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O
MAGAZINE
Scale
Trains
Celebrating
the art of
1:48 modeling
Nov/Dec 2009 u Issue #47
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Display until December 31, 2009

Celebrating
the art of
1:48 modeling
Issue #47
Nov/Dec 2009
Ted Byrne
Carey Hinch
Vol. 8 - No. 6
Editor-in-Chief/Publisher
Joe Giannovario
jag@oscalemag.com
Art Director
Jaini Giannovario
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Managing Editor
Mike Cougill
editor@oscalemag.com
Advertising Manager
Jeb Kriigel
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Customer
Service
Spike Beagle
Complaints
L’il Bear
Contributors
Gene Clements
Roger C. Parker
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O Scale Trains Magazine, ISSN 1536-9528, USPS 24457, is
published bi-monthly in January, March, May, July, September
and November by OST Magazine, PO Box 289, Exton
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Cover: NP Yellowstone 2-8-8-4 #5005 emerges out of Mullan
tunnel blasting its way up Mullan Pass west of Missoula MT. The
NP claimed these locomotives would pull anything up this hill the
drawbars could hold. The scene is on Duane Danielson’s O Scale
layout.
Centerspread: A four unit hook up of Z-1 class GN electrics pulls a
drag freight up the Cascades between Skykomish and Wenatchee
WA. With a combined tractive effort of 144,000 pounds, these
“motors” were as powerful as the massive GN R-2 class 2-8-8-4 articulateds.
Another scene from Duane Danielson’s O Scale layout.
O Scale
Trains
Features
4 The NP/GN Mountain Divisions — Duane Danielson
Big-time mountain railroading in Colorado.
12 Double-Truck Double-Brush Trolley Sweeper — Bill Brandt
Combining ideas from past issues results in a neat operating model.
17 Pre-Ballast Track Before Spiking Rail — Russ Briggs
Save time and effort with this innovative method.
21 Replacing Atlas O Couplers — Bob Anthonyson
It’s not as difficult as you might think.
23 Basic Scratchbuilding Skills: Parts & Material Layout — Mike Cougill
Good models start with good foundations. Learn how to do it right.
27 Edge-of-the-Layout Switch Machine Installation — Charlie Morrill
They’re easier to install and service.
30 A Simple Timber Loading Dock — L. Lee Davis
This item will fit on any layout.
37 Scratch ’n Bash An O Scale Caboose — Tom Houle
Need a specific caboose but can’t buy it? Try this method to build it.
49 PoweringUp: Crossing Gate Control — Ted Byrne
A simple relay circuit mimics real world action.
51 Rutland Railroad Ice House — Harold Russell
This unusually small ice house is perfect for any small space.
56 2010 O Scale National Introduction — Rod Miller, Chairman
Departments
9 The Art of Finescale – Mike Cougill
11 The Modern Image – Gene Clements
15 Reader Feedback
35 Traction Action – Martin Brechbiel
45 Product News & Reviews
54 Modeler’s Showcase
60 Buy-Sell-Trade Ads
60 Events Listing
61 Advertiser Index
62 Observations – Joe Giannovario
MAGAZINE
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 3

The NP/GN Mountain Divisions
Text and photos by Duane Danielson
Cover & center photos by Randy Linblad
My history of railroad interests stem from my retired
grandfather (a 50 year veteran as section foreman on the
Northern Pacific). When I was five years old he took me up
in the cab of a NP W-3 class Mikado and let me blow the
whistle and ring the bell. From that time on I was hooked
on model railroading. I can remember that day as if it was
yesterday.
After several years of On3 modeling and building an
almost complete layout of the Rio Grande Southern, I
became burnt out and decided to go back to modeling my
grandfather’s railroad - the NP and its cousin, the Great
Northern. I have always been a fan of mountain railroading;
so I decided to model the western Montana to eastern
Washington area. We had just finished building a new home
and the layout’s size was determined by the basement. I
ended up with 86 x 45 ft. L shaped layout with the small leg
of the L at 22 ft.
Design
The first phase was to design a layout that would take
advantage of the room’s size yet not put so much trackage
in that it would become spaghetti central. I wanted a
hidden storage yard and a large visible yard that could be
viewed close up and a major passenger terminal. Mountain
grades would be no more than 1-1/2 % and the mountain
area would feature catenary for my GN electric locomotives.
The hidden staging yard would receive and send out
trains over the entire railroad. It could hold 18 trains, with
approximately 650 cars. The visible yard would be based on
Livingston MT and feature a 16 stall roundhouse, boiler shop
and blacksmith shop. The main feature of the layout would
be a scale model of the Livingston depot, almost 10 ft long.
4 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09
After deciding on a track design, I built a 1/4” scale model of
the track plan. The room walls and floor were made of foam board
and then the track was cut out from the blueprint and also pasted
on foam board. Little foam bents were placed under the track to
provide a look at the elevation changes on the layout. I added clay
alongside the tracks to simulate the mountain terrain. This proved
very helpful in correcting mistakes both in the track plan and in the
scenery phase of the layout. I would strongly suggest that if one is
building a large layout, making a model really helps.
Construction
I installed all the benchwork before I laid any tracks to make
sure they would fit in the given space. Because of the mixed type
of terrain I was modeling, I did not go with the common L girder
system. For example, in the mountainous area I didn’t really
think I gained that much flexibility with the L girder system and
all the extra work of building the girders wouldn’t have paid off.
I did make the benchwork in segments no longer than 10 ft. and
then screwed them together so that one could disassemble the
layout. I have two 3 ft. doors leading into the layout room, so any
segment can be moved without problems. Yes, cutting the wiring
between segments would be a mounting task but at least it
would be possible.
My track is Code 125 and Code 100 flextrack. My research on
the two railroads found that during and shortly after the WW II
era I am modeling, the NP and GN used 95 lb. rail on the mainline
and 75 lb. rail in the yards and branchlines. Old Pullman has
very good Code 125 flextrack and House of Duddy makes Code
100 flextrack. I used flextrack rather than laying my own since
I had over 1100 ft. of mainline and more than that in yards and
branches. The switches all came from Old Pullman. They are
already laid on weathered ties and look very realistic. In order to

control the switches, I
used the Switchmaster
motors by Builders in
Scale. I see many advantages
in them. They are
easy to install; you can
add as many electrical
contacts as needed to
control points, LEDs
back on the panel,
computer control, etc.
The motors use 3 volts
on a permanent stall,
which applies more
than enough constant
thrust on the switch
points. I use a power
supply with a common
center tap. That way the
wiring is much easier.
The common center
tap is daisy chained to
all switch motors and
the plus and minus on the panel to the
outer legs of a SPDT toggle with the
center pole going to the switch. All of the
switches on the panel are daisy chained
in the same way. Only the center pole
goes to each switch machine. The system
works flawlessly and I have almost 150
turnouts working at this time.
Lighting
Gerry Cornwell, a commercial lighting
expert and a close friend of mine,
helped design the fluorescent lighting in
the layout room. It is a combination of
5000° and 6000° Kelvin lights on separate
circuits placed in 2 x 4 ft fixtures in
a drop ceiling.
Control System
I have a conventional block system
for my railroad. DC powered. Every time
I laid a track I had the power on in the
block and if I got a short, the meter on
the panel showed it immediately. In that
way, I did not have to debug shorts afterwards.
I use four Polk 5 amp RC throttles
to control the layout. A unique switch I
found on the Internet routes the correct
power pack to each of the 19 blocks,
with more to be added. It is made by
EAO International [www.eao.com/global/
en/products/product_search.asp], a
Swiss manufacturer. It is called a 5 gang,
illuminated, mechanical, interlocking
push button switch. They can be ordered
with as many pushbuttons as you desire
(matching the number of your cabs) plus
one for the off position. You can order
the pushbuttons any color (they are simply
colored caps); so I got them in red,
blue, yellow, green, and white. Each RC
handheld throttle was colored accordingly.
Thus, if you wanted to have the red
throttle active in a block on the railroad,
you simply pushed the red button on the
switch. If the green button was active
and illuminated, pushing the red button
cancelled it out and the red button
was now illuminated and powered to
the block. The white button is for an off
position in the block.
Scenery
After the track was in and trains ran
without derailments, I started on the
scenery. Since my railroad was designed
to be in the high mountains of Montana
to eastern Washington, I had to have a
fast way to make lots of mountainous terrain.
After much debate, I settled on Joel
Bragdon’s method of geodesic foam for
my mountains. There was a small learning
curve involved, but the effort paid
off in that the terrain on the layout looks
real, goes up fast, and has no mess in the
house. I would never go back to the plaster
technique again. The cost is a little
more, but the savings in time and with
no mess completely overshadows all the
old methods. One can make changes
with the foam method very easily and
that cannot be said with the old plaster
techniques.
Rather than have to paint 262 ft. of
backdrop along the walls of the layout,
I chose to go with wallpaper that had
printed mountains made from actual
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 5

A Great Northern freight led by 2-10-2 #2129 exits a tunnel in the high mountain country of western Montana.
A double headed GN freight rolls across one of the many high trestles common to the western portion of the line.
A GN yard goat rolls a block of reefers past the icing platforms near the yard in Livingston.
A Mike takes on coal at the dock in Livingston.
6 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09
pictures. I used a company called
Backdrop Warehouse. I printed out
the catalog pages of the mountain
backdrops I wanted and converted
them via Photoshop into 1/4” scale,
cut them out, and pasted them on
the model of the layout I had made.
In doing this, I was able to show to
the best advantage some of the snow
capped mountain peaks and incorporate
them into the layout. The cost for
the backdrops was about 1/10 of what
an artist would have charged. They
have a huge assortment of mountain
scenes that are 3 ft. high x 10 ft. long
and most of them are continuous so
that the backdrop keeps flowing as if
you are looking at a 360 degree view.
In order to get 262 lineal ft. of continuous
mountains, they had to computer
“stitch” some of the scenes together.
You cannot tell where they did it.
Structures
Since most of my structures were
not offered by any manufacturer, I had
to use other methods to build ones
unique to the NP and GN. The only
exception to this was the roundhouse
that is a modified Korber Models kit.
For all other structures, I received the
original blueprints from the NP Historical
Association. They were very
helpful in my research. It is hard to
believe that most of those blueprints
even exist today. I contracted a professional
model builder, M-Tec Models.
He took the blueprints and entered the
dimensions into a CAD system connected
to a large laser cutter and cut
out all the sides, windows, etc. What
evolved was a custom kit. It would
have taken me years to accomplish the
same effect as I got with M-Tec. The
depot complex took only 3-1/2 months
to build and there are over 2000 parts.
Making the mountains and buildings
has been the real fun part of building
the railroad.
Equipment
My motive power is a combination
of off-the-shelf and custom
models. Many of the NP and GN
engines have never been reproduced.
In order to build them at reasonable
cost, I researched similar models that
were already produced and had a
professional builder just modify them
to an NP or GN model. I was fortunate
enough to get the blueprints of most
the custom engines. I had a friend
take pictures of his HO Scale NP and

The 2129 rides the turntable in front of the roundhouse, made from a Korber kit.
GN engines for those that had no blueprints
available. The cost was considerably
less since we didn’t have to make
a whole new frame, drive shaft, and
gearing. I would guess that the cost of
these conversions is about 1/4 the cost
of a custom engine. My rolling stock is a
combination of kits or pre-built models,
combined with many urethane custom
models put together by professionals
and weathered properly. I have some
brass rolling stock; however the cost
limited my choices, as well as their availability.
Conclusion
I estimate the layout is approximately
50% complete so far. It has been my lifetime
goal to build a model railroad that
one could enjoy and feel that you are
there in the middle of the Rocky Mountains
watching trains go by. Hopefully I
will have achieved this goal when the
layout is complete.
I am constantly asked by visitors,
“When do you plan on being finished?”
My answer is “I am just having fun creating
what I have dreamed about all my
lifetime.” I plan on having annual open
house visitor sessions to feature my layout
in the community I live in. u
The NP Z-3 class 2-8-8-2 is from a Sunset N&W Y-3, 2-8-8-2, which had the same wheel size and total length. The builder
made a new boiler, put the correct appliances on it and built a new tender.
A pair of Great Northern electrics eases their train along deep in the Cascades.
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 7

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GREAT NORTHERN 0-8
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8 • 22 O Scale Beta Trains Court -· Nov/Dec San Ramon, ’09 CA 94583 · 925-820-7701 · fax to 925-820-7709 · www.3rdrail.com

The Art of Finescale
Michael Cougill
Potpourri
Some personal progress on roller bearing trucks
On a whim one evening, I decided to see what I could do
with the sideframes from a pair of Atlas O and Lionel roller
bearing trucks. I’ve settled on Protocraft wheelsets as my standard
on the Indiana & Whitewater and the axles of these fit the
journal bearings on both sideframes nicely, with good rolling
qualities and almost no slop. I proceeded to try a scratchbuilt
bolster to see if it would work and lo and behold, I was on my
way to something good. However, looking through Protocraft’s
online catalog, I noticed their truck bolster and wonder if it
would work too. The critical factor is the width of the opening
in the sideframes. In the steam era, most bolsters were 12
inches in width and this seems to hold true for modern 70 and
100 ton trucks too (although I’m not absolutely certain of this).
Looking at the Atlas and Lionel sideframes, their openings are
more like 15” wide. I found two prototype truck manufacturer’s
websites that included their maintenance manuals containing a
wealth of useful information. Amsted Industries’ site is [http://
www.amstedrail.com/freightcar/index.asp] and check out Standard
Car Truck Company [http://www.sctco.com/index.html].
This info shows that there are other components involved at
the sideframe to bolster junction that might account for the difference
in width. It is still very much a work in progress, but it
is a start in the right direction. Rumor has it that a commercial
model P48 roller bearing truck is in the works somewhere.
Never fails does it? If I get things figured out to my satisfaction,
then a leap forward in time on the layout may occur again.
Couplers
San Juan Car Company has announced the development
of a new On3 coupler with a unique design that moves the
knuckle spring to the inside of the coupler’s body, which allows
for all the correct detailing on the sides of the coupler.
Named the Evolution, this new design seeks to merge the
reliable operation found in the standard Kadee® coupler’s
design with the excellent visual appearance of San Juan’s existing
operating scale Sharon couplers. The new couplers should
be available starting in October 2009. Hopefully, San Juan will
consider making them for us standard gauge modelers too!
And there’s even more news on the coupler front. Protocraft
is introducing a revised version of their Type E coupler. No
word on their availability as of this writing. I’ll let you know
when I have some thing more. And finally, Santa Fe fans have
reason to get excited over the possible production of the 3700
series Mountains and 2900 series 4-8-4 Northerns by Sunset
Models. While they won’t be done in P48, there may be some
conversion possibilities with them. If you’re interested let Scott
Mann of Sunset [www.sunset3rdrail.com] know and get yours
reserved soon.
Track and wheels one more time.
The Observations column in OST #46, proposed the idea
of a single track standard for representing the prototype’s 4’
8-1/2” or standard gauge in 2-Rail O Scale rather than the two
we now have - the NMRA’s 1.252” and P48’s 1.177”. The corrected
standard already exists in the form of the P48 specifications.
However, the proposal does not advocate an adoption
of P48 standards, but rather using the correct track gauge of
1.177” along with the current NMRA flangeway dimensions
and wheels (regauged), rather than the prototypically based
specifications used for both in P48.
I confess that my initial knee-jerk reaction to this idea was,
why do we need another set of standards? However, as the
magazine’s editor, I want this to be a place that encourages
these conversations rather then shutting them down with partisan
rhetoric.
A better question to ask of this proposal would be: How
many fragments, niches, flavors (pick your term), will standard
gauge modeling in O Scale support before each one becomes
too small to be feasible financially? O Scale as a whole represents
a very small portion of the overall hobby market, and
a line of flextrack and turnouts built to a new set of specifications,
plus the retooling required for locomotives and rolling
stock to run on this track represents a huge capital investment.
In a soft economy, a risk like this is something few manufacturers
would willingly undertake without any guarantee of a
positive response from the marketplace. The idea was also
presented that it would be easy to convert from NMRA specs
to P48 with this new track. Experience has shown me that
this isn’t exactly true. It’s a headache in that steam locos will
need the same involved amount of work to exchange the drivers
and other wheelsets. The same holds true for diesels and
freight cars. Additionally, flangeway dimensions will have to be
altered in order for the equipment to track properly.
The truth is that a modeler is better off to pick one standard
at the beginning and stick to it. Track and wheel dimensions
are two sides of the same coin, and aren’t as interchangeable
as some would like to have us believe. No mention was made
of what will happen to the all the existing 1-1/4” equipment?
Would it be rendered redundant in time? My opinion, for what
it is worth, is that further fragmentation from another set of
standards would hurt the future growth of O Scale. While I
wholeheartedly applaud the adoption of a single gauge track
standard, I’m not a prophet or a visionary, and it’ll be interesting
to see where the future of standard gauge O Scale modeling
wants to go.
Best regards,
Mike
u
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 9

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10 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09

The Old Country Store
Located in the community of Townley, Alabama, about
15 miles west of Jasper at the junction of Alabama Highway
13 and the former, U.S. Highway 78 lays a small community
founded in the late 1880s. Around the turn of the 1900s this
was a farming community, which also supported the timber
and coal mining industries. Small mining operations often
referred to, as “wagon mines” were scattered throughout the
hills of the area. The Frisco’s mainline from Birmingham to St.
Louis runs through the community and, in years past, a depot
and house track were located at the south end of the siding.
Today only the controlled siding remains,
Located north of the mainline across a small bridge over
a branch of water that’s called Post Office Crossing, sits an
old country store. I would estimate from its construction and
materials that this store was built around the early 1900s.
The columns that support the structure are made from local
fieldstones cemented together to form pillars. The floor joists
and end sills are rough finished actual 2x10s and 2x12s
unlike the smaller sized framing lumber we use today. Pine
clapboards sides the outside of the structure while the roof
is covered with triple ridge tin sheets. Since it is a two story
structure with no access to the second floor from the outside,
I’m inclined to think the store’s owner may have lived in the
second floor portion at one time.
The store served the community and railroad crews up
until the time it closed in 1980. It was not uncommon in the
early days of my railroad career to sit in the siding here for
extended periods of time while the locals worked Jasper or
Carbon Hill on either side of Townley. Often the head end
and the caboose crews would visit the store to grab a snack
and soft drink while they were stuck in the hole. The famous
railroad “Seafood Platter” was always a popular treat. A can
or two of Sardines with a splash of your favorite Hot Sauce,
Saltine crackers, a piece of hoop cheese and fresh sweet
onion complimented the meal along with a soft drink of
choice. The elderly lady who ran the store usually sat in her
rocking chair close to the front door where she could catch
the evening breeze and watch the action on the railroad and
highway. The store only had a couple of small coolers for
perishable items as well as floor coolers for the soft drinks.
Home built shelves contained anything you might need to get
you by until that next trip into town. Lighting was provided by
several 60-watt light bulbs in their porcelain sockets hanging
from the ceiling, as were the fans that turned slowly stirring
the warm Alabama summer air.
This was life in the rural south before the invention of the
convenience store and super centers. I can only imagine
that prior to my days on the railroad this store served many a
member of the community as well as steam engine crews and
passengers when this was a regular stop on the train schedule.
Several years ago I took the time to make a photo record
of all four sides of this structure for future reference. I plan to
take these photos and calculate the dimensions of this structure,
then draw an O Scale set of plans of the old store for
modeling purposes.
This structure would be simple to scratchbuild in either
wood or styrene. Door and window castings from Grandt Line
or other suppliers could be used, and interior detailing and
lighting could be added making this an interesting project.
No modeler should be intimidated by the word scratchbuilding.
It’s like building a kit without a set of step-by-step
instructions. You start with the basic materials, a set of rough
or finished plans, simple tools and the desire to construct a
one-of-a-kind model. The more you become involved the
more your experience level grows as you work through trial
and error construction procedures until you find the technique
that works best for you.
Structures like the old country store are still with us today
but their future is not guaranteed. When you have the chance
to make a photo record of a structure that you may one day
want to model, do so and possibly share it with others. You
may find the structure gone when you get around to taking
measurements and have to rely on your photos to calculate
dimensions.
With all the other projects under way on the Alco Belt,
hopefully at some point I’ll find the time to produce a set of
O Scale drawings of the old country store and Joe may just
grant me the space in a future issue to print these plans and
do a construction article. The thing that stands out most in my
mind about that store is the elderly lady that ran it, although I
don’t remember her name, she knew and called her railroad
men by their name, including me. It was always: “Service
with a smile.”
u
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 11

