five ininterchange by 1950. This story applies, not only to the NewHaven, but also to most 36’ boxcar fleets in the US.My kit arrived with a completely assembled basic body,painted in gray primer. Included are separate wire grabs,resin roofwalks, plastic brake-gear (both underbody andend), the afore-mentioned CDS dry transfer lettering, andseveral instructional sheets. Like most resin kits, you supplythe trucks and couplers of choice. I built the car straight offthe instruction sheet, which worked out just fine. With a littlecare, it’s a very pleasant three-evening build using the citeddrill sizes, a couple good pinvises, a new single-edge razorblade, some CA, hemostats, and all the other accoutrementswe’ve come to know and love.Since the acquisition of skills, working with resin kits,opens up a lot of options for finely detailed and moreunusual prototypes, hereare a couple tricks of thetrade. First, rememberthat most resins are a bitbrittle, so exercise a littlecare when handling someof the finer cross-sectiondetails. Next, I find thatrunning the train-line(that’s the main air pipebetween the brake hosesalong the underframe)can be somewhat tediousworking with a preassembledbody. First,it’s a little problematicdrilling through the crossmemberswhen they’realready assembled orcast in place. My trick isto use a six-inch piece ofpiano wire chucked up inone of those little hand-drills (the manual crank-it type).Gently done, it makes a perfectly fine long drill bit forresin, and keeps the holes lined up with each other. The nextissue is how to thread and bend brass wire through the routewhen the crossmembers are already fixed in place (rememberthat the line has to cross over to the opposite side of thecar somehow, usually through the main frame-memberson wood-body cars). A good solution is to go to a sportinggoods store and get some appropriate diameter mono-filamentfishing leader. Thread it through the holes, secure oneend with CA, pull it tight, and glue it at each hole with moreCA. When it’s taut, secure, and painted, it looks just as goodas wire.One thing about the manufacturing process that can hauntyou a bit is the fact that each piece comes out of the moldwith a coating of a mold release agent on it. If it wasn’t coated,it would just stick to the mold, so it’s a fact of life. Solventbased paints and CA won’t adhere to this stuff, so you haveto be pretty careful to clean it all off. Indeed, my kit had placeson the roof where the primer was loose. No big deal, I justshaved it all off with an Xacto chisel-blade, re-cleaned thesurface, and shot it with color when I painted the car. You’llsee this often with resin kits. Bob Jones, who actually handlesthe distribution of these kits for the 2008 SONC folks, recommends”Shout” stain remover to clean resin castings (I haveto try that one.) I use Floquil Diosol and an old toothbrushwith excellent results. Chooch, a major manufacturer of resincars, says in their instructions that the new acrylic paints aremuch more forgiving of mold release agent than solvent-typepaint. There’s lots of options.Anyway, this car is a pleasant build and the results can bejudged by the photo. It is a very nice model of a more commoncar than many of us realize, a car type that really shouldbe more heavily represented on our steam-era rosters thanthey are.52 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07

Review: 53’-6” Wood Express Refrigerator MSRP: $79.95AtlasO LLC 378 Florence Ave, Hillside, NJ 07205908-687-0880 • www.atlaso.comreviewed by Brian ScaceAtlas O’s first foray into steam-era passenger train equipment(if you don’t count the express version of the MiddleDivision PRR X29) is this model of the ubiquitous woodenbody/steel underframe Railway Express Agency expressrefrigerator. REA had (according to Vic Roseman’s REA book)167 of these cars, numbered from 275-474. One of our samplescame lettered for Seaboard, who rostered 18 similar carsin the mid-’50s. Again according to Roseman, theirs were50’-1” rather than 53’-6” cars.Compatibility and PerformanceOur sample checked out with the available NMRA andKadee gages for the basic compatibility dimensions. I hadno issues with merely plunking this car down in my prettyhealthy sized mail/express train and letting ’er rip. The carruns just fine on my mildly irregular trackage and super-elevatedcurves, showing no signs of anti-social behavior.The fit and finish are as we have come to expect fromAtlas. All components were straight, tight, and true in assembly.Paint and lettering were nicely applied. You can call itready-to-weather. The car comes with opening ice hatchesand opening side doors. This allows you to position the icehatches to ventilate, which is a nice option. I personallydon’t care to trade the delicacy of a well-modeled reeferclosely at the trucks. These cars originally rode on an eightfootwheelbase truck with fabricated journal-box yokes andsideframes. These trucks are easily identified as the yokeswere made up of two plates and a couple blocks, riveted tothe frame, with an outboard strap-steel strut. The truck onthe model is a much later cast-frame eight-footer with integralyokes. While this truck shows up in some postwar photos,I haven’t seen them in a photo of one of these cars datingbefore about 1953 (I’m still looking). Also, the frame itself (thetop member) has a noticeably thin cross-section compared tophotos of the prototype truck. The easy solution is to replacethe trucks, especially on those cars painted in one of the earlierschemes.While you’re at it, lower the car. Even with the stocktrucks, this does much to improve the overall appearance. Itook a slow-turning motor tool and a couple files to the lugon the frame bolster, and just removed it (leaving the pivot)to bring the car down a good six inches. The coupler boxesare mounted on lugs, too. Knock the lugs back to match thetrucks and screw the whole thing back together. This servesto get the truck/frame relationship where it belongs, mate thetruck and frame bolster bearing surfaces in keeping with thereal thing, and get the coupler boxes-draft gear in a bettervisual relationship with the rest of the frame.All in all, the carbody gets good marks from me. A quickchange-out of the trucks, especially for the pre-1955 crowd,will bring the entire model up to the level set by the carbodyitself.door hinge for the privilege of opening side doors,though.Fidelity, and Notes for the NeuroticI cracked open a couple sources to track thesecars a bit, Vic Roseman’s REA book, a couple ofOfficial Railway Equipment Registers, and someexcerpts from various years of the Carbuilder Cyclopedia.Basic dimensions and proportions of the carbodyare quite good, and the detail level is on parwith the rest of the ”Master” line.The more neurotic among us will want to lookNov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 53

