1 - O Scale Trains Magazine Online

Celebratingthe art of1:48 modelingIssue #42Jan/Feb 2009Ted ByrneCarey HinchVol. 8 - No. 1Editor-in-Chief/PublisherJoe Giannovariojag@oscalemag.comArt DirectorJaini Giannovariojaini@oscalemag.comManaging EditorMike Cougilleditor@oscalemag.comAdvertising ManagerJeb Kriigeljeb@oscalemag.comCustomerServiceSpike BeagleComplaintsL’il BearContributorsNeville RossiterGene ClementsRoger C. ParkerSubscription Rates: 6 issuesUS - Periodical Class DeliveryUS - First Class Delivery (1 year only)Canada/MexicoOverseasUS$35US$45uS$55uS$80Visa, MC, AMEX & Discover accepted. Call 610-363-7117 duringEastern time business hours. Dealers contact KalmbachPublishing, 800-558-1544 ext 818 or email tss@kalmbach.comAdvertisers call for info.www.oscalemag.com • ©2009 All Rights ReservedPrinted in the U.S.A.O Scale Trains Magazine, ISSN 1536-9528, USPS 24457, ispublished bi-monthly in January, March, May, July, Septemberand November by OST Magazine, PO Box 289, ExtonPA 19341-0289. Subscription rates: US Periodical Mail,$35 per year, US First Class Mail, $45 per year; Canada orMexico, $55 per year; Overseas, $80 per year. Postage paidat West Chester, Pa., and additional mailing offices. POST-MASTER send address changes to O Scale Trains Magazine,PO Box 289, Exton PA 19341-0289.Contributors: O Scale Trains welcomes your feature articles,photos, and drawings. Such material should be sent to the aboveaddress for possible publication. If we accept, you will be notifiedimmediately. For more information concerning article preparationguidelines, please send an SASE to the above address andrequest our “Guide For Authors” or visit our website at: www.oscalemag.com.Cover: It’s another busy day on the New Jersey waterfront asNew York Central tug #10 eases into the dock after a morning offerrying cars over to Manhattan. The EL crew is busy picking upan empty “Phoebe Snow” box car. The scene is on Don Smith’s OScale layout. Don describes how he models rails laid in the streetin this issue.Centerspread: It’s always slow going when delivering cars toAllied Chemical. Crews from EL’s Jersey City yard have to weavetheir way through a maze of delivery trucks and car traffic to get totheir customer. Here we have another 17,000 gallons of MEK. Thescene is on Don Smith’s O Scale layout.O ScaleTrainsFeatures4 Street Level RailsMaster modeler Don Smith describes his technique for laying rails in anurban factory setting.10 Much Ado About Corners – Part 2: The MineHere’s how Joe & Jaini Giannovario developed a mine scene using offthe-shelfkits and components.21 O Scale In Small Spaces: The Clayville & Butterwood Traction RwyYou don’t get much smaller than this layout by Wayne Price.25 Working Air HosesBen Brown describes how a little tubing and some magnets make for arealistic effect when switching cars.29 Powering Up: Adding Sound In O Scale LocomotivesAdd a Digitrax SoundBug to your soundless DCC locos. Ted Byrnecovers the necessary steps.36 The Norfolk & Western Class A In O ScaleConley Wallace updates the recent MTH Class A and compares it withother O Scale versions available.41 Rebuilding The Mechanism On An Old AC-12Yves Vidal updates the running gear on a classic KTM articulated.52 2009 O Scale National Convention Preview54 OST Volume 6 IndexDepartments15 The Art of Finescale – Mike Cougill17 The Modern Image – Gene Clements18 Reader Feedback30 Traction Action – Roger Parker39 Neville’s Workshop46 Product News & Reviews60 Buy-Sell-Trade Ads60 Events Listing61 Advertiser Index62 Observations – Mike CougillMAGAZINEJan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 3

23Switch PreparationI had three Atlas switches to contend with and the firstthing I did was to drill out the holes for the under-the-tableBluepoint switch machines. The next step was to clip offboth ends of the small plastic throwbar that attaches to theswitchpoints (Photo 5). You don’t want it to extend past theend of ties when the switch is open or closed. Next, I putsome masking tape over the ties to create a little chamberthat would allow the throwbar to move freely once the plasterhardens around it (Photo 6). Be sure not to get any plasterin between the switchpoints. These will be carefully filledlater with Elmer’s Wood Filler, allowing them to move freely.Lastly, cover each of the frogs with masking tape so no plasterwill get in them.564First Application of PlasterI am not a drywall installer and I was a little nervous aboutachieving a smooth surface. I started by slathering on thejoint compound using a large trowel (Photo 7), which made iteasier to get a smooth surface over a large area. I made sure tobring the plaster to the top of the rails without covering them(Photo 8). No need to carve out flangeways yet, just make sureyou can see the top of the rails. Get down to eye level and getit as smooth and level as you can. Don’t worry about makingit perfect, it will shrink and require a second coatSecond Application:Once the first coat dries it will shrink down and you cansee it looks like a dry lake bed (Photo 9). I was a little panickedwhen I saw this but it just needed a second coat. Youcan apply this right over the first coat without any need forprep. I am not sure why, but there was no issue with shrinkageon the second coat. I assume it is because the secondJan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 5

710811912coat is thinner. Apply it the same way you did the first coat,being very careful around the switches. When you apply thesecond coat try to get it as smooth and level as possible. Thisis where the large trowel comes in handy. Be sure to leave thetops of the rails exposed but cover over the basswood edges(Photo 10).Flangeways, Switches and SandingI was careful to apply the joint compound as smoothly aspossible, but I wanted grooves and nicks in the finished streetsurface. So I only gave it a light sanding, using a fine grit sandingpad and vacuumed as I went. I used Elmer’s Wood Filler tofill any large pits or problem areas, thus the yellow spotsOnce the second coat dries, take a drywall saw and carefullyrun the blade back and forth on the inside of each rail(Photo 11). This makes a channel that is the perfect width for6 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09a wheel flange. You can get one of these saws at the hardwarestore. You only need a couple of passes back and forthand you are set. I vacuumed as I went to keep the dust down(Photo 12). I used a boxcar to test for flange clearance andused some scribing tools from MicroMark to clear out anyproblem areas.Okay, now it is time to clear the switches. As you can see, themasking tape saves a lot of work clearing the flangeways (Photo13). I did use the drywall saw to clear the most of the switch anda pick to clear the guides next to the frogs (Photos 14, 15).Fill in Between the Switch PointsI am a big fan of Elmer’s Wood Filler. It is a non-solventbased material and is very easy to work with. I removedthe amount I needed and rolled it into a ball. I let that dryfor about an hour and rolled it around in my hand to cyclethe moist material inside to the outside. I let it dry for a bit

131614171518more until the ball resembled the consistency of Silly Putty.I placed this carefully between the points making sure theycould move freely (Photos 16, 17). I made sure not to coverthe point of electrical contact. You will be left with a bit of agap both at the top and bottom but this can easily be filledwith weeds. Even if you don’t fill it in, it looks more like thelarge potholes common in industrial areas.PaintingI wanted to seal the finished surface with a base coat priorto painting and weathering. I picked an ultra flat latex colorfrom Ace Hardware and rolled on the paint (Photos 18). Thereis no need to wipe the rails as you go because it just wipesthe paint off the plaster. Once the paint dried, I ran a smallscrewdriver carefully along the rails to remove the paint fromthe top and inside surfaces. Be careful not to press too firmlyand score the rail. You will see the screwdriver edge will takeoff the paint without scraping the rail (Photo 19). It comesoff with a pass or two and any nicks in the plaster can betouched up with a small brush (Photo 20). Of course be carefulnot to paint the switch points.ConclusionOnce the rails were cleared, it was time to do some test-19Jan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 7

20ing with equipment. I had to make a few minor tweaks but Imet my goal of operations as smooth as if the street were notpresent. The most important element is the flangeway clearance.The drywall saw is really the key to doing this successfully.Its offset teeth create the perfect groove. A street leveltrack offers a unique look for any industrial scene and greatlyenhances realism (Photo 21). The next edition will cover thepainting and weathering of the streets and future editions willcover industry construction.u21JD’s Trains has commissioned Atlas O to produce a Custom Run of Northern Pacific F3s.Available in 4 road numbers (2 each of A & B Units). This run is EXTREMELY LIMITED, withjust 68 units made in 2 Rail and 84 units in 3 Rail. 2 Rail Powered Units are “Gold” unitsand include DCC decoder, QSI® Sound, & smoke unit. 3 Rail Powered Units include TMCC,Railsounds, EOB Cruise Control, & smoke unit. Estimated Delivery: November 2008Check out our monthly specials atwww.jdstrains.com/specials8 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09JD’s Trains, Inc. 9649 Olive Blvd Suite 384 St. Louis, MO 63132Phone: 314-409-4451, Fax: 314-584-7051, Email: info@jdstrains.comPOWERED A-UNIT (#6000A & #6000D) - $499.95POWERED B-UNIT (#6000B) - $499.95UNPOWERED B-UNIT (#6000C) - $209.95“A-B-A” POWER/DUMMY SET - MSRP $1210, SALE $1149“A-B-A” ALL POWER SET - MSRP $1500, SALE $1399“A-B-B-A SET” - MSRP: $1710, SALE: $1599JD’s Trains

The OGLE Coaling Tower is Back!At 22 inches tall, this is the biggest freestanding, ready to use plastic coalingtower ever produced. There were manyOGLE coaling towers serving mostrailroads into the 50s. Included are 4exterior and 2 interior lights, that justplug into your existing track power. Thecoal chutes are adjustable in height andvery realistic. The roof components areremovable for access and detailing ofthe interior.Available in Black (dark brown) andBrown. $229.95 Delivered!“I got my tower yesterday it’s flawless,breathtaking, worth every penny.” - R.D., MAInternational Shipping:CANADA $20EUROPE / ASIA / AUSTRALIA $50Note: Chains Require Installation.“LITTLE PEOPLE” SEATED FIGURES FOR O SCALEHighly Detailed, Variety of Painted Men and WomenAvailable Now $25 / Pack of 40 Figuresadd $5 S&H 1-4 Packswww.goldengatedepot.com / FAX: (408) 904-5849Scott Mann TCA #93-37539

Much Ado About Corners —Part 2: The MINEJoe & Jaini GiannovarioWe’ve all run into this problem at one time or another. Webuild a layout in a square room with curves in the corners. Isolved my corner problems by filling them with industries. Inthis second part I will show you how I filled a corner with amine built from readily available off-the-shelf kits.The highlighted area in Figure 1 shows the corner in question.The trackage leading to this area is a long sweeping curvethat runs through countryside. Jaini and I debated on how totreat the corner for some time until I came across the HardscrabbleOre Bin by Firebox Models (reviewed in OST #33).That model gave me the idea to fill the corner with a mine thatfeeds the ore bin at trackside.As in Part 1, the area does not allow easy access so I built aremovable platform on which to build the mine scene. Photo1 shows the area in question. It is a right triangle with a curvedFig. 1front. Also, the track is on a grade so that the right side is at aslightly higher elevation than the left side. In order to disguisethe front edge of the lift-out section, I built a tie-cribbed retainingwall along the outside of the curve which you can see inthe photo. The wall was assembled with hot glue, which madethe construction go quickly.110 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09Photo 2 shows the lift-out shelf upside down. The maincriterion was to make it light weight for easier handling. Theframe is 1” x 1” pine held at right angles with a steel reinforcingplate and screws. A center piece was added to supportthe 1/4” foam sheeting that forms the base. Photo 3 shows theshelf in place on the layout. The shelf does not sit level but ishigher at the back than the front.Once I had the basic shelf, the next step was to locate

2536the ore bin and mark that off on the shelf. This is shown inPhoto 4. With the bin marked off, I needed to locate the mineentrance. To do that, I had to figure out how to get the miningproduct from the mine head to the ore bin. I chose an HOScale wooden trestle kit made by Grand Central Gems fromScenic Express. Using this kit cut a huge amount of time offthe project since the trestle bents are pre-assembled, as are thedeck sections.I assembled two deck sections per the kit’s instructions(Photo 5). I then placed the deck on the shelf with the frontedge of the deck even with the location of the ore bin. I measuredup a few inches from the rear edge of the deck and thisbecame the location of the mine opening (Photo 6).The mine opening itself was made from a urethane foamcasting of a heavy timber frame retaining wall, also from ScenicExpress. I trimmed the wall to the height I wanted with arazor knife (Photo 7) and then opened up the center for themine entrance (Photo 8).478Jan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 11

The next piece of the puzzle was to figure out how high themine entrance needed to be. I placed the ore bin back on theshelf and topped that with the trestle deck. The rear edge ofthe deck was supported with a piece of 1/4” foam until it waslevel (Photo 9).91112Now that I had the height and location of the mineentrance, it was time to start adding the scenery skeleton. Thebasic scenery shapes were roughed out of 1/4” Styrofoamsheeting. (In case you missed it, I described this foam sheetingin OST #31). I cut large pieces for the rear walls and smallerpieces for the bluff with the mine opening, and glued them inplace with hot-melt glue. Photo 10 shows a test fit of the orebin with the trestle deck and the mine opening.1013With all these pieces mapped out, now it was time to addsome trestle bents. I decided to use just three and spacedthese until they looked right to me. The bents were hot gluedto the deck and a small machinist’s square was used to insurethey were both square and plumb (Photo 11). The trestle deckis actually supported at the front by the ore bin and at the rearby the last trestle bent. I hot glued foam pieces under the othertwo bents for support (Photo 12).Photo 12 also shows the start of the scenery skeleton. Morepieces of 1/4” foam were hot glued in place and then coveredwith wide masking tape until I had the general shape of thehillside (Photo 13). I then turned the module over to Jaini forthe final scenery. Photos 14 and 15 show the scenery skeletonbeing skinned with heavy craft paper soaked in 100% whiteglue. This makes for a very light, yet strong module. Photo 1612 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’0914

151716shows the beginning of the ground cover and Photo 17 showsthe finalized module before installation. All of the sceneryproducts used were obtained from Scenic Express.When the basic scenery was completed, I added the trestleside braces by hot gluing them in place. Both the trestle andthe mine entrance were then stained with MinWax Jacobeanoil-based wood stain. I made the module so that the ore binis a slip fit in place. This way the bin can be added after themodule is installed on the layout.Photo 18 shows the module installed on the layout. I addeda Grandt Line staircase to the right side of the trestle as seen inthe lead photo. The mine office was part of another kit I hadlaying around. It only had two sides and a roof. I made theother two sides from 1/4” foam and turned the office so you18can’t see the blank walls. The track on the trestle is old AtlasHO Scale code 100 flextrack with fiber ties. I cut out everyother tie to make it look more like 30” gauge mine track. Themine jenny and cart are made from a Wiseman Model ServicesOn3/On30 Fairmount Speeder and trailer. I built the minecart from styrene strips using the trailer as a base.Our goal was to create a mining scene using as many retailproducts as possible to minimize construction time. Both Jainiand I think we achieved that goal.uParts ListCommercial Kits/PartsFB-612 - Firebox Models Hardscrabble Ore BinGC0060 - Grand Central Gems HO Scale Trestle kit, 2 decksw/stringers.FL6111 - Scenic Express O Scale High Post Timber WallWiseman Model Services Fairmount Speeder & trailer forOn3/30Misc. Materials1/4” Styrofoam sheeting for scenery supports2” wide cheap masking tapeBrown craft paperWhite glue1” x 1” white pineL bracket hardwareScrewsHot glueMinWax Jacobean stainScenic Express scenery materialsJan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 13

From PA HeritageO Scale Birney Drive Units• Shown above: a complete interior structure for theCorgi Birney with lights and reversing headlights. Includesthe 2-rail power truck. $125.• 2-rail power truck for the Corgi Birney. Requires somefloor removal which is not visible in the car. 8' wheelbasewith scale or hirail wheels. Our hirail wheels operate oncode 100 or higher. $90• Not shown: Black Beetle power unit available in wheelbase from 23.75 MM to 40 MM.(15/16" to 1 9/16"). $65Pa Heritage Models Ltd.715 Ridgeway Road, Birdsboro, PA 19508www.paheritagemodels.comO ScaleTrainsSubscription Rates: 6 issuesUS - Periodical Class Delivery uS$35US - First Class Delivery (1 year only) US$45Canada/MexicouS$55OverseasuS$80PO Box 289,Exton PA 19341-0289.voice: 610-363-7117 • fax 610-363-7357• Office hours are Mon. - Thurs. 10:00 am to 5:00pm. Leave a message and someone will call youback. Closed Fri. thru Sun.• Back issues available are: 18, 19, 20, 21& 23 @$5.95ea.; 24, 26, 27, 30, 31, 32, 35, 36, 38 & 39 @$6.95 ea.Include $4.80 postage for every 4 copies.• Subscriptions which start with the current issuealready on the street will be charged $2 extra forpostage. Subscriptions and back issues can beordered at our website. Check our website for freedownloadable PDFs of early issues.• OST is published in January, March, May, July,September & November. Issues usually arrive bythe second week of the issue month. If your issueis not delivered by the end of the month, call andwe will replace it.• Your subscription expiration date is now printedon the mailing label.Grade Crossing Signal SetGrade Crossing Signal SetCS-2 Grade Crossing Signal Set includes:CS-2A Signal CS-2 Grade with Crossing flat cap Signal and basic Set includes: mast supportCS-2B CS-2A Signal Signal with with bell flat cap cap and junction basic mast box support supportAWS-1 Advanced Warning Signs (X2)CS-2B Signal with bell cap and junction box supportWPS-1 Whistle Post Signs (X2)AWS-1 Advanced Warning Signs (X2)GCF-1 Flasher/DetectorWPS-1 Whistle Post Signs (X2)$69.95 plus $6.95 S/H in the continental U.S.GCF-1 Flasher/DetectorCustom $69.95 Signals plus $6.95 S/H in www.customsignals.comthe continental U.S.27 Gellatly Drive(877) 523-3236Wappingers Custom Falls, Signals NY 12590www.customsignals.comphone/fax27 Gellatly Drive(877) 523-3236Wappingers Falls, NY 12590phone/fax14 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09

The Art of FinescaleMichael CougillA P48 Wish ListFirst, let me say that we really are blessed in O Scale with awealth of great products. Not everything is available of course,nor will it ever be, and that holds true in every scale, even HO.With all the great products we do have however, I’d like to putmy wish list of P48 products out there for anyone who mighttake an interest in producing them.I have to put P48 roller bearing trucks at the top of thelist, in both 70 and 100 ton versions. It really is past the timesomebody brought these to market. I realize the number ofmodern era modelers working with P48 is probably limited,which may be the reason these haven’t shown up beforenow. Given all of the fine examples of modern rolling stockthat Atlas O and others have brought out, this is a sorelyneeded item for many of us.At the September Indianapolis meet, I managed to purchasea pair of brass trucks with 36” wheels in P48 made a long timeago by Overland. With rotating end caps and a nice weightand feel to them, they’re beautiful! The problem is: I only havethe one pair; I could use twenty more pairs just like them inboth 70 ton with 33” wheels and the 100 ton 36” wheel stylesto outfit the rest of my car fleet. Anybody feel the same? P48Transition Era modelers would benefit too, in that roller bearingtrucks started showing up in significant numbers in thelate-Fifties and early-Sixties. By the mid-Sixties the ratio wasalmost 50-50 between the two. I know there are more than afew of you modeling that era, so the market for these trucksjust got bigger.Second item on the wish list is a modern era car that noone has yet produced commercially: A Pullman Standard 5344cubic foot, 70 ton boxcar like the one shown in this phototaken by Greg Elems. Widely known as a “Railbox” car, thisonce common design was the standard boxcar of its time.Thousands of these were produced and roamed all over thecountry. Thirty years later, more than a few of them are stillrolling out the miles; yet no one has offered this car commerciallyin O Scale. Atlas O is the logical choice to do thembased on their previous modern car offerings. For the modernera modeler, it is a sorely needed car.Third on the list would be a line of freight car detailing partsaimed at scratchbuilders. I know, I know; Precision Scale, Keil-Line, Grandt Line and many others have such offerings. What Iwould love to see is a line of high quality interchangeable styreneparts like boxcar roofs, doors or car ends in O Scale likethose available from Branchline Trains in HO Scale. Wouldn’tit be nice to purchase an excellent quality casting of a Vikingor Hutchins Dry Lading car roof, a pair of Murphy 7/7 or 7/8ends and a six foot wide Superior car door for your next freightcar project instead of having to scratchbuild them? Onceagain, these are items that would find a wide audience amongall O Scalers, not just P48 modelers. For fun, I’m working on amodel of a Wabash 40’ single-sheathed auto car. The projectis at a dead stop because I don’t know how to fabricate the3-3-3 Dreadnaught ends on this car, let alone the auto loadingdoors some of them had. It would be great if there were nicequality castings available for such tasks. What about a linedetail parts for modern O Scale Diesels comparable in qualityto what Cannon & Co. offers in HO?I could also include on the list a coupler that marries thescale fidelity and appearance of San Juan’s type E to the bulletproofoperation of a Kadee® coupler, or an O Scale locomotivedrive train that rivals the outstanding characteristics of theAtlas and Kato mechanisms in HO. How about prefabricatedP48 turnouts, and the list could go on and on. I likely won’tsee everything on this list. In fact, I may never see anything onthis list become a reality, but it never hurts to dream a bit andconsider the possibilities.Best regards,MikeuJan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 15

