I've read that the USRA 0-6-0 was a switcher. I'm not just sure if it was used in the mainline, at least for short hauls. Was the USRA 0-6-0 used in the mainline for freight or passenger service when speed was not important?

Found this link on the net ...... Shows you how to use the Quilter's Magic Seamer for marking out where to cut cork underlay.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://tinyurl.com/p8uova">http://tinyurl.com/p8uova</a><!-- m -->

Hi All,

When i do a DCC install on a loco a piece of kapton tape across the top of the chassis to either side makes a good hold for wires as you progress, thread each wire through neatly after lifting the edge of the tape with a toothpick and lay the wires inline and flat ..... makes for a lot neater job and in the future the wiring can be traced easily should problems occur.

I'm planning to make a portable test track. I'll be just using straight tracks, perhaps 2 or 3 9 inchers. I'm a bit clueless on how to power the track. Will an ordinary 9V battery suffice?

What is the minimum radius requirement for a Bachmann 4-8-4?

Also, what is this Bachmann "smoke liquid?" Is there a substitute for that?

I see as in most forums most member's have a personal Avatar above their user ID , on looking through the user control panel I'm finding no option listed to do this.
Is there maybe a minimum post number that must be met or did I just miss something....

Who is the most famous of all former Illinois Central employees?

Hi guys,

I am offering my entire, well almost my entire collection of rolling stock. its about 80% of what i have. Most prices are 25-30% off retail, some of them have been since discontinued and are hard to find. Pictures are available upon request of specific items. Well here is the list, the stuff that is left after 1 week (7 days) will hit ebay. I just thought i would offer this stuff to you guys first. Gauge Members will receive an additional 10% discount off the total sale.


Walthers Rolling Stock

Tank Cars:

1. ULTX 16,000 Gallon Funnel Flow Tank Car 2-Pk. - ADM Corn Syrup (#'s 158829, 15974) Kadee #5's equipped. Walthers part number: 932-27217 $29.98

2. ULTX 23,000 Gallon Funnel Flow Tank Car 2-Pk. - ADM (#'s 25703, 25666) Kadee #5's equipped. Walthers part number: 932-27266 $31.98

3. ULTX 23,000 Gallon Funnel Flow Tank Car 2-Pk. - Cargill (CRGX) (#'s 7136, 7062) Kadee #5's equipped. Walthers part number: 932-27268 $31.98

4. ULTX 16,000 Gallon Funnel Flow Tank Car - Hubinger ULTX (#65685). Kadee #5's Equipped. Walthers part number: 932-7222 $19.98

5. ULTX 16,000 Gallon Funnel Flow Tank Car - Thiele (#24916). Kadee #5's and metal wheels Equipped. Walthers part number: 932-7215 $17.98

6. ULTX 16,000 Gallon Funnel Flow Tank Car - MCP-DMIX (#190087). Kadee #5's Equipped. Walthers part number: 932-7219 $15.98

7. ULTX 16,000 Gallon Funnel Flow Tank Car - Amaizo (#66870). Kadee #5's Equipped. Walthers part number: 932-7226 $18.98

8. ULTX 16,000 Gallon Funnel Flow Tank Car - ADM Corn Syrup (#15818). Kadee #5's Equipped. Walthers part number: 932-7223 $19.98

9. ULTX 23,000 Gallon Funnel Flow Tank Car - HPLX (Exxon) (#355084) Kadee #5's and metal wheels Equipped. Walthers part number: 932-7253 $17.98

10. Total of 5 Walthers Tank Car Kits. 3 ADM 54' Funnel Flow Tank Cars (#'s 25262, 25400, 25389), 2 Cargill Tank Cars, 1 54' Funel Flow Tank Car (#7292), 1 16,000 gallon funnel flow tank car (#5576). All need work done to them, 4 of 5 equipped with Kadee #5's, all parts to complete the cars appear to be supplied in the boxes. will be shipped in 3 separate boxes. $25.00


Intermodal Well Cars:

1. RTR NSC 53' Well Car 3-Pack - TTX (DTTX #'s 655002, 655215, 655134) Kadee #5's Equipped. Walthers part number: 932-33945 $31.00