Double-Truck Double-Brush Trolley Sweeper
Bill Brandt
This article was prompted by three things. First was the
excellent article by Gerald Brothers: Sweeper/Track Cleaner
in OST #38, May/June ‘08. The second was the letter to the
Editor by Myron Levitsky: Sweeper Suggestions in OST #41,
Nov/Dec ‘08. The third was that I had a Car Works O Scale
double truck, double brush trolley sweeper that I had completely
rewired using one DCC decoder to drive the car’s
motor and the two motors that individually drive the brushes.
My intent here is to tell you how I did it.
One of the first things I did was to open up the car and
document all of the original wiring. In my specific case, it
was a bad job and all that I salvaged was the wiring from the
trucks. There were two wires from each truck - one from each
rail. These were all connected together and to the body as a
common ground. (I use live overhead and uninsulated track.)
Then I measured the current draw for the brush motors.
I ran them on several voltages to find the speed of rotation
that I liked; it turned out to be 5 volts at 60 milliamperes.
This determined the decoder specifications. Also important
was the drive motor. It was able to be driven by any "HO"
decoder. So I needed an HO decoder with at least three functions.
One for headlights, and the other two for the brushes.
At the time I was building this, the decoder I chose was the
Lenz LE080XS. It has two functions rated at 100 milliamperes
each. I have not determined what usable decoders are available
these days.
I chose to use regulators to determine the voltage being
sent to the brush motors and the headlight bulbs. With
respect to the latter, I like to use 1.5 volt bulbs fed at about
1.375 volts for longer life and a little lower brightness. This
also allows them to be independent of variations in the track
voltage. I used a LM317T regulator with programming resistors
to get the 1.375 volts. There is also a series resistor for
current limiting purposes ahead of this regulator to protect
the decoder. To achieve the desired voltage, I used the 1%
10 and 100 ohm resistors from Digikey, and not the 5% ones
from Radio Shack. (I started using regulators on plain DC and
the bulb will be at a constant brightness from a track voltage
of about 4 volts up to 24 volts. If you want to use resistors
instead, it can be done but you will have to figure that out.)
The regulators used for the brush motors were the 7805
which puts out the 5 volts. The diodes across the output of the
regulators are for handling the back voltage spikes from the
inductive load of the motors. The full circuit diagram is shown
in Figure 1. A parts list is in included at the end of this article.
A plain PC board with holes on 0.1” centers and no cop-
12 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09

per plating was used for the circuit. The decoder is held to
it by double-sided foam tape. Wiring uses component leads
and plain wire. (Note that the current drain on the regulators
is low enough that no heat sinks are needed.) The whole
board is held to the under side of the sweeper’s body by more
double-sided foam tape.
The decoder’s red and black wires are connected to the
trolley poles for an easy ground connection through the pole
hook. With DC this would give pole reverse but with DCC,
the forward direction is determined by the connection of the
red lead. The headlight wires are directly connected since
they are mounted on the top part of the car. The three motors
are wired through connectors
since they are on the floor of the
car. You may need to experiment
to get the proper rotation speed
on the sweeper brush motors.
The brushes should rotate so as
to throw the snow forward and
to the side. The circuit as I did it
is shown in Photo 1. Note that I
did not use foam tape but a thin
double-sided cellophane tape.
All you need now is some snow
on the tracks.
u
1
Parts list
Name Identification Quantity Radio Shack DigiKey
Decoder LE080XS 1 (Lenz)
Regulator 7805 2 276-1770 LM7805CT-ND
Regulator LM317T 2 276-1778 LM317TFS-ND
Diodes 1N4005 2 276-1104 1N4005DITR-ND*
Resistors 33 ohm, « w 2 271-1104 OF330JE-ND*
Resistors 10 ohm, 1/4 w 2 271-1301 10.0XBK-ND
Resistors 100 ohm, 1/4 w 2 271-1311 100XBK-ND
Bulbs 1.5 volt, 40 ma 2 (NJI) - 9306# -
Connectors PC board 3 276-1388 -
PC board plain 1 (holes every 0.1 inch, no copper plating)
* - there are other part numbers for other manufacturers.
# - bulbs from other places should work.
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 13

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14 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09

Better Wheels #1
The Case for a Better Wheel Profile is
great information. It explains a lot about
how things work. What I got from the
article is that the relationships apply to
any gauge and not just NMRA standards
5 foot gauge as implied on page 27
where is states “I cannot stress enough
that all three must be met in order to
guarantee that a given wheel profile will
run properly on NMRA track.”
John Houlihan via e-mail
Better Wheels #2
After reading Issue #46, I was felt that
too much space was devoted to track
and wheel standards, notably P48. P48
is a niche group, the hobby needs them
if we are to progress. Do they need a
platform?
Certainly the NMRA is aware that
their standards and recommended practices
lag [behind] current technology,
particularly in the area of DCC. These
problems are better left to publication in
“Scale Rails.” One last thought, makers
and importers can always ask the question
“Do our non-conforming products
sell?” Modelers vote with their dollars.
Phil Kohl via e-mail
Mike responds: Mr. Kohl your letter
left me a bit confused about whether
you like P48 or not. Does it need a platform?
Does traction modeling, narrow
gauge and modern era modeling need
a platform? My response is yes to all the
above. Our task at the magazine is to not
only reflect on what O Scale was, but to
also consider where it is today and what
it can be in the future. Therefore coverage
of P48 and other so-called “niche”
modeling efforts will continue.
More Thoughts on Issue #46
The Modern Image: Why has no
one used a depressed center flat car for
track cleaning? A model with four 4- or
6-wheel trucks could really be weighted
down and the pads would not show.
A Closer Look at P48: After a few
years as a professional hostler and
brakeman, plus fifteen years with an
operating RR museum, I'm all for thinner,
more prototypical wheels, although
RP25 specs were a quantum leap from
tinplate wheels. The argument over
gauge though is close to negligible.
If O Scale had stayed with the 1930s
1:45 proportion, the track gauge would
be 1.259”. A track gauge of 56.5” is not
cast in stone. Pennsy used 57”, and,
according to a pamphlet from the Federal
Railroad Administration about their
Automated Track Inspection Program,
current track gauge is allowed to vary
up to 58” with speed restrictions. This is
1.208” in 1:48 or a difference of 2 scale
inches. Finally, why won't Kadee make
a long shank coupler for long cars?
At least how about a dummy coupler for
passenger cars?
Happy Rails
R. L. Scheuerman, Calif. via e-mail
Mike replies: For reasons known only
to history, American O Scale is 1:48 not
1:45, and sixty inches is still two inches
wider than the current FRA regulations
you cited. I don’t know of any American
prototype using sixty inches as a base
line track gauge although such lines did
exist at one time in our country’s railroad
history. I honestly don’t understand why
modelers always frame this discussion in
an either/or context. There is room in the
hobby for both.
About that P48 Flex Track...
Just read your article about P48 flex
track in #46. Ed Duddy does, or did have
P48 flextrack, I forgot the code. He said
it sold very poorly and had no reason
to rerun it. Someone from P48 ought to
negotiate to purchase the molds from Ed
and contract with Micro Engineering to
make another run, if Ed is sold out. Bottom
line is there is P48 flextrack. PSC
makes flextrack in On2 and On3 and
now San Juan [Car Co.] has switches in
On3. Also cast frogs are made in Code
83 and Code 70 by Details West. They
are [for] HO but should be applicable
to narrow gauge frogs as all the bolts are
smaller due to smaller rail section.
Ted Schnepf via e-mail
Mike replies: Thanks Ted. I am aware
of the House of Duddy track. The purpose
of the column was to consider
whether the options of ready-to-run track
in P48 would be viable, not to identify
sources. Most prototype modelers seem
to prefer handlaid track for a variety of
reasons. Until the market demand for
correctly gauged flextrack and turnouts
greatly expands, it will remain risky
for anyone to invest the considerable
resources needed to do it right.
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the center. Tufts are mounted on an invisible
base using the secret SILFLOR ® process that
causes the tuft to stand up and feather
outward. Tufts may be placed individually or
peeled off in random clusters. Set includes
two sizes: 2 - 4mm medium and 4 - 6½mm
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The subtle tonal difference of the young
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missing from most scale models.
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 15

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!
$19.95
plus p&h
Two new O Scale publications.
Learn all you need to know
about O Scale in the 21st
century. We cover: Operations,
Track & Trackplanning,
Locomotives, Rolling Stock,
Scenery & Structures and we
cover the specialty topics of
Narrow Gauge, Traction,
P48/Finescale and the
latest in Command
Control Systems.
Plus we give you
our exclusive Source
lists to help you find
everything you need
to enjoy modern O
Scale. The 2nd Edition
Guide is completely rewritten and
revised with all new color photos and upto-date
Source lists. No O Scaler should be
without a copy of this invaluable guide.
For too long O Scale
modelers have had to contend
with layout books and
trackplanning articles geared
to HO or other scales. Pieces
of The Puzzle changes that
by giving design tips and
techniques directed to the
unique needs of O Scale.
This 48 page book also
includes a PDF format
photo CD featuring the
book’s photos in full
color along with a
bonus chapter of
extra material and
photos not included in the
printed copy. Pieces of The Puzzle
will get you off to a good start if you are new
to O Scale, P48 or just thinking of finally
starting that new layout.
$14.95
plus p&h
To order A Guide To Modern O Scale, 2nd Ed. in the U.S., send
check or money order for $19.95 plus $5 p&h to O Scale Trains
Magazine, PO Box 289, Exton PA 19341. Pennsylvania residents must
add 6% Sales Tax. Outside the U.S. or if you wish to pay by credit
card, please go to www.oscalemag.com and purchase through the
website shopping cart.
To order Pieces of the Puzzle in the U.S., send check or money order
for $14.95 plus $3 p&h to Cougill Studios, PO Box 1402, Richmond
IN 47375. Indiana residents must add 7% Sales Tax. Outside the U.S.
or if you wish to pay by credit card, please go to www.oscalemag.com
and purchase through the website shopping cart.
16 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09

Pre-Ballast Track Before Spiking Rail
The goal of this article is to teach the O Scaler interested in
handlaying track a different and practical method of ballasting
track. Usually ballast is added last after spiking track on
hand laid ties or installing flextrack. This can be a slow process
while you pick out ballast from flangeways and points.
With this method the ties are glued down and the ballast
is poured over the wet glue. The glue I use is a water soluble
padding compound, a type of glue used by bookbinders and
printers who make pads of paper. Ballast is added, leveled,
and matte medium sprayed to bond it all together.
Photos 1and 2 show the tools and materials needed. They
are: padding cement, available from: [http://www.americanprintingequipment.com/],
matte medium available from A.C.
Moore and Michaels art supply houses. (Use the 40-50%
coupons from the Sunday newspaper to buy, you will save
$10 or so.) Ballast (medium gray Woodland Scenics’ bottle
with shaker top) some paper towels, a spray bottle and a pen
or marker. You’ll also need a 2” wide x 12” long pine scrap,
a 1-1/2” wide foam brush from a good hardware store. (Do
not use ones from major home improvement stores, as they
are poorly made and too flexible.) Along with a 1-1/2” good
quality sash brush and some pre-cut and stained ties.
1
Russ Briggs
Drop the ties in place into the padding compound using
the guide lines. Align or re-space ties as necessary so they
look good. Press into place with a finger (Photo 5). Turn the
2”x 12” pine scrap on its narrow edge and place it onto the
center of the ties, and press down. This will insure the tops of
the ties are level and won’t require sanding (Photo 6 ). Photo
7 shows what a foot long stretch of track should look like
with the ties in place.
5
6
2
To begin, draw two parallel lines the same distance apart
as the length of your ties. Then apply the padding compound
with a brush, running it outside the pencil/pen lines drawn by
3/8” (Photos 3-4).
3
7
Shake ballast onto and between ties, so that tops of ties are
covered with ballast in the center. Distribute the ballast with
a 1-1/2” width foam brush and work the ballast from the center
of the ties outward to the ends (Photos 8-9). Tidy up the
4
8
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 17

13
9
10
14
edges by moving the loose ballast towards the ends of the ties
making an edge to the ballast (Photo 10).
Roll a 24” long strip of paper towels around the pine block
to make a blotter (Photo 11). Then, prepare a spray bottle by
mixing 50% matte medium and water plus 2-3 drops dishwashing
liquid. Test the spray bottle so it puts out a mist when
used. Hold the sprayer at a 45 degree angle and thoroughly
wet the ballast. The ties will get very wet and so should the
ballast (Photo 12). Press the blotter onto ties, lift and move to
the next wet area and press onto ties again. Do not rub the
blotter from side to side or along the ties, only place it directly
down on the ties (Photos 13-14). Then leave finished, ballasted
ties to dry overnight or longer depending on humidity.
11
15
16
12
Spike rails to completed ballasted ties (use of safety glasses
recommended).You can pre-paint the rail if desired (Photo
15). Track switches are built in the same manner, following all
the same steps, except do not ballast where the throwbar is
between the ties at the points. You can place a tie there when
placing the loose ballast, but remove it before spraying with
matte medium (Photo 16). Photo 16 shows switches on my
railroad that are installed after all the ties were glued in place
and ballasted. This method of building switches is exactly the
same as building them on ties with no ballast. Note there is
no ballast at the throwbar location.
u
18 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09

More Kits from B.T.S. !
Company
House
This company house
was inspired by one
from Pickshin, WV. The kit includes the piling to build it for
a level surface or for a sloped location. Interior partitions are
included as are positionable doors and windows. This kit
consists of laser-cut basswood, plywood, and detail castings.
Approx. Size - 31' x 35'. #17237 $ 54.95
McCabe Lumber Co.
MoW Speeder
An old boxcar body, a
truck chassis, and
some great planning
on the part of the crew
provided the main
ingredients for a
unique and handy
speeder.
The body kit consists
of laser-cut basswood, plywood, cardstock, and brass, urethane, & white
metal detail castings. And the driver, load, and decals are included. The
fully-assembled mechanism is American Made by David Hoffman. It
features a sheet brass frame, lost-wax brass end steps, NWSL gears and
wheelsets. Scale 27’ long over footboards. On3/On30 versions also
available. #18280 $ 239.95
Bridge Crane
Overhead bridge cranes were located at
various places including the team track,
large industries and the freight house.
The model is a brass import. The hoist
trolley is positionable on the bridge.
Painted black and ready for you to
simply hang the hook and chain on the
hoist. Approx. Size - 20’ wide with 16’
clearance from ground to the bottom of
the bridge. #18505 $ 119.95
Elliott and Sons Supply
While it is a freelanced structure, the Elliott &
Sons Supply was based upon a tomato packing
house in Sarasota, Florida. As for the model’s
use, well, that is up to you. The kit features
laser-cut basswood, cardstock and plywood;
tabbed, easy construction; loads of Detail
Castings; laser-cut, self-sticking shingles &
sashes; laser-etched nail holes; optional
skylights; and a 40’ x 60’ Footprint.
#18106 $ 229.95
Evans Gondola
#19201 $ 99.95
MEC (#12720 $7.95) and CNW (#12721 $5.95) decals are available.
304-823-3729
Anderson Pulpwood Yard
At the yard, small truck loads of
pulpwood, small logs cut into about five
foot lengths, are loaded onto pulpwood
cars for shipment out to the mill. The
Anderson Pulpwood Yard kit includes the
office, storage shed, truck scale, oil drum
rack, two wood racks, and metal detail
castings. Office and scale footprint is 34’
x 40’.
#17480 $ 89.95
In 1975, the Southern Iron and Equipment
Co. started building a 52'-6", 100-ton
gondola. Evans took over SIECO and
continued building the cars through
December 1981. A total of 1,730 cars were
built with three minor body variations.
This model represents the second, and
most common, version of the car.
The unpainted kit consists of highquality,
no-odor urethane castings for the
one-piece body and separate frame, hidden
weights, and brass & white metal brake
components. Easy assembly with ACC or
epoxy. Less decals, trucks, and couplers.
www.btsrr.com
Shipping - $5.00/order in the US
All Scale Catalog - $5.00
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International KB-8
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OST2
20 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09

Replacing Atlas O Couplers
Bob Anthonyson
This is a simple process for replacing Atlas O
couplers with Kadees. First, remove the single
screw that holds the truck to the underside of
the car. Working from the direction of the end of
the car, insert a penknife blade under the vertical
tab at the back of the coupler. Pry this tab back
by raising the knife blade; the bottom of the coupler
box can now be opened. Remove the coupler
and spring and detach the coupler box from the
underside by unscrewing two small screws (Photos
1 & 2).
Atlas O has two different methods of attaching
2-Rail couplers. In some cases, there will be
two holes directly in the underside of the car. In
these cases you will usually want to use two .4
x 8mm screws. In other cases, a special connector
plate is attached to the underside and the
coupler is attached to this plate. This is shown in
Photo 3. In this case, you will need 2-56 x 5/16”
screws to attach the coupler.
The Atlas O couplers have a deeper box than
the Kadees, so shimming will be necessary if you
want your coupler at the recommended NMRA
height (Photo 4). Micro-Mark makes very inexpensive
shims for this purpose (item #82582) or you
1 2 3
can measure and make your own (Photos 5 & 6).
The spacing of the screw holes for the Atlas O
couplers is slightly closer together than what is
ideal for the Kadees. However, the spacing is close
enough that you can still use the existing holes.
Start by screwing one end of the Kadee box into
a hole on the car or connector plate. Stop when
the screw has just enough bite to stay in place.
Start the second screw into the other hole and
once it has taken hold, return to the first screw
and give it a few turns. Keep alternating until the
coupler box is snug against the underside of the
car or the connector plate. Be careful not to over
tighten the screws (Photo 4).
Reattach the truck and you are finished. As an
optional step you can allow the truck to operate
with equalization. There is a connecting bar that
is screwed into both of the truck sideframes. This
bar is designed to hold a 3-rail coupler. However,
2-railers have no need for this bar and if it is
removed the truck’s springs will be able to function
as on the prototype. You can now enjoy the
use of your Atlas O car equipped with Kadee couplers.
4 5 6
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 21

22 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09

Basic Scratchbuilding Skills: Parts and Material Layout
Mike Cougill
As a hobby, model railroading covers many areas. There’s
literally a lifetime of things to learn and skills to master. For
some, the practice of scratchbuilding models seems to have
fallen out of favor. There’s lots of opinions as to why such as
increased work demands, a more hectic and mobile lifestyle;
greater variety of recreational pursuits and so on.
In spite of these factors, scratchbuilding remains a treasured
aspect of the hobby for many modelers. Taking a readyto-run
model out of a box may give instant gratification. But
then what? In scratchbuilding, the sense of gratification is
progressive; building on itself with the successful completion
of each new challenge. The goal of this series is to cover some
basic skills and introduce the joys of scratchbuilding to a new
generation of model railroaders.
We were all beginners at one time, learning as we went,
making lots of mistakes and false starts along the way. In reality,
one never really stops being a beginner. One may become
very accomplished, but there’s always something new to learn.
That’s the essence of scratchbuilding: learning new skills
and improving or perfecting old ones. Practice does indeed
make perfect and can be an essential skill in and of itself. It’s
also a mind-set; characterized by the willingness to do something
over until the results are pleasing and accurate. As you
gain confidence in simple projects you’ll naturally be drawn
to more complex and challenging ones. This is as it should be
and constitutes one of the true joys of learning: the sense that
you’re mastering something. Over time, you’ll own your skills.
Meaning, they will be a part of you forever.
In OST #41, Gene Deimling wrote an article on how to
generate a scale drawing to work from using a software utility
called Scale Print; that comes bundled with the CD-ROM
version of the Car Builder’s Cyclopedia from P.I. Engineering
[http://www.raildriver.com/products/cyclopedias/scale.print.
php] Gene’s article would be a good one to review as an
introductory primer.
Parts layout
Learning how to accurately layout a project is a basic
scratchbuilding skill that everyone has to learn. It isn’t as hard
as it seems. With a bit of patience plus the proper tools and
knowledge, you’ll pick it up quickly. As Gene suggests in his
article, what we’re going to do is build a basic box for the
carbody (in my case a boxcar) to which the appropriate details
will be added.
Photo 1 shows the basic tools needed to do an accurate
layout. They include a scale rule; ninety-degree squares for
1
marking corners and squaring up the outside corner of the
sheet stock; a caliper for measuring and a scriber, which in
this case is a modified dental tool. You can also purchase
scribers from Micro-Mark [www.micromark.com].
The basic techniques are the same whether you’re working
in styrene, wood or metal. Careful workmanship at this early
stage of a project will pay dividends many times over. A mental
hurdle to get over is to not be afraid of doing something
over. Think of this stage as the foundation of a house. Sloppiness
here will haunt you all the way through the project.
To begin, always check the rough sheet stock you’re using
for squareness. For this project, I’m using 0.040” thick styrene.
Don’t assume that factory corners are square or that the
edges are straight. Though they often are, there may be defects
that could affect the accuracy of your layout. I used the large
square to verify that one corner of the sheet is a true ninety
degrees. I also check whether the edges are straight and true.
Hold the sheet stock up to a light source and place the rule or
your square on the edge. Any light that shows through means
the edge isn’t straight. You can true up an edge quickly with a
few passes from a large mill file, checking your work against
the light as just mentioned. If an edge is really jagged, scribe
a straight line for reference and work from it, trimming the
excess away. Once I have one corner square, I work from
that reference point in laying out all the other measurements
(Photo 2).
2
A mistake modelers often make is using the end of the
scale rule to take readings from. I prefer a rule that has the
zero mark one foot in from the end rather than on it. The end
of your rule can get banged up or dented and the markings
often wear away, leaving you guessing. By having the zero
point away from the edge, the measurement is more precise
than trying to line up the edge of the rule with the edge of the
material (Photos 3-4, page 24).
For this wood sided single-sheathed car, I built a box that
is sized to the interior dimensions of the prototype which are
40’-6” long by 9’-0” wide and 10’-0” high. The wood siding
on most cars of this type was 1” to 1-1/2” thick by five inches
wide. I plan to laminate strips of 0.020” x 0.100” (1x 5 scale
inches in O) styrene for the car siding to this core, which
should equal the outer dimensions of the prototype car. Factors
like this will affect how you size your car’s substructure. Since
the end pieces will fit between the side walls, they need to be
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 23