More Kits from the B.T.S. Lasers!American Flag CompanyThe American Flag Company is a perfectindustry for that tight V-shaped space. Thetrapezoid shape, exterior stair case, loadingdock, roof-top billboard & water tank,positionable windows and doors, and brass &pewter detail castings make this laser-cutcraftsman kit a ‘must have’ for any layout.Figures, signs, interior floors and walls,and grade crossing components are allincluded as well as a removable roof.Approx. footprint - 73’ x 40’ (at the wide end)#18108 $ 299.95McCabe Planing ShedThe McCabe Lumber Co. Planing Shed complex consists ofthe transfer shed, two planing buildings, boiler house, watertank, and loads of details, and is a key part of the SlatyforkSawmill Complex. The Planing Shed can also be used as astand-alone manufacturing industry such as a box factory.This kit consists of laser-cut basswood, plywood, andcardstock, tarpaper roofing, brass, urethane, and white-metaldetail castings, and loads of character. The tabbed, wellengineeredconstruction provides fast and easy assembly. Thefootprint is about 70' x 90'.304-823-3729#18225 $449.95www.btsrr.comShipping - $5.00/order in the USAll Scale Catalog - $5.00Celebrating over 29 Years of Service since 1979

Unusual, Oversized and HeavyAlthough I did a column concerning flatcar loads in issue#38, May/June 2008, I ran across these heavy duty loads inthe BNSF Birmingham yard the other day and couldn’t pass upthe opportunity to show that “America moves by Rail.”Take a look at the photo. You’re looking at a total of sixpieces of heavy equipment, two pieces per car, riding onboardheavy-duty, eight-axle flatcars. Each car has “KRL” reportingmarks and is 86 ft. 4 in. in length and rated at 420,000 poundsor 210 tons gross weight. The loaded cars have a maximumheight of 16 ft. 8 in. and width of 11 ft. 8 in. The total lengthof the two pieces of equipment is 60 ft. with a net weight of250,000 lbs. or 125 tons total.Now that I’ve covered the technical information, do youknow what these loads are? In some parts of this countrythey’re an every day part of the landscape. They will becomea common sight in other areas as the nation converts to cleanenergy. You’re looking at windmill machine heads that generateelectricity from the power of the wind.Built by General Electric at a plant in Florida, these loadswere received in interchange at Birmingham from the CSXTRailroad. Their journey over the BNSF will take them to Lubbock,Texas where they will be interchanged with the PSCand delivered to a location where they will be unloaded andmoved to the assembly site. You won’t see these loads ridingover the rails every day of the week, but these heads areonly a part of each windmill generator unit. Other parts of theassembly have been through my area recently. Unfortunately Iwasn’t in a position to photograph the other related shipments.Other than being unique loads, they are heavy and oversized,exceeding “Plate C” railcar dimensions. Plate C denotesthe size (height & width) for standard freight equipment.High-Wide loads like these can only be moved over the roadby special clearance and instructions that list any possibleobstructions and special handling procedures to be used overthe specified track segment. These loads are also speeders,meaning the maximum speed permitted for their movement isrestricted to 45 MPH. They are also head-end only movementas well. This means they have to ride behind the locomotivesand usually with a cover up car so the train crew will be ableto observe the loads while in route and easily comply withany Stop and Proceed on Hand Signal clearance instructions.Each and every train and switch crew receives a H-W clearanceon their train orders and a wheel report for each H-Wload in their train. Although you may think it repetitive, nothingis left to chance.You won’t be able to order or run down to the local hobbyshop to secure a model of this type, but one can be assembledusing an acceptable substitute for this heavy duty flatcar andscratchbuilding a couple generator housings for the loads. (Ed,I hope you’re reading this.) You should be able to do a searchon the Internet and find information and dimensions thatwould be a good starting point for a scratchbuilt replica forthe generator heads. Trimming and sanding down a block ofbalsawood comes to mind or even starting with a plastic containerand modifying it into an acceptable model.A few years ago, MTH produced a similar four truck heavyduty flat in its Premier line of rolling stock. If you by chancehave one or access to one, this car would be a good candidatefor a 2-Rail conversion project into a similar model of the prototype.Another option would be to load that depressed center orspecialty flatcar you have on hand with a windmill generatorhead load. After all, it’s not something you expect to find onevery trading table at the O Scale train shows. You could getby with one load per flat, but shipping two for the price of oneis a bit more economical.Keep a check on Gene’s Projects on the OST Blog. If Ican catch more of the parts and pieces for this project beingshipped by rail through my area, I’ll post additional photosand information as a follow-up. Until the next time, remember“America moves by Rail, and think Green.”uBF&MBaldwin Forge & MachineBox 5, Baldwin MD 21013How can we help you? Custom machinework, 3-R to 2-R conversions for steam,diesel or electric. Driver castingsmachined. General repairs to O Scale locomotives.Call Joe, evenings 7 to 9 PM.410-592-5275 or rrjjf@aol.comJan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 17

Trolley SweeperMike,Enjoyed your magazine as usual, of which the Nov/Dec issue arrivedtoday. Especially appreciate all of the trolley articles appearing these lastfew issues.I was amused by the letter from Myron Levitsky about trolley sweepers,and your reply. Several years ago Car Works brought in a beautifultwo brush trolley sweeper in brass. The brushes were operational withtheir own individual motors and a switch and diodes to control them.I have completely rewired my trolley using one DCC three functiondecoder (headlights and two other outputs). It is fun to watch it movealong and turn the brushes on and off individually, and the lights also.Bill Brandt via e-mailSome Thoughts on KitsIn a past issue you questioned why more folks did not respond to yourwritings on kit building. I think that several factors are keeping modelersaway from kits.Aside from a recent increase in laser cut kits, nothing much new hascome out in plastic. While laser kits are beautiful, they are also costlyand do take a bit of skill to assemble. What is available in plastic is oldnews. While Buildings Unlimited, DPM, and Berkshire Valley all offervery nice kits, none of them have released anything new. Regardless ofhow one assembles or kit bashes a DPM or Buildings Unlimited kit, thesource is still obvious. I do have many structures from all of the abovebut I probably wont be buying many more in the future unless the architecturechanges.Built up structures from other sources such as Walthers, MTH andothers leave a bit to be desired, although kitbashing is always an option.Walthers did have some nice kits available several years ago but nothingnew from them since then. My guess would be that poor sales could notjustify the expenditure of funds for tooling up new kits.I think the biggest issue for most modelers is time, or the lack of it. Ipersonally will create the time to build, paint and kitbash; to me this isthe best part of the hobby. Another factor, especially for new modelers,might be fear; the fear of messing up a good kit, or the fear of doing alousy paint job. To which I say “bull.” We have all been there, done thatwith kits. Start with something easy and skills will improve.Have you ever noticed that many modelers are afraid of paint? Mentionthe word airbrush and it’s like you put a .38 to their heads. Whilean airbrush is almost a “must have” for locos and rolling stock, manystructures can be brush painted with very good results, especially withthe acrylic paints on the market. In addition to paints from the hobbymanufacturers, most craft stores stock paint from Americana and Folk Art.These are acrylic based, inexpensive and come in a very wide selectionof colors. My good friend Tom Houle has brush painted many structureswith very good results using such paint. I have tried using his methodsand have been quite pleased with the results.Glue is another issue. With the wide range of adhesives now availableto modelers, I feel that many get confused on which glue to use were andwith what materials. I have even heard of a modeler using Elmer’s glueon a plastic kit, not with very good results I might add.OK, I have rambled on enough here. Perhaps an editorial or readersymposium on kit building might be something to consider for OST, whatdo you think? Kit Building is fun!Jerry Roy, WI (via email)Mike replies: Jerry we’re committed to spreading the joys of kit buildingand kitbashing among O Scalers. That said, we’d love to see articlesfeaturing kitbashed projects made from readily available kits, especiallystructure projects.About That DecapodTenderWhile visiting inNorth Carolina I hadthe chance to spendsome time at theState TransportationMuseum at the historicSpencer Shops. Whilethere, I made it a pointto take some photos ofthe rear of the tenderof the Seaboard Russian Decapod there. If someone wants to remodeltheir MTH decapod tender, the photo included here shows what one prototypereally looks like.Note that the tender side sill/I-beam extends beyond the rear bulkheadto the end sill. As was common with older tenders, the frame issimilar to a flat car in that it has a wooden deck on which sits the tendertank. You can see in the photo that the planks under the tank are about2” thick. The boards on the rear platform are thinner 1” boards whichmay have been replaced at some time perhaps because they are exposedto weather. The rear platform is decked with four 1x6s and extends notmore than two feet from the rear of the water tank. Also note there is noattempt to provide spacers on the bolts holding the angle straps at thebottom edge of the tender tank.Woody Mathews (via email)More on the MTH Russian DecapodEd. note: I spoke with Fleetwood Shawe, a subscriber from the UK,recently about my review of the MTH Russian Decapod. He sent methese photographs of his MTH Dec. Mr. Shawe’s O Scale railroad isoutdoors (hence the leafy green background). He converts all his locomotivesto radio control with battery power which allows him to closecouple his engines and tenders as seen in the lower photo.Mr. Shawe corrected the large overhang on his model by sawing offthe extra deck length, redrilling new holes for the mounting screws, andrelocating the coupler mounting directly to the rear deck.18 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09

Company founderHenry G. BachmannBachmann Trains is now known for its extensive and award-winning line of modelrailroading products, but the company started in 1833 as a producer ofhandcrafted ivory accessories, beginning a 175-year commitment toquality that continues to this day.In the early days, Henry G. Bachmann was renowned for superior craftsmanship.Times and fashions changed, but the company's devotion to excellencedid not. Bachmann became a pioneer in the use of plastics, developing manyplastic injection molding techniques. A wide variety of offerings followed,but the 1947 introduction of Plasticville, U.S.A. ® building kits marked the start ofBachmann's now comprehensive and dynamic line of model railroading products.We invite you to celebrate our 175-year commitment to quality withspecial edition anniversary box cars in HO, On30 and Large Scale,all decorated with logos of many popular Bachmannbrands. Visit your local hobby retailer to learn moreabout these commemorative box cars andour complete line of modelrailroading products.Jan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 19

PENNSYLVANIA #2332 BRUNSWICKGREEN 5 STRIPE GG-1Item No. 41797 • $269.95TMThe GG-1, a perennialfavorite locomotive, arrives just intime for the holidays with a consist ofclassic Madison cars in tow. Capture the spiritof a bygone era by building a set that'll be the perfectcenterpiece of your layout or holiday display for years tocome. You deserve the best, so contact your favoriteWilliams by Bachmann ® dealer to learn more. All itemsshown are in stock, so rekindle yourGolden Memories today!LUXURY LINES 3 CAR MADISON SETItem No. 43450 • $179.95Includes:1 No. 2625 “Irvington” Pullman1 No. 2627 “Madison” Pullman1 No. 2626 “Sager Place” ObservationLocomotive Features:• length 14"; height 4"• powered by dual can motors• flywheel coasting action• all metal gears• electronic 6-amp reverse board• True Blast II TM digital horn and bell• die-cast body, trucks, truck sides, and pilots• die-cast operating couplers• twin manually-operated pantographs• dual headlights and illuminated marker lenses• separately applied stamped metal laddersPassenger Car Features:• car length 15.5"; height 3.25"• durable ABS plastic shell• die-cast 6 wheel trucks• sihouette window strips• die-cast operating couplers• illuminated with 2 lights per car• observation car has rear platform and awningLUXURY LINES 2 CAR MADISON ADD-ON SETItem No. 43449 • $119.95Includes:1 No. 2628 “Manhattan” Pullman1 No. 2623 Railway Express Agency Baggage20 • O Bachmann Scale Trains Industries, - Jan/Feb Inc. ’09 • 1400 East Erie Avenue, Philadelphia, PA • www.bachmanntrains.com

O Scale in a Small SpaceThe Clayville&ButterwoodTraction RailwayWayne PriceMy mini-layout was built to develop the skills necessary to createa full-sized traction module that would interface with others fromthe East Penn Traction Club. My inspiration came from a mini-layoutbuilt by Dick Bell, which I originally saw in 2003. The traction lineon my layout runs through the city of Wayne, located between Clayvilleand Butterwood. It includes a part of the downtown and a ruralstation. There is urban street running as well as rural trackage on aballasted roadbed.The layout is 30” x 36” in size and is built on a 3/8” plywoodbase supported by a 1x4 pine frame. The track consists of code 125rails with the turnouts handbuilt in place. I built both a single pointturnout as part of the street trackage, and a regular turnout in therural area. The curves are all 9-inch radius with the rail bent by aFast Tracks rail-bending tool. The buildings all have interiors and arelighted. They include kits from Walthers, Ameri-Towne, PA HeritageModels and DPM. The figures are from Arttista and Woodland Scenics.The power is supplied through the 0.020” bronze overheadwire with hanger castings from Rivers Trolley & Traction. The polesare a combination of 3/16” brass and 1/4” dowels. The fleet of carsincludes a LaBelle Ohio Electric interurban, and a LaBelle LakeShore Electric freight motor. Both cars were shortened to a scale 40’long so that they can negotiate the tight curves. Both have CurrentLine detail parts and are powered by Q-Car trucks. I also have aQ-Car GE 50 ton steeplecab that was selected because of the shortwheelbase.I have achieved my goals for the layout and I am amazed at howmuch fun it is to run traction cars. I hope to begin a module and alarger layout in the near future.uThe corner soda fountain at 1st & Main. All of the figures are by Arttista.Station stop at Wayne.Main Street. My wife actually owns the real Price & Sons Books.Overview of the layout showing both rural and city tracks.Second & Main. The combine is a LaBelle Ohio Electric kit that wasshortened.Jan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 21

#OH86 Georgia Southern & Floriday Ry. Single Sheathed BoxcarAsh grey carbody/black ends & doors /black lettering/red, white & black heraldLIMITED RELEASE! Available in 2-Rail or 3-Rail - Diecast Trucks Optional$59.00/car • $172.00/set of 3 road numbersPlease Add S&H of $10.00 Per Car • $13.00 Per SetMake Checks Or Money Orders Payable To:Other Limited Releases Still Available From Buffalo Creek Graphics:#OH49 Detroit & Toledo Shore Line 40’ ARA Boxcar • $49.00 Plus S&HBoxcar red carbody/white lettering & graphics#OH57 Central Vermont Rwy. 2-Bay Rib-Side Hopper • $49.00 Plus S&HOxide red carbody/white lettering#OH85 Florida East Coast Ry. - PS-2 Covered Hopper • $53.00 Plus S&HLight grey carbody/black letteringView Our Complete Catalog & Price List At:T. G. J. GASCOIGNEBUFFALO CREEK GRAPHICS • 1763 Baseline Road - Unit #450 • Grand Island, NY 14072CHICAGO “O” SCALE MEETMarch 2Oth - 22nd 2009Setup, Friday March 20th (only for pre-registered table holders and helpers)Sheraton Chicago Northwest HotelShow registration – write or email3400 West Euclid Avenue MARCH MEET – PO BOX 333Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005 Park Ridge, Il 60068 847-401-43331-888-627-8093 Ask for the Chicago O Scale Rate WWW.MARCHMEET.NETBUY, SELL, TRADE, CLINICS, LAYOUT TOURS & MORE!Considered the best O Scale show of the year------Limited tables available--------Register early for your preprinted badge11 Years in business specializing in DCC & Sound!Battery & Track PoweredO • On30 • On3 • Fn3 • G • #16997 CR 5, Ridgway CO 81432 • 970-626-3733www.rgsrrhobbies.comPrecision Turntables for the Discerning ModelerFEATURING PRO-DEX TM INFRA-RED POSITIONING & DYNAMIC BRAKINGNow it’s easy & exciting to operateprototypically: 1. Select direction2. Push run button 3. Watch bridgeadvance to any of 48 positions, thenslow & lock on desired track whenyou release button!AAA PRECISIONTURNTABLESPO Box 64, Plantsville, CT 06479, USA1-800-569-1423 • www.AAATurntables.com22 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09• Heavy-duty museum-quality construction• Realistic operation!• Painted and ready to run• Manufactured in all scales from Z to Gand all bridge sizes on a per order basis• Mfg in U.S.A. by skilled machinists usingCNC precision parts. Hand assembled & tested• Call for specs or visit our website

P&D 31280 Hobby Shop Groesbeck,Fraser, MI 48026586-296-6116Open Mon-Fri 10-8,Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5Fax: 586-296-5642www.pdhobbyshop.comPower or Repower Kits for Red Caboose GPsPDP2201K-Repower kit, Red Caboose GP9, P&D brass EMD Blomberg trucksPDP2201K-Repower Kit, Red Caboose GP9 with P&D brassBlomberg trucks...$225.00 + s&hPDP2200K-Repower Kit, Red Caboose GP9 with plastic Blombergtrucks...$160.00 + s&hThe P&D TWINTOWER DRIVE for the RedCaboose GP body kit isfunctionally equivalentto the P&D power unitsalready available for theP&D F units, GPs, RSDs,and the Weaver FAs, FBs,RS-3s and GP-38s.The Red Caboosepower kits provide onlythe necessary powerrelated parts to supplementthe Red Caboose GPbody kit. These power kitsfully utilize the underframe(platform), deck, air tanks,fuel tanks, motor mountsand screws that are furnishedin the Red Caboosebody kit.These P&D Twin TowerDrive kits can also be usedto repower existing RedCaboose GPs. Two kits areoffered: #PDP2200K hasplastic Blomberg trucks,while #PDP2201K featuresthe P&D brass Blombergtrucks, which are trulysome of the finest truckson the market. Each kitalso includes a powerfulPittman motor and all thenecessary parts to completethe installation.Detailed instructions areincluded.