2. RTR NSC 3-Unit 53' Well Car - TTX (DTTX #620643) Kadee #5's Equipped. Walthers part number: 932-3943 $37.00

3. Gold Line NSC 3-Unit 53' Well Car - TTX (DTTX #620646) Kadee #5's Equipped. Walthers part number: 932-3950 $37.00

4. Gold Line NSC 3-Unit 53' Well Car - TTX (DTTX #620549) Kadee #5's Equipped, set is weathered. Walthers part number: 932-3941 $42.00

5. RTR NSC 3-Unit 53' Well Car - TTX (DTTX #620643) Kadee #5's Equipped, set is weathered. Walthers part number: 932-3943 $42.00

6. Gold Line NSC 3-Unit 53' Well Car - TTX (DTTX #620646) Kadee #5's Equipped, set is weathered. Walthers part number: 932-3950 $42.00


100-Ton Hoppers

1. Greenville 100-Ton Twin Hopper 2-Pk - Golden West/SP Patch (# 465115). Kadee #5's Equipped. Car also has a custom made gravel load, load was made by Motrak Models. Walthers part number: 932-27414 $20.00


Coal Hoppers

1. Gold Line Bethlehem 4000 Cu. Ft. 3-Bay 100-Ton Coal Hopper 6-Pk. - BNSF (#'s 645902, 645951, 646023, 646369, 646218, 646160). Kadee #5's Equipped. These cars also have custom made coal loads, loads were made by Motrak Models. Walthers part number: 932-7863 $74.98


Roundhouse Kits

Tank Cars:

1. ULTX Corn Sweeteners 50' Tank Car (#72483). Equipped with Kadee #5's. $6.00

2. ULTX Corn Sweeteners 50' Tank Car (#72483). Equipped with Kadee #5's. $6.00


Covered Hoppers:

1. 50' FMC Covered Hopper - CNW (Yellow) (#178688) - Assembled, weathered with paint and letter fading, Kadee #5 Couplers. $8.98

2. 50' FMC Covered Hopper - CNW (Green) (#178600) - Assembled, weathered with paint and letter fading, Kadee #5 Couplers. $8.98

3. 50' FMC Covered Hopper - CNW (Yellow) (#178606) - Assembled; knuckle couplers. $7.00

4. 50' FMC Covered Hopper - Arthur Farms (Yellow) (#106) - Assembled; knuckle couplers. $7.00



Boxcars:

1. 50'FMC Plug Dr. Boxcar - BNSF (SF Logo) (#713089) - Assembled with Knuckle Couplers - $7.00



Bowser Rolling Stock

Hoppers:

1. 100-Ton 45' 3-Bay Hopper - BNSF (#616406) - Knuckle Couplers, Car also has custom made gravel load, load was made by Motrak Models. - Walthers Item # 6-55162 $11.95

2. 100-Ton 45' 3-Bay Hopper - BN (#563014) - Knuckle Couplers, Car also has custom made gravel load, load was made by Motrak Models. - Walthers Item # 6-55161 $11.95

3. 100-Ton 45' 3-Bay Hopper - CNW (#135723) - Knuckle Couplers, Car also has custom made gravel load, load was made by Motrak Models. - Black with white lettering and small white CNW logo right side $11.95



Accurail Rolling Stock

Covered Hoppers:

1. ACF 3-Bay Covered Hopper - BNSF (Green) - Assembled; Original Knuckle Couplers - Walthers Part #112-2048 - $9.98

2. ACF 3-Bay Covered Hopper - BNSF (Mineral Red) - Assembled; Original Knuckle Couplers - Walthers Part #112-2049 - $9.98



Athearn Rolling Stock

Blue Box Kits

54' Covered Hoppers:

1. 54' Covered Hopper - BNSF (Green) (#434235) - Assembled; Knuckle Couplers. Athearn Part #ATH5314 $7.00

2. 54' Covered Hopper - Santa Fe (Oxide Red) (#309696) - Assembled; Knuckle Couplers. Athearn Part #ATH5301 $7.00

3. 54' Covered Hopper - Cargill (#7415) - Assembled; Knuckle Couplers. Athearn Part #ATH5303 $7.00

4. 54' Covered Hopper - CO-OP (#7635) - Assembled; Knuckle Couplers. Athearn Part #ATH5303 $7.00

5. 54' Covered Hopper - CO-OP (#7635) - Assembled; Knuckle Couplers. Athearn Part #ATH5303 $7.00