3
Using the rule to do this can introduce errors that will compound
on themselves with each additional measurement.
Run intersecting lines past each other to give a truer point of
reference for corners (Photo 7). I always scribe my layout lines
instead of using a pencil or pen. Drawn lines can be thick in
nature and throw things off. They can also get smudged from
handling, whereas a scribed line is very accurate.
7
4
0.080” (0.040” thickness of the sidewall x 2) narrower in order
to have the dimension of the substructure equal nine feet.
Using the calipers for marking and measuring is more
accurate than using the scale rule each time. Take a measurement
from the rule with the calipers and line one of the blades
up with the true edge on your material, and then bring the
point of the scriber or an X-Acto knife blade up against the
calipers’ opposite blade to mark the other end (Photo 5-6).
5
Doing an accurate layout for your project takes time.
Often no matter how careful you are mistakes will happen.
However, they are often easy to fix. Photo 8 shows how the
two sides for the boxcar had a rough edge where they were
snapped free from the larger sheet of styrene. I actually made
these a scale inch taller, so I could file down to the real line
8
6
instead of relying on the snapped edge. Since the car sides
had two edges that matched, I aligned those edges and taped
the pieces together, then clamped them in a vice. I filed the
mismatched edges with a large mill file, working slowly and
carefully, checking my progress with the blade of the square
(Photos 9-10). The end result was two car sides that matched
9
24 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09

10
perfectly. I did the same for the car ends.
It may seem like a lot of work, but the
car will be perfectly square.
11
Photo 11 shows the basic box all
assembled with the interior bracing and
flooring in place. I put lots of 0.125” x
0.250” styrene strip bracing on, especially
in the corners, so there would
be plenty of material to attach ladders
and grabirons to later. I haven’t put the
roof on at this point because I need to
put some weight inside the car so it will
track well. You’ll notice that I have the
centerline of the car marked for both the
length and width. This helps in placing
the underframe and other details. The
basic substructure of the car is now done
and ready for the underframe, wood siding,
the steel zee bracing and other finish
detailing. The parts layout procedure
is pretty much the same for most types of
rolling stock or structures. As I progress
along with this series, we’ll consider
another area of mystery for many: the
underframe.
u
Your source for:
Motive power, rolling stock
and structure plans
(since 1975)
Quik-Signs sign sets
Scale industry directory
Paper Creek Models
Send $2.00 for catalog
Underground Railway Press
P.O. Box 814OS
Brevard, NC 28712-0814
Deichman’s Depot
O Scale
3518-1 Conrail (Svngs Bond) SD-40 DC/DCC $407.95
2004100-2 D&H U23b DC 212.45
20-2779-2 NS U30C w/P2 AC/DC 404.95
7345-1 Beacon Feeds PS4427 Hopper 57.75
7374-2 WM 40' Airslide Hopper 50.95
7768-2 Reading Fishbelly Hopper 44.60
7780-4 PC (MOW) H21a Hopper 55.20
9383-2 Kimberly-Clark 70T Cov. Hopper 55.20
9052-1 ASD 36' Wood Reefer 55.20
9053-2 Libby's 36' Wood Reefer 55.20
9062-2 Debuque 36' Wood Reefer 57.50
9088-2 Great Falls Beer 40' Wood Reefer 67.95
9091-1 Flaharty Dairy 40' Wood Reefer 82.95
9122-1 Harding Butter 40' Reefer 65.95
9166-5 Lackawanna 40' Wood Reefer 55.20
9196-1 Borden's 40' Wood Reefer 57.75
9280-5 Trusweet 17,600K Tank 66.25
9286-3 ADM (Leaf) 17,600 Tank 66.25
9287-2 ADM (Molecule) 17,600 Tank 66.25
9693-3 PRR (Delivery Scheme) USRA SS Box 50.95
20-89001 Premier Bettendorf Trucks -pr. 10.95
20-89002 Premier Roller Bearing Trucks - pr. 10.95
Deichman’s Depot
110 Ivyside Dr, York PA 17402
Ph: 717-755-1108 • Fax: 717-840-9650
deichmansdepot@comcast.net
www.deichmansdepot.com
Etched brass numbers SP-style, MSRP: $15.
More brass numbers coming soon!
Field parts for your interlocking tower: pipe
carriers, crank stands and cranks. Visit our
web site for details.
The Irish
Tracklayer
2682 W. Palo Alto Ave
Fresno CA 93771
www.irishtracklayer.com
finally a
TOUGH
sUper GlUe.
fOr THe TOUGHesT jObs On planeT earTH ®
1-800-966-3458 Made in U.S.A.
Statement of Ownership & Circulation
1. Publication Title: O Scale Trains Magazine
2. Publication #: ISSN 1536-9528
3. Filing Date: Sept. 21, 2009
4. Issue Freq.: Bi-monthly
5. # of issues annually: 6
6. Annual subscription price: $35
7. Complete mailing address of Known Office of
Publication: PO Box 289, Exton PA 1934
8. Complete Mailing Address of General Business
Office of Publisher: 486 Lynetree Dr., West Chester
PA, 19380
9. Publisher: Joe Giannovario, PO Box 289, Exton
PA 19341
Editor: Joe Giannovario, PO Box 289, Exton PA
19341
Managing Editor: Mike Cougill, PO Box 289, Exton
PA 19341
10. Owners: Joe Giannovario & Jaini Giannovario,
486 Lynetree Drive, West Chester PA 19380
11. Known Bondholders: None
12: Tax Status: Unchanged
13. Title: O Scale Trains Magazine
14. Issue Date for Circulation Data: Sept/Oct 2009
15: Extent & Nature of Circulation:
Avg # Single Issue
copies nearest to
prev. 12 months filing date
A. Total # of copies 5388 5500
B. Paid Circulation
Mail Subscriptions 1149 1158
Sales thru Dealers 3860 3864
Other Mailed USPS 239 269
C. Total Paid Circulation 5248 5291
D. Free distribution
By Mail 40 40
Outside Mail 0 0
E. Total free Distribution 40 40
F. Total Distribution 5288 5331
G. Copies Not Distributed 100 169
H. Total 5388 5500
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 25
© 2009 Gorilla Glue Company

Sumpter
Valley
Depot
135 NW Greeley Avenue,
Bend OR 97701
● Specializing in O Scale 2-rail
model trains since 1985
● We buy or consign brass model
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● Model reservations gladly
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Check our website for latest
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www.sumptervalley.com
trainman@callatg.com
Tel: 541/382-3413
Fax:541/389-7237
Hours:
Mon. thru Fri 8:30 AM - 5PM
and sometimes on Saturdays
26 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09
VALLEY
MODEL TRAINS
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Credit Card Orders Welcome
Order/Info(845)297-3866 Fax(845)298-7746
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Dimensions: 9-3/4 x 4-3/4 x 4-1/2"
Dock Adds 2" to Length
484
484 Elevated Warehouse Kit O.......................79.95 67.98
489
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489 Loft Barn Kit O.............................................42.98 36.55
479 Long-Bell Lumber skid shacks 2/ O42.98 36.55
Crow River Products Resin and Metal Kits.....
308
Footprint with
loading dock
3" X 10"
Use in the yard,
on a dock or
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308 Fixed Boom Crane O.....................65.00 58.50
Includes utility tank
shown on right - For use
with Derricks, Clam-
Shell Derricks or as
Logging Donkeys
479 - 2 per pack
323
4 x 3 x 2-3/4"
O111
323 3-Drum Steam Hoisting Engine O .....80.00 73.60
O111 Utility Tank O....1 ¼”L X 2 ½”H ........net 8.00
Main Street Heritage Resin Kits.....
505
5 x 9-1/2" w/ boardwalk
5-1/2 x 8" w/ sidwalks
505 The Weekly Record O ...................66.95 61.60
503 Bill's Place O..................................62.95 57.90
Evergreen Hill Design O Laser Cut kits
Footprint: 9" deep (including both decks) 11" wide
(including stairs) 8" high (including fire barrels)
2007 Dollar Bros Motor Express Kit O
503
2007 Dollar Bros Motor Express Kit O 169.95 144.50
lots of detail 2005
Includes
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pool table,
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2005 30's Gas Station O (4 x 6.25”) ......59.95 50.99
2011 Pool Hall with table O (5.25 x 6”)..69.95 59.50
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The Public Delivery Track
Custom Run Items
Atlas..WP 40' "Rides Like a Feather" box car...reserve
WP 52' mill gondola, feather logo..reserve
WP 50' "DF+CU" feather box car..$55
SP 8K company service tank car..reserve
SP 2 bay hopper car, early scheme..reserve
"SINCLAIR" 8k tank car..............reserve
GM&O and RI "MDT" steel reefers..$55 ea
3 rail scale diesels..fixed pilots, k-d couplers..inquire
Golden Gate...Sleepers..Erie, DLW, SF, MILW..$119
Coaches...PRSL, RG, Erie, DLW, MIILW, LV..$109
Head end sets..Erie, DLW, MILW, NYC...reserve
Weaver...RPO..Erie, Jersey Central..$90
Baggage..PRSL, Erie, CNJ, SF green..$75-$85
50' flat w/trailer..UP, Erie, WP, SP, SF..reserve
Locomotives
Atlas..U-23B, GP-15, RSD-15, RS-3..$159-$299
RS-1's, GP 7/9, F-3's..$379-$429. SW's..$199-$359
GP-35's, SD-35's, SD-40's, Dash 8's..$329-$429
Alco Century's..PRR, EL, CN, ACL, L&N, BRC..$329-$429
3rd rail, Sunset Brass..PRR O-1..$899. Q-1 $999
C&O Greenbrier..$999 NYC Hudson or Dreyfuss..call
SP Mogul..$749-$899. AM-2 $1599. MT-4..$1095
Wvr/Wms brass..PRR K4, A5, B6, others..call
Weaver..SD-40, C628/630, E-8, Sharks..$199-$399
K-line..GP-38..CNJ, SF, LIRR;
RS3..Rdg, NYC,
WM, SP, PE; E's..NYC, SP; F's..PRR, NYC..$249-$429
Passenger & Head End
Golden Gate..Coaches..PRR, PRSL, Erie, RG, MILW,
SP, C&O, UP, Rdg..$100-$119/car. Head end sets..$359
Sleepers..Erie, DLW, NW, GN, PRR, pullman..$109-$119
Atlas..60' coach, Bag, RPO..$69. Horizon cars..$89
New CAL ZEPHYR 80' domes and sleepers..$129
MTH sets..AMTK, UP, SP, Septa, NYC..$249-$329
Weaver..60' baggage or RPO..PRSL, Erie, CNJ
SF, PRR, NYC, NH, UP, CN, N&W, B&M..$60-$90
Box Cars
Pecos River..SOU, CBQ, NYC, SF, SP, T&P..$35-$45
Atlas..40' Woodside..30+ roads!!!...$45-$55
40' Steel..Rebuilts, or AAR..20+ roads..$45-$55
40' Trainman..and 1970's (refurbished)..$30-$35
X-29's..$50-$62. HyCubes..60'..$69. 40'..$35
50'..Siide or plug door..$50-$60 60' auto parts..$50
Weaver..40' PS-1, 50' modern, Steelside, Outside braced
40+ roads..Old ones our speciality..$25-$40
Refrigerator Cars
Weaver/Crown..30+ roadnames in stock..$25-$40
57' Mechanical..15+ roads..no sound..$35, sound..$50
Atlas..53' xprs..$65. 40' steel..$45-$55
36' & 40' woodside..oldies, newies, custom..$50-$125
40' plug door..Trainman, 1970's refurbished..$30-$35
K-line..Woodside..same detail as Atlas..$40-$60
Covered Hoppers
Weaver PS-2 & AC-2..old & new..30+ roads..$25-$40
Centerflow or Grain..old and new..25 roads..$25-$40
Atlas..3 bay PS-2..$35. ACF 2 bay..$55-$65
New Trinity 5161..$66-$70 Cylindrical 40'..$45-$55
Airslides and PS4427's..20+ roads........$45-$55
Hopper Cars
Atlas..3 bay..WM, SOU, BN, NH, Rdg, RG..$30-$35
Ore cars..CN, UP, DMIR..$25. H21a 4 bay..$50-$58
2 bay. usra or Panel side..10+ roads...$50-$55
Weaver..2, 3, 4-bay..30+ different roads....$25-$40
Tank Cars
Weaver...40' & 50', new & old, 20+ roads...$25-$35
Atlas..33K..7 roads..$40-55. 17K..10 roads..$50-$65
8K..Berkshire, Woburn, Staley, Taylor, more..$52-$59
11K..Col Sou, SHPX, UTLX, Solvay, Dow..$55-$65
Flat Cars, Stock Cars
Atlas..Double stacks..$125-$289. Pulp flats..$49
Front runner..$45. 89' flats..$60-$65. Trailers..$29-$35
Trainman 50' flat w/pipe load and stock cars..$30-$35
Wvr..40' & 50' flat cars, Stock cars..20+ roads..$25-$40
Gondolas
Atlas..52'..15+ roads..$30-$35. 40' composite..$52-$55
Wvr..LV, RI, SF, UP, NW, Rdg, B&M, MEC, PRR..$28
Atlas Track..2 rail, 3 rail, 3 rail steel
Industrial Rail .. Locos . cars . trolleys . sets . track
Dealers..request our wholesale list
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Drexel Hill, PA • Paso Robles, CA
610-259-4945 • 805-226-0320

Edge-of-The-Layout switch machine installation
Charlie Morrill
After several decades of crawling under layouts to attend
to wiring additions and installing switch machines overhead,
I decided to do something about the sore knees and banged
head which always seemed to accompany that activity. This
time around, once the benchwork and track base were in, it
would be different. In addition, there would be no more need
to disturb the under layout storage to make wiring changes.
In this new (for me) scheme, the wiring cables and electronic
devices would be located in a recess at the edge of the layout.
Feeder wires to the track, signals, and accessories would
come to screw terminals in the recess.
Moving the Circuitron Tortoise switch machines to the
edge of the layout would require something a little different
for the linkage to the throwbar. I had two requirements for the
linkage design: The first, of course, was that the points had
to be moved reliably and positively against the stock rail and
held there with some pressure. Secondly, the linkage had to
be installed without the need to crawl under the layout. Being
able to completely build and assemble the linkage at the
workbench was also a plus.
Photo 1 shows a completed crank and connecting rod
assembly ready to be installed. The connection of the crank to
the throwbar is shown in Photo 2. The curve in the steel wire
pushing on the throw bar indicates the amount of holding
pressure to the points. The installed crank and rod are shown
in Photo 3 from under the plywood subroadbed. Photo 4
shows the Tortoise mounted to the benchwork and the rod
connection.
1
4
Construction of the crank subassembly is shown in Figure
1. The steel wire is a section of the fulcrum wire included
with the Tortoise. The length of the 5/32” brass tube for the
bearing sleeve need only be long enough to extend from the
top of the ties through the subroadbed plus an inch or so. The
bearing sleeve is pressed into a 5/32” hole drilled through
the roadbed. I usually drill the hole about 1/2” away from the
throwbar. The hole can be drilled at a convenient location
on either side of the track and throwbar. Check for clearance
underneath the roadbed. The throwbar is drilled with a #63
drill for the steel wire from the crank assembly.
2
3
I like to make the 1/8” tube at least 1/2” longer than the
bearing sleeve. The distance between the 1/8” hole and the
#50 hole for the clevis pin in the flat brass bar is approximately
3/4”. After pressing the end of the tube into the hole
in the bar, but before soldering them together, I will check the
relative alignment of the bar and steel wire at the track switch
and the switch machine’s location. When the wire is parallel
to the track, the flat bar should be at a right angle to the con-
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 27

necting rod from the switch machine.
Construction of the connecting rod is shown in Figure 2.
The clevis and stud are from the model airplane section of
the hobby shop. The clevis is available with either 4-40 or
2-56 threads or soldered-on connections. The ring terminal is
available in the electrical department of your local hardware.
I have made the connecting rod with a soldered-on clevis,
but prefer the threaded clevis to allow for fine tuning of the
length upon installing. I try for an even deflection of the steel
wire in both positions. I’m using connecting rods up to 30”
in length made as shown. For rod lengths of 12” or less, I just
use the 3/32” tubing as in Photo 1.
nylon control rod for a situation that was five feet away and
around a curve from the Tortoise. The down side for using
this device is that the outer sleeve must be securely clamped
down to the benchwork along its length to prevent excessive
flexing.
To install the assembled linkage, the crank’s shaft is inserted
into the sleeve from the bottom and the steel wire slipped
into the two holes in the end of the tube and then the hole
in the throwbar. The rod is screwed in or out of the clevis to
bring the ring terminal to the center of the Tortoise movement
when the switch points are midway. Attach the ring terminal
to the Tortoise with the screw furnished with the machine, but
leave the connection a little loose. Check the operation and
readjust the rod length if necessary.
Photo 5 is of one end of a staging and fiddle yard with a
section of the fascia removed to show the wiring recess. The
Tortoise machines operating the ladder turnouts are behind
the fascia panel to the left of the turnout control’s toggle
switches and indicator LEDs. The toggle switches are recessed
to avoid “belt-buckle” operation. And lastly, I can report that
my aging knees really appreciate being able to do the layout’s
wiring from an office chair.
u
5
The Tortoise machine is fastened to the benchwork prior
to making up the connecting rod to length. A couple small
screws plus mounting tape or glue or even just the yellow
carpenter’s glue are adequate to fasten the Tortoise machine
in place. An approximate measurement from the bearing
sleeve to the center of the Tortoise machine lets me solder the
rod assembly together except for one joint. The last joint is
soldered after a trial fit between the bearing sleeve and Tortoise.
The model airplane people also have a flexible nylon control
rod in various lengths that will work for the connecting
rod where the switch machine’s location is not in direct line
with the crank. This is similar to using the old choke cable or
(for the younger crowd) bicycle brake cable. I have used the
28 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09

2010 O Scale
National
Convention
Why Attend? Up to 300 trading tables, clinics, tour of the California State Railroad Museum, videos, convention car, contests, six O modular layouts
on site, about 40 home and club layouts open for visiting ,fly into/out of a major western city and drive a Grand Tour between there to and/or from the
convention and visit dozens model and real railroads, national parks, and other attractions. Convention sponsored and managed by O Scale West.
Where: Santa Clara, California (San Francisco Bay Area)
When: June 30 - July 3, 2010
Location: Hyatt Regency Santa Clara. Room rate: $109 plus tax for 1 - 4 occupancy
Registration: $35, $40 after May 31, registration includes spouse and children under 18
Table Rental: 30" x 72" tables are$45, $50 after May 31. Electrical hook-ups are free
Banquet: Fri. July 2, $50 per plate including gratuity and tax, sign up by June 20
Tour: Wed. June 30, California State Railroad Museum, Sacto., $30 per person, incl train to/from Sacto. and admission, sign up by June 1
Web Site: www.2010oscalenational.com
E-mail: info@2010oscalenational.com
Telephone: 650-329-0424, please call between 9AM and 8PM Pacific time
A free newsletter with registration information will be available on the website for download after February 1, 2010. To receive a hardcopy, send an
LSSAE with 2oz. of postage to: 2010 O Scale National, 876 Boyce Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301-3003.
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 29

A Simple Timber Loading Dock
L. Lee Davis
Finding myself in need of a lightweight loading dock at
Vindex on the Chaffee Branch, and only having about 12’
by 30’ of available scale space, I started looking around for
what was available on the market. There are some nice kits
out there, and if they fit your scene by all means buy one and
support your fellow craftsmen. If, however, you need a special
size or shape, it’s not too difficult to build one yourself. If
you have been into model railroading and kit building for any
length of time, you more than likely have most, if not all the
stuff you need lying around in your scrap box. If you don’t, it’s
not that expensive to get the materials.
Doing the research, can be almost as much fun as building
the dock itself. The places I looked for information were: Railway
Engineering & Maintenance Cyclopedia, historic association
guides like; The Blue Mountain Express, The Log Train, in
addition to the local library, and the Internet. Getting pictures
is by far the best way to tell what the loading dock looked like.
If you don’t have a photograph, researching how a particular
line ran their railroad can give you an insight on how it would
be built. In addition you get a sense of the people; how they
thought, and how they worked. So with that information in
hand let’s get started.
To do this we will need one piece of basswood 1/16” x 3” x
24” which costs about $1.50; two bags of Kappler 7”x 9”x 24”
standard profile ties (they're expensive at about $22 a bag). If
you handlay track you probably have a boat load somewhere
in your stock. Or you can use two pieces of 8” x 8” scale timber
stock 12” long for the front, back and sides. One piece
of 12” x 12” scale timber stock 12” long. The strip wood cost
about $4 a bag from Kappler. So for under $20, not counting
the ties, you will get enough material to do several loading
docks as well as other projects that may come to mind.
Cut the 1/16” basswood to 12’ x 30’ scale feet. Mark off
8” or 12” scale increments along the width (Photos 1-2) and
scribe with back end of an X-Acto knife and ruler along the
marks. One or two light passes should be enough to simulate
the planks in the deck (Photo 3).
Now mark off 16’ and 14’ on every other plank along the
width to simulate the ends of boards. Scribe with square and
X-Acto knife (Photo 4).
Take a file card or wire brush and distress the basswood to
give it grain. Several passes should do nicely (Photo 5).
Cut two pieces of the 7” x 9” or 8” x 8” stripwood 30 scale
feet and four pieces 11 scale feet. Lightly apply white glue to
the stripwood pieces and attach them around the perimeter
1
2
3
30 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09