Custom Building, Repair & Painting Services Available Buy-Sell-Trade, Consignments-Appraisals, eBay SalesWebsite: www.alleghenyscale.com • Email: oscale@alleghenyscale.com470 Schooley’s Mountain Road, Suite 8-117, Hackettstown, New Jersey 07840 • Voice - (908) 684-2070 • Fax - (908) 684-8911SteamOMI B&O S-1 2-10-2 UP New, OMI 0147, Road Pilot, Overfire Jets .................................... $1,395OMI C&O J2 4-8-2 CP EX, Jerry White Drive, Road No. 543 ................................................. $1,095Max Gray C&O K4 2-8-4 CP EX, Can Motor, Lights, Road No. 2761 ......................................$995PSC CB&Q S4a 4-6-4 FP L/N, PSC 17161-1, Road No. 4002 ...................................................$2,195PSC CB&Q S4a 4-6-4 FP Mint, PSC 17161-1, Road No. 4002, Upgraded ......................... $2,795Sunset 3rd CB&Q O5a 4-8-4 FP New, Closed Cab Version, Road No. 5629 .................. $1,395Sofue C&NW H1 4-8-4 UP Mint, Handbuilt, Serial No. 174, Very Rare .............................$7,995PSC D&RGW L-76 2-6-6-2 FP Mint, PSC 17171-1, Black Boiler, Road No. 3351 .............. $2,495PSC DM&IR Yellowstone 2-8-8-4 UP Mint, PSC 15793, Worthington FWH ..................$3,350PSC DM&IR Yellowstone 2-8-8-4 FP L/N, PSC 15795-1, Elesco FWH, Black Boiler, No. 236 ......... $3,495Oriental GN H4 4-6-2 FP New, Glacier Park Scheme ............................................................. $1,595Pecos River GN P2 4-8-2 FP EX, Glacier Park Scheme, Road No. 2510 ................................$750Oriental GN R2 2-8-8-2 FP L/N, Vestibule Cab, FP Black, Road No. 2502 ...................... $2,595Sunset GN S2 4-8-4 CP EX, Late Run, Glacier Park, Open Cab, No. 2576 .......................$1,675USH L&N M1 "Big Emma" 2-8-4 CP L/N, Late Run, Pro Paint, Lights, Road No. 1970 $1,295OMI MILW Class A "Hiawatha" 4-4-2 CP New, OMI No. 0100, Pro Paint, Road No. A1 $1,595OMI MILW Class F3 "Hiawatha" 4-6-4 CP New, OMI No. 0153, OMI Pro Paint, Road No. 101 ...... $1,725USH NYC H10b 2-8-2 CP L/N, Can Motor, Lights, Crew, Coal, Road No. 2380 ...............$1,195PSC N&W Class A 2-6-6-4 CP EX, Crown Model, Aux. Tender, Road No. 1238 ............$2,395OMI N&W Class J 4-8-4 FP L/N, Excursion Version, OMI 0928.1, Road No. 611 ............$2,195Sunset N&W Class J 4-8-4 CP L/N, Pro Paint, Coal, Lights, Road No. 600...................... $1,250Max Gray N&W Y6a 2-8-8-2 w/Aux. Tender CP L/N, 1 of a Kind Custom Model - Exquisite ....... $5,495OMI NP Z8 2-6-6-4 UP New, Coal Version, Road Nos. 5130-5149.....................................$2,695Weaver PRR A5s 0-4-0 FP New, Late Version, 2 Rail, Serial No. 6 of 12, Rare ...................$625Williams PRR B6sb 0-6-0 FP EX, 2 Rail, Road No. 6380 .............................................................$450Atlas PRR B28s USRA 0-6-0 FP L/N, 2 Rail, Weathered, DC/DCC/Sound ...........................$450Key PRR H8sc 2-8-0 FP V/G, Lights, Coal Load, Road No. 9978 .......................................... $1,295USH PRR I1sa 2-10-0 UP New, Late Run, New Correct Steel Driver Tires ....................... $1,495Key PRR J1a 2-10-4 FP L/N, w/Antenna, Road No. 6498 ........................................................$3,195PSC PRR K4 4-6-2 FP EX, Standard Prewar Version - 130P75 Tender ..................................$995PSC PRR K4 4-6-2 CP Modernized Version - 110P75 Tender w/Antenna ...........................$925Lionel PRR Streamlined K4 4-6-2 FP L/N, 1938 Broadway, Lights, Road No. 3768 ... $1,695Westside PRR M1 4-8-2 UP New, OMI Backhead and PSC Detail Kit Included ...............$975Max Gray PRR M1a 4-8-2 UP Mint, Late Run, 210P75 Tender ............................................. $1,095OMI PRR M1b 4-8-2 UP Mint, 210p75 Tender w/Antenna .................................................... $2,495OMI PRR M1b 4-8-2 FP Mint, 210p75 Tender w/Antenna, No. 6753 ................................. $2,595Max Gray PRR N1s 2-10-2 CP New, McCafferty Paint and Weathering ........................... $1,695Sunnyside PRR T1 4-4-4-4 FP L/N, As Built Porthole Version ............................................ $3,795Sunnyside PRR T1 4-4-4-4 FP Mint, Never Assembled, Modified Version ...................$4,895OMI RDG T1 4-8-4 UP Mint, W/Decals, OMI 0150 ................................................................... $1,695WSM RF&P "Governor" 4-8-4 CP L/N, Black and Gray Scheme, "Gov. Fitzhugh Lee" $1,695PSC SP AC-12 Cab Forward 4-8-8-2 FP L/N, Crown, Road No. 4292, Samhongsa ......$3,895Sunset 3rd SP F3 2-10-2 FP L/N, 2 Rail, Road No. 3661 ...........................................................$1,150PSC SP GS-4 4-8-4 FP New, PSC No. 17347-1, Black, Road No. 4436................................$2,695PSC SP GS-5 4-8-4 FP New, PSC No. 17349-1, Daylight, Road No. 4458 ......................... $2,795Max Gray SP MT-4 4-8-2 CP L/N, Pro Paint, Daylight, Skyline Casing, No. 5342 ......... $1,295Sunset 3rd SP P8 4-6-2 FP New, 2 Rail, Postwar Scheme, Road No. 2472 ..................... $1,395Sunset 3rd SP&S E1 4-8-4 FP New, 2 Rail, Road No. 700 ...................................................... $1,295USH UP Challenger 4-6-6-4 CP L/N, Pro Paint, Coal Version, Can Motor, No. 3910 .. $1,295Key UP Challenger 4-6-6-4 CP L/N, Oil Version, TT Gray, Silver Stripes, No. 3977 .... $3,595Sunset UP "9000" Class 4-12-2 UP New, Postwar Version ................................................... $1,350Overland UP FEF-1 4-8-4 - Oil Version CP L/N, OMI No. 0130, TT Gray, Silver Stripes, No. 818 ....$1,795Overland UP FEF-3 4-8-4 FP L/N, OMI 0913.1, TT Gray, Yellow Stripes, No. 840 .........$2,395DieselOMI ALCO FA-1 UP New, OMI 0356, w/o Dynamic Brakes (2 Available) .............................$595OMI ALCO FB-1 UP New, OMI 0358, w/o Dynamic Brakes .......................................................$595OMI ALCO RS-11 High Hood UP New, OMI 0206, w/ Dynamic Brakes................................$695Key AT&SF EMD F3 Phase I - A-B-B-A FP L/N, Warbonnet, 1st Run, Samhongsa, Road No. 17 ..$4,795PSC B&M SW-1 Phase 1 CP V/G, Low Stack, Black w/Red Nose Stripes, No. 1112 ...........$550Oriental EMD GP-9 Phase II UP V/G, Freight Body, Passenger Version U/F, As Is ...........$525OMI EMD SD-9 Phase I UP New, OMI 0306, w/Dynamic Brakes ...........................................$795OMI FM H-10-44 w/Cab Overhang UP Mint, OMI No. 0433, NYC/NKP/PRR/Frisco ... $1,095Sunset FM Trainmaster Phase IB UP Mint, Samhongsa ............................................................$850OMI NYC Baldwin RF-16 Shark Nose A-B Units CP Mint, Pantera Paint, Frtt Lightning Stripe ..$2,095OMI NYC CUT Hvy Elec. Locomotive CP L/N, OMI No. 0286, Pantera Paint, Lightning Stripe ... $1,350OMI PRR ALCO DL-600B High Hood UP New, w/Antennas, OMI No. 0210A ....................$895OMI PRR ALCO FA-FB-2, AB Units CP New, w/Antennas, OMI Nos. 0393-0397, Tower Drive .......$1,795OMI PRR ALCO FA-FB-2 - AB Units UP New, w/Antennas, OMI Nos. 0393-0397, Tower Drive .... $1,695OMI PRR BLW RF-16 Shark Noses A-B-A UP Mint, OMI Nos. 0425, 0426, 0425 ............ $2,995Key PRR EMD F3 A-B-A Units FP Mint, Last Run, Late F7 Car bodies, Brunswick SS .$3,695Key PRR EMD F7 A-B Units FP New, Tuscan 5 Stripe Scheme (2 Sets Available) ........ $2,495Key PRR EMD E8 A-A Units FP New, Tuscan 5 Stripe Scheme ........................................... $2,595OMI PRR P5a Electric - Box Cab UP Mint, OMI No. 0219, Last Run .....................................$1,195OMI PRR P5a Electric - Modified UP New, OMI No. 0237 ..................................................... $1,095Key SP EMD FP7 A-B Units FP New, Black Widow, Last Run, Nos. 6458A/8303B ....... $2,795Key SP EMD E9 A-A Units FP New, Daylight Scheme, Last Run, Road Nos. 6050/51 $2,895OMI UP ALCO U-50-C UP New, OMI 0201 .................................................................................. $1,095OMI UP ALCO C-855-A UP New, OMI 0203 .................................................................................$1,195OMI UP ALCO C-855-B UP New, OMI 0204 ..................................................................................$1,195OMI UP ALCO PA-1 UP New, OMI 0322, w/Dynamic Brakes (2 Available) .........................$795Key UP EMD E9 A-B Units FP Mint, 1st Run, Road Nos. 903A/6051B ...............................$2,695Rolling StockPSC MILW 1939 Hiawatha 9 Car Set FP New, PSC No. 16959, Orange/Gray/Maroon $4,995OMI N&W Powhatan Arrow 5 Car Set FP New, OMI No. 0800.1, Interiors, Lights ...... $3,495CNJB PRR B60 Baggage Car UP L/N, CNJB No. 702-O, Porthole Doors ..............................$300Calumet PRR P70 Coach CP New, Custom Built Walthers Kit (3 Available) ......................$395Sunset 3rd PRR P70 Coach FP New, w/Air, Different Road Nos. (2 Available) .................$250Sunnyside PRR P85br Streamlined Coach FP L/N, Tuscan w/Dulux Goldor Gold Leaf (3 Available) .................................................................................................$395Fine Arts PRR 1938 Broadway Limited 7 Car Set FP L/N, "Fleet of Modernism"Scheme, Interior, Lights .................................................................................................$4,150Sunset 3rd SP 70' Harriman Passenger Cars FP New, SP Lines, Baggage, Coach, & RPO Avail. ..... $325Sunset 3rd UP 70' Harriman Passenger Cars FP New, TT Gray, Baggageand Coach Available ..........................................................................................................$325The P. Co. PRR X-42 Mail Storage Car CP New, Pro Paint, Shadow Keystone,Road No. 2541 .......................................................................................................................$350PSC REA Steel 50' Express Reefer CP L/N, Late Version, PSC No. 15519, Lg. REA Herald $295Car Works COG Pulp Wood Flat Car CP L/N, Trucks, Kadees, Road No. 10781 ................$225Div. Point N&W CF Class Wood Caboose FP New, Late Version (2 Available) .................$425Sunset N&W C2 Class Steel Caboose UP New, Steam/Diesel Eras (2 Available) ........... $215Westside NYC F-200 Heavy Duty 4 Truck Flat Car CP L/N, Light Weathering,Road No. 100 .........................................................................................................................$295CNJB PRR N5b Cabin Car w/Antenna UP New, Excellent Model ..........................................$350Car Works PRR FM Flat w/Containers CP New, Pro Paint, Road No. 473409 ....................$495OMI PRR H31c Steel 2 Bay Hopper CP New, OMI 0705, Pro Paint .........................................$295PSC PRR H39 70 Ton 3 Bay Hopper Car UP New, PSC No. 16073 ..........................................$225KTM USA PRR K8 42' Double Deck Stock Car UP Mint, KTM USA No. 234, Rare .............$425PSC SP 40' "Overnight Merchandise" Box Car CP New, Pro Paint, PSC 15593, , Road No.9101, Exquisite ..........................................................................................................................................$325KTM USA UP 50'6" Steel Gondola UP Mint, KTM USA No. 404, Drop Ends,Also PM and C&O ................................................................................................................$32524 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09

WorkingAirHosesBen BrownRecently I did some experimenting with working air hosesthat I thought might be interesting to the readers. The experimentstaught me a couple of things. First: The idea is highlyfeasible, given the right materials. Second: The idea will notwork for me given the design of my current railroad.Watching the air hoses disconnect and then reconnectis very entertaining and satisfying (Photos 1 & 2). All that isneeded is a miniature “psst” sound when they disconnect tocomplete the illusion.1design where the couplers will be up close and observable.I used Precision Scale’s anglecock and gladhand castingsbecause I had them in my parts drawer. The magnet was thesmallest that I could find commercially (Photos 3-4). The hosematerial was selected for its softness and flexibility. I found itin a fishing tackle shop (Photo 5).3425The couplers will need to be a manually operable type. Imade mine by simply cutting off the curved operating pin of aregular Kadee® coupler. This renders the magnetic operationof the coupler useless. This is the primary reason I will notincorporate this idea into my railroad. The track design is simplynot reachable in every situation for manual uncoupling. Itwould appear that working air hoses are best suited to a shelfJan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 25

Each gladhand has a dimple where the normal mating facewould be. I took a 3/32” drill bit and deepened the dimpleto make a recess for the magnet to fit into and used CA tobond the magnets to the castings (Photo 6). This small amountof drilling can easily be done by hand. Then the stud where67the hose will join must be reduced in diameter by filing.This is necessary for both the gladhand and anglecocks. Thehose I selected is quite small in diameter and if the stud isnot reduced, the hose does not slide over it easily and it alsolooks too bulged.To operate the air hoses, manually open the couplerknuckles and begin to pull the cars apart. The balance offorces is such that the hoses will stretch out without movingthe car. When the cars are far enough apart, the hoseswill simply part. When coupling, as soon as the knuckles areabout 6 scale inches apart, the magnetic attraction will pullthe hoses together. The normal curl of the hose material canbe adjusted to favor the operation so that the hose ends areoriented toward the car centerline (Photo 7). I happen to usesteel rails on my railroad and I have seen no tendency for themagnets to pull toward the rail.uhttp://RailsUnlimited.ribbonrail.com/email: railsunl@sbcglobal.net“We take time to give you full service”Unique O Scale models • Urethane cars; 40’ & 50’ boxcars, reefers,stock cars, milk cars, pickle car & circus cars.Full Service O Scale Dealer • Kits, DCC & Sound SuppliesBooks: new & out of print • Darkroom Services • Railroad PhotosModel Railroad Sales & ServiceTed Schnepf126 Will ScarletElgin Il 60120-9524 847-697-5353 or 847-697-5366Stevenson Preservation LinesO Gauge Kits and Parts from pastMaster ModelersCatalog 2005 Price: $3.00Baldwin Model Locomotive WorksLobaughAdams & SonsLenoirKansas City KitHines LinesAlexanderPearce Tool Co.Bob Stevenson, 2326 230th St. Ames, IA 50014O SCALEKIT 004$61.98USASHIPPING$4.02(logs notincluded)CA RESIDENTSadd $5.11 tax“Quality for the Craftsman” LOGGING CAMPIncludes: color codedwood, sheet brass,hook, windowsand pulley blocks.12” x 14”spacerequiredCatalog $2.00 (refundable)P.O. Box 700 Artesia, CA 90702www.suncoast-models.comDealer Inquiries InvitedCraftsman Grade Products & ServicesSales - Custom Installations - RepairsNew Website! www.crusaderrail.comNCE 10 Amp DCC Systems AvailableTethered or Radio EquippedSpringfield, MA 1/24-25 Amherst Show @ the Big ‘E’Timonium, MD 1/31-2/1 Allentown, PA 2/21-22Greenford, OH 3/27-28 All Scales NG Train ShowInfo at http://narrowtracks.com/narrowgaugeshow/Orders can be delivered to all show locations!Credit Cards • Mail Orders • Gift CertificatesStandard & Narrow GaugesC r u s a d e rR A I L S E R V I C E S5920 Houghton St., Phila. Pa. 19128ph:215-482-7530 web: www.crusaderrail.comO Scale TrainsIssue # 42Sale Date : 1/09Due: 11/15/0826 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09

Are YouExpired?Your subscriptionexpiration is nowprinted on yourmailing label!Kit-bashed Korber ModelsGrain Elevator Kitwww.modelbuildingservices.comModel BuildingServicesModels built by Stu Gralnik264 Marret Rd • Lexington MA 02421Ph: 781-860-0554stu@modelbuildingservices.comAssembled buildingsfrom any manufacturer’s kit.Kitbashed, painted anddetailed...“Just Like Real!”Jan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 27

SumpterValleyDepot135 NW Greeley Avenue,Bend OR 97701● Specializing in O Scale 2-railmodel trains since 1985● We buy or consign brass modelcollections● Model reservations gladlyaccepted● Prompt, courteous serviceCheck our website for latestO Scale Listingswww.sumptervalley.comtrainman@callatg.comTel: 541/382-3413Fax:541/389-7237Hours:Mon. thru Fri 8:30 AM - 5PMand sometimes on Saturdays28 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09VALLEYMODEL TRAINSPO BOX 1251, Wappingers Falls, N.Y. 12590Credit Card Orders WelcomeOrder/Info(845)297-3866 Fax(845)298-7746Laser-Art Structures O Laser Cut kits462Kit includes appropriatesigns and coal bin.401A comfortable,convenientcottage homeof six rooms,with Tower462 Flagstop Station O... 5" x 6" x 4" ............39.98 36.00401 Tower House O.. 10" x 7" x 12" .........179.99 161.98The prototype480for the kit wasbuilt at Clark’s,near CampbellHall, NY on theNew York,Ontario &Western RR.480 The Creamery O.....12" x 7" x 5".......199.98 179.98Crow River Products O....Crafstman kitsIncludes additionalwalls to increasethe size of themain building.(Tree notincluded)305B305B Barrett and Sharp.16"x16" approx .....265.00 225.00315Bar Mills Models O.. Laser Wood Kits with details934 944934 Saulena's Tavern O.... 5 3/4" x 11" net 99.98944 Majestic Hardwar & Feed O 9” x 12”net 169.98Rusty Stumps.. HO Limited Edition KitsK4502O56The Fall Creek Freight Depotis a laser cut craftsman kit.22' x 46' Footprint 5-1/2x11-1/2K4503K4502 Backwoods Water Tower O .............net 79.95K4503 Fall Creek Freight Depot O... ..........net 69.95Downtown Deco.... O Limited Edition Hydrocal KitsThe two buildings, Johnny Stechino's &Big Ed's, have a bit of something for everyone.Vehicle and figures not includedThis kit consists of CRP 305 SylvesterSupply Co. and the 305D Barrett &Sharp Diorama Kit.Includes 307Stainless SteelIndustrialSmoke Stackand anEyebrowMonitor forroof detailThis kit makes an eye-popping dioramaTwin Drum HoistingWinch O… The hoistingunit is based on a unitbuilt by American Hoist& Derrick. Although notan exact replica of theunit it's best featuresare included in thisunpainted model kit.Sale 62.60Electric Winch / CarPuller O - 12.004040 Johnny Stechino's & Big Ed's O ......89.95 81.00Add $6.00 S&H in 48 States • Others pay actualpostage cost • N.Y. residents add 8.25% sales tax.(prices are subject to change w/o notice)www.valleymodeltrains.comNow order online! valleymodeltrains.com Visit our website to see hundreds of HO and O Scale Craftsman Kits valleymodeltrains.com Now order online!The Public Delivery TrackLocomotivesAtlas..U-23B, GP-15, RSD-15, RS-3..$159-$299RS-1..B&O, NYSW, GMRC, NYC, others..$379-$399GP-7/9..CNJ, WM, B&O, SF, WP, Rdg, DLW..$379-$399GP-35, SD-35, Dash 8..$299-$399P, $189DSDP-35 undec, w/tmcc..$249. 0-6-0 steamer..$565Alco Century's..PRR, EL, CN, ACL, L&N, BRC..$329-$399SW's..DMIR, RI, GTW, SOO, Erie, LV, UP..$199-$349Pre-orders taken on all new Atlas releasesMTH..Reading C-628..$249. RK steamers..$199-$349RK Scale diesels...$249-$279. UP inspection car $249S-2's..WM, RFP, UP, WP..$499/pr. Rdg dummy..$129Brass..PRR K-4, A-5, B-6, L-1, GG-1..$399-$499PRR O-1..$899. C&O Greenbrier..$999. SP MT-4..$1099Weaver..C628/630, SD-40, Sharks..$199-$299VO-1000, RS-11, U25b, RS-3, GP-38..$199-$299K-line..GP-38..CNJ, UP, SF, LIRR; RS3..Rdg, NYC,WM, SP, PE; E's..NYC, SP; F's..PRR, NYC..$249-$429Passenger & Head EndGolden Gate..Coaches..PRR, PRSL, Erie, RG, MILW,B&O, C&O, UP, Rdg..$100-$119/car. Head end sets..$379Sleepers..Erie, DLW, NW, GN, PRR, pullman..$109-$119Atlas..60' coach, Bag, RPO..$69. Horizon cars..$89MTH sets..PRR, UP, SP, MILW, Amtk..$249-$329Weaver..60' baggage or RPO..Erie, CNJ, SF,PRR, NYC, NH, UP, CN, N&W, B&M..$60-$85Box CarsPecos River..SOU, CBQ, NYC, SF, SP, T&P..$35-$45Atlas..40' Woodside..30+ roads!!!...$45-$5540' Steel..Rebuilts, or AAR..20+ roads..$45-$5540' Trainman..and 1970's (refurbished)..$30-$35X-29's..$50-$62. HyCubes..60'..$65. 40'..$3550'..MILW, NYC, BAR, GBW, L&N, MKT, DSSA..$45-$5553'..Aloha, Purina, B&M, BN, IC, CNW, FEC..$35-$4960'..C&O, B&O, EL, RG, Sou, GTW, WM, MKT..$40-$50Weaver..40' PS-1, 50' modern, Steelside, Outside braced40+ roads..Old ones our speciality..$25-$40Refrigerator CarsWeaver/Crown..30+ roadnames in stock..$25-$4057' Mechanical..15+ roads..no sound..$35, sound..$45Atlas..53' xprs..REA, DRGW, WP, MP..$6536' & 40' woodside..oldies, newies, custom..$50-$12540' steel..IC, DLW, NYC, PFE, SF, NP, more..$50-$5540' plug door..Trainman, 1970's refurbished..$30-$35K-line..Woodside..same detail as Atlas..$35-$45Covered HoppersWeaver PS-2 & AC-2..old & new..30+ roads..$25-$40Centerflow or Grain..old and new..25 roads..$25-$40Atlas..3 bay..PLE, NW, UP, BN, CBQ..$30-$35ACF..2 bay..$52-$58. Cylindrical 40'..$35-$50Airslide..LV, D&H, UP, SP, WM, Erie, SF, RG..$40-$50PS4427..BNSF, SOO, LV, W feed, Carborundum..$45-$55Hopper CarsAtlas..3 bay..WM, SOU, BN, NH, Rdg, RG..$30-$35Ore cars..CN, UP, DMIR..$25. H21a 4 bay..$45-$582 bay..Fishbelly, USRA, Panel side, Composite..$45-$55Weaver..2, 3, 4-bay..30+ different roads....$25-$40Tank CarsWeaver...40' & 50', new & old, 20+ roads...$30-$45Atlas..33K..7 roads..$40-55. 17K..10 roads..$50-$658K..Dow, Canton, Phl Qtz, Bakelite, Staley..$50-$5511K..SHPX, UTLX, Sunray, Warren, Solvay, more..$52Flat Cars, Stock CarsAtlas..Double stacks..$125-$289. Pulp flats..$47Containers..40' & 45'..$25. $20'..$14/pr. K-line..$10Front runner..$45. 89' flats..$55-$65. Trailers..$25-$3550' flat w/pipe load; Stock cars..10 roads..$30-$35Wvr..Flats..CR, LV, UP, TTX, Erie, BN, SF..$25-$40GondolasAtlas..52'..UP, PRR, GN, MP, NYC, CNJ, more..$30-$35Wvr..CNJ, LV, RI, SF, UP, NW, Rdg, B&M, C&O..$25CabeeseWvr..Monon, Milw, WM, D&H, Erie, Rdg, LNE..$25-$47K-line..CR, EL, MILW, PRR, SOU, SF, UP..$40-$50Atlas..BN, NH, CR, SF, GN, NKP, SP, more..$35-$70Atlas Track..Full line availableIndustrial Rail .. Locos . cars . trolleys . sets . trackDealers..request our wholesale liststores.ebay.com/PublicDeilveryTracke-mail us: pdtrains@earthlink.netDrexel Hill, PA • Paso Robles, CA610-259-4945 • 805-226-0320