6. 54' Covered Hopper - CO-OP (#7635) - Assembled; Knuckle Couplers. Athearn Part #ATH5303 $7.00

7. 54' Covered Hopper - CO-OP (#7635) - Assembled; Knuckle Couplers. Athearn Part #ATH5303 $7.00

8. 54' Covered Hopper - CNW (#174342) - Assembled; Knuckle Couplers, weathered. $8.00 (no box)

Flat Cars:

1. 60' Flat Car - MP (#819738) - Assembled with Kadee #5 Couplers $7.00 (no box)


55' ACF Centerflow Covered Hoppers:

1. 55' ACF Centerflow Covered Hopper - BNSF (Green) (#421649) - Assembled and weathered with knuckle couplers - Athearn Part #ATH1941 $10.50

2. 55' ACF Centerflow Covered Hopper - CNW (Green) (#172433) - Assembled with knuckle couplers - Athearn Part #ATH2907H $7.00

3. 55' ACF Centerflow Covered Hopper - ADM (Blue) (#85033) - Assembled with knuckle couplers - Athearn Part #ATH1926 $7.00

4. 55' ACF Centerflow Covered Hopper - Santa Fe (Mineral Red) (#307136) - Assembled and weathered with knuckle couplers - Athearn Part #ATH1915 $10.50

5. 55' ACF Centerflow Covered Hopper - Santa Fe (Mineral Red) (#307136) - Assembled with Kadee #5 couplers and metal wheels - Athearn Part #ATH1915 $9.00 (no box)


Mechanical Reeferes:

1. 50' Mechanical Reefer - GN (#8813) - Assembled with knuckle couplers - $6.00


Boxcars:

1. 50' Boxcar - CSX (#138319) - Assembled and weathered with paint and letter fading, Kadee #5 couplers $8.00

2. 50' Boxcar - BN (#219378) - Assembled and weathered, Kadee #5 couplers $8.00

3. 50' Boxcar - Green Bay & Western (#7108) - Assembled with knuckle couplers and metal wheels $8.00

4. 50' Boxcar - Green Bay & Western (#7108) - Assembled with knuckle couplers and metal wheels $8.00

5. 50' Boxcar - Ashley, Drew & Northern (#8204) - Assembled with knuckle couplers and metal wheels $8.00


Gondolas:


1. 50' Gondola - BNSF (Mineral Red) (#511175) - Assembled with Kadee #5 couplers. Unit is also weathered and has a custom large pipe load $9.00

2. 50' Gondola - CNW (#89058) - Assembled with knuckle couplers. Unit has also been weathered $8.00



RTR Rolling Stock

54' Covered Hoppers

1. 54' PS Covered Hopper - MKT(#4397) - Metal Wheels and Knuckle Couplers - Athearn Part #ATH7165 $11.25

2. 55' ACF Centerflow Covered Hopper - KODAK (ACFX) (#54032) - Metal Wheels and Knuckle Couplers - Athearn Part #ATH7209 $13.00

3. 55' ACF Centerflow Covered Hopper - KODAK (ACFX) (#54030) - Metal Wheels and Knuckle Couplers - Athearn Part #ATH7208 $13.00


Boxcars

1. 50' Double-Plug Door Boxcar - UP (#451330) - Metal Wheels and Knuckle Couplers - Athearn Part #ATH91361 $13.00

2. 50' PD Superior Boxcar - D&RGW (#61416) - Metal Wheels and Knuckle Couplers - Athearn Part #ATH91304 $13.00

3. 50' DD Boxcar - Camino Placerville & Lake Tahoe (CPLT) (#7705) - Metal Wheels and Knuckle Couplers - Athearn Part #ATH92303 $13.00

4. 50' PD Superior Boxcar - BN (#748866) - Metal Wheels and Knuckle Couplers - Athearn Part #ATH91301 $13.00

5. 50' PD Youngstown Boxcar - UP (#499427) - Metal Wheels and Knuckle Couplers - Athearn Part #ATH91267 $13.00

6. 50' FMC Boxcar - Toledo, Peoria & Western (TPW) (#70142) - Metal Wheels and Knuckle Couplers - Athearn Part #ATH91416 $13.00