4
5
of the deck and glue two pieces one third of the way in from
the ends. Clamp and wipe off the excess glue with damp rag
(Photo 6). Note: If you are using the 7” x 9” profile ties, apply
the nine inch side facing out from the deck.
Scribe a vertical line at the middle of the deck on the front
and rear timber face to simulate the cut line between two 15
foot timbers. This line will center the middle posts when we
attach them to the deck.
The reason for using tie material is the real railroad would
no doubt have many switch ties lying around. Most branch
and shortlines would use whatever was on hand since money
for new material was always in short supply. If you have 10” x
10” or 10” x 12” stripwood you could substitute that for the 7”
x 9” or 8” x 8” material. This would be bridge timber material
and that would be getting into a heavyweight loading dock.
The posts are 12” x 12” scale stripwood. You will need to
cut six of them 5-1/4 scale feet long. When attached to the
loading dock, the floor will be 5-1/2 scale feet above ground,
or about level with door openings on your box cars. Of course
you can adjust this measurement to fit your terrain.
Attach one post at each corner and one post front and back
at the centerline of the loading dock with white glue. Level
and plumb the posts and allow enough time for the glue to set
up (Photo 7). Turn right side up and gently place weights on
top of the loading dock, again allowing time for the glue to
cure (a couple of hours (Photo 8).
Stain with Minwax brush on wipe off Dark Walnut. This
stain is a good match for tie color but you can choose your
own color to fit your taste. If you have them, install some one
inch nut/bolt and washer castings to front and side beams
where posts attach to the deck. Place loads on the deck and
weather with coal soot and dust. Allow to dry thoroughly and
install on your layout where appropriate.
This is a one or two evening project, that’s fun to put
together and inexpensive to do. Little items like this make your
railroad seem bigger than it is, and at the very least slows time
down if not stopping it, if only for a little while.
u
7
6
8
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 31

SMR TRAINS
Virginia & Truckee
In stock now!
Photo by Get Real Productions
NEW!
Scale University
Wood Plank Grade Crossing
Model Building Services
Models built by Stu Gralnik
264 Marret Rd • Lexington MA 02421
Ph: 781-860-0554
stu@modelbuildingservices.com
For two or three-rail. Comes in straight, 0-54
(27"r.) and 0-72 (36"r.) curves. Two sets per
package. Straight: $17.95/pkg; curved $19.95/pkg.
Scale University
196 Cider Hill Rd., Exeter ME 04435
207-379-4731 • www.scaleuniversity.com
Visa/MC/check or money order accepted.
Scratchbuilt by
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Assembled buildings from any manufacturer’s kit.
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www.modelbuildingservices.com
34 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09

Traction Action
Guest author
Martin Brechbiel
From The Beginning... Options, Opportunities & Oddities
Due to a momentary lapse of reason, your regular columnist
has been replaced by yours truly as it seems that I have
become a sort of traction modeler or enthusiast. This might
have occurred since I have graced these pages in the past
with a few scratchbuilt trolley articles and hope to continue
doing so. I never had intentions of being a traction and trolley
modeler --- I just stumbled into a area of O Scale modeling
that struck me as being seriously entertaining!!
So, it was totally by chance that I built my first trolley.
Note the use of the word built. It was not bought, bright and
shiny in a box, ready to put on the track and chased around
the room. Nothing wrong with RTR, but the options for buying
a RTR trolley was actually quite limited. That may still be
true or not depending on one’s perspective. I had just completed
building two LaBelle passenger cars and feeling rather
accomplished, I ran out and got kits for a Lake Shore Electric
combine and the matching freight motor. Curious thing about
these kits; they build multiple configurations of cars dependent
on what details are used and their placement. You can
actually build specific prototype cars. Shocking! After several
conversations with the late Tom O’Toole and the writing of
checks, detail parts arrived along with some under-the-floor
drive units from this company called, Q-Car. At the time, I
thought these power trucks were just the neatest things I’d
ever seen. I still do! That they could be arranged for either
2-Rail power collection or for overhead wire was yet another
revelation. So, I assembled both kits, and installed details
accordingly for specific cars. I even succumbed to putting an
interior in one. I painted them up, and then promptly lettered
both for the Chambersburg, Greencastle & Waynesboro since
the LSE goes nowhere near the Cumberland Valley RR and
that’s what I model. This was all found to be good, and more
importantly, fun! So, early on I managed to exercise several
options that were readily available to a novice traction modeler.
I tracked down a handful of purveyors of supplies and
information, e.g., issues of Traction & Models were opportunistically
acquired and ravenously devoured. Thus, I was able
to put my first two trolleys on the track, sans overhead wire
which will be a future exercise pending the completion of
something quaintly referred to as “scenery”. Shortly thereafter
I managed to acquire three more LaBelle kits and procured
all of the necessary accoutrements to complete them. Yes, I
was completely bitten by the traction bug and now after close
to a decade these same kits rest uneasily on the shelf…
In parallel to this grand adventure I discovered the joys
of scratchbuilding, maintenance-of-way equipment, and the
freedoms of building freelance. And, these interests completely
intersected with traction modeling. Perusing traction
publications or 6’ of library shelf dedicated to trolley and
traction lines revealed a near endless array of model building
opportunities of some of the most interesting oddities ever
to grace two rails. Line cars and snowplows and work trolleys,
Oh my! My efforts of building the former two have been
seen in these pages, so let’s look at the work trolley (Photo 1).
Looks suspiciously like the venerable Pittman 4-wheel work
trolley, but this is a chimera. Resin cast ends and a scratchbuilt
wooden body with added on details, but look what’s
under it – a readily available and modestly modified modern
off-the-shelf Bowser mechanism. Here’s a budget drive option
that opens up all kinds of fun opportunities!! And, if you have
resin ends, well, why not resin sides, too (Photo 2).
I’m advocating having fun and being adventurous with
traction and trolley modeling; build whatever you really like.
Yes, there are RTR trolley offerings out now from Atlas, MTH,
Lionel, St Petersburg, etc and some brass floating around (see
your loan officer). A selection of venerable items from names
like Pittman, Walthers, Ashland Car Co., Franklin Models,
Locomotive Workshop, and others can be had at swap meets,
shows and eBay. Q-Car still sells drives, kits and details.
NorthWest Short Line still sells Magic Carpet drives and still
has a few kits available. LaBelle still produces a selection of
wooden trolley cars. Maybe we can discuss traction freight
trailer kits and moving freight under the wire in some future
installment.
u
1 2
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 35

Buy⁄Sell⁄Trade
AOCC*
Gem PRR B6 0-6-0, C/P or N/P, OB .......................$575.00
WSM PRR J1a, 2-10-4, C/P, OB ........................$1,550.00
WSM PRR M1, 4-8-2, C/P, Nice, OB .....................$1,150.00
USH NYC J3a De-Streamlined 4-6-4 w/Centipede tender,
C/P Ex, OB. .......................................$1,275.00
USH C&O 2-8-4, C/P, Runs good, OB. ...................$1,275.00
USH PRR M1a, 4-8-2, C/P, OB .........................$1,175.00
MG NYC J3a, C/P, NOB From Tony Ambrose ............$1,395.00
USH NYC S1b, 4-8-4, C/P, OB ..........................$1,250.00
MG PRR J, 2-10-4, C/P, Icken Gears, NOB ...............$1,895.00
USH NYC H10, 2-8-2, Mint, N/P, NOB ...................$1,275.00
USH PRR L1, 2-8-2, N/P, LN, NOB ......................$1,175.00
Gem PRR A5 0-4-0, C/P, NOB ............................$475.00
Atlas EMD GP9, F/P UP, OB .............................$250.00
OM N&W C630 High Hood, FM Trucks, New, OB. ........$1,195.00
OM NKP GP35 N/P, LN, OB .............................$950.00
Jim Hackworth
MODEL TRAINS
(and Subsidiary JH Consulting)
2631 Edgevale Road, Columbus OH 43221-1113
Phone: 614-4514517 Fax: 6144514557
Email: jhmtrains@msn.com • Web: www.jhmtrains.com
Consignments
AOCC*
USH B&O C16a, 0-4-0, C/P, OB.......................................................$675.00
Weaver Brass PRR A5 0-4-0, F/P. TRO, OB...................................$575.00
OM PRR PAPB Set, Late Run, F/P, New......................................$2,875.00
OM #0445 C39-8, C/P, OB..............................................................$1,195.00
OM #0076.1 NKP B-W Caboose, F/P, LN, OB ...............................$375.00
CB J&L Tank car, C/P, OB...............................................................$295.00
Scale Mod Ind Roundhouse Kit.........................................................$159.00
PRB 60’ Greenville Boxcar, F/P GT, New.......................................$ 295.00
Atlas EMD F2/3, AB Set, Both Pwd, F/P SRR, OB.........................$650.00
RY Models (Yoder) Brass C&O Woodside Caboose LN, OB........$375.00
USH PRR N5 Caboose, New w/Trucks, N/P, OB.............................$250.00
OM PS2-CD Covered Hopper, C/P ATSF, OB, LN........................$319.00
PRB SP Gunderson D.Stack Set, LN, OB......................................$1,395.00
Sunnyside PRR N5c Caboose, N/P, OB ...........................................$309.00
MG PRR N8 Caboose, N/P, NOB......................................................$250.00
Alco PRR N6a, C/P or N/P........................................................$each 225.00
Layaway Available
36 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09
*All Offers Cordially Considered
LSASE for Complete List
Shipping Cost Based On Location
Ohio Residents Add 6.75% Sales Tax
Estates⁄Liquidations
Collection Reductions

Scratch ’n Bash an O Scale Caboose
Tom Houle
This project came to life at the suggestion of my two O
Scale buddies, Charlie and Jerry. The three of us have been
building O Scale layouts, bashing kits, and scratchbuilding
for a long time. Charlie and Jerry are Duluth, South Shore and
Atlantic fans and all three of us are Soo Line fans.
While brainstorming over coffee one day, someone mentioned
the notable lack of DSS&A O Scale rolling stock, especially
cabooses. The conversation drifted to the possibility of
creating a pair of DSS&A cabooses from Atlas/Roco extended
vision caboose underframes. These were imported in the 1970s
and they are still in abundance (Photo 1). Many are hiding in
basements. Others can be found at shows, swap meets, eBay,
and Yahoo O Scale Groups. They are very nice cars with well
detailed bodies and underframes. Unfortunately, they are
way too modern for the three of us. We collectively model
the 1950s into the ‘60s. We pooled our cabooses and easily
came up with three underframes. We needed three because I
decided to build the two DSS&A cabooses, along with a Soo
caboose.
The project is based on a comprehensive article in the Soo
Line Historical Society’s spring 2002 issue of The Soo magazine.
The article included a history of these wood cabooses
with their steel underframes, drawings for both roads, and
some very good photographs. The Atlas/Roco underframes are
steel and a pretty close match to those we were modeling.
I enlarged the HO drawings in the article to O Scale (187%
enlargement) and determined the project was feasible. I would
1
also be able to use the end sills, platforms and steps if I shortened
the frames Except for the window arrangements, tool
box dimensions, cupola railings and truss rod details, the Soo
and DSS&A cabooses are virtually identical.
Having a couple of very good modelers looking over my
shoulder has made a big difference in how I develop and
build my models. Good enough isn’t good enough any more.
There’s a synergy at work that seems to be more that the sum
of the three of us. We’re all motivated do better work than if
we weren’t critiquing each other’s efforts. I want to emphasize
this article is less about how to build a Soo or DSS&A caboose
than it is about adapting the Atlas underframe to any number
of scratchbuilt caboose bodies. Let’s get started.
Underframe
I began by removing the three bodies from their underframes.
They are easily released by pressing on the four tabs
that hold the body to the underframe. I didn’t save the end
railings and ladders. They will be replaced with brass 0.020”
wire handrails and Taurus/Trout Creek brass ladder kits. I also
unplugged and removed the underbody air tanks, brake rigging,
tool boxes, trucks, and couplers. Set these aside as you
can use at least some of them on the new car.
I already knew the underframe would have to be shortened
and, with some modifications, I could use the end platforms,
sills, and steps. I began construction by measuring the distance
between the platform steps, which was 7-25/32”, and compared
that to the same dimension on the Soo/DSS&A drawing
2
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 37

(6-15/32”). I’d have to remove a total of 1-5/16” (Photo 2).
The two existing cross members are spaced further apart
than the Soo/DSS&A’s, but they are very similar in construction.
To shorten the frame by 1-5/16” and achieve the prototype’s
cross member spacing, I laid out three cuts on the Atlas
underframes. I removed 7/16” from the center and another
7/16”at each end of the frame at the bolster faces. This allowed
me to keep the end platforms, steps, and truck bolsters intact. I
made the cuts with a Zona saw and then squared them up. The
frames were reglued on a sheet of glass to ensure they were
aligned. I used CA glue and added 0.030” x 1/2” styrene strips
3
modified end platforms, I had to trim the platform ends. This
completed the underframe assembly. The platform railings,
brake staffs and wheels, and the ladders were added after the
bodies were built up and the roof height verified.
Carbody
The carbody’s sides and ends are cut from Evergreen #4067
car siding. This material is 0.040” thick with a scale 3-1/4”
board spacing. I began construction by laying out the ends,
cutting them with a new #11 blade and a cork-backed steel
rule. Scoring and snapping is great but it tends to leave small
ridges along the edges, so I filed them off before assembly.
These ends were pretty simple, door openings only and no
windows. On this project the car ends fit between the 0.040”
thick car sides. Consequently, I reduced the end’s width by
0.080” to allow for the combined thickness of the two car
sides. I used Grandt Line #52 doors. These D&RGW style
doors were only a scale 5’ 9” high. To achieve the correct
door height, I had to add filler strips to the tops and bottoms of
the doors (Photo 5). When they were glued in place, I added
0.030” x 0.060” trim and then added the sills, a sandwich of
0.030” x 0.080” and 0.040” x 0.060” strips (Photo 6). I glued
0.020” sheet trim across the tops of the ends. The ends are
5
on top of the frames to reinforce the joints (Photo 4).
I had to carefully saw away the frame’s four 1/16” x 1-3/16”
sill extensions at the steps because they would have hung
below the new car sides. You can see these unwanted extensions
in Photo 2. Chances are, no matter what caboose body
4
6
you’re building, you’ll have to remove these extensions (Photo 4).
Using an X-Acto knife with a #11 blade, and some small
files, I carefully reshaped the platform steps from straight lines
to the Soo/DSS&A’s S-curved step profile as seen in the car
end view. Next, I filled in the platform deck recesses with fiveminute
epoxy and added a bit of 0.040” square styrene filler. I
overlaid the steel grill platform decking with 0.020” x 0.100”
scribed styrene decking.
The Soo/DSS&A cabooses have steel end sill channels that
are 7/32” tall and commercially unavailable. I made up new
channels that were 1-5/16” long from 0.030” x 0.156” strips
for the web with 0.030” x 0.080” strips for the flanges. I laid
out the end sills grab iron locations and drilled them out with
a #74 bit, then glued in Tichy #2002 straight wire grabs. I also
reinstalled an air reservoir and cut down Atlas tool boxes for
the two DSS&A cabooses.
At that time I also drilled and tapped the Kadee ® coupler
mountings 2-56 and drilled the bolsters 0.060” for the truck
mounting screws. The Atlas/Roco truck bolsters are the correct
height for Athearn or Weaver trucks and 33” wheelsets. To
allow the caboose body’s 0.040” thick end walls to clear the
38 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09
capped at the roof line with 0.030” square strip.
To complete the ends, I laid out the grab iron locations
and drilled #74 holes for Tichy #2002 straight grabs and hand
formed 0.020” brass curved wire railings (Photos 7-8). Forming
these railings is pretty easy if you bend the wire over a ¾”
dia dowel pinned in a vice. Don’t have a ¾” dowel? You can
also form the wire into a smooth natural arc over your thumb.
To simulate the door knobs, I drilled out the locations and
thrusted steel pins through the doors. The pins were cut off
and secured with CA on the inside. As shown in Photo 7, to
ensure a snug fit between the ends and the underframe platforms,
I test fitted each end and filed and filled as required.

7
10
8
I laid out the car sides and at this point, depending on
which caboose you’re building, it’s a good idea to verify the
window arrangement on both sides of your car. In my case,
the DSS&A window arrangement was the same on both sides
(Photo 9), whereas the Soo caboose has three windows on
one side and only one window on the opposite side. On one
hand, I’m a stickler for prototype accuracy. On the other, I
hate scratchbuilding windows. Luckily, the O Scale gods were
smiling favorably on my efforts as I was able to find Grandt
9
Line windows that were a close match; so that’s what I used.
After cutting the openings, I installed the windows and
added 0.020” x 0.188” letterboards to the top of the car
sides (Photo 10). These letterboards extended beyond the
ends of the sides and I trimmed them to the correct profile
after the glue dried. After checking that the sides and ends
were squared up, I assembled them into a four-sided body by
joining a side to an end and then repeating the process with
the opposite side and end, using a dead flat surface. A small
sheet of glass is perfect for this operation. I used my five inch
square to ensure I was getting 90-degree joints. After I verified
the joint was square, I flowed plastic cement into the inside
faces of the joint with a brush, then I set each of the L-shaped
assemblies aside for a day to allow the joints to thoroughly
cure. Then I assembled the two halves, checking again for
squareness, and set it aside to dry.
After the plastic solvent cured for a day, I added 0.100” x
0.375” styrene strips to the inside of the car to reinforce it. These
strips were located so they wouldn’t interfere with the underframe.
I also added a 0.200” x 0.375” cross members at the center
of the car. I test fitted the bodies to the underframes and they
fit perfectly. Geez, I must have been doing something right.
With the carbodies still fitted to their respective underframes,
I drilled a 2-56 clearance hole in the center of the
underframe and marked this hole’s location on the 0.200”
x 0.375” cross members. I then drilled and tapped the cross
member to accept a 2-56 x 5/8” RH screw that retains the
body to the underframe and allows removal to service the
battery-powered interior and marker lighting.
Cupolas
With the carbody assembly done, I decided to build up
the cupolas. On these cabooses, I did something I’ve never
done before. I’d decided to make the cupolas removable.
The thought was if the cupolas were stand alone assemblies,
it would be a lot easier to paint their interiors, glaze the
windows, and add a brakey in the cupola seat. Completely
finishing the cupolas made it pretty easy to frame out the
roof openings to match their dimensions. There was only one
problem and I created it. I inadvertently framed and installed
the cupolas on the wrong ends of the cabooses. You’ll note in
the assembly photos, the cupolas are above the windows and
in the painted and decaled car photos they have magically
migrated to the correct location between the windows. Now
I really knew why I’d made the cupolas removable. I removed
the cupolas, the stanchions and roof railings, and sanded off
the roof’s primer coat. A bit of framing surgery was required,
plus re-skinning the roofs but in the end it all worked out. This
is what I call a character-building experience.
I cut my cupola sides and ends from the same Evergreen
scribed siding I used on the carbody. I extended the sides and
ends by 5/32”. These extensions are hidden beneath the roof line.
I could not find any commercial windows to match the DSS&A
and Soo windows, so I scratchbuilt them. It was a relatively
simple task as window building goes. I cut out the window openings
first and then cut the sides and ends to size. All of the interior
window sashes were cut from 0.020” styrene sheet (Photo 11,
page 40). The end window’s sills are 0.020” x 0.040” strip. The
side windows do not have sills. These cupolas were a bit unique
in that the sides rise vertically and then cant inward. It’s a bit
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 39

11
15
12
more work, but it looks neat when it’s done (Photo 12).
When the windows were completely built up, I assembled
one of the 0.040” x 0.375” side walls to one of the ends, then
joined the other side to its end and let them cure for a few
hours before assembling both into a single cupola (using a
small square to ensure 90 degree joints, Photo 13). As shown
in Photo 14, I installed the canted sides next. The cupola roofs
are 0.030” sheet styrene (Photo 15).
Both the DSS&A and Soo cupolas have roof stanchions
13
and U-shaped railings. Initially I used Precision Scale Company’s
#32041 plastic queen posts. They were the correct 5”
height but were extremely fragile and didn’t have the through
eyes for threading 0.020” brass wire, making it nearly impossible
to attach the rails. While I was reworking the roofs and
cupola openings, the gang went to work searching for a better
stanchion, preferably one made of brass. Jerry scored big time.
He found a few packs of PSC’s #372 stanchions at Walthers.
These were gorgeous lost wax castings that were the correct
5” height and had the requisite brass eyes for the 0.020” wire.
Unfortunately three packs just weren’t enough. There are 12
stanchions per pack and for the three cabooses we needed a
total of 62. It took awhile to get three more packs, but it was
worth the wait.
In Photo 16 you can see how I cut 0.040” cross members
with roof peaks that matched the peaked ends of the car. I
added 0.080” square support strips to the bottoms of these
cross members and then glued them into the carbody, spaced
16
14
40 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09
to match the length of the cupola. To center the cupola in the
roof and provide a gluing surface for the roof sheets, I added a
pair of 0.060” x 0.100” styrene strips between the cross members.
After checking for a “snick-fit” (Photo 17) and verifying
each cupola height was correct, I cut two roof panels per car
from 0.040” sheet with cutouts to clear the cupolas. I added
edge-glued 0.020” x 0.040” trim boards flush with the underside
ends of the roof panels.
Roof details
As shown in Photos 18-19, I used Grandt Line #144 running
board supports. After the supports were glued in place
on ½” centers, I flat-filed them all to a uniform height. For the
running boards proper, I used 0.020” x 0.125” styrene strips.