Adding Sound to O Scale LocomotivesO Scale modelers used to say that they never usedmost of their locomotives because once they put somesort of command control, like DCC, in a few, theycouldn’t afford to equip the rest and they couldn’t bear to runthem without command control. So the locos sat idle.Now modelers are saying the same about locomotivesound. The standard DCC decoders for O Scale do notinclude sound, and a separate sound decoder is fairly expensive.But once you hear a sound-equipped loco, you can’tlive without it.One solution is the Digitrax SFX004 Soundbug decoder.1It is made to workwith the DigitraxDH165 and haseight pins thatplug into theDH165 and twomounting holesfor 2-56 machinescrews to hold it.The unit is onlyabout 2/3 inch by3/4 inch by 1/6 inch thick and has a small outboard capacitorand a 28mm diameter speaker. It retails for $50 although Ipaid $42 for one (Photo 1).You would probably not use a DH165 because it is a 1amp decoder. The SFX004 can also be used with other decoders.Then the pinsare not used andthe two screwholes are, in fact,the power connections.It can run onup to 20 volts oftrack power. It isso small that it canbe placed almost anywhere in an O Scale locomotive (Photo2) and hardly take up any roomTwo wires connect to the wheels for power and twowires connect to the speaker. It receives the same signals asthe power decoder via the rails. So an increase track speedcauses the Soundbug to make increasing speed sounds. Thissounds simple and really is because sound is not dependenton scale. But nothing is completely true and so I want to discusssome application issues of this unit in O Scale.The sound can be set to a Diesel, specified as a GP-38 oran unspecified steam loco with a wire connected to a contactfor synchronized exhaust sounds. There are three voices; so italso has horn or whistle, bell and other sounds. I installed thisunit in an old 3-Rail Williams GP-9 dummy unit. I picked theGP-9 because it has a narrow body and presents more of achallenge to fit in all the electronics. I replaced the trucks witha conversion power kit from P&D Hobbies and replaced the3-Rail couplers with body-mounted Kadee® couplers. I hadtwo decoders, an NCE D408SR for the motor and lights, andthe SFX004 for sound. The sound unit has a capacitor on theend of two wires, which I stuck out of the way with duct tape.I replaced the 28 mm speaker with a 2 inch diameter2speaker. This took a fair amount of cutting, drilling and grindingto put a hole for it in the steel chassis right under thecab, which is the only place wide enough to allow this sizespeaker. I had to squeeze it in between the truck and thedrive motor. Be careful wiring to the two 2-56 bolt terminalsas the clearances are very tight. When you cut holes in thesteel chassis you will have particles all over and the speakermagnet will attract them. They will cause distortion, so keepthe speaker out of the way until the construction is completedand then glue a small piece of cloth under the chassis andover the speaker for protection.The supplied speaker is a 32 ohm unit. I could only find8 ohm replacements, so I followed the instructions and puta 10 ohm resistor in series with it to avoid overloading. Onesource of speakers is Tony’s Train Exchange. [www.tonystrains.com]Photo3 shows the speakerin place.The secret ofgood sound is totreat the locomotivebody like aspeaker enclosure.Block any otherholes so soundfrom the back ofthe speaker cannotescape and cancelthe sound from the front. Also, put some padding in to ‘useup’ the inside sound waves.I powered it up as DCC number 3, the default for bothdecoders, and it all worked fine. That is fine if you can accepta Diesel making steam locomotive sounds. My first reactionwas that the sound was too soft and the horn was too long.As with all DCC systems, you use Configuration Variablesto change parameters. I was concerned that programmingone unit might mess up the other unit; so I added a 4-pinreceptacle under the floor. Two wires go into these four socketsto allow either unit to be disconnected while the other isprogrammed.Setting CV 60 to 1 changes the sound from steam to Dieseland setting CV 58 to 15 sets the sound level to maximum.In my opinion the sound level is just about right, not so loudthat it booms all over the train room. I was pleased that itwas possible to generate short horn sounds so standard hornsignals were possible, although the short Diesel horn wasshorter than the short steam whistle. DCC function buttonscan be used to generate other sounds.This will give a low cost generic sound. If you want morespecific prototypical sound, check out the Digitrax web site[www.digitrax.com], where you can download a softwareprogram and then other locomotive sound repertoires into theunit using Digitrax’s PR3 controller. I hope to be hearing fromyou or, at least, from your locomotives.u3Jan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 29

Traction ActionRoger C. ParkerThe Joy of CombinesAn interview with traction modeler Gerald Brotherspapers. They made possible the growth of many small businesses,farms, small towns and newspapers and magazines.I notice some of your models have a mail compartment.On some roads, mail played an important role. Combinesused for handling mail had to conform to numerous RailwayPost Office regulations specified by the United States PostalService. These specifications referred to the size of the mailcompartments, its internal fittings, the numbers and styles ofwindows, security restrictions (e.g., no passengers allowed topass through any RPO area like car number 320 in Photo 1),windows with bars and other fixtures (such as whether the car1A few weeks ago, I was discussing interurban rolling stockwith Gerald Brothers, whose craftsmanship frequently gracesthese pages. Our conversation turned to the numerous combineshe’s built for his line, the outside 3rd rail Black Hills andWestern, set in South Dakota.Why have you built so many combines?Combines are fascinating because they came in so manyflavors, with their own unique stories. So many real personsshowed their ingenuity and pride of service through thesegreat cars.Combination cars were often the first type of car orderedby new electric railways. These came in a dazzling array ofdifferent combinations: baggage/passenger (most frequentlyused), baggage/mail/passenger, mail/baggage, diner/lounge,café/lounge, and many other more specialized varieties.The needs of each railway could be met by the many builderswho also had their own visions of what a car should looklike and how it was to be made. This resulted in differentwindow treatments, door sizes, the placement and number ofdoors, entrances for passengers on either or both ends of thecar plus whether passengers should board only from one sideof the car or both.How were combines used?Combines were used with coaches and other cars toaccommodate the many kinds of luggage used by affluent passengers,which in the early years were often large “steamertrunks.” Combines were used in named trains, numberedtrains, extras, fair trains, specials, overflow trains from the ballparkand simply, as “the train that left on the hour.”What about freight?Combines carried people, trunks, pets, hand-cars, poles,milk, pails, lumber, flowers, shoes, hides, soap … and the daily30 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09should be equipped to pick up mail on the fly).Other mail combines could have a special compartmentbut simply pick up “bagged” mail. This type of mail could alsobe handled in an ordinary baggage/passenger combine.Where did the lines obtain their combines?Many lines simply ordered combines from the car builders’catalogs; some lines specified exactly what they wanted, whileothers simply modified existing models.There was a great deal of “home building,” too. On manylines, older coaches were converted to combines by simplycutting in a large door someplace in the side.Do your models represent “exact prototypes?”In most cases, no; most of my models are “close enough”models that I discovered through the many books I’ve readand re-read over the years. The thing that ties themtogether is the purpose and nature of the “miniature world”that exists in a space defined by all modelers as “my layout.”For example...On my own line, the cash-short Rapid City, Black Hills andWestern, articulated Combine 500 shows the resourcefulnessand skill of a Chief Mechanic who, after a disastrous wreckand with little money in the bank, melded the pieces together(continued on page 34)

Introducing Turntables from Ross Custom Switches!Our new turntables are ready. After two years of development and testingRCS proudly introduces our new line of turntables.Product# Description PriceManually Indexing Turntable (line up tracks by eye)TUTA18M 18” Turntable with manually indexing motor $949.95TUTA24M 24” Turntable with manually indexing motor $1149.95TUTA27M 27” Turntable with manually indexing motor $1199.95TUTA33M 33” Turntable with manually indexing motor $1299.95Automatic Indexing TurntableTUTA18A 18” Turntable with Automatic indexing motor $1349.95TUTA24A 24” Turntable with Automatic indexing motor $1549.95TUTA27A 27” Turntable with Automatic indexing motor $1599.95TUTA33A 33” Turntable with Automatic indexing motor $1699.95Shipping on these items are as follows:18” and 24” turntables: $100 • 27” and 33” turntables: $125Precision made using a CNC cut 3/4” cabinet grade, no-warp, 13 ply baltic birch frame and pit, 7 ball androller thrust bearings, 1” ground center shaft, CNC cut 18” drive gear, mated to an automotive type, nostretch,timing belt for perfect grip all the time. Stepper motor with electronic controls and power supplyfor automatic indexing with speed (rpm) set by you, or heavy duty gear reduction motor with manual andinfinite low speed control and power supply. Full bridge with detail will accept many types of two andthree rail track. Track spacing at 7.5 or 15 degrees. Pre-wired with an industrial turntable track powerconnector and will transmit remote train controller commands of various manufacture. A square hole 6”larger than the bridge length is required. Motor drive hangs down appx. 10.5” Below table.Don't forget our line of auto indexing transfer tables as well!See www.rossswitches.com for full details on all our productsor call 1-800-331-1395.Jan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 31

and produced a unique car that thepatrons loved. In actuality it is a modelsearching for a prototype and made fromtwo LaBelle kits, highly modified, ofcourse, permanently coupled with thecoupling also serving as the mount forthe third truck. (See lead photo.)Why so many different colors and paintschemes on your line?My line was formed from the mergerof three preceding lines in 1911. I haveset my line in 1912, a year later. Thisexplains the sensible numbering system,the clean condition of the rolling stock,and the various paint schemes.The colors also indicate the class oftrain. Yellow cars (Photo 2 - car #310)are assigned to First Class trains, greenis for cars that normally run on freightschedules (Photo 3 - car # 307), red is aleftover, still-to-be repainted car. However,any and all cars will run togetheras needed, creating quite colorful trainsbut pleasing to the dispatcher and theaccountants!Do you scratchbuild all of your cars?Although brass is my favorite forbuilding locos, I prefer wood for thebodies of coaches and combines followedby plastic modular parts suchas those from East Gary Car Companyfor box motors. Wood is my favoritebecause of its feel, smell, and forgivingnature. Many of my combines began asLaBelle wooden kits modified to closelyresemble some prototype cars but madeto fit into my freelance world.34 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’0923What’s your favorite part of modeling?What I enjoy most in modeling ismaking my own drives out of NWSLparts with Q-Car or scratchbuilt sideframesand other parts adapted to myown designs. I use a simple CAD programto finalize these designs into usefulform and to check that they will fit intothe car bodies. This saves a lot of time,expense, and self-critical language.Nothing is as satisfying as seeing anew drive drift quietly down the track.Who were some of the modelers whoinspired you the most?Bob Hegge was the inspiration inmost of what I did. I turned to outsidethird-rail inspired by his article: “WhatBrought the Catenary Down?” in theJune, 1978, Model Railroader. I wasalso inspired by CERA Bulletin 129, NotOnly Passengers.What type of control system do youuse?DCC is the real answer to runningtrolleys or interurbans with short headwaysand multiple routes. The ability toquickly MU two or more locos or cars,pointing in any direction, is a blessingand truly frees up scheduling. You caneven automate parts of or your entirelayout to allow you to be the motormanof your preferred train while keeping carsmoving all around you. Sort of like drivingdodge-em cars.Do you depart from traditional modelingpractices?My modeling philosophy is to notput actual glass or clear plastic in thewindows since this produces oversizefuzz balls which destroys the desiredlook. I also have not used lights for thesame reason, that it looks “toy-like,” butwith the newer LEDs and DCC decoders,that has been overcome. I also usea minimum of internal detail because Iwant the viewer to see the model mainlyas a complete car and let the viewer’seye simply accept that the car has theexpected details inside.Thank you, Gerald, for inspiring us all!You’re welcome. I enjoy sharingmy models with readers of this greatmagazine!uEtched brass numbers SP-style, MSRP: $15.More brass numbers coming soon!Field parts for your interlocking tower: pipecarriers, crank stands and cranks. Visit ourweb site for details.The IrishTracklayer2682 W. Palo Alto AveFresno CA 93771www.irishtracklayer.comDeichman’s DepotATLAS O Scale 2-Rail3513-1 WM SD-40 Cab #7445 DC/DCC $407.753518-1 Conrail Saving Bond SD-40 DC/DCC 407.750459-1 D&H RS-3 Cab #4110 195.450464-1 Reading RS-3 Cab #488 195.457766 WM Fishbelly Hopper 45.007780 PC (MOW) H21a Hopper 55.207781 Virginian H21a Hopper 55.207782 PRR H21a Hopper (Black) 62.657680 Pitts. & Lake Erie NE-6 Caboose 63.707635 RF&P EV Caboose 63.707631 Chessie EV Caboose 63.707519 Bend Mill Works 53' Evans Box 55.207487 Roscoe, Snyder & Pacific USRA Box 49.257342 WM 40' Airslide Hopper 50.959277 Cargill 17,600K Tank Car 63.709403 NH 50' PS-1 Box Car 55.209851 B&O 50' PS-1 Box Car 59.459855 Schmidt's 50' PS-1 Box Car 59.459802 NYC 40' USRA Gondola 53.509519 Santa Fe 40' Steel Reefer 53.509103 Merchant Biscuit 40' Wood Reefer 53.509146 LaCrosse Breweries 40' Wood Reefer 53.50Deichman’s Depot110 Ivyside Dr, York PA 17402Ph: 717-755-1108 • Fax: 717-840-9650deichmansdepot@comcast.netwww.deichmansdepot.com

Nos. 16001-18500 O SCALE/PROTO 48 • Kit #124/124-P … $49.95•Based on 1917 prototype builtby Mt. Vernon Car Co.•Double sheath with Dreadnought ends•Steel underframe•Andrews trucks•Kit includes couplers and decalsAlso available –SACRAMENTO NORTHERNBoxcar Nos. 2301-2350Kit #125/125-P … $49.95 Coming soon – SP Sugar Beet GondolaEVERY Layout Has Its...BACKVIEWFRONT VIEWPedestrians And Workers to placeAnywhere on Your layout that hassteps or stairs.Realistic Figures Bring Your Layout to LifeSend $1.50 for our full color catalog featuring the over 420 PEWTER Figures AND Accessorieswe produce in O Gauge All Made and Hand Painted in the USA with Pride. $9.50 S&H per order.VISA & MC orders call 1 800 316-2493. For Information:302 455-0195. FAX orders: 302 455-0197Ups&DownsPainted / Unptd1497 Businessman walking up/dn... _5.99 / 4.001498 Man in suit walking down...... _ 5.99 / 4.001499 Worker walking up.................. _5.99 / 4.001500 Worker walking down.............. _5.99 / 4.001501 Man w/hard hat walking down. _5.99 / 4.001502 Worker w/hard hat walking up. _5.99 / 4.001503 Businesswoman going down... _5.99 / 4.001504 Young girl walking up or down.._5.99 / 4.001505 Woman with/bags walking up _7.25 / 4.501506 Old woman w/cane walking up _6.25 / 4.001507 Woman w/blowing dress up/dn _6.25 / 4.001508 Couple walking ................. _12.50 / 8.001509 RR worker holding on........ ......_5.99 / 4.001510 Welder looking at job................_6.25 / 4.25People make the differenceVisit us at www.arttista.com for color photos 105 Woodring Lane Newark DE 19702Jan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 35

The Norfolk and Western Class A in O ScaleConley WallaceThe popularity of the Norfolk and Western Class A 2-6-6-4cannot be overstated and O Scalers are fortunate to have theirchoice of several different models.Precision Scale Company imported an N&W A in the 1980sand when it arrived, it was one of the most accurate and highlydetailed model locomotives ever. It was modeled after locomotives#1225 through #1234 that were ordered in 1944 and representedthe locos as they appeared in the ‘50s with new caststeel pilots and rebuilt tenders. The beauty of the PSC modelwas only skin deep as it did not run as well as expected andits ability to split switchpoints is unrivaled. Close inspection ofthe wheel flanges shows that they were turned without a filletbetween the flange and tread. Replacing the wheels in the leadingand trailing trucks helps a lot.The Williams A arrived next and caused the trading priceof the PSC model to drop substantially. Traders were askingwell over $3000 before the Williams model arrived. Afterward,the prices began to drop off and now the PSC Class A may befound for about $1800, which is little more than the originalimport price.The Williams A is appealing because it is low priced andruns quite well. It was modeled after the 1943 order of locomotives,numbered from #1210-#1224, as they looked in the 1950sfollowing modernization. The problems with the Williams A isa boiler that is not fat enough, a general lack of detail and frontsteam delivery pipes that have an extra pipe section and elbow.The extra section and elbow can be eliminated without toomuch effort and any level of detail may be added. The skinnyboiler cannot be easily fixed, but it is the least noticeable of theproblems.The latest Class A models are the #1218 and the #1242from MTH. The #1218 is modeled after the same batch as theWilliams, but the #1242 is modeled after the 1949-50 order,#1235-#1242. More specifically, it is modeled after locos#1238-#1242 as numbers 1235, 36, and 37 did not have rollerbearing side rods.The MTH model also has problems. The first thing that hits36 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09Left to right: Williams brass #1212, MTH die-cast #1242, and Precision Scale brass #1234.your eye is the trailing truck. The front beams are supposed toextend at an angle from the front of the side frames and meetdirectly under the locomotive frame. The MTH truck frameshave no forward beams. Also, the rear loco frame extensionsare located too far to the rear on both sides. The rear frameextensions should be directly above the rear of the trailing truckto accept the weight of the locomotive. The last of the majorobjections is the distance between the loco and tender. Therest of the problems are mainly omissions that may be easilycorrected.I bought one of MTH’s #1242s because it has those big rollerbearing side rods and the model contrasts nicely with my PSCand Williams models.In Photo 1 the trailing truck was removed and 1/4” brasschannels were epoxied on to form the angled extensions of theside frames. The gaps werefilled with model putty andthe lip along the upper edgewas added using a narrowpiece of styrene.The rear frame extensionswere carefully sawed off andall the under cab detail wasremoved. These detail itemshad to be pried and twisteduntil they came off. A coldwater pump and other detailswere added below the cab onthe left side and a new injectorwas added under the rightside. All under cab detail wassoldered or epoxied to a flatbrass plate and then the entireassembly was epoxied to theloco. After the epoxy had setup, the piping connectionswere made to the cold water1Top: MTH trailing truck withincorrect front frame members atright angles to the side frames.Bottom: New front frame made from1/4” brass channel. A thin piece ofstyrene added along the top willprovide the lip.