REVIEW: D&H 2-Rail O Scale Train Set MSRP: $429.95;52’6” Steel Flatcar MSRP: $42.95AtlasO LLC 378 Florence Ave, Hillside, NJ 07205908-687-0880 • www.atlaso.comReviewed by Brian and Tad ScaceIn the last issue of OST, I mentioned that I would be lookingat one of the Atlas-O 2-rail sets. While not intended forthe more grizzled ilk, O Scalers who want to pass the hobbyon to our offspring (without having to transition them fromsuperfluous rails or tweezers) may find the two-rail versionof the traditional ”set” a useful venue. Helping me with thisreview is my son, Tad, appropriate in that he’s a member ofthe generation that many of us O Scaler/fathers want to reachwith such a tool now at our disposal.Included in the box was a D&H RS3, CP stock car, an”Early Bird” insulated boxcar, and a D&H extended visioncaboose, all from Atlas’ entry-level Trainman line. I’m notgoing to get into a blow-by-blow review of each component,just because most items have already been reviewed in thesepages before. The RS3 is new in the line, but is very similar incharacteristics to the Trainman RSD-4 reviewed previously,and the rolling stock is, in and of itself, standard Trainmanfare. A circle of 36” radius sectional track is also included,along with a catalog and a track-book (reminiscent of the oldAtlas ”snap-track” layout books of yore). It is up to the purchaserto come up with a DC power supply of some sort.The trackage (Code 148 NS) has lugs on the ends of eachpiece, so the circle will stay together on the floor if that isindeed the application initially chosen. Also included are aset of power leads attached to a pair of rail joiners, so theneophyte (or the parents of said neophyte) has no soldering todo to get the whole thing running in its initial configuration.I found a standard one-amp HO power supply (had an oldMRC Throttlepack kicking around the shop) ample to run thewhole thing as it came out of the box.Our purpose was a bit different than the loop-on-the-floornorm, and one that many O Scaler/parents will probably findthemselves identifying with. I’ve always wanted my son to joinme, and having his own gear that runs on the same railroad asmine is really the hook. In this vein, my evaluation criteria willbe a bit different from my usual ”notes for the neurotic” mold.All the appropriate dimensions checked out with myNMRA and Kadee gages. The operation was as expectedwith Trainman fare. The drive is quiet, the cars couple andstay that way, and derailments are few, keeping frustrationlevels low. You DCC Dads can play, too; an NMRA harness isincluded in the box. The fit and finishof each piece are good, straight, andtrue. While I’m pretty rabid about theshade of boxcar red in my own rollingstock, Tad reacted as one wouldexpect to the somewhat riotous color(by my eye) presented by ‘70s-eraD&H grays and blues, oranges and scarlets on the freightcars and the flashy caboose on the rear. The caboose isilluminated, with a switch underneath to turn the lights on andoff, and the RS3 has directional headlights. Also, being theentry-level fare, the components are stout and handle-able bythe less-than-experienced (and more-than-enthusiastic) set ofhands. Between the lighting, motion, and color, everythingserves to attract the young senses and (at least until he discovershormones) haul ’em down to the basement with Dad.I’ll add a couple recommendations here, for those whowant to share their hobby with their young and use one ofthese sets as an introduction. First, if you’re going to let younginexperienced hands run on your railroad, you might want totrim the top speed down by re-wiring the motors from parallelto series. Check this issue’s ”Easements” column for a littlemore on that. This simple project pays off big, both in controllabilityand reduced velocity through that yard full of brassand scratchbuilt stuff. Next, pick up a flatcar or gondola withthe set. There’s only so much a kid will get out watching boxcarsgo by. He can put stuff on flatcars, so the play-value goesway up. Atlas had also sent along one of their new Trainmanflatcars (a 52’ postwar riveted fishbelly steel car that you mayfind worth looking at for yourself, by the way). Initially, I wasgoing to review it separately, but we added it into this consistto make the point. Open cars are good. A final point, here. Ifound the components to be robust, making them good (andcomparatively inexpensive) tools with which to gain experience.As Tad gains a little finesse with the controller, he cangraduate to running my stuff with a little less anxiety on mypart. If his interest holds, eventually he’ll follow his owninterests (modern-era as opposed to my WWII-era roster, forexample), learn the foibles of kitbuilding, maintenance, wiring,and all that goes with it. It’s starting to sound a lot likehow we got started, isn’t it?The upshot is that now we spend hours in the basement.Tad is busily loading cars and pipes and stuff on histrain while I’m blasting by with the high-priced spread onthe other main or switching out industries. Mom is upstairssavoring peace and quiet. When we go up after a while, shesays, ”Why don’t you boys go back downstairs for anotherhour or so?”Funny, she never said that before.54 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07

REVIEW: 12-1 Heavyweight Pullman, $119.95 MSRPGolden Gate Depot, 231 Market Place Suite 223, San RamonCA 94583 www.goldengatedepot.comreviewed by Brian ScaceThe latest addition to Golden Gate’s growing line of plasticpassenger equipment is this 12-1 heavyweight Pullman sleeper.The 12-section single drawing room sleeper was, along with the14-section ”stag car”, the standard floor plan used by Pullmanin the heavyweight era, so it’s a good choice for a plastic OScale offering. They were everywhere.Compatibility and PerformanceOur sample checked out with the available NMRA andKadee gages for the basic compatibility dimensions. All I had todo was screw on the Kadees and set it down on the track. I didencounter a bit of anti-social behavior on my super-elevatedcurves, though. The trucks are pretty tightly sprung, as are thebolster screws, so the car didn’t ”bend” with changes in superelevation.The solution is incredibly easy, though; just take oneof the bolster-screw springs out. From then on, it rolled in asstately a fashion as one would expect.Fidelity and Notes for the NeuroticThese cars come painted, lit, and with interiors installed.The sections line up with the window arrangement. The paintand lettering was nicely applied, fit and finishwere straight and true. I was somewhatbemused by the fact that our car, letteredfor Canadian Pacific, was named ”Steelton”.”Ho Ho!”, I thought as I reached for thatever-present 1950 passenger car ORER (OfficialRailway Equipment Register). I was evenmore bemused to find that ”Steelton” actuallydid go to CP after the Pullman divestiture. Golden Gate gotthat right, after all.As it sits, our Pullman is an appealing car, ready to go intoservice on a Boston/Portland train. I found no bones to pickwith my usual gripes about Pullman models, being roof lineand the coarseness of some folks attempts at the belt rail overthe years. This car hangs together in those respects pretty well.My nits are pretty small; eventually, I’ll change the diaphragmsout for some of John Keil’s. The Keil-line ones have chafingplates and extenders on them, making for a much improvedappearance at little additional sweat or equity. At the sametime, I’ll probably change out the vestibule doors for some thatare a little longer at the bottom.I have to give GGD good marks for one thing, here. They areimproving with every new offering. Unlike earlier cars in theirline, this one comes with inset window glazing, rather thanmerely putting clear plastic against the inside wall of the car.What a difference that makes, effectively hiding the thicknessrequired of a plastic carbody. This one feature serves to makea $120 car that can be mingled with my American Standard,Fischer, and PSC heavyweights without needing apology. All inall, a good choice in prototype, quite well done. A few noodlesand gubitzes added here and there, and some weathering ofthe undercarriage, will make it even nicer.REVIEW: Southern Pacific C-30-1 Caboose; MSPR: $219.95Sunset/3rd Rail, 37 S Fourth St, Campbell, CA 95008408-866-5764 • www.3rdrail.comreviewed by Joe GiannovarioFidelity to the PrototypeThe best I could come up with to compare this model withwas an article in the October 1986 Model Railroader aboutbuilding an HO Scale model of the SP Class CA caboose. Thearticle has plans drawn by the author. Sinxe there are no referencescited, I have no idea how accurate his measurementswere. With that in mind, here goes.The SP C-30-1 cab was basically a CA caboose design witha steel underframe. The Sunset model closely resembles aSmithsonian Institution photo of a CA I found on the Internet.Comparing the Sunset model with the MR article I foundthat most dimensions matched within a scale inch or so withtwo notable exceptions. The model article says the distancefrom the carbody ends to the first window frames is 41”. I measuredthe model at about 32”. If I do a board-by-board counton the Smithsonian photo and the model, they match exactly.So, which is correct? I don’t know but I’m betting someone outthere does and will write to tell us. Secondly, while the overalllength of the roof on the model matches the dimensions in thearticle, the location of the cupola differs by a scale foot. Thearticle shows the cupola starting at nine feet from the roof shortend while the model measures eight feet.The model is very nicely painted and lettered for SP. The letteringappears to be correct for an early C-30-1. Sunset also isoffering a post-war ”SP” lettering as well as T&NO and AT&SFversions.Compatibility and PerformanceThe model passed the standards test for wheels and couplers.I coupled the model to my test train and it traversed theentire layout without incident, including passage through severalAtlas O and Old Pullman switches of various sizes.Overall, this is a fine model. I await comments from moreknowledgeableSP modelersas to theaccuracy ofthe windowand cupolaplacement.Nov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 55

2007O Scale NationalConventionAbove: A scene from the Central Ohio O Scale Engineers (COOSE) modular layout.The layout was in a public area where anyone in the hotel could see it.Left: This was taken in themain trading hall on Friday.There was an additionaltrading hall and severalvendors were in the hallway.There were over 300 tradingtables.Right: Another scene from theCOOSE modular layout.56 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07