17
20
18
21
19
To ensure consistent board spacing, I inserted short lengths
of 0.030” strip between them. Before I glued the strips to the
supports, I ran a piece of 50 grit sandpaper the length of each
strip for a wood-grain effect. The overall effect is quite nice. I
left the boards approximately 1/32” short where they meet the
cupola. This allows easy removal of the cupolas.
To support the smoke jack, I glued a 0.060” x 0.375”
square plate to the underside of the roof where the smoke
jack is attached. The smoke jacks on these cars are quite tall.
I didn’t have any commercial stacks that were the correct
height and since I had Keil-Line’s #48-249 short smoke jacks
on hand, I used them with modifications. I reduced the severe
roof angle on the stack base, then cut the stack pipe and
spliced in a 5/32” x 1” length of brass tubing (Photo 20-21).
The two white metal pieces were coated with CA and shoved
into the ends of the brass tubing. Make sure your smoke
deflector (draft inducer?) is set at a right angle to the angled
base. I also drilled through the smoke deflector for a better
looking smoke jack.
My cabeese have wire braces that run from the smoke jacks
to the ends of the cupolas. I replicated this interesting feature
with 0.020” brass wire that I formed into a radius to match the
diameter of the smoke jacks. I extended the braces approximately
3/32” to run into the cupola ends, drilling #67 holes in
two places to accept the wire ends. I soldered the wire braces
to the stacks with Tix low-melt solder sticks and flux. I located
the stack’s attachment point on each roof, and then drilled a
#67 pilot hole. I then drilled out the holes to accept the smoke
jacks. To enable removing the cupolas, the stack’s wire braces
are not glued. The trick is to make them look like they are
(Photo 22).
22
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 41

End Platforms
With the carbodies and the underframes completed, it was
time to address the coupler attachments, end railings, brake
staffs, and ladders. I began final assembly by drilling and tapping
the end platforms 2-56 for the Kadee ® coupler boxes. I
used Walthers’ 2-56 x 5/8” RH nylon screws, which extended
through the platform decking and were trimmed flush to the
deck with a #11 blade. Primed and painted, the screw ends
weren’t visible.
I selected Taurus Products/Trout Creek Engineering’s P6002
brass ladder kits for my end ladders. This kit is very delicate
and scale looking and it also allowed me to run the caboose
railing right through one of the ladder’s rung holes. This was a
prominent feature on the prototype and I wanted to replicate it
on the model.
As shown in Photo 23 , these kits are etched from 0.020”
brass sheet and have the rung holes etched in the ladder stiles.
23
the ladders. To beef up these solder joints, I formed 1/16” right
angle bends on the tops of the posts where they joined the
horizontal railings. Photo 24 shows the railing, posts, and ladder
assembly. The 0.020” brake staff has not yet been added.
This will be done after the railings are attached to the ends. I
left the bottom ends of the posts long to facilitate attachment
to the end sills.
Next, I laid out the railing post locations on the end sills
and drilled #74 holes to clear the railing posts. After slipping
each railing assembly into place on its end sill, I cut a piece
of styrene sheet to the correct railing height to hold it in place
while the glue dried. The excess wire post material was then
snipped off and carefully filed flush with the bottoms of the
end sills.
As shown in Photo 25, I added a brake staff at both end
sills and capped off each staff with a PSC #4670 brass brake
wheel. I had initially installed Intermountain plastic dished
brake wheels that were not correct for this caboose. The triumvirate
met and voted to change out the Intermountain brake
wheels and replace them with the correct PSC flat-spoked
brake wheels. The upper end of the brake wheel staff was
CA glued to the railing. The end ladders on these cars attach
directly to the roof ends. I cut the ladders to fit the trim. But
I did not attach them to the roof. To allow body removal, the
ladder ends simply rest against the roof.
25
The kit is flat, but it is cleverly designed to be formed into a
neat ladder assembly. Once the brass sheet is bent 90 degrees
and the ladder sides are held parallel to each other with the
provided jigs, it’s pretty easy to solder in each 0.020” brass
wire rung. I recommend using Tix low melt solder sticks and
flux. A 30-35 watt soldering iron will provide plenty of heat
and ensure nice clean joints with a minimum of solder build
up. The ladder’s hooks are not needed on these cars and were
cut off.
In Photo 24, I laid out the end railings and posts on a scrap
piece of ½” plywood. My railings were 0.020” brass wire. The
RH horizontal railing was threaded through the ladder rung
holes and became the final rung in the ladder. After bending
up the railings, I used masking tape to hold them in place on
the plywood. The handrails were soldered together just like
24
Before priming and painting, I washed the cars in a mild
solution of laundry detergent and water. I brushed everything
with a soft brush, rinsed, and let the cars air dry for a couple
of days. Jerry airbrushed the cars with Floquil #110009 primer.
The decals were custom made by Bob Anson in Jacksonville,
FL. If anyone’s looking for custom decals, you can contact Bob
at [e2picasso@yahoo.com]. Photo 26 shows the finished cars
fresh from the paint shop.
u
42 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09

26
Bill of Materials
Evergreen Scale Models Styrene
#34067 car siding
#9040 0.040” sheet
#9030 0.030” sheet
#124 0.020” x 0.080” strip
#137 0.030” x 0.156” strip
#361 0.060” x 0.375” strip
#351 0.040” x 0.375” strip
Taurus Products/Trout Creek Engineering
#P6002 Caboose ladder kit
Atlas/Roco
Extended vision caboose underframe
Tichy/CMA
#2002 straight grab irons
Kadee
#804 couplers
Keil-Line
#48-249 smoke jack
Walthers
2-56 x ¾” nylon screws
Grandt Line
#52 end door
#21 windows
#144 roof walk supports
#33 brake pawl and ratchets
K & S
0.020” brass wire
5/32” brass tubing
Precision Scale
#372 brass stanchions
#4670 brass brake wheels
Floquil
#110009 Primer
Polly Scale
#414354 Special Oxide Red (Soo)
#414281 Box Car Red (DSS&A)
East Gary
Car Co.
Dept OST
3828 St. Joseph Ct
Lake Station IN 46405
They’re Back!
Former Indianapolis Car Company sides
are now available from new tooling.
Parts #100 & #200
$3.00 each
Orders under $50 please add $4.50 for postage and
handling. SASE for updated list.
CHICAGO “O” SCALE MEET
March 12-14 th , 2010
NEW LOCATION!!!
Westin Lombard Yorktown Center
Show registration – write or email
70 Yorktown Center MARCH MEET – 2636 Hallquist Ave.
Lombard, Illinois 60148 Red Wing, MN 55066 (630) 745-7600
1-800-937-8461 Ask for the Chicago O Scale Rate WWW.MARCHMEET.NET
BUY, SELL, TRADE, CLINICS, LAYOUT TOURS & MORE!
Considered the best O Scale show of the year------Limited tables available--------Register early for your preprinted badge
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 43

Custom Building, Repair & Painting Services Available Buy-Sell-Trade, Consignments-Appraisals, eBay Sales
Website: www.alleghenyscale.com • Email: oscale@alleghenyscale.com
470 Schooley’s Mountain Road, Suite 8-117, Hackettstown, New Jersey 07840 • Voice - (908) 684-2070 • Fax - (908) 684-8911
Steam
Sunset 3rd, AT&SF "1950" Class 2-8-0, FP, L/N, 2-Rail, Oil Tender, Road No. 1950 .........$875
PRB AT&SF 4-6-4, CP, EX, Original 1930 Version, Pro Paint, Lights, No. 3450 ..............$1,095
Weaver, AT&SF Hudson "Blue Goose", FP, New, 2-Rail, Road No. 3460 ..........................$1,095
Max Gray, AT&SF 4-6-2, CP, EX, Pro Paint, Pittman Can Motor, Road No. 3437 ..........$1,095
WSM, B&O EM-1 2-8-8-4, CP, EX, Pro Paint, 2 Motors, Sander Covers, No. 7618 .......$1,595
Overland, C&O F-19 4-6-2, CP, EX, Pro Paint, Road No. 494, "Geo. Washington" ......$1,595
C&LS, C&O H6 2-6-6-2, FP, New, 12 VB Tender, Road No. 1477 ..........................................$3,795
Key, C&O H8 2-6-6-6, FP, EX, Late Version, Weathered, Road No. 1645 ........................$2,895
Kohs, C&O H8 2-6-6-6, FP, New, Weathered, Road No. 1628 ..............................................$5,895
WSM, C&O T1 2-10-4, UP, L/N, Can Motor, KTM Japan ........................................................... $1,795
PSC, CB&Q S4a 4-6-4, FP, Mint, PSC 17161-1, Road No. 4002, Upgraded ......................$2,595
PSC, D&RGW L-76 2-6-6-2, FP, Mint, PSC 17171-1, Black Boiler, Road No. 3351 ...........$2,495
Key, D&RGW L-105 4-6-6-4, FP, New, Postwar Mod Vers., Black Boiler, No. 3700 .....$3,695
PSC, D&RGW L-131 2-8-8-2, FP, L/N, PSC No. 16857-1, Black Boiler, No. 3600..............$3,895
PSC, D&RGW M-68 4-8-4, FP, New, PSC No. 17247-4, Green Boiler, Road No. 1804 $2,895
Max Gray, Erie K5 4-6-2, UP, New, Unassembled, Spoked Drivers, 1 of 10 Built ........$2,695
Oriental, GN Class N3 2-8-8-0, FP, New, Glacier Park Scheme, Road No. 2010 ...........$2,295
Oriental, GN Class R2 2-8-8-2, FP, New, Vestibule Cab, Road No. 2044 ..........................$2,895
Overland, NYC J1e 4-6-4, CP, L/N, Pro Paint, Cockerham Drive, Road #5336 .............$2,295
Kohs, NYC J3a 4-6-4, FP, New, Scullin Disk Drivers, Road #5425 ......................................$3,795
Westside, NYC J3a 4-6-4, CP, L/N, Pro Paint, Original Version, Road No. 5405 ..........$1,395
Westside, NYC J3a 4-6-4, CP, L/N, Pro Paint, Original Version, Road No. 5414 ...........$1,395
Westside, NYC J3a 4-6-4, CP, L/N, Pro Paint, Fully Streamlined, Road No. 5447 .......$2,295
Westside, NYC J3a 4-6-4, CP, L/N, Pro Paint, Mod. Streamlining, PT-4, No. 5451 ......$2,295
USH, NYC J3a Destreamlined Hudson 4-6-4, CP, EX, PT-4 Tender, Road #5447.........$1,195
Key, NYC K3q 4-6-2, FP, New, Single Window Cab, Road No. 4675 ..................................$2,250
PSC, NYC S1b Crown 4-8-4, CP, New, Pro Paint, Road No. 6021, Exquisite ...................$4,095
Sunset , N&W J 4-8-4, CP, L/N, Pro Paint, Coal, Lights, Road No. 600 ...............................$1,195
PSC, N&W Class S1a 0-8-0, UP, L/N, PSC No. 15699, Road Nos. 200-244 ........................$1,595
Kohs & Co., N&W Y6b 2-8-8-2 , FP, New, Road No. 2200, w/Auxiliary Tender ..............$5,795
PSC 17169-1, N&W Z1b 2-6-6-2, FP, New, Crown Model, Road #1438 .............................$2,295
GPM, NP S4 4-6-4, FP, Mint, Road Nos. 1369 and 1374, Due 12/09 ........................................Call
Overland, NP Z8 2-6-6-4, CP, EX, Coal Version, Weathered, Road No. 5130 ................$2,295
Weaver, PRR A5s 0-4-0, FP, New, Late Version, 2 Rail, Serial No. 6 of 12, Rare .................$595
Overland, PRR HH1 2-8-8-2, CP, New, OMI No. 139, 1 of 10 Produced ............................$2,595
US Hobbies, PRR I1sa 2-10-0, UP, New, Late Run, New Correct Steel Driver Tires.....$1,495
Key, PRR J1a 2-10-4, FP, L/N,210F84 Tender w/Antenna, Road No. 6498 ......................$2,795
Westside, PRR J1a 2-10-4, UP, New, 210F84 Tender w/Custom Antenna, ....................$1,695
Kohs & Co., PRR K4 4-6-2 Prewar Version, FP, New, 130P75 Tender, Road No. 3863 $4,195
Westside, PRR M1 4-8-2, UP, New, Last Run, Full Backhead .................................................$1,495
Max Gray, PRR M1a 4-8-2, UP, Mint, Late Run, 210P75 Tender ............................................$1,095
Overland, PRR M1b 4-8-2, FP, Mint, 210p75 Tender w/Antenna, No. 6753 ...................$2,395
Max Gray, PRR N1s 2-10-2, CP, New, McCafferty Paint and Weathering ........................$1,695
Westside, PRR Q2 4-4-6-4, UP, New, KTM Japan .......................................................................$1,995
Sunset 3rd, PRR S1 6-4-4-6, FP, L/N, Mod. Version, Lightly Weathered, #6100...........$1,195
Overland, RDG T1 4-8-4, UP, Mint, W/Decals, OMI 0150 ........................................................$1,595
PSC , SP AC-9 2-8-8-4, FP, New, Coal Version, Road No. 3800 .............................................$3,295
PSC 17347-1, SP GS-4 4-8-4, FP, New, Black, Road No. 4436 ................................................$2,695
PSC 15839-1, SP MT-4 Crown 4-8-2, FP, New, Gray Boiler, No Skyline, Ser. 4 of 9 ......$2,495
SS/3rd, SP MT-4 4-8-2, FP, New, 2-R, Daylight Scheme, Skyline, Road No. 4352 .......$1,495
OMI No. 0167, SP&S Z-8 4-6-6-4, UP, New, Oil Version, Road Nos. 910-911 ..................$2,695
PSC 16467-1, SRR PS-4 4-6-2, FP, New, Green/Black, Road No. 1401 ..............................$1,695
USH, SRR USRA 0-8-0, CP, L/N, Pro Paint, Green & Gold, Road No. 6531 ...........................$795
44 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09
Sunset, SRR USRA Lt 2-8-2, CP, EX, Pro Pt, Black Boiler, Can Motor, Road #6296.......$1,095
Sunset, UP Early Chall. 4-6-6-4, CP, EX, Cockerham Drive, Pro Paint, #3939 ...............$2,395
Sunset, UP "9000" Class 4-12-2, UP, New, Postwar Version ...................................................$1,195
USH, UP C Class 2-8-0, CP, EX, Can Motor, Oil Tender, Road No. 329 ...................................$795
PFM, UP C-57 Class 2-8-0, FP, L/N, Lights, Road No. 739, Samhongsa ............................$1,695
Key, UP FEF-2 Oil Ver., FP, L/N, TT Gray, Silver Stripes, Road #825, Rare .........................$2,695
USH, UP FEF-3 4-8-4, CP, EX, Pro Paint, 2 Tone Gray, Oil Version, Can Motor ...............$1,195
SS/3rd, UP MK Class 2-8-2, FP, Mint, Never Unwrpd, Short Vandy, #2260 ....................$1,095
USH, UP TTT 2-10-2, CP, EX, J White Drive, Light Wthr, Road #5078.................................$1,895
USH, UP TTT 2-10-2 - Custom, CP, EX, BL FWH, Sweeney Stk, Lgr Tender, #5305 ..... $2,195
C&LS, WM M-2 4-6-6-4, FP, L/N, Hinged Smokebox, Road #1208 ....................................$3,495
Diesel
Overland, ALCO FA-1/FB-1 Units, UP, New, OMI Nos. 0356/0356/0358, Per Unit ..........$595
Car Works, B&M ALCO S-1 Switcher, CP, EX, w/DCC and Sound, Road No. 1161 .......... $650
PSC, B&M EMD SW-1 Ph 1, CP, EX, Low Stack, Black w/Red Nose Stripes, #1112 .......... $625
Atlas O, C&O GP-9 Ph II - 2 Units, FP, New, C&OHS Spcl Run, Road #6009/6016............$675
OMI Nos. 0304/0305, EMD E8 A/B Units, UP, L/N, Per Unit ...................................................... $695
OMI Nos. 0292/0293, EMD F3 A/B Units, UP, New, Per Unit .................................................... $625
Oriental, EMD GP-9 Phase III, UP, New, Samhongsa Korea ..................................................... $825
Key, NYC EMD F7 A-B-A Units, FP, New, Last Run, Frt Lightning Stripes .......................$3,595
OMI Nos. 0393-0397, PRR ALCO FA-2/FB-2 Units, CP, New, w/Ant,, Tower Drive .......$1,595
OMI No. 0201A, PRR ALCO DL600B High Hood, UP, New, w/Ant, 2 Available ..............$795
OMI Nos. 0425, 0426, 0425, PRR BLW RF-16 Shark Nose A-B-A Units, UP, Mint, ........$2,995
SS/3rd, PRSL Budd RDC-1, 2 Units, FP, New, 2-R, Pwrd & Dum. Units, #M402/M405 ..$795
Atlas O, P&LE GP7 Units, FP, L/N, 2 Rail DCC/Sound, Powered and Dummy Units ......$575
Atlas O, SRR F3 Ph 1 A/B/A Units, FP, L/N, 2 Rail DCC/Sound, Freight Scheme ............. $895
OMI No. 0322, UP ALCO PA-1, UP, New, 2 Available .....................................................................$750
Hallmark, UP FT A-B Units, CP, EX, Yellow/Gray, Lights, Crew, Road #516/516B ........... $895
OMI No. 0354, UP Standard Turbine, UP, Mint, Round Tender ...........................................$2,995
Atlas O, WM F3 A/B Units, CP, L/N, 2 Rail DCC/Sound, Fireball Scheme, #51A/B ........ $850
Kohs, GG1 - Brunswick 5 Stripe, FP, New, Clarendon, Fixed Coupler, #4840, Rare ...$4,995
Kohs, GG1 - Tuscan 5 Stripe, FP, New, Clarendon, Drop Coupler, #4911 ........................ $5,195
Rolling Stock
PSC, GN HWT Empire Builder 9 Car Set, FP, New, PSC No. 16981 ...................................... $7,595
PSC, Harriman 72' Coach, UP, New, PSC 16031, Open Transom (2 Available) .................$425
PSC, Harriman 72' 72-D-3 Diner, UP, New, PSC No. 15477 ........................................................$425
Various, UP 85' Streamlined Passenger Car Kits, UP, Kemtron, Des Plaines, OSA, Briggs,
Several Versions ...............................................................................................................................................Call
P. Co., PRR X-42 Mail Storage Car, CP, New, Pro Paint, Shadow Keystone, #2541 ..........$350
PSC No. 15519, REA Steel 50' Express Reefer, CP, L/N, Late Vers, Lg. REA Herald ..........$295
Overland, GPEX 47' Pfaudler Steel Milk Car, UP, New, OMI No. 0700 ..................................$295
Div. Point, N&W CF & CH Class Cabooses, FP, New, Several Versions Available ............$395
W&R, NP 24' Wood Caboose, FP, L/N, 2nd Run, Version 3, Interior, Road No. 1644.....$435
RYModels, NYC Cyl. Container Gon, CP, New, Black, F/C Red Cont, #501214 ................. $650
OMI No. 0055, Palace Poultry Car, UP, L/N, W/Trucks .................................................................$575
Kohs, PRR Class N5c Cabin, FP, New, Version 2, "Buy War Bonds", #477009, 1 of 10 ....$675
RYModels, PRR GLca Fishbelly Twin Hopper, UP, New, AB Brakes .......................................$275
PSC, PRR K7a/K8 Stock Cars, UP, New, FM Models, Per Model ...............................................$325
Pac. Ltd., PRR War Emerg. Gon, CP, New, PL-1250B, Clemens Paint, #362528 ................$325
Overland, UP CA-1 Wood Caboose, UP, New, OMI No. 0797 ...................................................$225
Overland, UP CA-4 Steel Caboose, CP, New, OMI No. 0072, Road No. 25132 .................$345
Kohs & Co., VGN Class C10-1 Caboose, FP, New, Road No. 309 ..............................................$595
C&LS, WM "NE" Steel Caboose, FP, L/N, Round Heralds, 2 Versions Available...............$435
Various, Intermountain, RC, FP, Box Cars, Reefers, Tank Cars, Flat Cars - RTR & Kits......Call

