Steve King wants to know where to find information about changing couplers or making compatible cars from other manufacturers. Cody Grivno is in the studio to share resources. […]
Information on coupler conversion
Section: Ask Trains
What’s in that gondola?
John Martin has seen gondolas with Fiberglas hoods, and he wants to know what they’re transporting. Those cars also roll through Model Railroader’s hometown. Cody Grivno offers some ideas on what those gondolas are carrying. […]
Does cab interior green have a name?
James Dudzik is looking for the name of the green used on locomotive cab and caboose interiors. Well, it actually goes by a few different names, as Cody Grivno explains in this episode of AskTrains.com. […]
Ask MR: Help! My steam locomotive’s front trucks keep derailing
Q: I have two HO scale steam engines that both have the same problem. Their front trucks are always derailing. They are very light. Do you have any ideas how to fix this? – Ted Zieger A: Your locomotives’ front trucks should want to stay on the track of their own accords. If they’re derailing, […]
Where do locomotive crews go to the bathroom?
Eric Schrowang wants to know where locomotive crews go to the bathroom. Cody Grivno shows where chemical retention toilets are located on cab and hood units. […]
The pros and cons of Belpaire fireboxes
Rick Bowers wants to know the advantages and disadvantages of Belpair fireboxes. Steve Sweeney uses magazine articles and prototype photos to answer Rick’s question. […]
Ask MR: What is dynamic braking and how does it work?
Q: What is dynamic braking on trains? – Mark Kroll A: Unlike a typical diesel-powered car or truck, a diesel locomotive doesn’t have a direct mechanical linkage between its diesel engine and its wheels. These locomotives are more properly called diesel-electrics. Rather than turning a driveshaft that drives the wheels, the engine (or “prime mover”) […]
Are wheels and axles cast as a unit?
Ralph Watkins would like to know if train wheels and axles are cast as a unit or separate. Steve Sweeney is in the studio with the answer. […]
Information on Casey Jones
Anthony Rebaldo would like to know where he can find information on Casey Jones, a historical railroad engineer who died in a train collision. Steve Sweeney has some resources to check out. […]
Ask MR: How can I make a foam tabletop more realistic?
Q: After building a train table with a plywood top, I plan to put down pink extruded-foam insulation board sheets to help keep down the noise. What would you suggest as an affordable option to put over the foam board for appearance purposes? Secondly, if I want to screw or nail anything to the layout, […]
Securing crane hooks
Steve Favale has a number of 25-ton cranes on his layout, and the hooks swing around when he runs them. He’s wondering how he should secure the hooks. Hal Miller shares some photos that may hold the answer! […]
Ask MR: What freight cars would a GP18 or SD45 pull?
Q: I have some BNSF General Electric Dash-9 and GEVO units that pull my double-stack and trailer-on-flatcar (TOFC) trains as well as a BNSF Executive train. My question is, what sort of freight cars would be used with GP18s and SD45s in the mid- to late 1960s? – Jim Rohrbach A: If you’re running Dash-9s and GEVOs, […]