These are models from the contest.Unfortunately, I don’t have all the details nor whobuilt them all. If you see your model here, pleasecontact me so we can give proper attribution.Top: This Budd RDC won Ed Bommer FirstRunner Up.Left: This was a completely scratchbuilt cabooseusing styrene. Builder unknown.Below: This scratchbuilt freight depot tookSecond Runner Up for Tony Michels. Insidethe fully detailed depot you can see the FreightAgent, J. Canter, at his desk.A Monon express baggage car. Builder unknown.Nov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 57

2007O Scale NationalConventionTop: We were in Monon-country so it was notsurprising to see a couple Monon modles in thecontest. This stock car was particularly nice.Builder unknown.Left: This cute 0-6-0 was cut down from an AHMIHB 0-8-0. The builder concocted a story aboutan accident that necessitated the rebuildingwhich was quite amusing. Builder unknown.Right: This Milwaukee Road SDL39 was rebuiltfrom a Weaver GP-38 by Robert Gray. Actually,Mr. Gray built three of them, all on display.Below: This Monon work car was scratchbuilt.Builder unknown.58 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07

Above and below: More scenesfrom the COOSE modular layout.Nov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 59

Above: C&O Allegheny samples from George Kohs.Below: Samples of the Kohs N&W Class CF and CG cabooses.60 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07

Above Left: Mike Hill receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award for his Chicago March Meet.Above Right: Rod Miller (left) receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from 2007 O Scale National Co-chair Jim Canter for his O Scale West Meet.2007 O Scale National Convention continued from page 70his freight station; First Runner Up – Ed Bommer for a BuddRDC; and First Place went to Jim Zwernemann for a B&Owagon-top caboose.It is a tradition at the regular Indy meet to hand out variousawards from the Indianapolis O Scalers, and this year was noexception. The awards and recipients were: Vane Jones TractionAward – Andy Sunderland; Narrow Gauge Modeler of the Year– Al Askerberg; Vendor of the Year – Jerry Snow of Accurate OScale; Manufacturer of the Year – Joe Giannovario for O ScaleTrains Magazine; Proto48 Modeler of the Year – Jim Harper;Member of the Year – Loretta Holderread; O Scale LifetimeAchievement Awards – Dr. Howard Blackburn, Rod Miller (OScale West) and Mike Hill (Chicago March Meet).The O Scale Hall of Fame recipients were not announcedat the Convention and that was an oversight. A committee ofthe O Scale Kings and a committee of this year’s Conventionstaff was convened on Saturday afternoon. Two names wereplaced in nomination and seconded. The vote for both wasunanimous. It is my pleasure to announce the 2007 O ScaleHall of Fame inductees, Dr. Howard Blackburn and GregHeier. Here are some details on both men.Dr. Blackburn (deceased this year) was a “well rounded”railroad enthusiast. In addition to being a O Scale modeler,Dr. Blackburn was internationally know for his railway photographyand videography. In addition to O Scale, Dr. Blackburnwas a member of the National Railway Historical Society,a founding member of the Indiana Transportation Museum,involved with the founding of the Illinois Railway Museum,and a founder of the Indiana Garden Railroad Club. Finally,and most fitting, Dr. Blackburn was instrumental in startingthe first O Scale National Convention with Vane Jones.Greg Heier has been the managing editor of 48/ft O ScaleNews since 1987. He is also a writer and a professional photographer.Greg built his first 2-Rail, O Scale, model in 1955.Over the years, he has been a member of a number of clubsand a longtime volunteer at the Illinois Railway Museum. Mostrecently he has become enamored of On30. Greg is also anNMRA life member.I would like to personally express my thanks to the clinicianswho gave “standing room only” presentations. Theywere: Harry Hieke, Jr., “Hands On Micro Torch Soldering”;Bill Brisko, “Rapid Prototyping for Casting Masters”; Joe Foehrkolb,“3-Rail to 2-Rail Conversions”; Rod Miller, “Basics ofDCC Decoder Installations”; Robert Langlois, “Tools & Techniques”;Glenn Guerra, “O Scale Module Roundtable”; TerryChristopher, “Introduction to Railroad Signaling” and “Installingthe Custom Signals’ Modular Signaling System on YourLayout”; Jim Burch, “Painting, Decaling & Weathering”; DaveBrumagin, “Rubber-based Ballast and Scenery”; Brian Scace,“‘Givens and Druthers’ as a Concept Planning Tool”; DavidVaughn, “Modeling the Nickel Plate in O Scale P48 in 1958”;Bob Lavezzi, “Catenary Operations” and ‘Billboard Reefers”;and Al Askerberg, “Effective Layout Photography.”Finally, I want to thank the following OST advertisers fortheir donations of door prizes (in no particualr order): JimWeaver at Atlas O; Bill McClung at Red Caboose; Andy Edelmanat Mike’s Train House; Tom Gascoigne at Buffalo CreekGraphics; Joe Hayter at Weaver Models; and John Morath atBachmann. Thanks to these great folks, we gave away over$3000 of door prizes over the Convention schedule.My personal thanks go to Jim Canter and the IndianapolisO Scalers without whom this Convention would not havehappened at all. Thanks guys!See you next year in Worcester, Mass. (That’s pronounced“wuss-tah”.)Keep highballin’uNov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 61

2007 O Scale Hall of FameDr. Howard Blackburn(deceased)O Scale ModelerInternationally-knownRail Photographer &VideographerGreg HeierEditor: 48/ft O Scale Newssince 1987O Scale Modeler since1955From the Maine two-footers:SANDERS WATER TANK(BOTH VERSIONS ALSO AVAILABLE IN S-SCALE)Simply thehighest quality,laser-cut kitsyou can buy!!!O-SCALE!!EARLY Version $55www.raggstoriches.biz62 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07LATE Version $55Ragg’s...To Riches?499 Davis Hill RoadMiddlebury Center, Pennsylvania 16935 (570) 376-2025

Narrow MindedBobber GibbsThe annual National Narrow-Gauge Convention, inPortland ME, was a great success with over 1500 attendeesand more than 100 exhibitors. Karen and I werefortunate to have the extra time to explore some of thequaint seashore communities and visit the wealth of narrow-gaugerailroad equipment that has been preservedin Maine.Portland was clean, safe, and fun, however it seemsthat there is a lot of local controversy about how thewaterfront will be developed. This could result in seriousproblems for the Maine Narrow-Gauge Railroad andMuseum. Let’s hope they soon find a permanent andlong-term home, and secure shelter for the equipment.In the convention display rooms, I noticed that mostof the narrow-gauge modular and demonstration layoutshad at least a bit of standard-gauge equipment on displayfor comparison. It is fascinating to see the contrast in sizeof a standard-gauge steam locomotive and a tiny twofootgauge teapot side-by-side.O Scale was the most prominent at the convention,and there was more interest in On30 than any otherscale/gauge combination. There were three-foot gaugedisplays and two-foot gauge displays, but I was surprisedat the number of O Scale modelers who are using On30to operate multiple prototypes on the same On30 track.When I asked why people were so interested, the usualexplanation was that there is a wide range of 24”, 30”,and 36” gauge equipment available in On30, and theprices are much more reasonable than they used to be. Itis obvious that the new wave of ready-to-run modelers isnot as concerned about exact gauge as the veteran modelerswere and still are.The most popular clinic was by Bob Hayden, wherehe described how he is currently modeling the Mainetwo-foot flavor in On30. It was no surprise that theBachmann On30 Forney was very popular with thetwo-footers, and the sounds of steam locomotives andtheir various whistles could be heard all over the displayrooms.There was a lot of interest in DCC and sound modules,and all the manufacturers in attendance weredemonstrating their wares, trying to explain why theirproducts were superior to all the others.There were more entries in the model contest than Irecall in past conventions, and even the photo contesthad a lot of participants. The models and the photoswere simply magnificent.It was good to see so many old friends again. I feelthat the social aspects of regional and national narrowgaugeconventions have become as important as thetrains for most of us. My On30 clinic was well attendedand we had a howling good time with our tribute to theO-gods.Another interesting feature at the convention was theintroduction of V Scale (”virtual railroading” on yourcomputer). Without moving from your comfortable chair,you can run a standard-gauge or narrow-gauge trainalmost anywhere in the world with the utmost of realism,using one of several computer programs. The abilityto build and operate your own private railroad in virtualreality could become a serious competitor to the classicwood-and-plaster layouts we have become familiar with.In the meantime, more manufacturers are entering theO Scale model railroading market. The choice and qualityis going up while the prices are coming down. All inall, there’s never been a better time to be in O Scale, andthe future looks very promising.The next National Narrow-Gauge Convention willalso be held in Portland, but this time the Portland of theWest Coast (in Oregon), in September 2008. Consideringthat the Maine convention filled three hotels to overflowing,it’s not too early to start planning to attend rightnow.Watch for details at: [http://www.28thnngc.com/]Happy trains to you until we meet againuNov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 63

