Q: As an old newspaperman, I’ve been looking for a newspaper structure kit to add to my layout, but there doesn’t seem to be much available. I know there used to be newspaper office buildings available in HO, but there don’t seem to be any on the market now. Any ideas? – Marc Silvestrini A: […]
Q: I have a couple of 25-ton cranes on my layout. While running them in a work train, the hooks swing, giving them an unrealistic look. Are the hooks normally tethered to the boom when the cranes are being transported? I couldn’t find any photos of actual cranes during transport. – Steve Favale, Buffalo, N.Y. […]
Chuck Rosan wants to know if it’s possible to successfully build a railroad in an insulated shed in Michigan. Cody Grivno explains how! […]
Edward Waclawski wants to know how someone determines the right-hand side of a boxcar. Cody Grivno shows you how! […]
Charles G. Pitcher from Washington, Illinois, wants to know where early 21st century organizations find the expertise to re-build and operate 20th century steam and early diesel locomotives. Cody Grivno and Steve Sweeney explain! […]
Q: I’ve been a reader for several years, but don’t recall reading about the tightness of truck screws before your November issue. In “How to weather a covered cement hopper,” Cody Grivno writes, “One [truck] screw should be tight enough that the truck rotates freely but doesn’t wobble. The other should be loose enough that […]
Ted Zieger says that he has two steam engines, a 4-6-0 and a 4-4-0, that the front wheelsets like to derail very easily in switches. The front wheelsets are free floating, and he needs ideas to fix them. Cody Grivno offers a solution. […]
David Short from Minneapolis wants to know about the added benefits of modifications on UP980350MW. Cody Grivno and Steve Sweeney are ready to offer their two cents. […]
Larry Johnson asked if in the US, do passenger trains or freight trains have priority? Cody Grivno and Steve Sweeney have an answer. […]
Q: In the sidebar “Building consists” on page 39 of the April 2021 issue [add link to digital issue here], the author refers to a “mobile decoder.” What is that, and how does it reinforce something called a DCC track bus? I’m new to DCC and unfamiliar with both of those terms. – Dave Smith, […]
Q: I’m interested in correctly applying consolidated stencils to rail cars existing in 1972 when consolidated stencils were introduced. Please describe the parameters of the area on a rail car within which the consolidated stencil must be located. This is possibly described in AAR Field Guide, Rule 80. – Chris Roehl A: Hi, Chris. You’re right; the […]
Walt Hughes from Cincinnati, Ohio, always used the side rails (or lack of them) to tell the difference between an SW7 and an SW1500. Now he’s not sure if that’s the best method, and wants to know is SW7s and SW1500s come both ways. Cody Grivno is here to help! […]