23New injector, new piping and re-located rear frame member.pump and the injector as shown in Photo 2.The space between loco and tender was reduced by movingthe tender connection assembly back as far as it would go(about 1/4”). After removing the tender body, the formed steelplate that supports the connection assembly was removed andthe screw holes were extended to allow the plate to be mountedfarther to the rear. A small extension on the front tendertruck bolster was sawed off to clear the new connection location.This leaves a gap between loco and tender that is muchless objectionable but still slightly larger than perfect. The reargrabirons, originally mounted flush on the cab’s rear wall, werereplaced with ones that extend away from the cab wall. A styrenedeck plate was added and these two things helped fill thegap. That took care of the three most serious problems with theloco.The air tanks and air pumps were removed to drill the holesfor the missing air lines. The tanks were detached by removingthe screws below each one. The air pumps had to be pried andtwisted until the screws holding them broke off. Apparentlythese screws were inserted from inside the boiler very early inthe assembly process. Holes were drilled in the air tanks andthe pumps for the steam lines, air lines and air strainers thatwere added. The air tanks were screwed back on and the airpumps were reattached with epoxy. Water lines from the feedwaterheater were added as well as a water line from the hotwater pump to the check valve. I also added lagging clampsalong the top of the boiler (Photos 3 and 4). The whistle cordwas re-routed through the sand dome and the bell cord wasremoved. The As had an air operated bell and therefore had nouse for a bell cord.The coupler on the tender was moved back using the sameprocedure for moving the tender connection. The tender infowas changed to accurately reflect the coal capacity of 30 tons.The incorrect ”S” was simply scratched off and replaced withan ”O” from a Microscale decal set. A number of tiny Phillipshead screws show in the valve gear. A small drop of white glueon the head of each turned them into smooth rivets.That jet black paint was lightened by an overspray of a lighter,more grayish paint. The application was just heavy enoughto lighten the color but still allow the lettering to show through.Weathering was added, especially closer to the rails. Now youcan actually see the tender trucks and all the detail added tothe loco. As seen in Photo 5, the overall effect is quite pleasing.A lighter shade of black illuminates details. Note new cold water pump andproperly located rear frame member.45Added steam lines, air lines and air strainer.The completed MTH Class A. Note the huge improvement in theappearance of the trailing truck.Each of these models has lots to offer and any of the problemscan be overcome. The PSC model is a bargain at today’strade prices and could begin to appreciate again soon. A verysmall number of MTH locos were produced for 2-Rail so don’twait for prices to go down. Lots of Williams locos are out thereat very reasonable prices. Or you could just save your moneyin anticipation of that sure-to-be-fabulous Kohs Class A. uJan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 37

O Scale Mag Ad - 7.4 x 4.9, 07/12 - full color, v3.1.Have It (Sounds) Your Way!There is a QSI Sound Module for Every “O” Scaler.Choose One That’s Right For You!✔ Conventional DCPower Pack + Quantum Module = Horn/Bell/Motor Loco Sounds✔ Conventional DC and Quantum EngineerPower Pack + Quantum Module + Quantum Engineer = 33 ControllableLoco & Sound Ops✔ DCC: All Major SystemsDCC Systems + Quantum Module = 33 Controllable Loco & Sound Ops✔ Conventional AC: “O” Gauge 3 RailPower Pack + Quantum Module = Horn/Bell/ Motor Loco Sounds✔ AC Command Control: TMCC, DCS, 3 RailCommand System + Quantum Module = 33 Controllable Loco/Sound Ops(DC Control) Quantum EngineerQSISolutionsPlease contact us for more information about all these new exciting sound options! 800-671-0641. Introductory offer $159.95 list.Distributed Exclusively by QSI SolutionsQSI Solutions c/o American Hobby Distributors, 57 River Road, Suite 1023, Essex Junction, VT 05452Toll-free (800) 671-0641 Fax 802-878-5550 e-mail info@qsisolutions.com Copyright © 2007 by QSI Solutions. All Rights Reserved.38 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09

Tools I Cannot Do WithoutThe Bay Ridge Harbor RR, being an industrial railroad,requires many large buildings. Due to the size of some ofthem, I have had to resort to scratchbuilding over kitbashing.The following photos illustrate some of the tools I cannot dowithout and hence the title.When building large structures such as my Produce Freight House (afuture article), the photos of the bench shows the various tools such asa roller, clamps, steel square, pencil and other tools used for styreneconstruction.This tool caddy above is one of many I have made. This one holds thenumerous tools I use for scratch and kit building.Styrene storage. While not a tool in the true sense, this former hobby shopstyrene display item can be easily made if you can’t coax one off yourfavorite hobby dealer. I have two, one for styrene and one for wood.The razor saw and miter box, very handy for square or angle cuts.A good drafting pencil is invaluable I use Pentel 0.5 mm #P205Jan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 39

TWIN WHISTLE SIGN & KIT CO.Buy Direct!31 Turnberry Drive, Arden, NC 28704 (828) 684-6785Footprint: 10” x 4.5”Buy Directly from our e-store!WWW.TWINWHISTLE.COMASSEMBLEDBUILDINGS AREAVAILABLE!The Classic!Kit: $54.95• Pre-Cut Basswood Body• Complete Instructions• Assorted Castings• Wide Selection ofGraphics• Grandt Lines Doors &Windows• Scribed Interior Flooringe-mail:twinwhistle@hotmail.com40 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09

Rebuilding The Mechanism on an Old AC-12I love steam engines from the West Coast. There is somethingabout their elegance, poise, shape, colors and powerthat make the Southern Pacific and the Union Pacific rostersabsolutely irresistible to me.Thus, when a KTM AC-12 Cab Forward showed up oneBay, I had to have it. The pictures were very enticing, showinga great AC-12 with lots of details and an overall goodappearance. The ad was rather fuzzy about the runningcharacteristics of the model, but since it was made by KTM,there was probably nothing in it that could not be fixed. KTMengines are very strong, good pullers, great runners and willnever wear out their gearboxes and drivers. Besides, a decentAC-12 offering is rare and offers from Sunset are even less frequent.I won the auction and I have to admit it was expensivefor a very poor running machine. The engine was obviouslyshorting from time to time (very odd, but the cause will beexplained later) and the original motor did not provide thesmooth running characteristics I like on these big articulateds.I was disappointed for sure, but also knew that this enginehad a lot of potential if some work was done on it. All the distributiongears, rods and drivers were nice and not bent. Thejournals and axles were in great shape and both chassis wereperfectly straight and healthy. Now, the paint job was lousy(read “thick”) and lots of details had been glued on instead ofbeing soldered. Plus, the KTM model represents more of anAC-10 than the AC-12 I wanted to model. Some significanthoses and pipes were missing, and I wanted to correct thisshell to make it look as close as possible to an AC-12. All theabove implied a complete paint stripping job and a few brassdetails to be correctly soldered on.I had rebuilt a KTM Union Pacific FEF-3 4-8-4 before; andthis time wanted to take the challenge further by re-motoringthe Cab Forward and making it a stupendous puller,capable of crawling speeds with incredible smoothness. Whatwould be the right motor for such a large and heavy engine?I thought about installing two motors similar to what DouglasCockerham is doing for some of his customers. I don’thave the skill, tools and equipment required to perform suchan endeavor, and besides, I wanted all modifications to bereversible: if I failed in my attempt at converting this engine, Iwanted to be able to re-install the original open-frame motorin the chassis and run with it.I started to probe the Internet for ideas and opinions of peoplewho had performed such conversions. An answer camethrough the O Scale 2-Rails newsgroups, as it always does.Jack Straw from Wichita (his Internet nom de plume) suggestedinstalling a Pittman 9434 motor. The torque would beYves Vidalsignificantly improved and the conversion was relatively easy,according to Jack. Well, it was not much, but this answer wasinjecting some hope and raising my confidence level that perhapsthis old articulated engine could be turned into a smoothand powerful workhorse.I immediately called NorthWest Shortline to purchase thePittman 9434 motor and a couple of flywheels. I took the biggestflywheel I could mount on the motor, as I truly believein the fantastic effect of a flywheel. In O Scale, the size of thedrivers and the weight of the engines allow for better electricalpickup and thus flywheels are not so common.The female part of the KTM universal joint was worn out,an indication of intense running sessions and also the resultof the lack of smoothness of the KTM open frame motor. Isuspect that each pole of the spinning motor generated a smallvibration and caused some erosion of the coupling part. Photo2 shows the originalKTM motor,the replacementPittman motor, theflywheel and thetwo KTM gearboxeswith theiroriginal universaljoints.Remember thatone of the essential requirements of this transformation is thatwe can always fall back on the original motor and transmissionmounting if anything goes sour. The second requirementwas that this conversion could be done pretty much by anybodyand with no out of the ordinary tools.Before doing any conversion work, I started by disassemblingboth chassis of the locomotive. The main chassis wastaken apart, each part was immersed in an ultrasonic cleanerfilled with Isopropyl alcohol and left to soak for several minutes.Needless to say, the juice that came out of these partswas extremely dark, a mixture of crud, paint, old grease anddried oils. The drivers were carefully wiped down with cottonrags, checked for electrical shorts, and carefully paintedwith Floquil Engine Black. A small star decal (Microscale) wasapplied to each wheel center. Finally, the treads were cleanedand polished with a Briteboy eraser. During the re-assembly ofthe rear chassis, I realized that one driver was shorted. Therewas no sign of a short on the outside and after sending thedriver to Joe Foehrkolb for repair, it appeared that the insulatingmaterial inside the driver was pitted. That internal shortcircuit was the reason the engine was performing so poorly.Joe fixed this for a very small fee and in record time,Jan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 412

while keeping excellent communications with me. (I tend tobecome nervous as I send these precious parts through themail.) Photos 3-4 show the front and rear chassis, fully paintedand re-assembled. After carefully lubricating all the moving3chassis. The gearbox was installed and secured from underneath.The little shaft holder was installed near the end of thechassis and the motor and universal joint were positioned. Icarefully marked the two holes that would be used to securethe stand for the motor. These were drilled and tapped at 4-40 or 3mm and two pieces of threaded rod (or two cut bolts)were inserted and fastened with CA as shown in Photo 6.Photo 7shows the Pittman motor installed with its universaljoint connected and solidly fastened to the front chassis.This was the first modification done to the chassis. The6 74parts, the chassis run very smoothly and can freely slide ontheir own when gently pushed on a horizontal track. So far Iam very pleased with the running characteristics of my engine.Now that our two halves were working well, it was timeto install the Pittman motor on the front chassis. I wanted tokeep the same gearboxes and not modify the length of thetransmission shafts. The Pittman motor must be equippedwith a flywheel on the other end of its shaft, and that flywheelmust clear the bulkhead inside the engine shell. This bulkheadseparates the firebox from the cabin and fortunately it is slantedand will align perfectly with the rear of the flywheel. ThePittman motor and flywheel are longer than the original, andtherefore I couldn’t re-use the KTM universal joint which wasworn out and also quite noisy. A quick look into the PrecisionScale catalog gave the perfect universal joint. It is terminatedwith 4mm attachments that fit perfectly to the shaft of the Pittmanmotor and to the transmission shaft. Of course the Pittmanshaft had to be shortened a bit to save a few millimetersand a tiny groove filed near the end for the locking screw ofthe universal coupling, to bite securely.Photo 5 shows the large flywheel inserted on the motorshaft. The old KTM stand can be re-used and will provide anexcellent stand for the new motor. A Dremel rotary tool handpiece with a diamond blade was used to cut the steel shaftand a stone wheel was used to dig the small groove. Rememberto protect youreyes with large5glasses, and yourhands with gloveswhen doing suchwork.Once the motorhas been mountedon its stand, it wastime to positioneverything on the42 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09second modification was to drill a hole on both sides of thechassis (again tapped at 4-40 or 3 mm) to fasten the belt forholding the motor. This belt is made with two strips of brass,drilled at both ends and bent to the cylindrical shape of themotor. On the left side of Photo 6, one can see the hole drilledand tapped to hold the braces around the motor.Photo 8 shows the two strips of brass and the two 3mmscrews used tosecure them to thechassis along with8the Precision Scaleuniversal joint andthe motor supportmade of basswood.The woodsupport was madeby filing a pieceof bass or balsawoodto fit tightlybetween the airtanks and the little bevel located on the rear chassis. Later on,a hole was made through the support and an existing threadedhole in the chassis was used to fasten it to the chassis. Photo 9shows the wooden support installed on the front chassis with9

the motor comfortably resting on it. The two braces hold themotor securely and once the screws were painted black andthe upper shellinstalled, theywere invisible fromthe outside. Photo10 shows the completefront chassisassembly, restingon rollers for theearly tests.As soon as power was applied, the differences from the oldKTM motor became obvious. With very low voltage (using DCsupply only) I was able to achieve a full rotation of the driversin 15 seconds; thanks to the flywheel and the excellentcharacteristics of the roller bearing equipped Pittman motor.I expect to get even better performance when the engine isequipped with DCC. The presence of the flywheel providesa natural momentum to the mechanism. Accelerations aresmooth, and the engine will coast without jerkiness. Brutallycutting the throttle gives you 10 to 15 rotations of the driversbefore a complete stop, which provides for more realisticbehavior.To verify the solidity of the assembly, I left the motor runningfor more than an hour at mid-throttle on the rollers foreach direction. The behavior was astounding. The motor wascompletely cold (It was drawing about 500 mA.) and the driversand rods were happily spinning and stroking in completesilence and smoothness.Photo 11 shows the front chassis on the rollers covered10by the shell. Thewhole conversionfits nicely andactually takes lessspace in widththan the originalmotor.After verifyingthat the frontchassis workedfine, that the Pittmanmotor fit intothe boiler and that the flywheel did not touch the bulkhead,it was time to assemble the rear chassis to the front and testthe engine. Photo12 shows the whole enchilada on its rollers,ready for the first spin. Interestingly enough, the electricalconsumption did not change much with the addition of therear chassis. At 500-550 mA, and under 3 volts, the engineoperated very smoothly, in complete silence and with a lot ofelegance.I kept the original KTM universal joint for two reasons: It isin good condition and silent. The second reason is that it is noteasy to find a universal joint of such short length and flexibility.One element can still be improved: The brass bearing that1112is used to hold the main shaft in position. KTM uses a lubedbearing but new technology in the form of a small ball-bearingis available.Although not depicted in the photos, I have tried to replacethat “L” shaped support and its brass bearing with a similarstand equipped with a 4mm enclosed ball-bearing. The resultis that about 50-100 mA of currentcan be saved. It isnot a great gain,but this improvementwill mostlikely be used onthe final version(Photo 13).The biggestpart of the work,mechanically speaking, has been done and the results aretremendous and extremely encouraging. It is now time toconnect the completely overhauled tender, and to drive tomy friend Jerry’s layout for the real tests. Jerry’s layout depictsthe famous SP Tehachapi Loop and presents the challengeof a 2.5% grade around the loop and some other locations.No matter how great a steam engine can run on rollers or astraight piece of test track, the final verdict will always be ona real layout and under load. This is where short circuits showup and other mechanical problems can surface. The AC-12shell is not yet ready and thus only the chassis has been takenfor a few spins around the famous Tehachapi Loop. The chassisdoes not have any additional weight, although its mass issignificant already.Photo 14 depicts the mechanism pulling its tender anda string of 20 cars of various origins (plastic and brass). Thenew chassis hasbehaved extremelywell and easilyhauled the stringof 20 cars withoutany hints of slippage.Althoughugly to watch withits wires and guts exposed, the result was very encouragingand confirmed that these old KTM engines can be modernizedand turned into robust and eternal pullers. The flywheelprovided the momentum to go through any poor conductionof the rails and the new Pittman motor was never short oftorque and smoothness. Obviously with the shell, the originalKTM weight andsome additionalweight, this enginewill most likelypull between 50-60 reefers on thatmountainouslayout (Photo15).u(Ed. Note: We hope to bring you a second part of thisrebuild at a later date.)131415Jan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 43

Buy⁄Sell⁄TradeAOCC*Gem PRR B6 0-6-0, C/P or N/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$575.00WSM PRR J1a, 2-10-4, C/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,650.00WSM PRR M1, 4-8-2, C/P, Nice, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,150.00USH NYC De-streamlined 4-6-4, C/P. Ex. OB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,275.00USH C&O 2-8-4, C/P, Runs good, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,275.00USH PRR M1a, 4-8-2, C/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,275.00MG NYC J3a, C/P, NOB, from Tony Ambrose . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,395.00OM N&W Y3a, 2-8-8-2, C/P VGN, DCC, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2250.00USH NYC S1b 4-8-4 C/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,250.00MG PRR J 2-10-4, C/P, Icken gearsm NOB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,895.00USH NYC H10, 2-8-2, Mint, N/P, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,275.00USH PRR L1, 2-8-2, N/P, LN, NOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,175.00Gem PRR A5 0-4-0, C/P, NOB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$475.00OM #0445 Conrail C39-8, N/P, LN, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$975.00OM N&W C630 High Hood FM trucks, New OB. . . . . . . . . . . $1,195.00OM SD70M Demo, F/P, LN, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,750.00Jim HackworthMODEL TRAINS(and Subsidiary JH Consulting)2631 Edgevale Road, Columbus OH 43221-1113Phone: 614-4514517 Fax: 6144514557Email: jhmtrains@msn.com • Web: www.jhmtrains.comConsignmentsAOCC*CLW PRR H10, 2-8-0, C/P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $750.00Joe Fischer(??) PRR R50b Express Reefer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$200.00OM PRR PAPB Set, Late Run, F/P, New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,875.00PRB 60’ Greenville Boxcar, F/P N&W, LN, OB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$249.00PRB 60’ Greenville Boxcar, F/P, Wabash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $225.00OM ATSF Erie Built “B” Unit, F/P, New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $899.00USH PW Tank Car, C/P ACFX, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$150.00Scale Mod Ind Roundhouse kit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$195.00PRB 60’ Greenville Boxcar F/P GT New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$295.00OM #0751.1 MLW Bay Window Caboose, LN, F/P, OB . . . . . . . .$375.00OM 89’ TTX flat, C/P TTX Yellow, LN, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$275.00USH PRR N5 Caboose, New w/Trucks, N/P, OB. . . . . . . . . . . . . .$250.00PRB Thrall APL D Stack Set, LN, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,595.00OM PS2-CD Covered Hopper, C/P ATSF, OB, LN . . . . . . . . . . . .$319.00PRB Sealand Gunderson D. Stack, set, LN, OB . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,395.00MG PRR N8 Caboose, N/P, NOB.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$250.00Alco PRR N6a, C/P or N/P, each. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$225.00Layaway Available44 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09*All Offers Cordially ConsideredLSASE for Complete ListShipping 6% - $6.95 Min., $15.00 MaxOhio Residents Add 6.75% Sales TaxEstates⁄LiquidationsCollection Reductions

East GaryCar Co.Dept OST3828 St. Joseph CtLake Station IN 46405They’re Back!Former Indianapolis Car Company sidesare now available from new tooling.Parts #100 & #200$3.00 eachOrders under $50 please add $4.50 for postage andhandling. SASE for updated list.*Shipping: $6.95 for 1 car$1.00 for each additional carPayPalNYC Pacemaker AARBoxcar3-Rail (8582)$55.95*2-Rail (9582)$59.95*Additional Atlas O Special Runs Coming Soon:Bewind Coal 55 Ton Coal HopperPRR Anchor Lines 40’ Wood ReeferNYC X-29 Box CarMSpecial Runsullet Riverodel Works118 Huson Ct. • Plymouth, WI 53073Phone 920-892-8159WWW.mulletrivermodelworks.comAll items shown are available in four road numbers6 Delmar Ridge Drive • Wellsboro, PA 16901amhobbies2@hotmail.com(570) 723-1824ExclusivePacific Fruit Express53’6” Exchange Reefer3-Rail (3001010)$65.95*2-Rail (3001020)$69.95*am-hobbies.comO ScaleCaboose Models> Laser cut plywood body with working windows> Full interior with roof ribs and purlins> Separate doors can be modeled in the open position> Working windows> Etched brass underframesSee your dealer or our web site for more photosYour source for:Motive power, rolling stockand structure plans(since 1975)Quik-Signs sign setsScale industry directoryPaper Creek ModelsSend $2.00 for catalogUnderground Railway PressP.O. Box 814OSBrevard, NC 28712-0814B R U M M Y ’ SPREMIUM GROUNDRUBBER BALLASTScale or Hi-Rail Size:Limestone White, Gray NewEarth Colors! (All sizes) Dry Dirt,Rich Dirt (Darker), Sand BoxBeige (Brighter) Coal - All Sizes.WE NOW TAKE VISA, M/C, and AMEXPhone: 330-825-3673Fax: 330-825-0214200 23rd St. NW • Barberton, OH 44203email: Dbrumagin4@netscape.net403001 SOO Line Caboose with single window cupola $120.00403002 SOO Line Caboose with two side window cupola $120.00403003 DSS&A Caboose $120.00403004 C&NW Caboose with no end windows $120.00403005 C&NW Caboose with end windows $120.00403006 C&NW Caboose with all wood underframe $120.00403007 Big Four Caboose $120.00403008 Milwaukee Road Caboose with tall cupola $120.00403009 CB&Q 28' Caboose $120.00403010 CB&Q 30' Caboose $120.00403011 SOO Line 34' Caboose $120.00403012 Central of Georgia Caboose with tong and groove side$120.00403013 Yosemite Valley Caboose $120.00403014 Central of Georgia Caboose with plywood side $120.00403015 Colorado & Southern Caboose standard gage $120.00403016 C&NW Bay Window Caboose tong and groove side $120.00403017 C&O-Pere Marquette Caboose $120.00New 403018 Southern Pacific C-30-1 Caboose $120.00New 403019 Southern Pacific CS-15 Caboose $120.00New 403020 Grand Trunk Western Caboose $120.00New 403021 New York Central Caboose $120.00New 403022 Boston & Albany Caboose $120.00Jan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 45