NEWS: Dremel® Brand Detail Abrasive Brush; MSRP: $7.99
The Dremel ® brand is expanding its line-up of EZ Lock -
compatible rotary tool accessories with the introduction of
the Detail Abrasive Brush in three different grit strengths.
The brush’s unique, flexible bristles are designed to improve
users’ sanding capabilities by helping them get into tight,
intricate spaces and contoured shapes without damaging
their work piece. Detail Abrasive Brushes can be used on
materials such as wood, aluminum, plastic, metal, steel and
vinyl; and smoothing or de-burring wood after carving or
routing.
The Detail Abrasive Brush is compatible with all multispeed
Dremel rotary tools and fits on both the 402 and
EZ402 mandrels. It is recommended that users apply only
light pressure when using the accessory and work at speeds
of 15,000 rotations per minute or below for best performance
and results.
Each bristle on the brush is impregnated with sanding
abrasive that wears down as the accessory is used to expose
new grit, extending the accessory’s life and eliminating the
need for abrasive compound. Each sanding brush is color
coded by grit strength for easy identification. The brown
brush (EZ471SA) contains 36 grit and is best used to remove
light rust from metal or steel. The white brush (EZ472SA)
contains 120 grit and works well to remove light paint from
wood. The red brush (EZ473SA) contains 220 grit and is
ideal for removing tarnish from brass.
The Detail Abrasive Brush is available now at most hardware
stores and home improvement centers nationwide.
Brushes retail in packages of one, for a suggested retail price
of $7.99.
NEWS: #84518 Digital Pull Meter; MSRP: $19.95
Micro-Mark
800-255-1066 • www.micromark.com
The digital drawbar meter displays the pulling force
developed by your locomotive in ounces. Add weight
to your loco and see how the pull increases.
Meter capacity: 264 ounces to the
nearest 0.01 ounce. A Lock
button holds last reading.
Meter includes instructions
for use. For all scales of
model trains.
NEWS: DSL Shops O Scale Structures
DSL Shops announces their latest O Scale releases: #O215A
Model Shop and #O215B Drug Store. These urethane buildings
come with paper
signs and awning, a
card stock roof, clear
plastic for windows,
chimney and instructions.
Priced at $29.95
each, these very
simple to assemble
and paint structures
are copies of the HO
cardboard kits sold by Ayres in the mid 1950s See your
dealer first or check [www.dslshops.com] for more info.
News: Hex Frog Juicer; MSRP: $69.95 & BullFrog Turnout
Control; MSRP: $6.00 kit, $9.00 ready to use.
Fast Tracks-Quadica Developments Inc., 47 6th Concession
Rd. Brantford, Ontario, Canada N3T 5L7
888-252-3895 • www.fast-tracks.net
Fast Tracks is pleased to announce that they have been
appointed by Tam Valley Depot as the exclusive Internet retailer
for the Hex Frog Juicer automatic frog polarity reverser.
Hex Frog Juicer
The Hex Frog Juicer is an easy to use, electronic controlled
switch that automatically and instantly switches the polarity
of the frog as the engine passes over a switch. It eliminates the
need for complicated wiring or electro-mechanical switches,
replacing them with a single device connected to the frog with
one wire. Polarity switching is seamless with no interruption to
engine motion or loss of sound.
Each Hex Frog Juicer can control the polarity of DCC
power for up to six frogs on all types of switches including
turnouts, wyes, 3-ways, single and double slips. Using a Hex
Frog Juicer is especially helpful for double crossovers and
crossings as it dramatically simplifies the wiring for these
types of switches. The Hex Frog Juicer is priced at $69.95
each, is in stock and available to order now from the Fast
Tracks website at [www.fast-tracks.net/frogjuicer]
Manual Turnout Control
Fast Tracks announces the release of the new BullFrog
under mount manual turnout control with a complete line of
supporting accessories.
Complete with integrated control rod mounting, the Bull-
Frog turnout control is priced at $6.00 each for a kit version,
and $9.00 each for a ready to use model, making it one of
the lowest cost manual turnout control solutions available
today. The BullFrog features a small mounting footprint, automatic
power routing with an integrated SPDT switch (with
the option to add a second switch), and a high torque, long
throw wire, making it easy to mount the control under the
layout with minimal alignment problems.
The BullFrog product line also includes a number of
accessories including the TadPole remote control rod mount
for very tight locations, hangers for supporting the control
rod under the layout, joiners for creating control rods of
any length, and complete kits that include the control rod,
mounting hardware and panel knob. The BullFrog turnout
control is laser cut from 2mm plywood and has been endurance
tested for over 100,000 cycles. The BullFrog turnout
control and accessories are compatible for all scales from Z
to O and can be ordered now from Fast Tracks at [www.fasttracks.net]
or by calling their toll free line at 888-252-3895.
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 45

NEWS: Freight Car & Locomotive Decals; MSRP: $6.50
plus shipping
Protocraft, 18498 Half Moon Street, Unit 203, Sonoma CA, 95476
707-935-7011 • www.protocraft.com
Protocraft has introduced a new line of decals suitable
for steam era cars and locomotives. Eight freight car sets are
currently available consisting of mostly box, express and
refrigerator cars. Locomotives include a set for Great Northern
box electric Y-1 class locos. The lettering and heralds
were designed in Adobe Illustrator and are very well done
featuring the correct fonts and dimensional data for each
car. Current road names include Los Angeles & Salt Lake
(automobile cars), Northern Refrigerator Car Co. (NP 50’
express); Minarets & Western, Polson Logging Co., Rayonier
and Weyerhaeuser Timber; a Southern Pacific Harriman
express baggage car (B-60-7/8) with Wells Fargo Co. logos,
or American Railway Express lettering; three Santa Fe sets;
Tonopah & Tidewater and a Western Pacific 50’ automobile
boxcar or 40’ boxcar. The decals should be available and
on the website catalog by the time you read this. Pricing is
$6.50 each and $2.00 shipping for each 3 decal sets.
2
1
3
#5 Turnout Tie Strip and Tieplates; MSRP: $40
Irish Tracklayer 2682 West Palo Alto Avenue
Fresno, CA 93711-1107
www.irishtracklayer.com
Reviewed by Mike Cougill
Irish Tracklayer has developed some innovative new
products that could make handlaid track a reality for many
more modelers. Their new turnout tie strips are laser cut
from sugar pine with the ties themselves measuring a scale
nine inches thick by ten inches wide (Photo 1). They are
available in NMRA and P48 versions with the only difference
being in how the connecting webs between the ties,
which are designed to fit under the rails, are spaced.
A preproduction sample I saw was cut from thin
plywood, but John Houlihan of Irish Tracklayer said he
switched to sugar pine so that the spike holes wouldn’t
have to be pre-drilled. Although I didn’t drive any spikes in
my sample, which had to be returned, past experience tells
me that modelers shouldn’t have any issues driving spikes
in these strips. The turnout tie strips come in three sections
no longer than 11 inches in order to fit IT’s standard shipping
box.
The wood was very clean and free of fuzz. The laser
cuts were as crisp as could be, although as we’ve come to
expect with laser cut wooden parts, the edges were burnt
and very dark which, depending on how you want to color
your ties, could impact the staining and weathering processes.
All a modeler has to do is glue the strips down, stain
or weather, then add rail.
My initial thought was that the tie strips could simply be
flipped over for use as a right or left hand turnout, since the
pine has a good face on either side however the laser cut
tie plates also provided are of one sided orientation only.
Made from Strathmore® one or two ply paperboard, the
tieplates are a testament to what modern laser cutting technology
is capable of (Photo 2). These also come in precut
strips to match the ties. The spike holes are pre-drilled by
the laser along with separation lines in the tieplates under
the frog. It’s these separation lines that give the tieplates
their one-sided orientation. As shown in Photo 3, the tieplates
match perfectly with a number 5 frog casting from
Right-O-Way.
I’m not certain how I would handle working with these
plates as to whether I would leave the connecting web or
cut it away before laying the rails. Further, since they are
made of paper, I’d have some reservations about using the
traditional method of diluted white glue and water for bonding
the ballast. Once again, since I had to return my samples,
I wasn’t able to determine how they would hold up.
John reports that he will do custom turnouts and tie
plates based on a railroad’s common standards for a set up
fee of $50.00 for each numbered turnout. The customer
must provide the common standards for the railroad of their
choice. John has standards UP, SP, B&M, PRR, N&W and
Frisco however these do not cover all eras. Also in development
is a US Steel Taylor adjustable rail brace. When ordering,
modelers must specify whether they want NMRA or
P48 tie strips along with any frog castings such as ROW’s or
American Switch and Signal’s.
Having a variety of choices about how to do something
is always a good thing, These products may well take some
of the drudgery out of handlaying track for those modelers
who are on the fence about whether they want to go the
route or not. Contact Irish Tracklayer for further information.
46 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09

BOOK REVIEW: Coal Trains: The History of Railroading and
Coal in the U.S., ISBN 978-0-7603-3359-4; MSRP: $37US;
$40.95CAN
Voyageur Press, 400 First Ave North, Ste 300, Minneapolis
MN 55401
www.voyageurpress.com
Reviewed by Joe Giannovario
In The Beginning...
Railroading and
coal go hand in
hand like bread and
butter. It’s hard to
imagine the development
of U.S.
railroads without
the simultaneous
development of the
coal industry. Author
Brian Solomon and
photographer Patrick
Yough have joined
together to produce
this book tracing the
history and development
of coal railroading
in the U.S.
They start this
journey, interesting enough, not in the coal fields of Virginia
and West Virginia but in the anthracite fields of Pennsylvania
where Josiah White and Erskine Hazard developed
methods for the commercial mining of anthracite and effective
ways to burn it. This set off the first coal boom in the
U.S. White and Hazard also created two companies which
were consolidated into the Lehigh Coal And Navigation
Company to mine and distribute the coal.
And so it began. Chapter One tells the coal-related histories
of the Reading, Lehigh Valley, DL&W, Erie, NYO&W,
and CNJ. Chapter Two takes us to the Appalachian coal
fields for a history lesson about the B&O, C&O, N&W,
VGN, and PRR. Chapter Three tells about modern, contemporary
coal operations in the Appalachians. But I found
Chapters Four, Five and Six to be most enlightening as they
deal with modern coal operations in the mid-west and
western states. For example, I did not know that the largest
source of North American coal today comes from Wyoming
and eastern Montana hauled in enormous unit trains primarily
by BNSF or UP. The statistics are astounding. One mine
alone in Wyoming can produced more coal than the top 50
mines of 1958 combined.
Admittedly, coal unit trains are best modeled in smaller
scales but if you want to know the what, where and how of
modern coal railroading, this book is the place to start. And
don’t be fooled by the 125 color and 47 B&W photographs;
this is not just a pretty picture book but a well researched
trove of information with an extensive bibliography.
Coal Trains is available now. Check out the other railroad
related titles at the Voyageur Press website.
BOOK REVIEW: A Railroad Atlas of the United States in
1946, Vol. 1 Mid-Atlantic States., Richard C. Carpenter, ISBN
978-0-8018-7331-2; MSRP: $65US
Johns Hopkins University Press, 2715 N Charles St.,
Baltimore MD 21218
www.press.jhu.edu
Reviewed by Joe Giannovario
Tracing Forgotten Trails
In 1990 Richard Carpenter
was driving across northern
Indiana when he noticed a visibly
high fill that could only
have once been railroad roadbed.
As he drove on toward
his home in Connecticut he
noticed other tell-tale traces of
our railroad history. It occurred
to him that this history should
not be lost or forgotten and he
embarked on a project to document
the state
of American
Railroads at
the height of
its achievements
in
1946.
Why 1946?
Between 1920
and 1946 only
four national and significant railroad mergers occurred.
Therefore, a snapshot of 1946 railroading would actually
be a pretty good picture of railroading for the preceding
quarter-century. In 1946 steam was still King and people
still rode trains to get to other parts of the country. Nearly
everything moved by rail in 1946 so it’s a historically significant
period. And so was born the Railroad Atlas of the
United States in 1946.
I purchased Volume 1 because it covers the area served
by the N&W, the road I model, and, in particular, the
Abingdon Branch. Unfortunately, I did not learn anything
new about the branch but the wealth of information contained
in this one volume is amazing. Carpenter has hand
drawn the maps and keyed them with symbols and colors
which he explains in the preface to the book.
In addition to the maps are some 22 track plans at various
locations, and indices for coaling stations, interlocking
stations, passenger and non-passenger stations, tunnels and
viaducts totaling 297 pages of information. I've copied a
portion of the map from my local area so you can see the
sort of detail included but you really do need the author’s
key to understand all of the information here.
Carpenter has produced a total of three volumes so far.
Volume 2 covers New York and New England. Volume 3,
just released, covers Indiana, Lower Michigan, and Ohio.
I bought my copy directly from Johns Hopkins University
and so paid full list but used copies are available from several
sources on the net.
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 47

Review: Protocraft PC #112, P48 50 ton Bettendorf
trucks; MSRP: $62.50 pr.
Protocraft, 18498 Half Moon Street, Unit 203, Sonoma CA, 95476
707-935-7011 • www.protocraft.com
Reviewed by Mike Cougill
Along with the Andrews and Vulcan, Bettendorf trucks
were introduced prior to1920s and until being phased out
in the 1970s, they were the most popular replacement
for the once common archbar freight trucks. The archbar
design was banned from interchange service in 1937,
since it was prone to metal fatigue failure of the flat bar
stock used in the truck’s main frame members. The Bettendorf
design along with others of that time featured a one
piece cast sideframe with integral cast journal housings
as opposed to the separate housing more common to the
archbar and some earlier designs.
Protocraft is a great resource for 1/4” scale prototype
modelers, and these P48 brass truck kits are a very accurate
representation of the prototype. The masters for these kits
were made by Oscar Neubert and even the tiniest lettering
is legible and three dimensional! The 64 piece kit is
very complete and features all the components one would
expect to find on a prototype truck such as complete brake
gear and a proper bearing for mounting to the carbody
(Photo 1).
I’ll admit up front, that the kit intimidated me at first
glance. There are many small parts to the brake gear and
lots of holes to drill. Although my experience with brass or
metal is limited (very limited), I was able to work my way
through the assembly with a minimum of problems. The
first step recommended in the instructions was to clean
up the flash on the castings. The amount of flash will vary
somewhat from kit to kit and my cleanup took about fortyfive
minutes of work with a needle file. It is recommended
that you carefully check the fit of the sideframes to the
truck bolster to make certain there is freedom of movement
between them. Be careful not to file too much here
as a sloppy fit is not what you want. The sideframes should
be able to slide up and down freely on the bolster as this
provides part of the truck’s equalization with a properly
weighted car.
Once the parts are cleaned up, you plunge right in with
assembling the brake gear. A number of pre-located and
dimpled holes in the dead lever brackets, the Schaeffer
levers and the connecting rods have to be cleaned out with
a #70 drill bit. I did this by hand using a pin vise and hair
clipper oil as a drilling lubricant. This part isn’t as bad as it
sounds and only took a few minutes of careful work. Now
comes the fun part. The brake components are held together
with microscopically tiny brass pins. I found it relatively
easy to insert the pins using a pair of pointed tweezers and
a Magni-visor. Once inserted, the pins can be squeezed
with a pair of pliers which peens them over nicely. The
brake levers are to be mounted at a forty degree angle to
the bolsters. The brake beams that hold the plastic brake
shoes have an angled slot in them that fits over the levers.
Due to my own ignorance, it took me three tries before I
got the brake
beams oriented 1
properly on the
levers (Wrong
angles twice
and backwards
once). Thank
goodness for
extra pins. To
fix my mistakes,
I simply filed
off the peened
over end of the
pin in question
and it came
right out. The 2
instructions
indicate to drill
out a #61 hole
in the bolster
for mounting
the dead lever
bracket, and
I think this is
where I got
confused, as
the diagram
showed the
bracket mounted to the opposite side of the body bolster
from where the hole was located. I finally wound up cutting
the pin off the bracket and I just soldered it in place.
I’m still not certain I have it correct but it works. The brake
shoe hangers were a fussy bit of work. I couldn’t get them
in place, so I just left them off since they wouldn’t be
missed in normal operation (Photo 2).
The rest of the assembly is simple from here. I soldered
the spring platforms to the sideframes so they would stay
put when slipping the sideframes and bolster together. The
33” P48 metal wheelsets are lightly coated with wax to
prevent rust before painting. I cleaned them with hot water
and dish detergent. The instructions clearly say not to use
any heat source to dry the wheels since the plastic insulators
are heat sensitive, so I dried them off by hand with a
paper towel, then inserted them into the sideframes. The
final step for me was to insert the springs. I compressed
them in my long nosed tweezers, and they went in place
without any fuss (I only lost one). The finished trucks have a
nice rolling quality to them and the springs are soft enough
to give good tracking and equalization.
It took me several hours over a couple of days to actually
complete the assembly. I spent a lot of time staring at
things and undoing my own mistakes. Now that I have my
feet wet, the second truck should go more smoothly than
the first. While these trucks are not designed for beginners,
they’re not impossibly hard to work with. Anyone who has
assembled a pair of San Juan Car Co. trucks will do fine
with these. Take your time and get familiar with the parts
and you’ll be rewarded with a fine set of trucks for that
showcase freight car.
48 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09

A few months ago I happened to be in Lincoln, Illinois.
While there I was wandering around the closed RR station
and freight house downtown. Suddenly the grade crossing
bells and lights went on. It turned out to be the daily Chicago/
St. Louis Amtrak train, several hours late. I love grade crossing
signals because they are so in-your-face that they demand
attention. In the same way they make a model RR interesting
to visitors because they are surprised and startled and it is
about the only new thing I have to show visitors since 2009
was a no-growth year on my layout.
I would like to hear your comments about grade crossings.
I had always used the simplest arrangement: one gapped rail
running from, say, four feet to the left to four feet to the right
as in Figure 1.
The power to the gapped rail goes through an occupancy
detector circuit and that circuit’s output controls the grade
crossing circuits. You do need to make the last car on a train
draw electrical power, usually by having lights. But this has
two problems: (1) when the train stops at the station next to
the grade crossing and the DC track power goes to zero the
grade crossing circuit also stops. DCC solves that as the track
power never goes off; and (2) it is not realistic because, on
the prototype, the grade crossing activates when the oncoming
train is a mile away and deactivates when the receding
caboose is a few hundred feet away.
If the trains only go in one direction on your track then the
rail gap positions can be changed to be more realistic, say 5
feet before to 6 inches after. And if the layout is powered by
DC then the voltage polarity on the rails can be used to select
between two gapped rails, one for eastbound trains and one
for westbound trains. But what about DCC where you don’t
know the train direction?
This was the subject of a recent email dialogue with OST’s
publisher Joe Giannovario. I rashly told Joe that it was difficult
to design a realistic grade crossing for a DCC-powered
layout because you could not deduce from the voltage polarity
which direction the train was going. He, of course, called
me out and said “Why?” So I had to figure out a way to do it
and came up with the following.
In Figure 2 (next page) both rails have overlapped gaps as
shown to make two isolated sections of track and there are
two occupancy detectors. The gaps are at positions 1, 2, 3
and 4. Gaps 1and 4 are say, four feet away and gaps 2 and 3
say, six inches away. A two relay controller receives the voltage
from the two occupancy detector outputs and feeds the
grade crossing power. The circuit is shown in Figure 3 on the
next page.
This is how it works. Say a train is moving left to right.
When the loco enters the left isolated track (at point 1) current
from the left occupancy detector output flows through
the right relay’s B contacts and energizes the left relay coil.
Then the left relay closes and the A contacts energize the
grade crossing circuitry and B contacts open the circuit to
the right relay coil; to prevent it from operating, and also to
connect the right track detector also to the left relay coil. The
diode in the circuit prevents a sneak path back to the output.
When the last car on the train passes point 3, the left detector
opens and current no longer flows to the grade crossing circuit.
But the left relay is still energized until the last car passes
point 4. Then the left relay opens and both relays are now
reset and the circuit is ready for another train. Note how symmetric
the circuit is. It works the same way for trains in either
Figure 1
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 49

direction. Note also that, if the left relay opened after the train
end passed point 3, then the circuit would reset and immediately
detect the end of the train, between points 3 and 4, as a
new train and cause the grade crossing to energize again.
This sounds complicated but the two relays do all the
work. I put them on a perfboard and then soldered wires
directly to the pins. The top of the relay unit (right) is shown
in the Photo 1 alongside the detector unit. The wiring diagram
is seen in Figure 4, while Photo 2 shows the actual underside
of the unit.
Note that the relay unit does not attach to a power source.
It gets its power through the contacts on the occupancy
detector boards. My Walthers crossing gate used 12 volts DC
so I used 12 volt relays and a small 12 volt DC power supply.
Let me know your experience with grade crossings. Are
you satisfied with the simple arrangement? Do you have a
controller that is better than mine? I'd like to hear from you.
Parts list:
2 12 volt DC DPDT relays, Shack (Radio Shack) 275-249
2 Rectifier diodes, 1 ampere is plenty, Shack 276-1103
2 Block Occupancy detectors. Dallee TRAK-DT
1
2
Figure 2
Figure 4
Figure 3
50 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09