East Wind’08, The 2008 O Scale National ConventionBy John R. RobertsThe Southern New England Model Railroad Club is sponsoring“East Wind ’08,” the 40th O Scale National Convention in Worcester,Massachusetts, July 23-26, 2008. The Convention will be held at theDCU Center located on Worcester Center Boulevard in downtownWorcester.The Southern New England Model Railroad Club was startedinformally, in 1990, by a couple of O Scale modelers with an interestin building O Scale modules. The group slowly grew until, in 1994,it was formally established as the Southern New England ModelRailroad Club. The modular layout (that will be on display at the Convention)measures 81’ x 33’, including a double-track mainline, Dieseland steam facilities, switching areas, freight yard and a plannedpassenger yard. The SNE modular layout has been on display at theAmherst Big Railroad Show in West Springfield, Massachusetts, since1992. This show is one of the largest multi-scale train shows in theeastern United States.Also under construction is a permanent mushroom-style layout.The layout area is approximately 70’ x 42’ with the highest level ofthe layout 76” above the floor and the lowest level 48” above thefloor. Planned industries for the layout will include a paper mill and acoal mine, just to name a few. You can see the progress of the permanentlayout by visiting the club website [www.snemrr.org].The DCU Center has a convention hall that is slightly over 50,000square feet and is rated as the third best venue in the country. Thearena has hosted many top stars in concert, as well as professionalhockey and arena football.The large convention floor will allow all dealers and displays tooccupy the same space; intermingled with the dealers and displayswill be eight to ten standard- and narrow-gauge modular layouts. Thiswill provide Convention goers a chance to view layouts that wouldotherwise be too far to visit on the layout tours. There will also belocal layout tours available. Seminars, clinics, and model contests willbe ongoing during the Convention. There are two rooms available,overlooking the convention floor, that will be used for the seminarsand clinics.There are plans for rail and non-rail family tours during the Convention.The rail tour will be an all-day adventure on the GreenMountain Flyer, a passenger trip from Bellows Falls to Rutland, Vermont,and return over the original Rutland Railroad tracks. The tripwill include a continental breakfast and lunch on the train and a”Vermont Feast” featuring Roast Vermont Turkey and Honey-BakedVermont Ham at the historic Putney Inn in Putney, Vermont. Thereis a special included on this trip, for the first ten interested attendees.The special is the opportunity to travel on the “McIntyre”, a 1923Pullman observation-bedroom car, which will include a private staff.64 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07Another railroad tour that will be available one morning isa tour of the Providence and Worcester shops located abouta mile from the Convention Center. The P&W mainline passesdirectly across the street from the main entrance of the DCUConvention Center. You may catch a glimpse of a P&W coaltrain passing by during the Convention.As for non-rail tours, there are plans for an historic BostonTour. This tour will travel to Boston and visit some of the historicsites, including the USS Constitution (”Old Ironsides”),Faneuil Hall, Boston Public Garden, and other historic places,as well as a trip to Yankee Candle, with its many differenttypes of gift shops. It’s always Christmas at Yankee Candle;the Yankee Candle flagship store in South Deerfield is theDisney World of candles. Among its breathtaking scents, you canliterally lose yourself for hours in its winding, cavernous showrooms.Be sure to pick up one of the handy maps of the complex, availablenear entrances. Chandlers, a very nice restaurant at Yankee Candle,can provide you with a lunch you will thoroughly enjoy. From YankeeCandle you will travel over to Magic Wings, an 8,000 squarefoot conservatory, home to nearly 4,000 free-flying butterflies fromaround the world.On Sunday, we are planning a breakfast at the historic refurbishedPalmer Station. Palmer Station is considered one of the hotspots fortrain watching in the Northeast. It is located on the diamond of theCSX and New England Central. The Mass Central Railroad terminus isalso close by. After breakfast, you are invited to visit Phil Opielowski’sO Scale railroad. Phil models the old Ware River branch of the B&ARailroad from Palmer to Barre, Massachusetts.Available at the Convention will be discount tickets to area attractionssuch as Six Flags, Canobie Lake Park, and Water Country, sobring the entire family and make it your summer family vacation.Hotel accommodations are provided by two area hotels. TheHilton Garden Hotel is directly adjacent to the DCU Center. TheHilton Garden features 199 guest rooms, each equipped with a spaciouswork desk, two phones (each with two lines), voice mail, anddata-port. A hospitality center in each room includes a microwave,refrigerator, and coffee maker. Iron, ironing board, and hairdryer arestandard in all guest rooms.The Crowne Plaza, Worcester, is located about a block away fromthe DCU Center. Guests of the Crowne Plaza reside in the hotel’s 243spacious, amenity-filled rooms and suites, all beautifully appointedand complete with those thoughtful Crowne Plaza extras includingtwo phone lines with data-port, complimentary newspaper, andin-room coffee maker. They also provide their guests with free highspeedInternet in all sleeping rooms and public areas.For the attendees who plan on flying in for the Convention, thereare four airports in the area. They include Boston’s Logan Airport,Providence’s T. F. Green Airport, Hartford/Springfield’s BradleyAirport, and New Hampshire’s Manchester Airport. For those whomay want to travel by train, Amtrak stops at the newly refurbishedWorcester Union Station. Union Station is located about two blocksfrom the DCU Center.For your dining pleasure, there are many fine restaurants in thearea, including the Union Station Restaurant in historic WorcesterUnion Station. You may catch a CSX through freight passing by whileyou are there.Please visit the 2008 O Scale National Convention website[www.2008oscalenational.org] for more information on the Conventionand to place an order for one or more of the 2008 O ScaleNational Convention cars. See you at the Convention.