NEWS: McPherson’s Tooling and Machining Co; MSRP: $54.95Twin Whistle Sign & Kit Co, 31 Turnberry Ave, Arden NC 28704828-684-6785 • www.twinwhistle.comTwin Whistle Sign & Kit Co. has announced that it hasmerged with TW Laser Designs which allows them to producelaser-cut kits, accessories, billboards, and signs thatwill set new standards in detail and design.Their first product is McPherson’s Tooling and MachiningCo. This kit is laser-cut alder and basswood. The building istriangular in shape and measures 7” l x 4” w x 5.25” h. Kitincludes resin roof castings, building signs, a top sign for thebuilding, barrels and two crates.This model is easily constructed, requiring only a fewevenings to produce. The kit comes with a tips and trickssection to assist in creating a realistic model.They are showing aSouthern Railroad heraldin their photos, but severalrailroad heralds areavailable. The customercan call or email for furtherinformation.In addition to the kit,they will custom build amodel for$135 plus shipping.NEWS: Underground Railway Press 2009 Catalog; MSRP: $2Underground Railway Press, PO Box 814OS, Brevard NC 28712The Underground Railway Press has released its 2009catalog of scale plans. This 34th edition includes plans ofmotive power, rolling stock and structures for logging, mining,narrow gauge, shortline and traction railways.NEWS: PRR Signal; MSRP: $64.95 - 3 Rail; $74.95 - 2 RailAtlas O, 378 Florence Ave, Hillside NJ 07205908-687-0880 • www.atlaso.comThe latest release in the Atlas O21st Century Signal System is thePRR position light signal. This uniquesignal was used on the PRR and theN&W. Some remain in use today.The signal is constructed of brass,die-cast and ABS parts and comescomplete with signal circuit board.As with all the 21st Century Signals,three steps are all that is needed toconnect and operate the signal. Thesignals are available as single unitsor in 4-packs. The 4-pack sets are$239.95 and $279.95 respectively for3-Rail and 2-Rail sets. See your localAtlas O dealer or go to the Atlas Owebsite.NEWS: O Scale Code 148 Track Products; MSRP: See textLenz Agency of North America, PO Box 143, Chelmsford,MA 01824 978-250-1494While Lenz is best known for its line of DCC products,they have entered the O Scale track market with a numberof items. Lenz sent two turnouts, a #6 (upper portion ofthe photo) and a double slip. Both were well made withCode 148 nickel-silver rail on molded ties. Built into eachis a manual throw mechanism for the points which has aslight magnetic detent to hold them in place. The points aremolded to match the stock rails to help prevent picking. Theguard rails are slightly raised and the cast frogs have nut-boltdetail. The manual turnouts are priced at $110, a DCC compatibleturnout is $142, and the double slip is $177.Lenz will also offer Code 148 flex track in 1 meter lengthsfor $20. A Wye turnout is listed as well with the price TBA.For more information about the Lenz trackage, pleasecontact the Lenz Agency of North America at the phonenumber above. The Lenz website, based in Germany, doesnot presently have any information about track components.For those of you who like their trains with a Europeanflair, Lenz will also produce locomotives, passenger andfreight equipment in O Scale 2-Rail. Check the Lenz websiteat [www.lenz.com] for details.NEWS: Micro-Mark #84306 O Scale Coaling Tower“Topper” Kit; MSRP: $19.95340 Synder Avenue, Berkeley Hills, NJ 07922-1595800-225-1066 • www.micromark.comMicro-Mark’s Coaling Tower “Topper” kit transforms anO Scale Plasticville Coaling Tower (sold separately) into areasonable scale model. The kit includes laser-cut woodparts for a new upper story, a gate and details for the chute,a new back door at the top of the stairs, corrugated roofingmaterial and laser-cut windows, plus fully illustrated step-bystepinstructions. The kit requires minor modification to thePlasticville structure. For more information, contact Micro-Mark 1-800-225-1066 or visit [www.micromark.com].46 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09

REVIEW: Atlas O #6905 Icing Platform Kit; MSRP: $59.95;& #6906 Ice House Kit; MSRP: $49.95Atlas O, LLC 348 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205908-687-9590 • www.atlasto.comReviewed by Joe GiannovarioThe PrototypeWe don’t often stop to think about how the food we buyin a grocery store gets there or how we can have fresh fruitin the middle of the winter. Much of that food is shipped bytrain to truck outlets that deliver to the stores.Shipping non-local foodstuffs by rail originated in the1840s when milk and butter were loaded into insulatedboxcars nicknamed reefers. To keep the milk and buttercold, the reefers were filled with huge blocks of ice weighingup to 400 pounds each. A reefer in the late 19th centurycould travel between 250 to 400 miles before it would needto be re-iced. Railroads built icing platforms along theirroutes to aid in getting the ice up to the roofs of the reefers.Iced reefers lasted into the 1960s partly because theywere simple to maintain with no moving parts. However,an iced reefer would require between 9,000 and 11,000pounds of ice and a cross-country trip would require severalre-icings. Between that and the manual labor involved,mechanical refrigerated cars replaced iced reefers starting inthe 1950s.Icing platforms were not stand-alone structures. Typically,there was an ice house attached or adjacent to theicing platform. An ice house is a large insulated structuremuch like a barn for storing ice until it was needed. Initially,railroads brought ice in from company owned lakes and iceponds. Eventually, the ice was made by mechanical refrigerationinside the ice house itself. An icing station wouldalso use salt to lower the temperature of the ice to make itlast longer.The ModelsBoth kits are made of injection molded styrene parts. Theicing platform starts as a pile of sprues almost 5 inches high.I have a little experience with injection molding and I havenever seen a kit with so many gates and sprues as this one.The object of all this is to make sure every part is completelyfilled and there are no sinks in the parts. The ice house isjust a simple box structure. The parts in both kits are moldedin gray, white and black plastic.AssemblyBoth kits were easy to assemble. Their parts are keyedto go together a certain way. Whoever did the engineeringon these kits did a great job. The down side is that there aremany little nibs to be removed after clipping the parts off thesprues. I spent quite a bit of time sanding parts for the icingplatform before assembly.The icing platform has a solid base with molded concretefootings. The whole structure of the platformdepends on these footings to keep the frameworksquare and true. Idid not like the lookof the solid base,so I devised a wayto remove it afterthe platform wasassembled. BeforeI started assembly Iused a cut-off disk in a rotarytool and cut a slot behindevery footing that was widerthan the footing itself (See2Photo 2) . This way after all of the platform was assembledand braced, I could remove the solid bottom by cutting slotson either side of each footing.Assembly of the platform went without a hitch eventhough the written instructions are sparse.Many of the parts have ejector pin marks on them butthey tend to be on the backside of the parts and are not normallyseen from the front or side views. The one exceptionwas the right side, front roof support post which had the pinmark on the front face. This required sanding to remove it.The only negatives I will mention (and they are slight) arethat parts are not numbered in sequence and the assemblysteps are not printed in order. In the former case, part #38will mate with part #66, rather than #39. I spent a lot oftime looking through all the sprues to find the parts I neededto complete an assembly step. In the latter case, steps 1through 4 are on one page of the instructions while step 5wasn’t on the adjacent page where one would expect it tobe. It turned out to be on what I would call the last page ofthe booklet. However, these are minor inconveniences.Assembly of the platform, painting as I went, took about12 hours and the result is an impressive structure over 3 feetlong. Two or more platforms can be strung together to makean icing station as long as you like.The ice house took much less time. I spray painted allthe parts on their sprues and let them dry overnight. Actualassembly of the ice house took less than an hour. It stillrequires final detail painting but I can do that at my leisure.ConclusionsMy first thought on receiving these kits was that the icehouse was expensive compared to the platform. I did somequick calculations. You would easily spend $50 or more juston materials if you were to scratchbuild the ice house andyou still would have all the labor to lay out and assemblethe parts. After assembling the icing platform, I realize whata bargain the platform is in terms of its cost and complexity.Together these kits make an amazing structure that wouldfit any railroad theme from the 1840s to the 1950s. I hadalways planned an agricultural area on the OST layout andnow there’s an icing platform and ice house to service therequired reefers.Jan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 47

REVIEW: 20-3315-2 CP “Royal” Hudson 4-6-4; MSRP: $999.95M.T.H. Electric Trains, 7020 Columbia Gateway Drive,Columbia MD 21046410-381-2580 • www.mth-railking.comReviewed by Joe GiannovarioThe PrototypeI reviewed Weaver’s “Empress” Hudson in OST #37, so Iwill repeat some of the Royal Hudson history here for thosewho may have missed the prior review.The first Hudson type built for the Canadian Pacific wasproduced in 1929 by the Montreal Locomotive Works inQuebec, Canada. In all, 65 of these 4-6-4 locomotiveswere produced for the CPR. The classes ranged from H1a toH1e (#2800 - #2864).Hudsons numbered 2800-2819 had boiler tube pilots,visible domes, and visible feedwater heaters, while numbers2820-2864 were semi-streamlined to enclose most ofthe usual external fittings. They had a cowl stack combinedwith a smoke deflector, a recessed headlight, a domelessboiler and a solid pilot.In 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Englandcrossed Canada by train, from Quebec to Vancouver.Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 #2850 was given the honor of pullingthe royal couple’s train to Vancouver. The Hudson wasspecially refinished in royal blue and aluminum gray, witha golden emblem of the King’s crown at the front of eachrunning board and the King’s crest on the smokebox front.CP Hudson #2851 was chosen to head the procession as apress train and was painted similarly.After the trip, they were returned to their standard paintscheme of maroon and gray. The CP applied for, and wasgranted, special permission to retain the crowns on the2850, and to designate it as a Royal Hudson. Eventually,all of the Hudsons in the streamlined class (2820-2864)were fitted with crowns on their running boards and designatedas Royal Hudsons.Royal Hudson #2850 is on display in Montreal at theRailway Museum in Delson. The original 2 coaches thatthe Royal Couple traveled in are at the National ScienceMuseum in Ottawa.The ModelMTH sent cab number 2850 which is done up in theRoyal blue paint scheme as seen in the photo. Also available(#20-3313-2) is cab number 2851 done in the maroonand gray scheme.The MTH Royal Hudson is a typical modern die-castlocomotive. The basic boiler is a one-piece die-casting withadded details, most of which are brass investment castings,although there are not many external details on the prototype.The tender is die-cast as well.The model is painted and lettered as the prototype wasfor the Royal excursion. The main boiler is painted a battleshipgray with a black smokebox and Royal blue cab andrunning board skirts. The tender is also painted black, blueand gray. Both engine and tender have gold accent stripes.The model operates in dual mode under DC and MTH’sproprietary DCS system and is powered by a large Pittmancan motor. Sound and lights operate in both modesalthough they are not controllable in DC mode.FidelityThe Royal Hudson scales out to the same dimensions asthe Empress Hudson, although the external details are quitedifferent. All the major dimensions of the locomotive I measuredwere within my scale tolerance of +/- 3 scale inches.The tender is another story. The overall dimensions ofthe tender are correct but the coal bunker seems too highand with a pile of coal looks even more out of place. Plans Ifound online show the coal bunker should be even with theroof of the locomotive’s cab. The model’s bunker is slightlyhigher than the cab roof. There is also an issue with thegray stripe on the tender. Compared with photos of the twoRoyal Hudsons found online, the stripe on the MTH modelappears to be too wide and too short. However, withoutexact plans I cannot be exactly certain where the problem48 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09

lies except that it just does not look right.The only other nit to pick is that the crests on the runningboards, smokebox front and tender should be in reliefrather than decals, but that’s relatively minor.I have been told the exhaust, bell and whistle soundson this engine were recorded from the Royal Hudson thatis under steam in Canada. Other sound effects seem to befrom MTH’s standard repertoire.CompatibilityI checked all the wheels and drivers with the NMRA OScale standards gage. All the wheelsets passed. Couplermounts for Kadee® style boxes are provided on the tender,along with mounting screws and, once installed, the couplerswere at the correct height without the need for shimming.Note that any locomotive operating with a dual modesystem (i.e., DC and any command control) will not workand play well with plain-Jane DC powered locomotives.Scale wheeled MTH locomotives work best with otherscale wheeled MTH locomotives.PerformanceAll performance tests are done with the smoke unitturned off. In DC mode the slowest smooth speed attainablewas 4.3 scale mph which is a bit on the high side. Thepower draw at this speed was 9.8 Volts and 400 mA. Duringtesting I noticed something in this locomotive I’ve neverseen before. Running forward it drew 400 mA. Running inreverse it drew 800 mA. There was no speed difference,just a difference in current draw.Under a full load using my 12 standard O Scale freightcars, the locomotive drew 800 mA at 12 Volts on grade.In DCS mode the slowest smooth speed attainable was2.5 scale mph which is a little high but not bad.The Hudson had no problem pulling my test train aroundthe OST layout with its 3+% grades. I even stopped it onthe grade and restarted the train with no slippage. Therewere no issues with switches and it even ran down my 44”minimum radius branchline.ConclusionsIf you are a fan of Canadian steam (or just Hudsons ingeneral) it would seem that the MTH Royal Hudson is apiece to add to your collection. It looks good, despite a fewcorrectible flaws, and it runs well. MTH also plans to offerthe correct passenger cars for the pilot/press train.REVIEW: On30 Outside framed 4-4-0; MSRP: $325.00Bachmann Trains, 1400 East Erie Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124215-533-1600 • www.bachmanntrains.comReviewed Joe GiannovarioThe PrototypeAn outside framed 4-4-0 may seem an oddity butaccording to Bob Brown, editor and publisher of the NarrowGauge and Short Line Gazette, this is a Baldwin cataloglocomotive that was built around 1897 for the 30 inch gaugeOeste de Minas railway in Brazil.The ModelThe model has a die-cast boiler and frame with a plastictender. I initially thought Bachmann took the On30 2-8-0and put it on a new chassis but examination of the two modelsside-by-side shows this is a completely new model.The model was unlettered and painted in a nice satinblack with gold accents. There are several extra parts whichinclude a balloon stack, a straight stack, a lead truck withspoked wheels, a wood load for the tender, an oil bunkerconversion, and a bag of real coal. The model comes withcouplers installed and is equipped with a dual-mode DC/DCC decoder, but no sound, although the tender is ready toaccept a 28mm speaker.FidelityI did not have a drawing to compare the model to but Itake Bob Brown’s word that it is accurate.CompatibilityThe model comes with Bachmann’s version of On30couplers which are set at HO scale height. If all your otherOn30 equipment is set to the same standard, they willcouple just fine.PerformanceI started testing in DCC mode. With no load the slowestspeed was obtained at setting 1 (out of 28 steps) whichturned out to be 0.2 smph. With two standard O Scale boxcars(about 2 lbs.) coupled to the tiny 4-4-0, the best slowspeed was 0.1 smph. This is outstanding performance.In pure DC mode, the lights came on at 4.5V drawing0.1A. The best slow speed was obtained at 5.5V, drawing0.2A, and worked out to be 3.6 smph. This was a bit on thehigh side but still impressive performance.In both modes the locomotive was absolutely silent inoperation which just highlighted the need for sound.ConclusionsThis is a very nice addition to Bachmann’s On30 line andrepresents an unusual 30” gauge prototype. The model runsextremely well which has been typical of Bachmann’s entireOn30 line. I have been told that a Tsunami decoder froman HO Scale Bachmann 2-8-0 plugs right into the tender forthose who would like sound with their DCC, although youwill need to add a speaker. The extra goodies included withthe model makes customizing the loco a snap, literally.If Bachmann ever decided to make O Scale standardgauge locomotives, everybody else better watch outbecause they could sweep the marketplace.Jan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 49

REVIEW: Plastic P48 tie strips; MSRP: $21.95 pkg of 8strips plus $2.00 S&HCanter Rail Services , 1203 Rotherham Lane, BeechGrove, IN 46107-3323Reviewed by Mike Cougill1HistoryA set of flanged wheels running on two parallel railshas been the foundation of railroading since railroadshave existed in this country. The earliest track constructionconsisted of wooden timbers or crude iron rails supportedby stones. This was followed by early iron forgedrails and wooden crossties that finally evolved into theinverted T-section, jointed steel rail we’re familiar withtoday and the evolution continues with modern concreteties and welded rail.As in prototype railroading, track is a fundamental elementof model railroads. O Scale has seen the rise andfall of several commercial track products over the years,with handlaid model track remaining as a staple of thehobby. This is especially true if one is pursuing a finescaleapproach such as P48. While few argue about thepotential for realism with handlaid track, many considerit too labor intensive, difficult and time consuming. Nowmodelers in O Scale have a new track product that mighthelp alleviate those concerns and speed the constructionchores along.The ProductJim Canter has introduced his long awaited tie stripsin both Standard O and P48 versions. Each strip is nineinches long and includes two tieplates on each tie and ajoint bar on the ends of the strip which can be clipped offand applied to the rails. The ties are hollow on the backand measure a scale 8’-6” in length and are nine incheswide by seven inches deep with a 21 inch center-to-centerspacing. The top of each tie has a simulated woodgrain molded in with some slight variation in the grainpatterns between individual ties. The tieplates have fourholes each for driving spikes, although the holes do notgo all the way through.Each strip is made from injection molded black styrene.The individual ties are connected by a thin plasticspline that runs down the centerline of the strip, allowingthem to bend to any radius, and also serves as the interlockingmethod between individual strips. As an extremetest, I connected two strips together without glue andbent them into a half circle eight inches across at the trackcenterline without difficulty or having them separate.Needless to say, they will conform to almost any normal2curvature you might want on a layout!The spline has holes prepunched for attaching thestrips to the subroadbed via small spikes or brads. A triangulartab on one end of each strip fits into a correspondingslot molded onto the opposite end of the mating strip,thereby locking the two together and maintaining thealignment of the tieplates (Photo 2).Working with the productTo make the track sample shown in Photo 3, I gluedthe two strips down with some full strength yellow glue,using a straightedge to line them up and placed a fewtrack spikes along the spline to hold them in place untilthe glue dried. After the glue had dried, I took the sampleoutside and painted the strips with a can of brown spraypaint. This was just an experiment and I wasn’t satisfiedwith the results. Back at the bench I brush painted somefull strength Floquil Rail Brown on some ties at randomand also painted a thin wash of Floquil Grimy Black aswell, leaving the tieplates the original brown color of thespray paint. When all this dried, I rubbed and dusted on350 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09

some pastels in shades of brown, white and gray to getrid of the paint sheen, which made the plastic ties moreclosely resemble wood. As I’ve noted before, weatheringeffects like this are completely subjective. However,things were beginning to look good to my eyes at thispoint.The tieplates will accept the base of code 125 or code138 rails and I used code 125 for the review sample. Inspiking the rail, I ran into a bit of frustration. As mentioned,the ties are hollow with a thin cross section atthe top. I tend to insert track spikes at an angle and whenspiking the rails to these plastic strips, I bent a lot ofspikes. I found it very hard to drive them in until I noticedthat if I held the pliers straight up when driving the spikes,they went through much easier. My hands were gettingvery tired until I began doing it this way, so be aware.Since this was an unpowered display sample, I didn’tbother with any electrical feeder wires. I suggest that yousolder these to the rails before spiking them down to theplastic tie strip, since heat and plastic don’t mix well. Iwouldn’t rely solely on the molded on tieplates for settingthe gauge, they are accurate, but I would certainly usea good track gage too. I also have to say that I found thejoint bars provided with the strips to be lacking in detailcompared to those available from Right-O-Way Productsand others. I added some ballast to my sample and mustadmit that the appearance of track with this product isn’tbad at all. The tie spacing and design suggest that thesestrips are best suited to represent well maintained mainlinetrack and not a run down branch or secondary as Ioften model.ConclusionsThe tie strips allow one to quickly lay a stretch of track.You can spike it enough to maintain the gauge for runningsome trains, then go back later and do the cosmeticspiking in every tie if you wish. I found that spiking intoplastic requires more effort than wooden ties and there’llbe some extra work involved to make the plastic looklike wood. The current lack of matching switch ties willalso mean extra work to match things up. You’ll haveto decide for yourself how bothersome that will be. At$21.95 for six feet of strips, they will be an expensive wayto go for a large layout, but the cost is comparable withother brands of commercial flextrack and they could bejust the thing for a small layout or module.Pro Patria Mill...from Rico, Co, On30/On3/O scalelaser cut wood, tons of strip wood, over 400 parts, 800 bits of stripwood.... you get theidea, a lot of hobby building enjoyment..bmw-137 O shipping now!$975.00footprint: 48” wide, 30” deep, 30” tall...it’s big!!..more info on our web site or write fora product flyer....limited run numbered kits. only 36 O scale kitsbanta modelworks421 hopkins road, dummerston, VT05301, add $10 for shippingorder line 800.653.8214bs line 802.258.3869Little CreekDepotOn30/On3/O scale#6122....$110.00Includes everythingyou see includingthe baggagewagon, workbench in back,station benches,barrels crates,milk cans, tools,semaphore,lamps, signs, etc. Less figures and pumpkins!(scenery items like ground cover and trees not included)www.bantamodelworks.comJan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 51