Rutland Railroad Ice House, Chatham, N.Y.
Harold Russell
Rutland Railroad Milk Train Operations
At one time Chatham, New York, was a major railroad
center being the intersection of the Boston and Albany’s
east-west line (the northern extent of the New York Central’s
Harlem Division), and the southern tip of the Rutland out of
Bennington, VT. Besides a small passenger depot, the Rutland
had an enginehouse, turntable, coaling station, and water
tower among other small buildings.
We know that the Rutland had very brisk milk traffic into
Chatham until the late 1950s. There is a good chance that
the ice from the ice house drawn here was used to top off the
milk cans before they traveled further to New York City. This
was especially so during hot weather. Let us briefly examine
the Rutland’s milk operations.
Milk trains were a major revenue source for the Rutland
Railroad that at its peak ran daily milk trains from Ogdensburg,
New York south. Early in the morning milk train No. 8
would leave Ogdensburg making pickups at ten stations on
the way to Alburgh, VT. The train then became No. 88 and
it continued on to Rutland where it was split, one portion,
No. 156, went east through Bellows Falls to Boston and the
remaining portion, still No. 88, headed south through Bennington
to Chatham, NY. At this point the milk cars were
taken by the New York Central to New York City over its Harlem
Branch.
The empty cars would return by a reverse route stopping
at Alburgh where they would be backed into the ice house
there and thoroughly iced for the the next day’s return trip.
The milk trains also carried passengers in a coach or
combine which also accommodated the crew. Between
Alburgh and Rutland they also carried a baggage car.
R. W. Nimke’s book, The Rutland 60 Years of Trying, has
a photograph and a Rutland Railroad Valuation Department
drawing of the small ice house located at Chatham, NY. We
can only speculate its use. Possibly it was used to top off
the ice in the cars waiting for the Central’s pickup. This may
have been especially true during hot summer days. Chances
are it was also used to fill the Rutland’s crews’ ice boxes. Jim
Shaughnessy verified that the Rutland did not run ice cooled
air conditioned passenger equipment so that possibility is
eliminated.
Ice House Construction and Use
Typical ice house construction involved wood studded
walls and shingled roof. The inside of the walls was lined to
the top with wood, chestnut being the preferred material.
Double sided and insulated doors located at multiple levels
were hinged to swing outward. The roof had a ventilation
cupola and/or an end vent. There was no insulation in the
walls as its cavity allowed the circulation of air letting the
warmer air rise to the top and out the cupola. The buildings
had a stone foundation and a gravel floor that sloped toward
the center where a small trench allowed the water from melted
ice to flow outward.
Ice blocks were packed one on top of the other as solidly
as possible between the walls - the layers being separated
by straw or sawdust. Any gap between the ice and the walls
was similarly filled. The bottom layer of sawdust was sloped
toward the center of the ice house so that the ice blocks
would lean toward the middle thus keeping the force of their
weight off the walls.
Ice houses were typically painted a light color to reflect
as much heat as possible. Ice houses were typically loaded
and unloaded using a system of conveyors and slotted wood
ramps. Specially designed picks and tongs were used to aid
the process. The blocks of ice typically weighed about 100-
150 pounds.
Modeling the Rutland’s Ice House
The data in Nimke’s book allowed me to make the drawing
of this small ice house. A small building such as this
would be a good addition to your model railroad. As such,
it occupies little space and can serve your layout’s milk cars
and ice-cooled passenger equipment. Of course, the ice
house would have to be periodically restocked so it would
be necessary to move a box car to it. You can use basswood
or styrene siding and roofing materials. The hinges and door
handles can be cut from strips of thin brass. I suggest you
paint the building a light gray color.
After placing the building on the layout, surround it with
wet, muddy ground with a small stream of water coming from
its rear. Lush green grass could surround the stream. The front
of the ice house might have gravel up to track side. Most ice
house doors faced north or east to avoid the prevailing winds.
Possibly a bench could be placed up against the building
with some ice handling tools nearby.
More Information
Copyright restrictions do not allow us to publish photographs
of the ice house. However, you can see photographs
of this ice house by visiting:
NEB&W Guide to Structures
http://railroad.union.rpi.edu/article.php?article=5567
Information for this article came from various Internet
sources:
1. Milk Train by Steve Mumley. http://users.rcn.com/
jimdu4/MilkTrains/themilk.htm
2. Historic Patterson, New York.
http//www.historicpatterson.org/Exhibits/ExhRailroads1.php
3. Boxborough’s Last Ice House
http//www.multimgmt.com/BHSociety/bhs3.htm
4. Harry Gottlieb: Filling the Ice House 1934
http://www.flickr.com/photos/americanartmuseum/3313921947/
and
5. The Rutland 60 Years of Trying by R.W. Nimke.
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 51

9" 3"
Rutland Railroad Ice House
Drawing is full size for O Scale
Drawn by Harold Russell
52 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09

9" 3"
18'-6"
Plan view is not to
scale.
For reference only.
3'-9"
16'-6"
4'-6"
5'-3"
20'-6"
3'-0"
14'-6"
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 53

John Dunn sent this photo
of a Golden Gate Depot PRR
BM-70 postal-baggage car.
Dunn weathered the car with
Conti Crayons. He also added
Precision Scale Co. air hoses
and diaphragm face plate. The
mail door ladder was located
in the wrong place on the mail
end of the car as-delivered
because of interference with
the truck swing. John relocated
the ladder under the
door as per the prototype but
the ladder is attached to the
truck frame.
A hot steamy day in NE Tenn.
in August, at the Hampton
Stone Works finishing shop.
The fire in the tank engine is
banked for the weekend.
The factory building is 1652,
by actual count, individual pieces
of ‘stone’ CA’d to each other
with no backing. The interior
has actual compression beams
working with functioning tension
rods to help reinforce the walls.
The whole scene was created
by Ed Reutling.
54 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09

Above: At twilight, a variety of Central Ontario Rwy (CORY) and CNR equipment slumbers at the Lilleyburg
engine facility on the Model Railroad Club of Toronto layout. Lilleyburg is the southern terminus of
the CORY, and is the regular host to CN equipment due to long standing trackage rights.
David Maclean sent the photo.
Even though we are going to
run a series by Tom Mix beginning
next issue, we never get
tired of looking at his work.
Tom scratchbuilds his own
locomotives to P48 standards.
At left is another example of
his fine handiwork.
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 55

2010 O Scale
National
Convention
The 2010 O Scale National Convention will be held June 30
- July 3, Wednesday - Saturday, at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara,
Santa Clara, California, near San Francisco. June 30 is set up day
and July 1 - 3 are days of buy/sell, clinics, contests, and layout visits.
Registration is $35, tables are $45 each (electricity is free), hotel
rooms are $109 plus tax for 1-4 occupancy. Registration and table
fees increase by $5 after May 31.
2010 will also be the 20th anniversary of O Scale West (OSW).
The OSW organizing committee has moved the 2010 OSW from
it usual early February time frame to the summer, and has added
convention-level activities. In 2011 OSW will return to its normal
February schedule and format.
Thus, the 2010 National includes and is sponsored by the 20th
Annual OSW. Since the organization and management of the
National will be by the normal OSW committee, attendees can
expect to experience the easy going atmosphere, well-organized
activities, excellent host hotel and friendly staff, and large number
of layouts open for visiting that are typical of OSW meets.
Since we have lots of experience organizing and managing buy/
sell, clinics, contests, and layout visit activities, we are able to put
extra effort into the activities that were added for the convention.
Banquet
The Hyatt Regency folks have been superb by working closely
with us to come up with a quality banquet meal priced at $50.
There will be a no-host bar before the banquet begins. The banquet
will be held outside on the hotel’s patio, and we’ll start a little
later so it will be dark enough for any projected presentations to be
seen easily. Our banquet speaker is Art Lloyd, whose railroading
experience spans being a Train Master for the Western Pacific, to
Amtrak, to his present day work on regional rail transit systems.
Museum Tour
This tour is to the world-class California State Railroad Museum
in Sacramento on June 30. The cost will be $30 including transportation
and museum admission. The group will travel to/from
Sacramento on Amtrak Capitol Corridor
trains. The Museum is a short walk from the
station.
For the Long Distance Traveler
We’ve created what we call the Grand
Tour for those who want to take time before
and/or after the convention to visit the many
railroad-related attractions (museums, preserved
railroads, layouts, model displays),
national parks, and other attractions that exist in the greater western
U.S. One can start the tour at Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland,
San Diego, or Los Angeles. From any of those points one can
drive to the convention, visiting layouts and attractions along the
way. After the convention one can drive a different tour route to
their departure airport. We are making arrangements with layout
owners who are located on tour routes to be available for contact
by phone to set up a visit. Some of these layouts are world class
and have never been open to the public before. Our web site,
www.2010oscalenational.com, has more information and will be
updated as new information becomes available.
Counting the many layouts on the Grand Tour, there will be
more than 40 layouts open for visiting. The visitation schedule for
the approximately 30 local layouts spans Sunday, June 27, through
Sunday, July 4, which will allow dedicated folks to see all of them.
Contests
The 2010 convention contests will be a departure from the
normal OSW popular vote contests in that in that we are adding a
judged (NMRA rules) contest. It will be possible to enter a model in
both the judged and popular vote contests and a model could win
its category in both contests.
Convention Car
We are close to signing a contract for the convention car which
will be the Lionel scale proportioned milk car decorated for Chateau
Martin winery. These cars were used to transport wine in bulk
from California to New York City where it was bottled. Watch for
an article about this car and wine transport by rail.
I hope this information has you interested in attending the convention.
Please contact me if you have any questions or suggestions.
See the convention ad in this issue for contact information.
-Rod Miller, Convention Chairman
56 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09

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MR 4-6-4 J6a Baltic, 2# 999
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K-Line Circus ’09
18” Heavyweight Car 89
#70 CT, Advert x2, Obs x 2
21688 18” Heavywt Coach 2Pk 177
Gold Unit Replica Tractor Set 38
Combo Flat w/Boxcar & wagon 45
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22250 Dining Dept Billboard Reefer 65
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Scale Dining Woodside Reefer 59
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Southern FM Trainmaster 359
Southern 18” Alum 4-Pk 425
Southern 18” Alum 2-Pk 222
Scale Smoking Caboose 59
MR, Southern
21” Alum 2-Pk 259 Coach 132
Milw Rd, Grt Northern
18” Aluminum Business Car 119
NYC, SF Black Mesa
Scale
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21639 Pan Am Railways Boxcar 37
21640 UP Modern Steel Reefer 35
21643 PRR Die Cast Gondola 48
PRR 16 Wheel Flat w/Transform 62
21645 SP 43’ Alum Mod Hopper 59
22414 Linde Box w/Alum Tank 47
22447 Wabash DC 2-Bay Hopper 42
Rutland Milk Car w/Platform 111
Mtn View Creamery Milk Depot 87
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37” Flex Stainless Phantom Case 305
42, 72, 100” Tin Switch Man 34 Rem 53
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GG-1 Girls Freight Set 335
Steam Girls Freight Set 379
GG-1 Girl’s Passenger Set 335
18” Alum Animal Car 102 2-Pk 199 1520W F-3 Texas Special Set 285
1464W UP 50 th Anniversary Set 320
2-car add-on $80 Full Set $395
PRR GG-1 Congressional Set 410
18” Aluminum Coach or Shop Car 119
2-car add-on $115 Full Set $515
15” Aluminum Advertising Car 85
N&W 4-8-4 J Class Steam 259
GG-1 179 PRR x 4
NW-2 C&O, SF, Seabd 155
FA-1 AA 225 B 80 ABA 299
B&O, LV, L&N, NYC, PRR, RI,
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PA-1 AA 225 B 80 ABA 299
SF, PRR, RG, UP, D&H, NYC, CP
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Am, ACL, B&O, Burl, C&O, GN,
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B&O, D&H, PRR x 2, NYC, Demo
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NS, SF, UP, CNW, Amtrak, Con, SP
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NH, NS, SF, GT, AK, GM&O, DTI, PC
BL-2 Powered 139 BAR, B&M,
C&O,C&EI,GMDemo,FEC,Monon,
RI Red/Black, WM-Fire, MP
FM Trainmaster 155 CP, JC,
MR, NYC,Rdg,SP,Wabash,N&W
NW-2 155 B&O, Con, LV, NYC,
PRR,UP,MR,GN,Monon,JC
U33C Power 149 CSX, D&H, MR
SF, SP, UP, NH, PRR, Reading, WP
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Demo, NS, BN, Con, Amtrak, SF
UP,MP,CNW,MKT,RG,SP,WP
Genesis Power & Dmy 219
Die Cast Scale Hudson 369
NYC, B&O, GN, SF, JC, CP
GG-1 Scale Electric 255
PRR x 5, PC, CR
EF-4 Rectifier 165 NH, CR,
N&W, VGN x 2, PRR Blk
72’ (18”) Streamline 4-Pk 195
72’ Madison 4-Pk 239 2-Pk 120
60’Amfleet3-Pk 155 Amtrak x 2
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Die-Cast, 3 smoke units
Buy both diesels get $50
Op. Wind Turbine 3-Pk 185
Ethanol Tank 3-Pk, Sound 216
Ethanol Tank 3-Pk 152
PRR Op. Stock Car Sound 120
Can National Coal Train 639
Stourbridge Lion Set 385
Anthracite Coal 2-Car 95
Wabash FM, Legacy 415
N&W GP7, Legacy 419
NH EF-4 Rectifier TMCC 315
SF SD-40, TMCC 323
Rotary Dump w/Conveyor 499
50,000 Gallon Water Tank 113
Sunoco Industrial Tank 52
Standard O
UP Bathtub Gondola 3-Pk 139
Husky 2-Pk Maersk, UP 159
CA-4 Heritage Caboose 70
DRG, SP, CNW
Northeast Cab N&W, Wab 67
SF Wedge Plow Flatcar 67
SF Idler Flatcar w/Load 56
ATSF Water Tank Tank 52
SF Tool Car 60
WP Heritage 60’ Box 63
Freight $60 SF Tool , N&W 3-Bay
DRGW DS Box, DT&I Reefer,
DRGW 40’ Flat, B&M Coke Flat
Katy or MP Heritage Hopper 60
Wabash PS-4 Piggyback Flat 73
In-Stock
Mikado WP, UP, SF, MR 699
TMCC, Railsounds, Odys
2-8-0 Rdg, NYC, B&O, WM 389
TMCC, Railsounds, Fat Boy, Cruise
UP FEF w/Legacy Grey only 989
NYC F-12e 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler 575

MTH 2009 Vol II
2 or 3 Rail Steam
MTH 2009 Vol II
Diesels Power 359 Dmy 169
MTH
UP M10000 Diesel Passenger 649
M1000 Coach $85 2#
2008 DAP
Atlas 2-Rail
NYC 4-4-0 Empire State 639
Pass Set $222
Orient Express 2-3-1 Pac. 999
Black, Green, Brown re-run
NYC Mohawk 2 or 3 Rail 999
L-3a, 3b, 3c L-4a, 4b
L-4a Mohawk Freight Set 1079
DMIR 2-8-8-4 Yellowstone 1299
Yellowstone Freight Set 1399
4-6-0 Camelback Steam 819
JC, NYO&W, Reading
Princess Coronation Steam 1079
London, Midland, & Scot, British
LMS 4-Car 365 Bag/Pass 95
GP38-2 B&M, BN, CP, D&H
Alco PA ABA 639 ABBA 755
Southern, DRG, UP B 139
FT ABA 639 ABBA 755
Erie, NYOW, Seaboard, MoPac
F40PH 3-R Power 389 Dmy 169
Alaska, Amtrak, CAR, VIA
Premier Passenger Cars 5-Pk 335
2-Pk 137 Full Vista 77 RPO 77
GP-7 359 Dmy 169 BAR, Erie
R-11 Subway 4-Car 449 2-Pk 175
N&W J Passenger Set 1079
2-Car 137 RPO 77 Vista 77
N&W J Express Mail Set 1079
NH East Wind EP-3 Pass Set 819
Zephyr 4-Unit Sets 2 types 649
FEC SD70M-2 Twin-Stack 649
UP SD70ACe Twin Stack Set 649
Maersk GP-60M Twin-stack 649
Amtrak Superliners 335/172
Sharknose AB $488 A 145
NYC, PRR, B&O
KCS 5pk 335 2pk 137 Vista 75
Santa Fe 2-10-0 Decapod 899
Railking
Scale Diesels Pwr 259 Dmy 129
FM
VGN, Chessie, JC, SP
2111 Reading GP-35, DC 3# 250
2113 Savannah & Atlanta 250
2114 WM GP-35, DC 250
2115 NKP GP-35, DC 250
GP-35 also in PRR, CNW, GA
RS-11 LV, Conrail, NH, SP
VO1000 Autotrain, PRR, NKP, CNW
MP15DC Am, NS, G&W, BNSF
F-3 ABA 425 B&O, MR, Wab, WP
2235 MR Hiawatha Power B 250
2-10-0 Russian Decapod 899
Erie, Pitt Shaw& N, W. Md
4-6-4 Royal Hudson 899
BC, Southern, CP-Royal Tour
GP-9 359 Dmy 169 C&O, UP
NJ Transit ALP46 399 Dmy 189
0-6-0 USRA Steam 519
Erie, VGN 2-8-8-8-2 Triplex 1299
N&W 4-8-4J-Class 999 2 #’s
Diesels 2 or 3 Rail
NJ Transit ALP44 389 Dmy 169
PRR Modified P5a $489
PRR FF-1 $599
B&O GE I/R Box Cab 399
SW-1 259 JC, RI, C&O, GN
Brill Trolley w/PS2.0 199
NYT, Pitt, Phila Sub Trans, MTA
SW-1 Switcher 259 CNW, MR,
Scale Diesels Pwr 259 Dmy 129
GP-7 GN, L&N
7890 Ann Arbor RS-1, DC 299
Other RS-1: NH, RI, C&O
7805 Jersey Central SD-35 275
3GS21B Genset 389 Scale 399
CSX, BNSF, NS, Army, UP, NRE
Diesels 389 Dmy 169 Scale 399
ES44DC KCS, CSX, CN, NS
SD70Mac AK, BNSF, CSX
AEM-7 Electric 389 Dmy 169
Amtrak x 3, MARC, Septa
Amfleet 4-Passenger 277 2-Pk 142
Septa, MARC, Amtrak x 2
EP-3 Electric 739 NH x 3
4-6-4 Royal Hudson 899
BC, Southern, CP-Royal Tour
60’ Flat w/Trash Containers 57
East Carbon x2, Gen. Am., Joe Trans
European
GP-9 Buff & Pitt, CN
RS-3 Erie, LV, NH, SP&S
FP45 Maersk,MRL,SF,MR
7822 CSX SD-35, DC 275
7823 Penn Central SD-35, DC 275
Dash 8, DC Und, UP, BC, SP 299
Dummy for above 195
Dash-8W CN, CSX, SF, UP
Dash 8
Conrail, CSX x 2, UP
U30C Chessie, MR, PRR, SP
GP-35 PRR, NYC, GN, AK, GMO
C&O M-1 Stm Turbine Pass Set 899
SD45 MR,GNx2,SF,UP
SD70ACe
SD70M-2
BHP Billiton, KCS, UP
NS, CN
ES44AC 399 385 169
Demo, CP, UP
Specialty Set
Am. Freedom PA Passenger 599
GE Evolution Hybrid Set 449/479
GN 2-8-8-2 R-2 Freight Set 1399
NYC J1e Hudson Passenger 999
CNW E-4 Streamlined Pass 999
SP Cab Forward Freight Set 1389
Erie Triplex Freight Set 1389
PRR P5a Beer Train Set 819
AA16 NOHAB 3-R 399 2-R 449
GN, Denmark, GM Demo, Norway,
Belgium, Luxembourg, Hungary
TRAXX F140 AC2 399 2R 449
Demo, SBB Cargo, Veolia, Europe
64’ 19 th Century Coach 76
LIRR, B&O 3-Pk 225
2009 Dealer Appreciation
Limited Quantities
UP DDA40X Diesel Loco 649
UP Pass 5pk 335 2pk 137 Vista 40
BMT 2500 Subway 3-Car 399/269
R40 Subway 4-Car 445 2-Car 175 Engineering Version Orient 999
VO1000 Power
259 NP, UP,
Burl, Patapsco & Black Rivers
2008 Vol II RailKing
Scale Size Diesel 255 Dmy 129
C628 D&H, LV, N&W, SF
RailKing – Scale Size
0-8-0 Steam Switcher 359
IC, Sou, NYC, NKP, NP, PLE
GP-9 USCG, FEC, PRR, SP 255
MP-15AC CP, CSX, MR, UP 255
RS-11 DW&P, NYC, NP, PRR 255
R142A MTA Sub 5-pk 369 2-pk 125
ScaleTrax -INSTOCK
10” 3.00 O31 or O54 Curve 3.00
O72 3.75 O80 4.45 1 ¾” 4-Pk 7.75
30” Rigid or Flex 8.65 ITAD $23
90, 45 or 22.5 Xing 16 Op. Track 16
Remote Switch O31, O54 or O72 $38
Switch #4 $44 #6 $51 Bumper 13
7840 BNSF Patch Job -8, DC 299
7841 BNSF Patch Job Dmy 195
7848 GE Demo Dash 8, DC 299
GP60M SF, DC 299
All Atlas Rolling
Stock $25-$40
20-3279-2N&W Class A 2-6-6-4 1150
K-Line 2-R Shay $499
Lackawanna, PLC
www.justrains.com