Nov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 65

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AMEXAtlas 2-RailGP-35 Power DC 275 TMCC 325DC: BN, SP, S&A, WM, NPR, PRR,CNW, Rdg, N&W, EMD, GA, UndTMCC: Und, GM&O, Sou, S&A,NPR, Rdg Dummy 179: N&W,CN, GA, BN, S&A, WMMR Hiawatha Erie Built AB DC 549NYC Erie Built Power A DC 349GP60 Power DC 325 Dummy 189DC: Und, RG, Vermont RailwayDmy: Und, SF, RG, NS, DemoGP-9 WM, C&O 339 SP TMCC 375SW DC 269 Rdg & North, CNJ, WPGP60B DC 375 BNSF Silver, GreenGP60M or B Dmy 199 BNSF SilverSD-35 DC 299 TMCC 350 Dmy 179DC: CR, JC, PRR, SP, B&O, CSX, PCTMCC: CS, JC, ACL, WM, PC, N&WDmy: PC, ChessieRS-1 Power DC 299 TMCC 325DC RI, NH, SF, Ann Arbor, M&E, WTTMCC: C&O, NH, AA, M&E, WTDash 8 DC 349 Dummy 195DC: Und, UP, BNSF, BC, SP, GEDummy: BNSF Patch, BC, DemoPulpwood 49 C&O, SF, Frisco, D&H40’ Airslide 45 RG, PRR, Brach, GN,Chessie, Erie, PC, SouthernPS-4427 Hopper 52 4 for 200Und, Cont. Grain, SOO, Producers,PRR, B&M, Transport LeasingWar Em. Hopper 46 4/165 B&O,C&O, GA, L&N, Alton, Ann Arbor, SF40’ Sgl Sheath Box 46 4/165 SP, PRRJC, CNJ, WM, RFP, Ann Arbor, MKT40’ Steel Reefer 50 4/175 CNW, MPRoscoe Snyder&P, C&O, PRR, EJ&E53’ Evans Plug Door 50 4/175 CNWUP, BC, WC, MP, Aloha, MN&SIllum. Caboose $60 2/$110 4/$200E/V: BN, RG, BN Freedom, CBQ,DMIR, Chessie Safety x 3, SF, SOORutland, GN, IHB, RF&P, CRStd Cupola: MRL, NS, N&WNE-6: NH x 2, Clinch, PL&E, WL&EN&W, NYS&W, Conrail40’ Woodside $55 4 for $195 B&MGrand Union, Ralston Purina, Blatz,Del Maiz, Silver Edge, WP Ice, ART,Phenix, Century, Merchant’s, Nash,Fairmont, Donaldson-BurkeFishbelly Hopper $46 4 for $165Und, NS, ACL, D&H, CNJ, ACYH-21 Hopper 55 4/$195 PC, VGN89’ Die-Cast Flat 63 4/$225 GN, SouErie-Western, FEC, SF, WP36’ Woodside $55 4/$195 Und, Swift,Hormel, Oscar Mayer, Krey’s, Cudahy,NKP, Pluto, Sou Star, Clicquot, Page,Pearl Brand, Peter Fox, Wescott, CrownKornblum, Rath, Columbus, Noack,Kahn, Clicquot, Swift Warbonds11K Tank 55 4/$205 Und, HookerCol. Sou, Tank Gas, Warren17K Tank 60 4/$225 Und, Shamrock,Hooker, Stauffer, PPGDbl Sheath Box 46 4/$165 CNW, BMTH&B, Rutland, FEC, ACLUSRA 55 Ton Hopper 46 4/$165NH, NYC, Pitt & Shaw, PRR, PublicSunset NYC RDC Power 450Weaver 2-Rail RS-11 225 MEC, SouVO-1000 DC WM, GN 219Hiawatha Morning 5-Car Set 475Atlas 3-RailPS 4427 Hopper 45 BN, Continental,Waynes, BNSF, LV, Producers, PRR40’ USRA Gondola 3R 48PRR, C&O, L&N, MC, MP1923 X-29 Steel Box 3R 52C&O, LNE, NPR, Rdg CNJ +$4Mid Div PRR x 8 types 3R 58 2R 60Coalveyor 52 DPC, WP, IA, RTPX40’ Airslide 48 Erie, GN, PC, CGW50’ PS-1 Box 54 GN, C&O, Erie,RF&P17K Tank Car 2R 59 3R 56Occidental, Olin-Mathieson, PPG, SHPXPS-4427 LS Cov’d Hopper 52 2R 56BN, Continental, ADM, B&M,TransportMR, LV, Wayne’s Feed, SF, RG, PRR50 Ton War Hopper 3R 44 4/172GA, L&N Alton, Arbor, B&OPRR War Hopper 8# 49 4/190 8/370PRR War Bonds 2 # in-stock40’ Wood Reefer 2# 3R 52 4/205Atlas Beer, Phenix, Merchant, Bourke,Fairmont, Nash, ART, Eatmor,36’ Wood Refrigerator 3R 51ASD, Libby, Swift, Fosse, Jersey GoldKrey, Nuckoll, Sou Star, Page, Wescott,Crown, Kornblum, Wilson, Columbus,Noack, Swift, Kahns, Morning ButterE/V Caboose 2-R 64 3-R 60Ches, Family, GTW, Guilfd, Soo, HousaRutld, RG, RF&P,NE-6 Monongahela, Shawmut, NYS&WH21a Hopper 52 Und, PC PRR $5889’ Intermodal Flat 2R 63 3R 59Erie, SF, WP, RG, MECACF 8K Tank 2R 55 3R 51Wolf’s, Bell, CO-OP, Silver Fox, Staley40’ Steel Reefer 51 Lack, MDT, Agar,Black Hills, ART, BAR Bookey 5555 Ton Fishbelly 43 CRR NJ, Rdg,B&O Fishbelly 4# 2R 52 3R 4911,000 Gal Tank Car 3-R 52 2R 56Gulf, Union,Warren, Homgas, EssotaneSunray, Pyrofax, Shippers, CA, FuelineUSRA 55 Ton Hopper 3R 45 2R 49NYC, PRR, Burl, NH, Lack, P& S1937 AAR 3R 52 CN, SF, Sou, SPErie, NH, Pere Marquette (C&O) $45ACF 3-Bay Cyl Hopper 3R 52 2R 56EL, CSX, Cumberland, Hercules, USITrainman 2 or 3 RailGP15-1 2R/3R 189 TMCC 289UP, BN, CSX, MPRS-3 D&H, GN, Rdg, RI 189/289Rolling Stock 2R 35 3R 3352’ Flatw/Ld: CP Rail, Erie, UP, PC40’ Hy-Cube: NP, RG, SF, UP3-Bay PS-2: Burl, Chessie, Carbide, UP70 Ton 3-Bay: BN, WM, C&O, SouBox: PRR, PLE, Rdg, ACL, Burl, RI, UPPlug: FGE, CNJ, NP, SF, AFT, CB,NYC, PRR40’ Stock: GN, MKT,D&RGW, UP, C&O, CPR, SF, UP52’ Gondola: C&O, PRR, UP, Reading,Chessie, CR, LV, SouE/V Caboose: C&O, CNW, CB, SF, RIChessie, CR, NS, UP, D&H, GN, RdgAtlas TrackRemote Switch, Steel or Nickel 48.95O36 O45 O54 O72 Wye#5 Double-Slip Switch 125O72/O54 Curved Switch or #5 637.5 (O81) High Speed Switch 6640” Rigid 12.00 Case (12) $13940”Flex/Concrete 13.00 CS $14910” or O54 3.15 Case (48) $1451 ¾ 4-Pk 6.70 4.5” 2.60 5.5” 2.951 ¾ Uncoupler 9.95 Accessory Rails 9.95O27 Curve 3.60 3 Circles (24) 82O36 Curve 3.15 2 Circles (24) 70O45 Curve 3.60 2 Circles (24) 82O63 Curve 4.20 2 Circles (32) 129O72 Curve 4.75 2 Circles (32) 145O81 Curve 5.55 1 Circle (16) 85O90 Curve 6.60 1 Circle (16) 99O99 Curve 7.45 1 Circle (16) 1123-Stall Roundhouse 30”L 16524” Motorized Turntable 139Deck Bridge 2 or 3 Rail 8240” Bridge 99 Dble 125 Add-on 32Type G or SA Signal 49 4-Pk 185Purple Hall @ York 900 sq ftMTH 2007 Vol II2 or 3-Rail4-12-2 UP 9000, 2# 1065CNW 4-6-4 E-4 Hudson 809MR EP-2 Bipolar, 3 Kinds 605PRR Scale GG-1 5-S Grn, Tusc 629E44 Electric Conrail, PRR 385E33 Electric N&W, VA 385I/R Diesel Box Cab 445B&O, JC, CNW, Erie, RdgSD70ACe 3R 385 2R 399 Dmy 142MRL, G.W. BushDash 8-40C Narrow 3R 385 2R 402CNW, CSX, UP, NS Dmy $142Alco S-2 Switcher 3R 352 Dmy 145NH, NYC, GTW, SouthernF40PH Diesel 3R 352 Dmy 137VIA, Grand Canyon, Amtrak, HardwareGP-9 Diesel 3R 352 Dmy 137B&M, SF, Soo Line, WPGP38-2 Diesel 3R 352 Dmy 137Alaska, CN, NS, ON RailwaySpecialty SetsPRR Scale GG-1 Beer Train 715Green 1 Stripe w/ 5 Beer Reefer & CabEast Wing GG-1 Passenger Set 715PRR Streamline K-4 Passenger 909SP Black GS-4 Freight Set 1069PC E-44 Tropicana Reefer Set 4756-Car 34’ Composite Hopper 212NKP, PRR, SF, UP6-Car 40’ USRA Dbl Sheath 212GN, NP, N&W6-Car Flat w/ 2 Trailers 235REA, CNW, SP, UP6-Car 80’ Corrugated AutocarrierSF, UP $2276-Car 70Ton 3-Bay Hopper 212N&W, WM, Sou, C&O100 Ton Hopper 6-Pk 215Canada, Alberta, Wheat, SaskPassenger Car SetsMadison 5Pk 335 2Pk 137 RPO 68PRR, CNW, MRStreamline 5Pk 335 2PK 137 Vista 