7. 50' Combination Door Boxcar - UP (#163536) - Metal Wheels and Knuckle Couplers - Athearn Part #ATH91224 $13.00

8. 50' PD Superior Boxcar - FGE "Solid Gold" (#403095) - Metal Wheels and Knuckle Couplers - Athearn Part #ATH91316 $13.00

9. 50' PD Youngstown Boxcar - UP (#499218) - Metal Wheels and Knuckle Couplers - Athearn Part #ATH91256 $13.00

10. 50' Double-Plug Door Boxcar - CNW (#600532) - Metal Wheels and Knuckle Couplers - Athearn Part #ATH91354 $13.00

11. 50' PS 5344 Boxcar - CNW (#718355) - Metal Wheels and Knuckle Couplers - Athearn Part #ATH7171 $13.00

12. 50' PD Youngstown Boxcar - BN (#64251) - Metal Wheels and Knuckle Couplers - $13.00


LBF Company

Box Car Kits

1. 52' ACF Boxcar - BN (#321655) - Kit $8.50

2. 50' High-Cube Boxcar - UMP (#570212) - Kit $8.50

3. 50' High-Cube Boxcar - UMP (#570202) - Kit $8.50

4. 52' ACF Boxcar - UP (#553190) - Assembled with Metal Wheels and Kadee #5 Couplers $10.00

5. 52' ACF Boxcar - UP (#553190) - Assembled with Metal Wheels and Kadee #5 Couplers $10.00


E&C Shops

Boxcar Kits

6. 50' High-Cube Boxcar - SP (#286001) - Assembled with Metal Wheels and Kadee #5 Couplers $10.00

7. 50' High-Cube Boxcar - UP (#517584) - Assembled with Metal Wheels and Kadee #5 Couplers $10.00


Gondolas:

1. 52'6" Mill Gondola - MP (#951179) - Assembled with knuckle couplers $8.50




----TERMS OF SALE------

1. Payment by PayPal (Preferred), money order or personal check (held till clears my bank).
2. If sending payment by check or money order, payment must be made within 7 days of the shipping quote, if any longer, you will forfeit your items and they will be listed for sale again.
3. Shipping By USPS Priority Mail or Parcel Post, whichever you prefer.
4. Combined shipping is always offered, Shipping calculated by final weight of package, from zip code 92688.
5. I can be reached by email @ <!-- e --><a href="mailtoteelmillmodeler@aol.com">steelmillmodeler@aol.com</a><!-- e --> or if you would like to talk by telephone, PM me and i will give you a number at which i can be reached.
6. Pictures available upon request, all items are used but in great condition, having never been physically ran in a train, due to the fact that i have never had a running layout lol
7. Gauge Members will receive an additional 10% off of the final sale.

Hi, I'd like to solicit thoughts on an area of my layout. I have a thread on the HO board about my engine servicing facility. But I thought I'd get more views here. I have a situation where the upper level of my layout enters a helix to descend. I do not want the helix to be noticed. I have a turntable/roundhouse above and inside the helix. The mainline will go beneath an office bldg, never to be seen again. However, the arraingement of the walls of said office bldg are where I'm looking for help. I wish to keep certain sight lines and at the same time, create a nicely composed scene for photographing. Below are some pics of a crudely put together cardboard mockup and some comments on them:

   

This shot shows the scene I wish to be able to still see. The front of the roundhouse and a shed next to it. You see the 2 tracks which pass beneath the bldg in the foreground. The wall behind these tracks conceals a switch machine which can not be placed beneath the roadbed as it would interfere with helix track. You can see if I add one floor above this, my view is obstructed. The floor which would be added happens to be the main floor, and you see its height just to the left.

   

Taken from a different angle, you get a better idea of what things look like. You see that I have proposed the rear wall of the main floor has three sections, with two setbacks, if that is a proper term. And what i wind up with is a flat surface over the section of the bldg concelaing the switch machine. First question: What can i use this area for? You can barely see in this photo that I have a lower dock area for the truck in the pic to unload onto, and it matched the height of the passenger car door. A better view of this will follow.

My apologies if someone else has already posted this link here, as I'm not usually a fan of videos, and seldom view them. I generally prefer a still picture that can be perused at my leisure. However, my brother sent me the link, and I must say, this layout is certainly an impressive accomplishment.

Wayne