Just Trains TM Free Shipping over $200 on all Korber Orders (888) 453-9742 Made in USA www.justrains.com
302 One Stall Diesel Shed w/Shop 69
901 Action Machinery 6 x 8 25
917 Gen Lt & Power Sub Station 32
959 Midland Supply 8x6 35
304 3-Stall Roundhouse, 30”D 189
304A Xtra Stall or 304B Extender 45
902 Jaybar Company 6 x 8 27
921 JLC Manufacturing 65
960 John’s Cutlery 6x8 25
305 Sandhouse, 16 x 6 45
966 Lehigh Engineering 6 x 8 25
903 Skyline Steel 6 x 8 25
950 American Flag Co. 14x9 69
306 2-Stall Diesel Shed 25 x 11 69
306A Extender 12.5 x 11 27
905 Blackshear Refrig. Transport 59
967 Shoe Co. 7 skylts 20 x 9 x 11 69
307 3-Stall Trolley Barn 23 x 11 95
953 Joe’s Pickle Factory 14 x 9 69
968 Freight Terminal 8 x 15 49
308 Quincy Mining Co. 47
908 Shanahan Freight 20 x 8 x 9H 75
954 Buck Island Canning 8 x 12 59
969 Gen Lt & Pwr Office 6x13x12 65
310 Mitchell Textile Co. 39
911 Perfect Tool Co. 8 x 16 55
955 RJK Tool&Die 9x14 55
P56 Cut Stone P81 Random Stone 10
3115 Grain Silo, 7 x 34 x 22 H 135
912 Roller Bearing Co. 9 x 28 89
P83 Concrete 10 P57 Double 13
957 Lewis & Sons Machine Shop 25
915 Quaker Foods 9 x 12 49
D929 Roof Top Water Tank D30 12
315 Grain Silo, 7 x 19 x 22 H 85
956 James Company 13 x 8 x 9H 55
320 3-Stall Roundhouse 26” Deep 159
916 General Light & Power 48”L 175
958 Mill Works 11 x 7 w/Tower 49
New Modular System Kit 74.95
Unlimited configurations 24 walls
Just Trains (888) 453-9742

Buy–Sell–Trade Events
Buy-Sell-Trade ads are $5 for 30 words plus your address information. Additional words are $0.25 each. Subscribers are permitted one
free 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 by
email or called in must use a credit card. See our contact info on page 2.
FREE O SCALE LIST: List of O Scale shows for 2009.
Send LSSAE to Bob Retallack, Dept OST09, 2224 Adner
Ct, Columbus, OH 43220.
WANTED: Small N&W custom-built or scratchbuilt
steam, 4-8-0, 2-8-0, 4-6-0. Also looking for N&W
brass parts, e.g., pilot, cylinders, domes, tenders, etc.
Contact Joe Giannovario, jag@oscalemag.com or call
610-363-7117.
WANTED: Ambroid special run 50' Milw. boxcars,
Hallmark comp gons, Sunset WWII emergency boxcars,
PRB WWII comp gons, Lobaugh 50' reefers, WWII era
boxcars what have you? Mail only. Jim Seacrest, PO
Box 6397, Lincoln, NE 68506-0397
FOR SALE: Two USH UP 2-10-2s, Cab# 5071 & 5080;
USH UP 4-8-2 #7004; OVL UP 4-6-2 #3211; Key C&O
Allegheny; WSM C&O T1 2-10-4. All models custom
painted, lightly weathered and lighted by Harry Hieke,
Jr. Call Harry Bender before 8PM EST, 410-361-1889.
WANTED: CN, CV, GT, GTW, DW&P steam/diesel era
freight, passenger, MoW and caboose (vans). What
have you? Mail only. Jim Seacrest, PO Box 6397,
Lincoln, NE 68506.
FOR SALE: Brass and die-cast parts for All Nation/
Babbitt steam locomotives, frames, drivers, rods, valve
gear, boilers, cabs, tenders, and details. Also restoration
and repairs available. Some complete kits available on
a limited basis. Some older kits and built up kits also
available on a limited basis. Write and include $1 for
a catalog. Babbitt Railway Supply Co., 715 Barger St,
Mayfield KY 42066. Call 270-247-0303 between 8 am
and 8 pm CST, or email [boyceyates@bellsouth.net].
To ensure your event listing makes it into the proper issue, please note the following deadlines for publication:
Jan/ Feb issue: November 1 of the prior year. March/April issue: Jan. 1. May/June issue: March 1. July/August issue: May 1.
Sept. /Oct. issue: July 1. Nov. /Dec. issue: Sept. 1
November 2009
7: Stamford CT
Stamford Model RR Club O Scalers,
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Free admission,
coffee and donuts. Layout in operation
throughout. Bring your favorite models
and projects to show. White elephant
table available. No dealer tables.
Located at St John’s Episcopal Church,
Stamford Ct. Corner Grove and Elm Sts.
Exit 8 Connecticut Tpke. Park across the
street. Contact Jim Mardiguian 718 347
3159, dlwh2466@hotmail.com
Weekends starting the 27th: North
Haledon NJ
Model Engineers Railroad Club of
North Jersey, 75th Anniversary - Annual
Open House. Club is located at 569
High Mountain Road, North Haledon,
New Jersey 07508. Open weekends:
Fridays 7:00 - 10:00 P.M., Saturdays &
Sundays 1:00 - 5:00 P.M. Admission:
$5.00, children free with adult. For
more info contact, Paul Harbord 973-
427-4905 before 9:00 pm EST, or email
pharbord@optonline.net.
December 2009
Weekends through the 13th: North
Haledon NJ
Model Engineers Railroad Club of
North Jersey, 75th Anniversary - Annual
60 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09
WANTED: The O-Scale 2 Rail Club is a modular
train club looking for members or those to follow this
standard and start a club. We are using a portable 2' x
4' foot table format. Follow the modular standards for
placement of the two track mainline, wiring, and table
height. Visit the web site at: [www.oscale-2rail-club.
com]. Request a free PDF of the O-scale 2 rail club
standards guide from: oscale2rail@live.com
FOR SALE: New Sunset 2-Rail engines: 2-Rail UP Big
Boy, $1500; 2-Rail UP Challenger $1500, 2-rail UP
4-12-2 $1500, 2-Rail B&O EM1 2-8-8-4, $1500. Email:
woodsbymarius@msn.com, or call 505-898-6956.
FOR SALE: O SCALE ENGINES and freight cars from
the 1970s in good to excellent condition. AHM 0-8-0
yard switcher and freight cars; Two Atlas F9s, industrial
switcher and freight cars. Contact Chet Thomas at 904-
220-0593 or at [cttrains@aol.com].
WANTED: Steam/Diesel era, DM&IR, Soo Line,
DSS&A. Frt., pass., MoW, cabooses, NO ORE CARS.
Joe Fischer pass. & head end cars. What have you? Mail
contact only. Jim Seacrest, PO Box 6397, Lincoln, NE
68506-0397
PAINTING, WEATHERING, minor repair on brass only.
Will build resin kits depending on time period. Also will
paint backdrops. Call or write Phil Ginkus, 508-832-
6942, 7 Mt. View Ave, Auburn MA 01501.
FOR SALE: O Scale cardstock buildings, quality
metal and plastic detail parts, backdrops. Free catalog.
Pioneer Valley Models, 35 Yale St, South Hadley, MA
01075-2636
Open House. Club is located at 569
High Mountain Road, North Haledon,
New Jersey 07508. Open weekends:
Fridays 7:00 - 10:00 P.M., Saturdays &
Sundays 1:00 - 5:00 P.M. Admission:
$5.00, children free with adult. For
more info contact, Paul Harbord 973-
427-4905 before 9:00 pm EST, or email
pharbord@optonline.net
March 2010
12-14: Lombard IL
Midwest March Meet 2010. New location!
Westin Lombard Yorktown Center,
70 Yorktown Center, Lombard IL
60148. Call 800-937-8461 and ask for
the Chicago O Scale room rate. Show
registration write to March Meet, 2636
Hallquist Ave, Red Wing MN 55066 or
call 630-745-7600. By email contact
meetinfo@aol.com.
June 2010
30th to July 3rd: Santa Clara CA
The 2010 O Scale National is being
held in lieu of the 2010 O Scale West.
The hotel room rate is $109/night plus
10% room tax, for up to 4 people in
the room. Registration is $35, $40 After
April 30, 2010. Vendor tables (72”) are
$45, $50 after April 30, 2010. A banquet
will be held at 7:30 PM Friday outside
the hotel. For more details, contact
WANTED: LTD AMT Steam/Diesel era GN, NP, C&NW,
CM&O engines, passenger cars, freight cars, MoW, cabooses,
What have you? Mail only please. Jim Seacrest,
PO Box 6397, Lincoln NE 68506.
FOR SALE: All engines F/P Mint & TRO. SP AC-12
#4294 PSC, $4950; SP 2-8-0 Glacier Park Models
#2811, $2200; SP MT-4 and MT-5 PSC (latest run)
$2750; SP P-10 PSC (Skyline casing/deskirted) w/120
C-8 tender and Sofuie drive $2500; P-8 PSC w/120
c_8 tender, Cockerham drive, $2500; SP 60' Shopped
coaches PSC U/P new (3) $300; SP 72' Diner PSC U/P
new $350. Reasonable offers considered. Call Office
650-347-4402 or email bantell@pacbell.net. Bruce
Antell, 50 S San Mateo Dr, Ste 105, San Mateo, CA
94401-3857
WANTED: AHM C-Liners, powered, non-powered,
body shells. Also want brass C-Liners. Call Harvey Merz
701-523-5557.
FOR SALE: 2 Rail Sunset/3rd Rail PRR N1s 2-10-2 LN
boxed, $900; 2 rail Sunset PRR Q1a #9860 4-4-6-4 LN
boxed $1000; Five car set of 3rd Rail Pullman cars in
original boxes: 1x combine, 1x baggage, 3x Pullmans,
$1000 for the set. Buyers to pay shipping. Contact:
626-791-5300, Dennis Bagby, 2233 N. Suree Ellen Ln,
Altadena, CA 91001
FOR SALE: FtD.D.M.&S. decal sets. Will do 2 locos and
several cars; $18.50 per set. Call Mike at 515-353-4292
or email bluffcreektrains@wccta.net.
the O Scale National Convention, c/o
876 Boyce Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301-
3003 or call Rod Miller at 650-329-
0424 between 9:00 AM Pacific Time
and 9:00 PM Pacific Time. Email: rod@
rodmiller.com.
July 2010
11-18: Milwaukee WI
NMRA National Convention & 75th
Anniv. The National Model Railroad
Association (NMRA) will be celebrating
its 75th birthday in 2010. As part of the
festivities the National Convention will
be held in Milwaukee Wisconsin, the
birthplace of the NMRA. We are planning
a, rip roaring Midwestern, good
time for all, both model railroader and
general interest attendee alike. Dates
for the convention are Sunday July 11th
to Sunday July 18th. On Sunday the
11th, we are going to kick off the week
with a Beer and Brat Fest (a Milwaukee
Favorite) at Zeidler Union Square
Park, just a stone’s throw away from the
convention site and hotel. Contact Ken
Jaglinski, Vice-Chair. Contact mjaglinski@wi.rr.com

2010 O Scale National 25
AAA Turntables 16
Allegheny Scale Models 44
Atlas O
IFC
Bachmann 22
Baldwin Forge & Machine 10
Brummy’s Ballast 34
BTS 19
Bullfrog Snot 10
Chicago O Scale Meet 43
Custom Signals 14
Deichman’s Depot 25
East Gary Car Co. 43
Get Real Productions 61
Golden Gate Depot BC
Howard Zane 10
Irish Tracklayer 25
Just Trains 57,58,59
JV Models 10
Keil-Line 10
Key Model Imports 14
LaBelle Woodworking Co. 26
Micro-Mark 28
Model Building Services 34
Mt. Albert Scale Models 10
MTH Electric Trains IBC
Mullett River 29
NCE Corp 36
O Scale Realty 28
O Scale Trains 14
Public Delivery Track 26
Rails Unlimited 10
RGSRR Hobbies 10
Scale University 34
Scenic Express 15
SMARTT 13
SMR Trains 34
SpecCast 20
Statement of Ownership 25
Stevenson Preservation Lines 10
Sumpter Valley Depot 26
Sunset⁄3rd Rail 8
Underground Railway Press 25
UpBids.net 34
Valley Model Trains 26
Advertisers Index
Gorilla Glue 25
P&D Hobby Shop 14
Wasatch Model Co. 29
Guide to Modern O Scale 16
Pieces of the Puzzle 16
Weaver 20
Hackworth Model Trains 36
Protocraft 16
Nov/Dec ’09 - O Scale Trains • 61

Joe Giannovario
An OST Reader Poll
I’ve been participating in some interesting discussions
online and one particular thread generated a series of questions
about what is important to O Scalers when it comes to
a commercially manufactured model, especially locomotives
since they generally are the most expensive items on a model
railroad.
I promised my online conferees to post an edited version
of these questions as a survey both here in the magazine and
online. I’d appreciate it if you, our readers, would answer the
survey either by writing to me or by going to the OST websit e
and click on the link to the survey.
O Scale Modeler’s Poll: Answer each question with (A)
important or (B) not important:
1. Model is dimensionally accurate
2. Accurate castings and details
3. All wheel sets gauged to current NMRA standards
4. Drive wheels sprung
5. Drive wheels equalized
6. Drive wheels both sprung and equalized
7. Ease of maintenance/disassembly
8. Factory painted and lettered
9. Constant intensity lighting
10. Directional lighting
11. LED lamps
12. On steam engines, lighted class lamps
13. Factory Command Control (DCS/TMCC/DCC) system
14. If Command Control equipped, CC with sound
15. If not Command Control equipped, sound cams on
drive wheels
16 Command Control ready
17. Smoke units, steam or diesel
18. Low current, high torque motor
19. Slow speed operation for switching
20. Dual motors in articulateds
21. Dual motors in diesels
22. Written Warranty
23. Minimum radius stated on box
24. Minimum radius no greater than 60”
25. Limited quantity
The blog will keep a real-time tabulation of responses. I’ll
collect written responses and try to give you an update in this
space in the January 2010 issue.
Gift Suggestions
It’s that time of year when people start asking “What would
you like for [insert your preferred ethnic holiday season]?”
Supplying an answer is always a risky proposition because our
tastes as O Scalers are pretty specific and unique. So, OST is
here to help you this holiday season. I’ve asked a variety of O
Scale modelers 3 questions:
1) If you could buy one book, which one would it be?
Cost limit $100
2) If you could buy one tool, which one would it be?
Cost limit $50
3) If you could buy one model - kit or RTR, what would it be?
Cost limit $150
62 • O Scale Trains - Nov/Dec ’09
Here are some of the answers I received:
Mike Cougill, Managing Editor OST — Book: Pullman-
Standard Freight Cars 1900-1960 by Edward S. Kaminski from
Signature Press or copies of the Gregg Train Shed Cyclopedia
reprints. “The more info I have for a given project, the more I
enjoy modeling it.”
Gene Deimling, P48 Master Modeler —Book: Steam at
Allandale, 1998, Canadian Branchline Miniatures (Orillia,
ON) by Ian Wilson; Tool: 7-piece Wiha screw driver set from
MicroMark; Model: Southern Car & Foundry 60’ Harriman
Baggage car kit (Due out before Christmas according to Jon
Cagle).
Tom Thorpe, Benchwork Guru (CurvedBenchwork.com)
— Book: John Armstrong’s Track Planning for Realistic Operation,
Kalmbach; Tool: Dremel flex-shaft and the new quickchange
mandrels; Model: Any caboose. You can never have
too many cabeese!
Brian Scace, Former Editor OST — Book: A Guide to Modern
O Scale, 2nd Ed. or a subscription to your favorite railroad
historical society’s newsletter; Tool: As many straight and bent
forceps as you can get for $50; Model: Any of Mullet River’s
freight car or caboose kits.
Frank Verrico, DCC Guru at Model Rectifier Corp. —
Tool; A pin vise and a set of 61-80 number drills, or a Kadee O
Scale coupler height gage; Model; Any MTH Premier Rolling
stock and MTH 2-Rail trucks for converting the rolling stock.
Ted Byrne, PowerUp columnist for OST — Book: The
Story of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 1827-1927 in two
volumes and published to celebrate the 100th birthday of the
railroad in 1928; Tool: Resistance Soldering unit; Model: Old
Pullman curved turnouts 48”/59” or 63”/83”.
Joe Giannovario, Publisher OST — Book: A Railroad
Atlas of the United States in 1946, Vol. 1 Mid-Atlantic States.,
by Richard C. Carpenter (see the review in this issue); Tool:
A digital caliper (about $20 online); Model: Southern Car &
Foundry’s 40’ Harriman RPO.
So, there you have it. Leave this issue of OST around and
open to this page and maybe, just maybe, you’ll get one of
these neat gifts.
About Traction Action
I’d like to thank Martin Brechbiel for sitting in this issue for
Roger Parker. Roger is going on hiatus for a couple issues so
we’re in need of a pitch-hitter in the traction column. If you are
a traction modeler and you’d like to try your hand at writing
for a magazine drop me or Mike Cougill a note with a sample
of your writing.
And Finally...
This was a tough year on everyone: modelers, retailers, and
manufacturers, but we seem to have weathered the worst of
the economy. OST has actually increased its subscription base
and we’ve held onto most of our advertisers. Thank you both
for helping us keep this endeavor alive and growing.
For the coming year, we wish all of you good health, good
friends and good times.
Keep Highballin’
u

O Scale Trains mth 10-2009.qxp 7/2/2009 3:32 PM Page 1
ANATOMY OF A DIESEL
AVAILABLE IN 2 AND 3-RAIL VERSIONS
M.T.H. Premier Line engines are full O scale models,
1/48 the size of their prototypes. Premier Line
engines, like the ES44DC shown in this ad, are as
detailed as we can reasonably make them, and feature
a large number of added-on details. Premier
engines also come equipped with elaborate lighting
features including flashing ditch lights, lighted number
boards and cab interior illumination.
Look closely at any Premier Line model and you'll
find a combination of superb detailing, prototype
accuracy, rugged construction, and smooth,
dependable operation that is unmatched by others.
SEE IT IN
ACTION
ON THE WEB
FEATURES INCLUDE:
•1:48 Scale Modern Diesels
•Equipped With Proto-Sound 2.0 Digital Sound
•Variable Intensity Operating Smoke
•Locomotive Speed Control In Scale
MPH Increments
•Flashing Ditch Lights & Operating
Horn & Bell
•Operates On AC or DC Power
•Available With Hi-Rail or Scale Wheels
•Operate On 3-Rail or 2-Rail Track
www.mthtrains.com/PMdiesel
©2009 M.T.H.Electric Trains 7020 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, MD 21046

PRR CONGRESSIONAL LTD.
COMING 2010
SUPER SCALE
Here comes a very ACCURATE, SCALE model of the PRR GG-1(Smooth Sided #4908-#4913) in 2
Rail O Scale. Complete with cab interior detail and working pantographs this powerful GG-1 is made
to pull the GGD 12 Car Congressional Limited train described below.
Less than 50 Engines and sets of cars will be produced in 2 Rail. Many sets have already been
reserved, so don’t delay, 1-800-3RD-RAIL Today. This beautiful GG-1 model will be produced in
LIFE-TIME brass, with two motors and “Quiet Drive” mechanism, directional constant voltage lighting
and fully detailed cab interior with crew figures. $999.95 MSRP.
Look for this exciting offering to arrive in the fall of 2010.
THIRD RAIL DIVISION OF SUNSET MODELS INC.
22 Beta Court · San Ramon, CA 94583 · 925-820-7701 · fax to 925-820-7709 · www.3rdrail.com
FULL LENGTH SCALE CONGRESSIONAL LIMITED CARS IN ALUMINUM
Get the RIGHT cars for the RIGHT Locomotive. Designed to match the 3rd Rail (GG-1 Smooth Sided), these GGD
Aluminum cars will be the first Aluminum cars to have scale length, scale window arrangements, scale interiors with
lots of “Little People” and LED lighting, frictionless needle point axles. These cars will be lighter than previous GGD
Aluminum Cars.
Available in three 4 car sets. Order all 3 sets for a total of 12 cars.
Estimated retail price is $150 / Car.
- Set 1 (observation, coffee shop, kitchen, diner)
- Set 2 (parlor, conference-parlor, 2 coaches)
- Set 3 (3 coaches, parlor)
Made to reservations, contact your dealer or either Sunset Models or GGD to order. Coming 2010.
RESERVE ENGINE AND CARS FROM EITHER 3RD RAIL OR GGD!
GOLDEN GATE DEPOT LLC
231 MARKET PLACE, SUITE 223, SAN RAMON, CA 94583
www.goldengatedepot.com