68L&N, MR, NP, SF, UP, VIA, PRR, SPAmtrak Superliner 4Pk 335 2Pk 172R40 4-Car Subway 445 2-Car 168IC E-6 City of Miami Pass Set 615North Shore 4-Car Electroliner 539Red Arrow 4-Car Liberty Liner 539SD70Ace Twin-Stack Freight Set 649CSX, BNSFDCS System 249 AIU 85 TIU 149ScaleTrax10” 2.45 O31 or O54 Curve 2.70O72 3.75 O80 3.95 1 ¾” 4-Pk 7.7530” Rigid or Flex 7.95 ITAD $2390, 45 or 22.5 Xing 16 Op. Track 16Remote Switch O31, O54 or O72 $38Switch #4 $44 #6 $51 Bumper 13MTH Blow-outs, PS 2.0Premier20-2480-1 Baldwin Centipede AA 525Alco S-2 Dummy UP, PC Graffitti 8520-2615-1 UP Gas Turbine Diesel 74520-3177-1 Phil & Rdg 2-8-0 549Climax Logging Steam Loco 899PLC, Climax, W. Forest20-3245/6-1 PRR 4-4-2 Atlantic 575B&O, LIRR same price4-8-4 T-1 Steam Loco 895Rdg, Allegheny, Blue Mountain20-3253/4-1 PRR 2-10-0 Decapod 92520-4053 Sou Crescent 18” 5-Pk 20920-4074 LIRR 18” Madison 5-Pk 285EP-5 Dummy NH, MR 10920-5544-1 GE Demo Little Joe 62520-5565-1 Penn Central GG-1 56520-5566-1 PRR Green GG-1 565FF-1 Electric Locomotives 675NH x 2, GN, PRR x 220-65039 KCS Strmline 18” 5-pk 22520-90272 PRR 50’ Hy Cube 6-Pk 185Steel Caboose GTW, PC 3920-93307 PRR 50’ High Cube 3720-93347 Rdg 50’ Dbl Dr Box 3720-94211/2 Chessie, JC Reefer 3520-96142 Marine Gasoline Tank 3620-98506/8/9 John Deer Flats 4934 ft Composite 2-Bay Hopper 29VGN, Burl, Cam & In, ClinchfieldGolden Gate Depot21” Aluminum Passenger 6-pk 489Full Interior, People, DetailedNYC, PRR, SF, B&O, Cal Zephyr21” SP Daylt Alum 5-Pk TBASP Articulated Diner Set TBAPRR B70 Baggage, PB70 Combine, &BM70 Mail RPO 3-Pk 359REA 54’ Steel Reefer, 4# 677 VariationsThird Rail Brass In-StockC&O 4-8-4 Greenbrier, EOB 1125North Shore Electroliner Set 899Burlington S-4 #4000, EOB 1149Sante Fe Dash 9 Conv w/Sound 550Mercury 3-Car Passenger Set 775E-7AA Power/Dmy 575 B Dmy 145PRR K-4 w/TMCC & Railsounds 725 B&O, PRR Pwr B 263 Breakdn 235PRR Q-1 Skirted, TMCC, EOB 1100PRR N-1 2-10-2, Conv w/Sound 695PRR O-1 2-Unit Electric, TMCC 995PRR MP-54 Power 499 Dmy 349PRR BB1 Rats (2), Conv w/Snd 575B&M R-1 4-8-2, TMCC, EOB 925Y-3 2-8-8-2 TMCC SF, VGN 1050NYC L3B 4-8-2 Mohawk, EOB 950P5a Streamline Conv w/Snd 595Gargraves (USA)37” Flex Tinplate $4.60 Cs 50 21937” Flex Stainless Phantom Case 26542, 72, 100” Tin Switch Man 29 Rem 45Above w/DZ-2500 TMCC $50RC Uncplr #107 $21 Op. #108 $ 26Gantry Crane Track 17.50 Stainless 1990 Degree Crossing $17 Video $8Now with Wood TiesCircle 032/ $35 042/ $41 054/ $54063/ $57 072/ $61 080/ $78089/ $82 096/ $85 106/$89DZ Products -InstockDZ-1010 Crossing Gate Set 79DZ-1011 Block Signal Detectors 19DZ-1020 Crossing Signal Set 55DZ-1030 Wigwag Signal Set 79DZ-1040 UQ or LQ Semaphore 49DZ-1050 3-Light Trackside Signal 36DZ-1060 7-Light Trackside Signal 39DZ-1200 Station Announcement 85DZ-1220 Trolley Stop & Control 79DZ-1240 Auto Stop & Reverse 38DZ-1260 Water Tower Animator 36DZ-1265 Fuel Station Animator 38DZ-2500 TMCC Switch Machine 25Korber Models304 3-Stall Roundhouse, 30”D 189304A Xtra Stall or 304B Extender 45305 Sandhouse, 16 x 6 45306 Diesel Shed 25 x 11 2-Stall 69302 One Stall Diesel Shed w/Shop 75307 3-Stall Trolley Barn 23 x 11 85315 Grain Silo, 7 x 19 x 22 H 753155 Double Silo 32”L x 7 x 22”H 135320 3-Stall Roundhouse, 26” Deep 145905 Blackshear Refrig. Transport 49908 Shanahan Freight 75912 Roller Bearing Co. 85915 Quaker Foods 9 x 12 45921 JLC Manufacturing 65950 American Flag Co. 14 x 9 65953 Joe’s Pickle Factory 14 x 9 65955 RJK Tool & Die 9 x 14 54956 James Company 13 x 8 x 9H 49958 Mill Works 11 x 7 w/Tower 49959 Midland Supply 2-Story 8 x 6 32967 Shoe Co. 7 skylts 20 x 9 x 11 69969 Gen Lt & Pwr Office 6x13x12 65TransformersMRC Dual Pure Power 270W 225Lionel 80Watt 85 Lionel ZW 365Williams Universal 150 Watt 99MTH Z-4000 375 Z-1000 75Lionel 2007 Vol I18384 Milw. EP-2 BiPolar E-2 77518385 Milwaukee Rd BiPolar E-1 77511127 Sou Pac. GS-4, Legacy 101925506 SP Daylight Heavywt 4-Pk 36518” 2-Pk 192 Stationsnd Diner 21511117 Sante Fe E6 Atlantic 48931755 Tex Special E-7 Pass Set 100921” 2-Pk or 21” Sound Diner 222CSX SD40-2 Husky Stack Set 639CSX or BN Husky Stack 2-Pk $1272826x UP Heritage SD70ACe 377MoPac, WP, Katy, UPU30C MR, Conrail 382 Dmy 145GP-7 Power 335 Non-Power 145NYC, GN, RI, UPF-7 ABA Pwr/Dmy/Dmy 725Pwr B 259 NYC, WP Breakdn 235NYC Shark AA 519 Dmy B 13718” Heavyweight 4-Pk 365 2-Pk 195SF, SP Daylt, MR, PRR, B&OMTA R-27 4-Car 575 2-Pk 265SD40-2 w/TMCC NS, CN 357SD40-2 Dmy 142 GP30 Dmy 129GP30 w/TMCC CP, Chessie 329Alaska GP38-2, TMCC 329 Dmy 135Lionel Blow-outs11100 PRR Mikado TMCC 26525458 PRR Congressional Diner 18024579 NYC E-7 AA 465 Pwr B 205Breakdown B 205 Dmy B 105Operating Hot Box w/RS 60 2/115MDT, Swift, PFE, SFPRR F7 Pwr B 205 Breakdwn B 190Weaver Models 2007RPO w/ Celestory Roof 4# 79B60 Baggage w/Celestory 75PRR, NYC, CN, NH, N&W, B&M, SFRPO w/Round Roof 4# 79B60 w/Round Roof 4# 75Rdg, NYC, CP, CSS, UP, B&O, NH,PRR, LIRR, Unlettered, N&WTroop Express Cars 4# 62 REA,PRR, N&W, NYC, NH, C&O, CN,Alaska, NYC Green, L&N, MOWPullman Troop Sleeper 6# 85Troop Kitchen or Hospital 6# 85Troop MOW Cars 4# no interiors 75Kitchen Monon, CBQ, N&W, UndecSleeper WM, PRR, L&N, Lack, LVC&O, N&W, NYC, GTW, Erie, CP,Detroit & Mackinac, MOW, ATSFRS-3 TMCC 299 28 LiveriesGP38-2 TMCC 299 18 LiveriesInterlocking Tower 3 x 6 1/2” 6550,000 Gal Water Tower 13”H 109Watchman’s Tower 6”H 58New Haven I-5 TMCC/EOB 1049O-54, 24” L, Script or BlockDiesel Locomotive 2R 239 Cmd 309Pullman-Bradley 4/ 415 6/ 615NH Green,Rolling Stock 2 or 3-RailPlastic Truck 28 Die-Cast Truck 3740’ Fish Belly Flat Car50’ Flat Car 50’ Plug Door40’ Plug Door 40’ PS-1 BoxSteel Side Box 40’ Steel Dbl Door40’ Express Box Outside Braced Box40’ Stock Car 2-Bay Ribbed2-Bay Offset 2-Bay Composite3-Bay Offset 4-Bay High Side9-Pannel PS-2 CD GrainPS-2 Cov’d Hopper 4-Bay Centerflow50’ Flat w/Stakes 31 DC 4150’ Flat w/ Resin Loads 38 DC 47Army (2), NH, Rut, B&M, GN, WM, NP,Rdg, N&W 4 Load types50’ Flat w/ 20” Containers 34 DC 4450’Flat w/ Army Load 38 DC 47Wood Side Reefer 29 DC 38 REA,CO. Midland, Wescott, Iowa, White Rock,Hofbrau, Steinlager, OBC, Murphy’s,Margarita, Donuts, Quinn’s Wachusett40’ or 50’ Tank 32 DC 4157’ Mechanical Reefer 33 DC 40ordernow@justrains.com