52 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09The Baltimore Society ofModel Engineers, Co-Sponsorof the 2009 National O-ScaleConventionOne of the co-sponsors of the2009 National O-Scale Conventionis the Baltimore Society ofModel Engineers. The club islocated in downtown Baltimoreon the third floor of a small commercialbuilding, just a half blockfrom light rail and eight blocksfrom the fabulous Inner Harbor. We have occupied this spacesince 1952, but our history began several years before that.The year was 1932. At the time, there was no Model Railroadermagazine. In fact, there was no defined model railroadhobby, no standards for such a hobby, no hobby shops dedicatedto model trains, and no NMRA. The only publication forthose interested enough was a little 10-cent magazine calledThe Modelmaker. Despite this – or maybe because of it – thirteenyoung men with an interest in model trains decided toform a club in Baltimore. They followed the example of othergroups that had formed clubs in New York, Philadelphia, Boston,Los Angeles, and elsewhere, and then wrote about theirexperiences in the pages of The Modelmaker. Except for theNew York Society of Model Engineers, none of those otherclubs exists today. However, the Baltimore Society of ModelEngineers survives as the second oldest model railroad club inthe country.Like many of the early clubs, the BSME built its first layoutin O Scale, using an outside third rail system. Also, like others,the BSME started an HO Division in the 1940s. By the 1970s,the HO Division was flourishing while the O Division wasmoribund. However, in 1978 a small local group of O Scaleenthusiasts from outside the club came to the rescue. Withthe full support of the board of directors and a couple of HOconverts, this group rebuilt the O Division layout and modernizedit into a 2-Rail system. In the process, they removed about25% of the track in order to make room for more scenery andstructures. They also chose a theme for the layout in terms oftime and place. The time – no surprise here – was the early1950s, perfect for the steam engines and 40-ft box cars thatmost of us seem to have more of than anything else. Coalingtowers, water tanks, buildings and automobiles all help tosupport the feeling of being stuck in the 50s. The “place” isreflected in the choice of our private road name, AlleghenyNorthern. The name, the scenery, and long coal trains willmake you think you’re looking at the rolling hills of the Piedmont,on your way to the Allegheny or Appalachian mountains.The appearance of the layout today is a testament to thededication, hard work, and inspiration of those that brought usto this location in 1952 and who converted the layout to 2-Railin 1980.In addition to the Allegheny Northern, you will likely seemotive power from the B&O, Pennsy, and Western Marylandrailroads. These are the three railroads that entered the Port ofBaltimore from the west, north, and northeast. Naturally, theyare the railroads with which our members are most familiarand toward which they have the strongest loyalties. Railroadsother than these big three are represented in the rolling stock.Again, since we are focused on the 50s, the rolling stock iswhat you would expect it to be: lots of 40-foot cars by AllNation, Athearn, Westbrook, Lobaugh, and Walthers, representingthe early manufacturers; hoppers, covered hoppers,and gondolas by Atlas, Altas O and Weaver representing thelater manufacturers.Regarding operations, during an open house we changemotive power and do a limited amount of switching. Therefore,we require Kadee® couplers on everything. Also, membersare gradually upgrading their rolling stock with metalwheelsets. This adds weight to a car while lowering its centerof gravity, keeps the track and wheels cleaner, and, frankly,metal wheels sound better passing over rail joints and switchfrogs. So far, nearly 80% of the rolling stock uses metalwheels.There are several other attractions you will notice on yourvisit. As soon as you arrive on the third floor, the first thingyou will see is the HO layout, which models a fictional Chesapeake& Western Railroad. Our C&W is a Class 1 railroad connectingBaltimore with the Midwest. Even though it competeswith the B&O, WM, C&O, and Pennsy, we grant them trackagerights, which is why you will see many of their trains usingour rails. Unlike the O Division, the C&W is not trapped inany particular time. It is not uncommon to see a 1940s steamengine right along side a modern SD-90; although, we do atleast keep the trains in period so that a 1940s steamer is notpulling any 85’ auto racks. For those local to our region, youwill recognize several Baltimore landmarks, like the BromoSeltzer Tower, Penn Station, the TV Hill tower, and the whitemarble steps of West Baltimore’s row houses. The scene startsin downtown Baltimore and extends to the rolling countrysideof western Maryland and southwest Pennsylvania.The second thing you’ll notice is our wonderful collectionof authentic railroad heralds. The story behind them is thatwhen we moved to Saratoga Street in 1952, one of our memberswrote to the public relations departments of many of theClass 1 railroads across the country asking for a reproductionof their herald. More than 30 railroads responded. No oneknew then that we would later refer to them wistfully as fallenflags. You might see one of your favorites like Wabash, Lackawanna,Southern Pacific, or Milwaukee Road, in addition toBaltimore’s big three. As an added bonus you’ll find that eachherald is painted on a background of “boxcar red” as onlythat particular railroad knew it to be. Just think, for all theseyears we believed that Boxcar Red was whatever came outof the Floquil bottle. Prepare to be surprised. Incidentally, wealso have the drumheads from two of the most famous namedtrains that passed through Baltimore: B&O’s National Limitedand Pennsy’s Congressional.Last but not least is the interurban trolley line on the ODivision. Our trolley members belong to our club, but theirheart is really with that special breed who answer to the call ofthe singing wire. Their wire is tight, the track work is solid, andthe trolley models are beautiful. Even the guys on the steamline admire their work.The BSME is proud to be a co-sponsor and host of the 2009O-Scale Convention [www.oscaleeast.com]. We welcome youto Baltimore and invite you to visit us on Thursday evening,June 18 in conjunction with your visit to the Baltimore StreetcarMuseum. In the mean time, please take a look at us on ourweb site at [www.modelengineers.com].

Join us for the2009O scale NationalConventionnBy Baltimore O Scale, LLC& The Baltimore Societyof Model EngineersnFriday Evening BanquetnModel ContestsnLayout ToursnTours & Visits to nearby:B&O Transportation MuseumBaltimore Streetcar MuseumBOSS,LLC.,P.O.Box 14, Baldwin, MD 21013For Updates, visit:www.OscaleEast.comThe Topside Creeper TM Safely Extends YourReach…Reduces Back, Leg and Knee StressFolds to a compact24” x 31”x 56”for easy storage!Use the Topside Creeper in your workshop, garage and train room toeasily access hard-to-reach locations. The heavy-gauge steel frame,slip-resistant steps and thickly padded cushion provide the comfort andstability you need to safely complete your projects. Adjusts from 48” to72” high. Base is 31” wide x 56” long x 6-1/2” thick. Powder-coated toresist corrosion and scratching. Capacity: 400 lbs. Overall size only 24”x 31” x 56” when folded. Includes convenient toolpouch, protective bumpers and locking casters. #83876Some assembly required.List $315.60Note: This item ships direct from the factory $239 95to 48 contiguous United States only.S/H extra15% restocking fee on all returns.Bottomside Creeper Lets YouWork Under Your Layout in ComfortAutomotive creepersare just too low forworking underneathmodel railroad layouts.So, we designed ourBottomside Creeper tomaximize your reachand comfort whileworking “down under.”The steel frame iscontoured to lift yourbody to the optimumposition for working onbenchwork, wiring andswitch machines. Thesoftly-padded backrestwith integral lever-actionheadrest inclines tothree positions abovehorizontal to positionyour arms exactlywhere you need them.Smooth-rolling industrialstrengthcasters let youglide about easily.Overall size 26” x 44” x12” for easy storage.Another Micro-Mark Exclusive!Adjusts up…#84263List $119.95$104 95S/H extra…and downShipped by UPS ground to 48 contiguousUnited States only. For other areas, call908-464-6764 for special arrangements.1-800-225-1066Get our 120 page catalog...a $4.00 value...FREE with any purchase!Please mention code 3578 when ordering. Prices good through Feb. 28, 2009.Jan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 53

Index for O Scale Trains: Volume 6 — Jan 2007 to Dec 2007Sort by Title Author Issue# Pg.2007 O Scale National Convention Photos Staff OST #35 5690-Ton Depressed center Flat Car by BTS Houle, Tom OST #32 60Adding Character to a Layout Cougill, Michael OST #31 14Art of Finescale (col)Feed Me (Track feeder wires) Cougill, Michael OST #32 16I&W Update Cougill, Michael OST #35 16Jigs (for rolling stock construction) Cougill, Michael OST #31 32On the Level Cougill, Michael OST #33 12Practice, Practice, Practice Cougill, Michael OST #30 35The Search Cougill, Michael OST #34 12B&M Express Car Kabele, Tom OST #34 17Backwoods Sawmill Flichman, Charlie OST #31 20Bald Eagle & Northern Railroad Eschbach, George OST #30 4Building a Simple Lineside Structure: Milk Station Brechbiel, Martin OST #33 43Building a Small O Scale LayoutPart 13 Struct. from DPM Wall Modules Pt 3 Culham, Michael OST #30 31Part 14 Struct. from DPM Wall Modules Pt 4 Culham, Michael OST #31 27Part 15 - Highway Grade Crossings Culham, Michael OST #32 26Part 16 - Paved Roads & Sidewalks Culham, Michael OST #33 26Part 17 - Paved Roads & Sidewalks cont’d Culham, Michael OST #34 26Part 18 - Overview & Conclusion Culham, Michael OST #35 18Building Clugston’s Store - Pt I Brechbiel, Martin OST #35 11Cabin Creek Line Eastman, Don OST #35 4Confessions of a HiRailer (col)Autumn Leaves HiRailer, Hobo D OST #31 18Barn Storming HiRailer, Hobo D OST #35 34Hobo Code HiRailer, Hobo D OST #32 18Tools of the Trade HiRailer, Hobo D OST #34 19Top 10 Coolest O Scale Things I Saw at York HiRailer, Hobo D OST #33 23Whether to Weather HiRailer, Hobo D OST #30 16CTRRA or Editor’s Choice Scace, Brian OST #34 6DCC For Traction Layouts Gairo, David OST #33 51DCC Power Supply Horvath, Ted OST #32 14Detailing the Weaver Troop Sleeper/REA Express Car Huber, John S OST #34 15Easements for the Learning Curve (col)Feedback from layout visitors Scace, Brian OST #32 11Layout design features Scace, Brian OST #33 11OST Fifth Anniversary Scace, Brian OST #31 11Quickie Flatcar Deck Improvement Scace, Brian OST #34 59Scace Falls in it Again Scace, Brian OST #35 9Tame the China-Drive Scace, Brian OST #35 9Train Sets Scace, Brian OST #34 59East Wind ’08 - 40th O Scale Nat’l Convention Roberts, John R OST #35 64Improving Weaver’s Northeastern Caboose Mathews, J W OST #30 56Index OST Vol 4 - 2005 Staff OST #30 64Index OST Vol 5 - 2006 Staff OST #32 62Ironbound Railroad Romano, Andy OST #33 6Kitbashing a Walthers Feed Mill into a Freight House Houle, Tom OST #30 42Linfield Northern & Southern: O Scale in very small space Dunn Sr, John P OST #32 21Make a DCC Wrecking Crane Reutling, Ed OST #32 30Making Large Stone Walls Giannovario, Joe OST #31 43Modern Image (col)A View From The Cab Clements, Gene OST #34 23Derailment Cleanups Clements, Gene OST #32 24Distributed Power Clements, Gene OST #31 17Dog Days of Summer Clements, Gene OST #35 39Heavy Lifting Clements, Gene OST #33 24Locomotive Servicing: Run-through Trains Clements, Gene OST #30 12More on Realistic Passenger Car Lighting Byrne, Ted OST #33 48More on Realistic Passenger Car Lighting Byrne, Ted OST #34 65Narrow Minded (col)2007 Nat’l Narrow Gauge Conv. Report Gibbs, Bobber OST #35 63AMS D&RGW Diesel Switcher Arrives Gibbs, Bobber OST #34 34Bachmann Forney with DCC & Sound Gibbs, Bobber OST #33 39Interest Choices Pt 1 Gibbs, Bobber OST #31 41Interest Choices Pt 2 Gibbs, Bobber OST #32 45Mid-Hudson On30 2006 Meet Report Gibbs, Bobber OST #30 41O Scale Influences: Bay State Models Closes After 30 Yrs Parker, Roger C OST #33 21Observations (col)2007 Convention News Giannovario, Joe OST #33 702007 O Scale National Convention Report Giannovario, Joe OST #35 70Using the Internet as a Research Tool Giannovario, Joe OST #35 70On a Rail (col)Another Open Letter to Manufacturers/Importers Scace, Brian OST #35 29NMRA and O Scale Scace, Brian OST #30 21Osprey Lakes & Northern Railway Ottaway, Brian OST #31 6Peoria & Pekin Union Ry - NW2 Huber, John S OST #35 43Powering Up: Realistic Passenger Car Lighting Byrne, Ted OST #31 60Really Obvious Tips (col)Decaling/Painting Jig Horvath, Ted OST #30 22Hold soldering gun upside down in places Scace, Brian OST #33 34Installing Small Springs Scace, Brian OST #31 61Labeling Mixtures Cougill, Michael OST #33 34Structure Building & Detailing w/Lazy Susan Brechbiel, Martin OST #32 35Structure Mockups Giannovario, Joe OST #33 34Turnout Jig Horvath, Ted OST #31 25Reviews:12-1 Hvywt Pullman by Golden Gate Depot Scace, Brian OST #35 5552’6 Steel Flatcar, Atlas O LC Scace, Brian OST #35 5453’6 Wood Express Reefer by Atlas O Scace, Brian OST #35 53AAR 70-ton Hopper, Atlas O Trainman Scace, Brian OST #33 60Acme Machine Co Kit by OGR Publishing Giannovario, Joe OST #34 53Alco DL600 (RSD 7/15), Atlas O Trainman Scace, Brian OST #32 54Allis Chalmers Xfmr Kit, St Charles Model Works Houle, Tom OST #32 51Atlas O Factory-Installed QSI DCC Sound Scace, Brian OST #33 64Beginner’s Guide to Creative Effects for YourModel RR by Paul Newitt Byrne, Ted OST #32 57C&O J3 4--8-4 sample model, SS/3rd Rail Scace, Brian OST #33 61CB&Q 28’ Wood Caboose Kit, Mullet River Brechbiel, Martin OST #31 54Cincinnati Car Interurban kit, East Gary Car Co Scace, Brian OST #32 58D&H 2-Rail O Scale Train Set, Atlas O Scace, Brian OST #35 54EMD SD70ACe Diesel; UP version, MTH Scace, Brian OST #34 56Flat Car; 40’ Steel by Weaver Models Scace, Brian OST #34 58GE Dash 8-40B (2R Gold) by Atlas O Scace, Brian OST #34 54Hardscabble Ore Bin, Firebox Models Giannovario, Joe OST #33 61Illuminated Billboards by Miller Engineering Scace, Brian OST #30 54Model Builder Software, by Evan Designs Clements, Gene OST #32 59MRC Black Box DCC Controller Scace, Brian OST #33 64My Life with Model Trains Giannovatio, Joe OST #31 56N&W Class A 2-6-6-4, MTH Giannovario, Joe OST #33 62N&W M1 Postal Ca, Weaver Models Giannovario, Joe OST #32 46New Haven 36’ Wood Boxcar Scace, Brian OST #35 52Norfolk & Western-Steam’s Last Stand by M H Ferrell;Hundman Publishing Co Giannovario, Joe OST #34 57Postwar Freight Car Fleet by Kline & CulottaPublished by NMRA Scace, Brian OST #30 53Prodigy Advance Wireless DCC, MRC Scace, Brian OST #34 55PRR B60 Baggage Car, Weaver Models Scace, Brian OST #32 46PRR O1/O1a Electric, SS/3rdRail Giannovario, Joe OST #35 51PRR X29 Express Boxcar, Middle Division Scace, Brian OST #32 46Scenery Materials by Timberline Scenery Giannovario, Joe OST #34 58Searchlight Signals, Custom Signals Clements, Gene OST #31 53Signal Control (Circuit) Boards, Custom Signals Clements, Gene OST #32 56SP C-30-1 Caboose by SS/3rd Rail Giannovario, Joe OST #35 55Special Report - Ready to Run Passngr Equip Giannovario, Joe OST #32 46Wisconsin Central/Soo Line Single Story DepotMullet River Model Works Cougill, Michael OST #30 54Secrets to LaBelle Car Assembly Brown, Randy OST #35 31Simple Spin-Casting Machine Davis, William W OST #33 55Some More Thoughts on Finding Dimensions Iftody, Marty OST #30 25Sow’s Ear to a Silk Purse Schrader, Gary OST #30 17Special Report: Scace Tries DCC Again! Scace, Brian OST #31 46Tale of Two Rail & Tie Cars - Pt 1 Houle, Tom OST #32 38Tale of Two Rail & Tie Cars - Pt 2 Houle, Tom OST #33 15TMCC to DCC Diesel Conversion Clements, Gene OST #34 48Traction Action (col)Electric Rwys in San Francisco Area Parker, Roger C OST #34 32Modeling Inspiration on a Budget in NYC Parker, Roger C OST #31 12New York Connecting RR Parker, Roger C OST #30 15Chicago EL Fans Parker, Roger C OST #30 15Sacto Northern Junction in Wye; Oakland CA Parker, Roger C OST #32 12Tower Hill Terminal; w/Added Reversing Capability Parker, Roger C OST #35 23Turntable for the C&WV: Corrected Wiring Diagram Gribler, Ron OST #30 63Two-Railing an MTH PRR R50b Express Reefer Neff, Harry OST #35 25Warner Clark’s Maumee Basin Lines Cougill, Michael OST #32 6Workbench Down Under Cougill, Michael OST #34 39Working Crane Car Brothers, Gerald OST #34 43Workshop (col)Building Multiple Kits Rossiter, Neville OST #34 31Coupler Height Gage Rossiter, Neville OST #31 58KD Coupler Plate for Atlas Cars Rossiter, Neville OST #32 43Turnout Operating Mechanism Rossiter, Neville OST #33 3154 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09