Buy–Sell–Trade EventsBuy-Sell-Trade ads are $5 for 30 words plus your address information. Additional words are $0.25 each. Subscribers are permitted onefree ad per subscription cycle . All B-S-T ads are prepaid. You may send ads by postal service with a check or money order. Ads sent byemail or called in must use a credit card. See our contact info on page 2.FREE O SCALE LIST: List ofO Scale shows for 2007-2008.Send LSSAE to Bob Retallack,Dept. OST07, 2224 Adner Ct,Columbus, OH 43220.VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS.Area’s neatest hobby store from Zto O, new and used. Visit Dave’sHobby Shop at 600 Main St. inthe Anhauser Busch Building oronline at [www.daveswebshop.com], 479-471-0750.LAYOUT FINISHING SERVICES:Experienced modeler with 40+years experience will enhanceyour scenery and structures onyour layout, from new constructionNovember 20073: Kirtland, Ohio2-Rail Train Meet of the WesternReserve dedicated to the memoryof Gil Stovicek. Two-rail onlymeet (no tinplate, Hi-Rail or otherscales allowed). Located at theLakeland Community College, 7700Clocktower Dr., Kirtland OH 44094.Admission $6, under 12 free. Showhours from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Sixfoot vendor tables are $37. Vendorentry Friday 2:00 PM and Saturday7:00 AM. Not affiliated with theformer Western Reserve O ScaleCommittee. Contact Bob Frieden,440-256-8141. No passes acceptedat this meet. Note: Out of towners callfor special room rates!10: Harvey, LASoutheast Louisiana O Scale Clubmodel train show, open 10 AM to5 PM. Admission: $1 per person,$3 per family. O Scale (2-rail), HOScale, N Scale, Lionel. Held at St.Mark’s Church, 3245 ManhattanBlvd., Harvey, LA 70058. Call for info:(504) 341-5081. Contact jgpayne@bellsouth.net10-11: Ft Worth, Texas22nd Annual Ft. Worth Train Show.Sat. 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Sun.68 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07to renovation of your existing layout.Portfolio/references available onrequest. Bonded. Serving theNortheast. John Schaub, RailroadModel Scenery Studios. Email-[railroadmodelscenery@yahoo.com], phone: 516-946-6880.WANTED: JOE FISCHERpassenger and headend cars. PSCand Amer. Hvywt 10 sec. Pullmans.Walther Erie coach, RTR only.ATSF double vestibule combine,kit or RTR. What have you? Mailonly please. Jim Seacrest, PO Box6397, Lincoln, NE 68506-0397.FOR SALE: 2 Atlas Erie-builts,F/P NYC w/TMCC, $275 each;10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Admission: $7per person, children under 12 free.Featuring O Scale modular layouts,Lionel, MTH, and other O Scale andHi-Rail vendors, literature, tools,modeling supplies and more. Held inthe Amon G Carter Exhibits building,Will Rogers Memorial Center, 1 AmonSqr., Ft. Worth, TX 76107. Contact BartBartholomew, 972-733-4998. Contactbbbart@sbcglobal.netWeekends from 11/23 to 12/9:North Haledon, NJModel Engineers RR Club of NorthJersey Annual Open House. November23 - 25, November 30 - December2, and December 7 - 9; at 569 HighMountain Road, North Haledon, NewJersey 07508; Fridays 7:00 - 10:00 PM;Saturdays and Sundays 2:00 - 5:00PM. Admission $4.00, children freewith adult. Contacts: Paul Harbord(973) 427-4905 before 9:00 PM, email[pharbord@optonline.net], online[www.angelfire.com/nj4/merrcnj]January 200819-20: Plano, Texas23rd Annual Dallas area train show atthe Plano Center, 2000 E Spring CreekParkway. Sat.: 10 AM to 5 PM; Sun.:10 AM to 4 PM. Admission: $7 perperson, children under 12 free. ContactOverland B&O 2-10-2 F/P, DCC,$950; Sunset D&RGW 4-6-6-4 F/P,$850; PSC PRR K-4, F/P, $1100;Overland FT A-B F/P B&O, $1300;CLW U25b C/P NYC, DCC, $375;Weaver VO1000 F/P NYC, TMCC,$250. Phone 423-772-4401, NormReaume, 129 Hamby Rd, Roan Mt,TN 37687-0004.WANTED: WALTHERS O SCALEpassenger cars, built with trucksand couplers. Especially looking forSanta Fe cars. J P Yancy, PO Box1004, Newport News, VA 23601-1004.bbbart@sbcglobal.netJuly 200823-26: Worcester, Mass.The 2008 National O Scale Conventionwill be held at the DCU Center inWorcester, Massachusetts. The DCUcenter will provide us with over 50,000square feet of exhibition space. In thislarge area we plan to have a largeamount of dealer tables, wider islespacing and many operating layoutsincluding the Southern New Englandmodular layout that measures 27’x 81’. The DCU center is located indowntown Worcester about 2 blocksfrom the newly renovated UnionStation. Click on the Union Stationlink to see more about the station.One of the Providence and Worcestermain lines runs across the streetfrom the front of the DCU Center. Anall-day rail fan trip is in the planningfor conventioneers on Wednesday7/23/08. More info to come.