Sort by Author, Title Issue# Pg.Brechbiel, Martin Building a Simple Lineside Structure: Milk Station OST #33 43Brechbiel, Martin Building Clugston’s Store - Pt I OST #35 11Brechbiel, Martin Structure Building & Detailing w/ Lazy Susan OST #32 35Brechbiel, Martin Review: CB&Q 28’ Wood CabKit by Mullet River OST #31 54Brothers, Gerald Working Crane Car (Early B&O 10-ton ca mid-1800s) OST #34 43Brown, Randy Secrets to LaBelle Car Assembly OST #35 31Byrne, Ted More on Realistic Passenger Car Lighting OST #33 48Byrne, Ted More on Realistic Passenger Car Lighting OST #34 65Byrne, Ted Powering Up: Realistic Passenger Car Lighting OST #31 60Byrne, Ted Review: Beginner’s Guide to Creative Effects OST #32 57Clements, Gene Modern Image (col): A View From The Cab OST #34 23Clements, Gene Modern Image (col): Derailment Cleanups OST #32 24Clements, Gene Modern Image (col): Distributed Power OST #31 17Clements, Gene Modern Image (col): Dog Days of Summer OST #35 39Clements, Gene Modern Image (col): Heavy Lifting OST #33 24Clements, Gene Modern Image (col): Locomotive Servicing OST #30 12Clements, Gene Review: Model Builder Software for Windows OST #32 59Clements, Gene Review: Searchlight Signals by Custom Signals LLC OST #31 53Clements, Gene Review: Signal Control Boards by Custom Signals LLC OST #32 56Clements, Gene TMCC to DCC Diesel Conversion OST #34 48Cougill, Michael Adding Character to a Layout OST #31 14Cougill, Michael Art of Finescale (col): Feed Me (Track feeder wires) OST #32 16Cougill, Michael Art of Finescale (col): I&W Update OST #35 16Cougill, Michael Art of Finescale (col): Jigs (for rolling stock construction) OST #31 32Cougill, Michael Art of Finescale (col): On the Level OST #33 12Cougill, Michael Art of Finescale (col): Practice, Practice, Practice OST #30 35Cougill, Michael Art of Finescale (col): The Search OST #34 12Cougill, Michael Really Obvious Tips (col): Labeling Mixtures OST #33 34Cougill, Michael Review: Soo Line Single Story Depot OST #30 54Cougill, Michael Warner Clark’s Maumee Basin Lines OST #32 6Cougill, Michael Workbench Down Under OST #34 39Culham, MichaelBuilding a Small O Scale LayoutPart 13 - Structure from DPM Wall Modules Pt 3 OST #30 31Part 14 - Structure from DPM Wall Modules Pt 4 OST #31 27Part 15 - Highway Grade Crossings OST #32 26Part 16 - Paved Roads & Sidewalks OST #33 26Part 17 - Paved Roads & Sidewalks cont’d OST #34 26Part 18 - Overview & Conclusion OST #35 18Davis, William W Simple Spin-Casting Machine OST #33 55Dunn Sr, John P Linfield Northern & Southern: O Scale in a very small space OST #32 21Eastman, Don Cabin Creek Line OST #35 4Eschbach, George Bald Eagle & Northern Railroad OST #30 4Flichman, Charlie Backwoods Sawmill OST #31 20Gairo, David DCC For Traction Layouts OST #33 51Giannovario, Joe Making Large Stone Walls OST #31 43Giannovario, JoeObservations (col):2007 Convention News OST #33 702007 O Scale National Conv. Report OST #35 70Using the Internet as a Research Tool OST #35 70Giannovario, Joe Really Obvious Tips (col): Structure Mockups OST #33 34Giannovario, Joe Review: Acme Machine Co Kit by OGR Publishing OST #34 53Giannovario, Joe Review: Hardscabble Ore Bin by Firebox Models OST #33 61Giannovario, Joe Review: N&W Class A 2-6-6-4 by MTH Electric Trains OST #33 62Giannovario, Joe Review: N&W M1 Postal Car by Weaver Models OST #32 46Giannovario, Joe Review: Norfolk & Western-Steam’s Last Stand OST #34 57Giannovario, Joe Review: PRR O1/O1a Electric by SS/3rd Rail OST #35 51Giannovario, Joe Review: Scenery Materials by Timberline Scenery Co OST #34 58Giannovario, Joe Review: SP C-30-1 Caboose by SS/3rd Rail OST #35 55Giannovario, Joe Review: Spcl Report - Ready to Run Passgnr Equip. OST #32 46Giannovario, Joe Review: My Life with Model Trains OST #31 56Gibbs, Bobber Narrow Minded (col)2007 Nat’l Narrow Gauge Convention Report OST #35 63AMS D&RGW Diesel Switcher Arrives OST #34 34Bachmann Forney with DCC & Sound OST #33 39Interest Choices Pt 1 OST #31 41Interest Choices Pt 2 OST #32 45Mid-Hudson On30 2006 Meet Report OST #30 41Gribler, Ron Turntable for the C&WV: Corrected Wiring Diagram OST #30 63HiRailer, Hobo DConfessions of a HiRailer (col)Autumn Leaves OST #31 18Barn Storming OST #35 34Hobo Code OST #32 18Tools of the Trade OST #34 19Top 10 Coolest O Scale Things I Saw at York OST #33 23Whether to Weather OST #30 16Horvath, Ted DCC Power Supply OST #32 14Horvath, Ted Really Obvious Tips (col): Decaling/Painting Jig OST #30 22Horvath, Ted Really Obvious Tips (col): Turnout Jig OST #31 25Houle, Tom 90-Ton Depressed center Flat Car by BTS OST #32 60Houle, Tom Kitbashing a Walthers Feed Mill into a Freight House OST #30 42Houle, Tom Review: Allis Chalmers Transformer Kit OST #32 51Houle, Tom Tale of Two Rail & Tie Cars - Pt 1 OST #32 38Houle, Tom Tale of Two Rail & Tie Cars - Pt 2 OST #33 15Huber, John S Detailing the Weaver Troop Sleeper and REA Express Car OST #34 15Huber, John S Peoria & Pekin Union Ry - NW2 OST #35 43Iftody, Marty Some More Thoughts on Finding Dimensions OST #30 25Kabele, Tom B&M Express Car OST #34 17Mathews, J W Improving Weaver’s Northeastern Caboose OST #30 56Neff, Harry Two-Railing an MTH PRR R50b Express Reefer OST #35 25Ottaway, Brian Osprey Lakes & Northern Railway OST #31 6Parker, Roger C Bay State Models Closes After 30 Years OST #33 21Parker, Roger CTraction Action (col)Arcadia Books: Electric Rwys in San Francisco Area OST #34 32Modeling Inspiration on a Budget in New York City OST #31 12New Book about the New York Connecting RR OST #30 15New Book for Chicago EL Fans OST #30 15Sacramento Northern Junction in Wye; Oakland CA OST #32 12Tower Hill Terminal; with Added Reversing Capability OST #35 23Reutling, Ed Make a DCC Wrecking Crane OST #32 30Roberts, John R East Wind ’08 - 40th O Scale Nat’l Convention OST #35 64Romano, Andy Ironbound Railroad OST #33 6Rossiter, Neville Workshop (col)Building Multiple Kits OST #34 31Coupler Height Gage OST #31 58KD Coupler Plate for Atlas Cars OST #32 43Turnout Operating Mechanism OST #33 31Scace, Brian CTRRA or Editor’s Choice OST #34 6Scace, BrianScace, BrianScace, BrianEasements for the Learning Curve (col)Feedback from layout visitors OST #32 11Layout design features OST #33 11OST Fifth Anniversary OST #31 11Quickie Flatcar Deck Improvement OST #34 59Scace Falls in it Again OST #35 9Tame the China-Drive OST #35 9Train Sets OST #34 59On a Rail (col)Another Open Letter to Manufacturers/Importers OST #35 29NMRA and O Scale OST #30 21Really Obvious Tips (col)Hold soldering gun upside down in certain places OST #33 34Installing Small Springs OST #31 61Scace, Brian Reviews: 12-1 Heavyweight Pullman/Golden Gate Depot OST #35 55Scace, Brian Review: 52’6 Steel Flatcar by Atlas O OST #35 54Scace, Brian Review: 53’6 Wood Express Reefer by Atlas O OST #35 53Scace, Brian Review: AAR 70-ton Hopper by Atlas O Trainman OST #33 60Scace, Brian Review: Alco DL600 (RSD 7/15) by Atlas O Trainman OST #32 54Scace, Brian Review: Atlas O Factory-Installed QSI DCC Sound OST #33 64Scace, Brian Review: C&O J3 4--8-4 sample model by SS/3rd Rail OST #33 61Scace, Brian Review: Cincinnati Car Interurban kit, East Gary Car Co OST #32 58Scace, Brian Review: D&H 2-Rail O Scale Train Set by Atlas O LLC OST #35 54Scace, Brian Review: EMD SD70ACe Diesel; UP version; by MTH ST #34 56Scace, Brian Review: Flat Car; 40’ Steel by Weaver Models OST #34 58Scace, Brian Review: GE Dash 8-40B (2R Gold) by Atlas O OST #34 54Scace, Brian Review: Illuminated Billboards by Miller Engineering OST #30 54Scace, Brian Review: MRC Black Box DCC Controller OST #33 64Scace, Brian Review: New Haven 36’ Wood Boxcar OST #35 52Scace, BrianReview-Book: Postwar Freight Car Fleet by Kline & CulottaPublished by NMRA OST #30 53Scace, Brian Review: Prodigy Advance Wireless DCC System OST #34 55Scace, Brian Review: PRR B60 Baggage Car by Weaver Models OST #32 46Scace, Brian Review: PRR X29 Express Boxcar by Middle Division OST #32 46Scace, Brian Special Report: Scace Tries DCC Again! OST #31 46Schrader, Gary Sow’s Ear to a Silk Purse OST #30 17Staff 2007 O Scale National Convention Photos OST #35 56Staff Index OST Vol 4 - 2005 OST #30 64Staff Index OST Vol 5 - 2006 OST #32 62Jan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 55

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Tender 369Pennsylvania 4-8-2 M1b 1109U30C RI, MP Dash 8 ATSF 415D&H GP38-2 Power 368 Dmy 184GP7 368 PRR, DRGW2007 Volume I - Legacy11117 Sante Fe E6 Atlantic 4992826x UP Heritage SD70ACe 377WP, UP, RG, CNW, SPShay Birch Valley, Cass Scenic 699Lionel Blow-outs7-11020 Hogwarts Express 225w/o Track & Transformer 175Steel Reefer 2-Pk 65Dubuque, ADM, NationalFrisco or CE&I Hopper 35SD40-3 Tunnel CNPS-2 Covered Hopper 32 NYC, PC18374 PRR GG-1 Silver 63527562 NYC Flat w/Trailers 5321921 Imco PS-2 Hopper 2-Pk 75U30C Diesel Dmy 119 MRC&O 4-Pk 250 2-Pk 140 Diner 150All seven cars for $525Op. 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Buy–Sell–Trade EventsBuy-Sell-Trade ads are $5 for 30 words plus your address information. Additional words are $0.25 each. Subscribers are permitted onefree ad per subscription cycle . All B-S-T ads are prepaid. You may send ads by postal service with a check or money order. Ads sent byemail or called in must use a credit card. See our contact info on page 2.WANTED: Small N&W custom-built orscratchbuilt steam, 4-8-0, 2-8-0, 4-6-0. Alsolooking for N&W brass parts, e.g., pilot,cylinders, domes, tenders, etc. Contact JoeGiannovario, jag@oscalemag.com or call610-363-7117.FREE O SCALE LIST: List of O Scale showsfor 2009. Send LSSAE to Bob Retallack, DeptOST09, 2224 Adner Ct, Columbus, OH43220.FOR SALE: READ THE FIRST new railroadnovel in a generation, the exciting story ofthe great Spirit of St. Louis train wreck onSeptember 11, 1950. Read “Smart BoysSwimming in the River Styx” by RobertPhillip Bomboy. Get it at [www.amazon.com].WANTED: Ambroid special run 50’ Milw.boxcars, Hallmark comp gons, Sunset WWIIemergency boxcars, PRB WWII comp gons,Lobaugh 50’ reefers, WWII era boxcars whatJanuary 200929-31: Santa Clara, CA19th Annual O Scale West at the HyattRegency Santa Clara, 5101 Great AmericaParkway, Santa Clara, CA. Three day O Scalemeet with 200 vendor tables, clinics, contests,door prizes, videos, modular layoutsand over 30 home layouts to visit. Admission:$25 prior to 12/31; $30 after. Tables are$35 prior to 12/31; $45 after. For more infosee [www.oscalewest.com] or contact RodMiller, 650-329-0424. Hotel reservations,call 408-200-1234.March 20097: Wind Gap, PACANCELLED20-22, Arlington Hts, ILChicago O Scale meet at the Sheraton ChicagoNorthwest Hotel in Arlington Heights,IL, (847) 394-2000. Room rates are $89 pernight if reserved under the Chicago O ScaleMeet. Admission is $20 for one or both days.Tables are $55 each until 1/31/09. After thatdate tables are $60 each. For more informationgo to [www.marchmeet.net] or callJudy, (847) 401-4333.27-28, Greensburg, PARailroad Prototype Modelers’ Seminar - East,sponsored by Division 2, MCR - NMRA. Themeet runs from 1:00 pm Friday, March 27through 11:00 pm Saturday March 28, at theSheraton Four Points Hotel Route 30 East,Greensburg, PA, Ph:724-836-6060, [www.greensburgpa4points.com]. Registration feeis $35. Room rate $95 plus tax (mentionPrototype Modelers’ meet) Saturday eveningbuffet $25, (reservation suggested). For moreinfo contact: Dick Flock, 337 Elm Drive,Greensburg, PA 15601, 724-850-8882 or E-mail: [jlerr337@verizon.net].60 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09have you? Mail only. Jim Seacrest, PO Box6397, Lincoln, NE 68506-0397FOR SALE: AFFORDABLE ORIGINAL railroadoil paintings and prints by artist ChristopherJenkins. Steam, Diesel and electric. Join mailinglist for new painting announcements byemailing [Alton45@comcast.net], visit [www.trainsshipsplanes.com].WANTED: Plans and complete instructions forall sections of an original All Nation American4-4-0. Contact Bernard at 609-645-8470, oremail [bgl118@comcast.net].WANTED TO BUY: Past O Scale TrainsMagazines, issues #1 through #11, #13,#14,#16, #28, and #29. Will pay shipping.Please call Herman Kline, Jr. at 302-397-7378.FOR SALE: USH UP 2-10-2, detailed to lookas it did in the 1950s, lights and weathered;Sunset/3rd Rail 2-Rail UP 2-8-2, lights, weathered.Call Harry after 6PM EST, 410-488-4259.April 20095: Hudson, MANew England O Scale Train Show 10 AM to4 PM. Featuring dealers, displays, 2 Rail and3 Rail SCALE trains, white elephant table,ample free parking, food and beverages.$5 Adults, $1 Children 5-12, $8 FamilyMaximum. Exit 25 on I-495 heading easton the route 85 connector, left onto route85 north, left on Brigham and right on ParkStreet. Contact Larry Grant 508-337-6661Eve., or BigBrotherLar@netzero.net18: Strasburg, PA.O Scale Train Show at the Strasburg, Pa.Fire Co.#1, 203 W.Franklin St. StrasburgPA 17579. Show Time: 9 AM to 1 PM.Dealer setup Friday night, 6 - 8:30 PM andSaturday,7 AM to 9 AM. Admission: $5(wives, children, and active military w/IDfree). Dealer Tables: $20 each. Sponsored byScaleTwoRail Promotions, John Dunn (609-432-2871) and Rich Yoder (610-678-2834),[www.scaletworail.com]. This is a smoke freeproperty! Contact jdunn8888@hotmail.comMay 20092: Merchantville,NJCherry Valley Spring Swap Meet/OpenHouse-Saturday 05/02/2009. GraceEpiscopal Church,7 East Maple AveMerchantville NJ. Admission:$5.00 (Spouse.children free), Tables:$20.00(First Tableincludes admission,$15.00 each additionaltable. Contact: John P.Dunn Sr.609-432-2871 Contact jdunn8888@hotmail.comJune 200918-20: Towson, MD2009 O Scale National Convention to beheld on the campus of Towson Universityjust north of Baltimore, Maryland. EventWANTED: Cast steel pilot for N&W class A.Also CLW drive for any large 6-axle Alco freightdiesel (need two). Contact Conley Wallace: [vkwallace@comcast.net]or call 540-547-4259.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: SP 4-6-2 P-10 Pacific w/120 C-8tender bt PSC, F/P mint and Cockerham drive,$3000; SP AC-2 Cab Forward by PSC, F/P TRP$3000; MG SP MT-3 4-8-2, super-detailed byGary Schrader of San Jose, w/DCC $1800. Willconsider reasonable best offers. Bruce Antell,650-773-7240, or bsnyrll@pacbell.net.FOR SALE: NYC Roman lettering decals forPSC passenger cars with AC, $6. Issues 1-9OST Magazine. WANTED: USH Niagara boilerfront, AHM 0-8-0 basket case for parts. ContactSam Shumaker, 32575 Pettibone, Solon OH,[j1d464@yahoo.com, 440-248-3055.sponsored by Baltimore O Scalers and theBaltimore Society of Model Engineers. Inaddition to very comfortable trading halls(about 400 tables), convention featuresclinics, layout tours (June 17 through June21), model contests and Friday (June 19th)banquet. Early set-up for dealers on June17. Visits to B&O Transportation Museum,Baltimore Streetcar Museum and muchmore. Check [www.oscaleeast.com] often.More information available by email: [info@oscaleeast.com]August 20098: Denver, PACANCELLED8: Strasburg, PAO Scale Train Show at the Strasburg, Pa.Fire Co.#1, 203 W.Franklin St. StrasburgPA 17579. Show Time: 9 AM to 1 PM.Dealer setup Friday night, 6 - 8:30 PM andSaturday,7 AM to 9 AM. Admission: $5(wives, children, and active military w/IDfree). Dealer Tables: $20 each. Sponsored byScaleTwoRail Promotions, John Dunn (609-432-2871) and Rich Yoder (610-678-2834),[www.scaletworail.com]. This is a smokefree property! Contact jdunn888@hotmail.comSeptember 200912: Merchantville NJCherry Valley Fall Swap Meet/Open House,7 East Maple Avenue,Merchantville NJ. 9am-12 Noon. Admission:$5.00 (spouse/childrenfree). Tables:$20.00 (first table includesadmission), $15.00 each additional table.Contact: John P. Dunn Sr., 609-432-2871.Contact jdunn8888@hotmail.com

2009 Convention 53AAA Turntables 22Allegheny Scale Models 24AM Hobbies 45Arttista 35Atlas OIFCBachmann 19Backdrop Warehouse 35Baldwin Forge & Machine 17Banta Modelworks 51Brummy’s Ballast 45BTS 16Buffalo Creek Graphics 22Caboose Hobbies 27Chicago March Meet 22Crusader Rail Services 26Custom Signals 14Deichman’s Depot 34DM&M Railroad Co. 22East Gary Car Co. 45Get Real Productions 61Hackworth Model Trains 44Irish Tracklayer 34JD’s Trains 8Just Trains 57,58,59Keil-Line 26Key Model Imports 14LaBelle Woodworking Co. 28March Meet 22Micro-Mark 53Model Building Services 27Model Tech Studios 45MTH Electric Trains IBCMullett River 45NCE Corp 44O Scale Realty 40O Scale Trains 14O Scale West 40Old Pullman 56PA Heritage Models 14P&D Hobby Shop 23Public Delivery Track 28QSI Solutions 38Rails Unlimited 26RGSRR Hobbies 22Ross Custom Switches 31San Juan Car Co. 35Scenic Express 56SceniKing/BPH Ent. 40SMARTT 38SMR Trains 56Stevenson Preservation Lines 26Sumpter Valley Depot 28Suncoast Models 26Sunset/3rd Rail 9Sunset⁄3rd RailBCTurner Model Works 26Twin Whistle Sign & Kit 40Underground Railway Press 45Valley Model Trains 28Wasatch Model Co. 40Weaver 27Williams by Bachman 20Advertisers IndexJan/Feb ’09 - O Scale Trains • 61

Guest Editorial by Mike CougillPlanting SeedsHas it been a year already? Hard to believe it has.Although Brian did the heavy lifting on issue #36 that wasthe issue we announced the staff changes and my mugappeared on the masthead for the first time. I spent lastyear settling into the work of putting a magazine togetherand learning about our hobby from the professional side.I’ve gotten to meet many of you face-to-face and learnedwhat’s on your minds.You have told us how much you like the new directionthe magazine is going in. Joe and I aren’t exactly certainwhat you’re picking up on, but we appreciate your comments.Another conversation I’ve had is how to better promoteO Scale and bring new modelers into the fold. Let’sexplore a few thoughts in that direction.An area we could improve on is our outreach to thehobby at large. Let’s be honest; we tend to keep to ourselves,being content, fat and happy in our own O Scaleuniverse. Last May I was invited to attend an On30 minimeetin the Columbus/Edinburgh, IN area. I don’t modelin narrow gauge, but I’ve said that I enjoy learning aboutgood modeling and that I don’t care what scale or gaugeit happens to be. I don’t have to agree with everyone’schoice of how they pursue their hobby, but I can berespectful of that choice. That’s a tone I set for the magazineand one I will enforce as long as I’m editor.I saw many examples of the fine modeling these folksare doing and made a new friend in Al Askerberg. I learneda lot about the scope of On30 modeling and products.The take-away point here is that if Al hadn’t taken a shotand issued the invitation, I wouldn’t know how much narrowgauge modeling is happening in southern Indiana. Themagazine would miss out on the expertise of a fine authorwhose work you will be seeing soon, and I would havemissed the pleasure of knowing Al.Last November I attended the Railroad Prototype Modelers’meet in Naperville, IL. This is a venue that is cryingout for more O Scale and P48 participation. Many of youfeel the RPM meets aren’t worth going to because theyare mostly HO and N Scale modeling. I couldn’t disagreemore. I saw examples of the best work being done in P48and O Scale there and sat in on some outstanding andentertaining seminars given by some of the most publishednames in model railroading. I came away from those threedays with a renewed enthusiasm for the hobby and formodeling.By participating in such meets, O Scalers would find acaptive and often appreciative audience. The attendeesat RPM meets are motivated to learn about prototype railroading,layout design, scratchbuilding, freight car history;industrial history and so much more. Even though the bulkof vendors in the trading hall featured HO products, I stillmanaged to empty my wallet for reference books, a RailsUnlimited boxcar and tons of detail parts. Again, I madenew contacts and strengthened others because this timeI took the plunge and reached out beyond the O Scaleworld. There’s a wealth of modeling out there and wecould do a much better job of being engaged in the conversation.Along these lines, there’s been a lot of hand wringingover how to interest younger people in O Scale. First thingwe need to do is learn to communicate with their technologywhich is digital. Whether it is web sites, blogs, podcasts,or videos, the Internet is here to stay and its greateststrength is the way online communities can be formedregardless of geographic boundaries. I belong to severalonline modeling groups and have benefited greatly. I’vecorresponded with folks all over the world, sharing infoand ideas I wouldn’t have had any access to without digitaltechnology. Roger Parker has posted several links on ourblog to the traction videos on YouTube. Is the rest of OScale paying attention? There’s also a bunch of doom andgloom about print magazines versus e-books and digitalpublishing. My take is the two go hand-in-hand. For recreationalreading, I like most, prefer something in my handover staring at a computer monitor. For doing research,the web can’t be beat for speed and the relative ease offinding stuff. There are O Scale resources on the web nowand more are needed. We could do so much with themagazine’s web site to make learning about O Scale anenjoyable experience while building brand loyalty for themagazine. The question remains, will we? If I have anythingto say about it, we will.Another barrier to younger modelers is cost. Let’s faceit; O Scale is expensive. With prices in the $50-60 rangefor entry level cars like AtlasO’s Trainman line, to severalhundred for brass imports, and with locos going for $500-2000+, getting started in O Scale is going to be very hardfor a person in their twenties or thirties given realities ofraising a family, food and gas prices, mortgage and or studentloan debt and the cost of living in general. Anotherfactor is finding hobby time given the aforementionedrealities. It’s tough, but it can be done by people who aremotivated to do it. Will we reach out and help? I hope wewill.After 54 years I’ve learned that what you give to life getsreturned with interest. The same is true of our hobby. Whatwe give to O Scale in our modeling or our outreach to therest of the hobby can yield a bumper crop if we plant andnurture the right seeds. Have a great 2009.Best regards,Mike62 • O Scale Trains - Jan/Feb ’09

The Orient Express'CHAPELON PACIFIC20-3344-1First In A Series Of European Locomotives•1/43.5 Scale Die-Cast Steamer•Equipped With Proto-Sound ® 2.0Digital Sound•Variable Intensity SynchronizedPuffing Smoke•Locomotive Speed Control InScale MPH Increments•Featuring European & U.S.Couplers•Operates On O-54 CurvesO Gauge Chapelon Pacific SNCF Green20-3344-1 Hi-Rail Wheels20-3344-3 Scale WheelsO Gauge Chapelon Pacific SNCF Black & O Gauge Chapelon PacificNord Brown (The Fleche D'Or) are also available.SEE IT INACTIONON THE WEBSee It In Action On The Webwww.mthtrains.com/europe©2009 M.T.H.Electric Trains 7020 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, MD 21046

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