2008 O Scale Conv. 65AAA Turntables 40Allegheny Scale Models 41AM Hobbies 46AMS/Accucraft 48American Model Builders 46Arttista 48Babbitt Railway Supply Co 40Bachmann 8Baldwin Forge & Machine 24Banta Modelworks 30Brummy’s Ballast 24BTS 22Buffalo Creek Graphics 30Caboose Hobbies 30Crusader Rail Services 24Custom Signals 65Deichman’s Depot 49DM&M Railroad Co. 49Golden Gate Depot IFCHackworth Model Trains 35House of Duddy 33Hundman Publishing 42Irish Tracklayer 42JAK Tool 27JD’s Trains 28Just Trains 66,67Key Imports 40LaBelle Woodworking Co. 38Mesa Models 50Model Building Services 24ModelCrafters 16Model Tech 40MRC 33M.T.H. Electric Trains IBCMullett River 30NCE Corp 35Norm’s O Scale 17Public Delivery Track 38QSI Solutions 42Raggs to Riches 61Rail Dreams 46Railroad Collectibles 47Rails Unlimited 24RCS of NE 24San Juan Car Co. 28Scenic Express 17SMARTT 50St. Charles Model Works 24Steam Era Structures 9Stevenson Preservation Lines 24Sumpter Valley Depot 38Suncoast Models 24Sunset⁄3rd RailBCToys for Collectors 28Turner Model Works 24Twin Whistle Sign & Kit 40Advertisers IndexEagles Nest Miniatures 27O Scale Realty 40Valley Model Trains 38East Gary Car Co. 24Old Pullman 48Weaver 7Evans Design 14PA Heritage Models 17Western Reserve O Meet 32Get Real Productions 69P&D Hobby Shop 10Nov/Dec ’07- O Scale Trains • 69

Using the Internet as a Research ToolI had one devil of a time finding prototype information inorder to do the reviews on the Sunset PRR 01a and the SouthernPacific caboose.When I first started seriously modeling, it was in HO Scaleand living on the Main Line (the suburban Philadelphia area,not the PRR right-of-way) I, naturally, modeled the PRR. Thatmeant collecting lots of information, mostly in books. In addition,I am a huge fan of steam and will collect any info on anysteam locomotive. I saw PRR GG1s, E33s, E44s and even a P5in-service while in college, but I was never much for electrics.So, when it came time to review the O1s, I had to look outsidemy own library for a dimensioned diagram.The first thing I always do when looking for reference materialis search the Model Railroader All-Time Periodical Indexat [index.mrmag.com]. If there was an article about the O1s inthe Model Railroader, then I will have it since my collection ofMR is complete. If it’s in another magazine, I might have it aswell. No hits for the keywords PRR and O1 in any publication.Enter the Internet, or more precisely Google. I almostalways start my searches at Google. They are just the best atindexing web sites. The trick to using Google and other searchsites is in knowing how to ask what you are looking for. Istarted my search by being specific. I asked for “PRR O1”. Thequotes are important. They mean that I want Google to giveme sites that contain that phrase exactly as written. Withoutthe quotes I would get hits for sites that mention both PRR andthe phrase O1, which could have nothing to do with the locomotiveI was looking for.Google came back with 95 hits for the phrase. That is anabsurdly low number for a Google search so you know thesubject matter is “rare”.The first hit was a Wikipedia reference. As a rule of thumb,stay away from Wikipedia as a source reference. Wikipedia isan online information source that can be written and editedby anyone. More often than not, that information is incorrector very biased. As it turned out, many of the 95 hits were simplylinks back to the Wikipedia reference. Not a one of thosehits led me to a diagram.For my next search, I opened up the search area by lookingfor “PRR Electric”. Bingo! The second hit was titled PRR ElectricLocomotive Diagrams. I clicked on the link, scrolled downthe page and there was a scan of a PRR O1 diagram. Armedwith that diagram and the information in both of Al Staufer’sPRR books, I was able to do the model review.The SP caboose proved to be more difficult. I am not now,nor have I ever been, a fan of the Southern Pacific (and Idon’t mean that in any negative context). I simply have zeroinformation at my fingertips about the SP, other than whateversteam locomotive diagrams are in the cyclopedias in mylibrary. So, back to the MR Index and I type in “SP caboose”. I70 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’07get three hits for MR and a total of 25 hits for all pubs indexedbut I don’t have any other than the MR articlesBack to Google and “SP Caboose”. In return I get almost800 hits, most of which are about a new caboose from Walthersand the Sunset caboose I am trying to review. I keeplooking at site after site and I trip over a clue. At one website itis mentioned that the SP 30-C-1 caboose was based on the SPclass CA wood caboose. A bell rings in my head. One of thehits at the MR Index was an article about scratchbuilding anSP CA caboose. When I pull the article, there are HO Scaleplans with prototype dimensions. Woohoo! Now I could dothe review.As you will see when reading my review, this wasn’t thebest of all worlds as source material for the review, but theprocess made me think of how impossible it would have beenten years ago to do this kind of research using the Internet.There is an amazing amount of information and data out onthe net, and it behooves you to learn how to find it. You canstart by going to Google “Help” [www.google.com/help/basics.html] and learning how to search.I am amazed at how often someone will post to a mailinglist or BBS, “How do I find XYZ Company” or “How doI contact Joe Blow?” when all they had to do was go to Ask.com and type in that exact phrase. I queried Ask.com usingmy name and Walthers. For my name, the correct contactlink was the second hit on the page. For Walthers, it was thefourth. The answer you seek is probably out there, you justgotta know how to ask the right questions.2007 O Scale National ConventionWell, the 2007 O Scale National is over and I wish I could sayit went smoothly but it did not start that way. We had major logisticalproblems with the hotel. They booked two additional eventson top of the O Scale Convention and, as a result, we were shorton clinic space and vendors could not get into the selling halls toset up until Friday morning. There was also an equipment issue forsome clinicians and I take full responsibility for that. Other thanthat, it was a great Convention!This was the 39th O Scale National and it broke all previousrecords for attendance. Over 1400 people came throughthe doors. There were over 300 selling tables and we had 176people at the awards banquet on Friday evening. As I was partof the Convention management staff, I did not get as manyphotos or details as I would have liked, but I will do my besthere to fill in some of the details.The model contest had 26 entries. I took photos of what Ithought were the most interesting models but I was not able toget the names of the modelers. If you see your model in thisissue (Photos start on page 56, please contact me to let meknow who you are. As for awards, models were judges by popularvote. The results were: Second Runner Up – Tony Michel forcontinued on page 61

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