Edward Waclawski wants to know how someone determines the right-hand side of a boxcar. Cody Grivno shows you how! […]
Determining the right-hand side of a boxcar
Section: Ask Trains
Re-building and operating 20th century steam and early diesel locomotives
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! […]
Leave trucks loose on model railroad freight cars
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 […]
Fixing free floating wheelsets
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. […]
Added benefits of modifications
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. […]
Do passengers trains or freight trains have priority?
Larry Johnson asked if in the US, do passenger trains or freight trains have priority? Cody Grivno and Steve Sweeney have an answer. […]
What is a mobile decoder?
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, […]
Where on a car should a consolidated stencil be placed?
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 […]
Difference between an SW7 and a SW1500
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! […]
Info on installing a switch machine
Wayne Meeds wants to know where they can information on how to install a Tortoise switch machine with limited clearance under the roadbed. Cody Grivno is here to help out. […]
Why are there four digit numbers on locomotives?
Brandon Muir from Canada wonders why locomotives in North America often have four digit numbers, and if the same number would be used in more than one railroad. Cody Grivno, Group Technical Editor, is here to explain. […]
Trouble with locomotives on back-order
David King from Australia wants to model Burlington Northern and BNSF, but most of the models are on back-order. Group Technical Editor Cody Grivno is here to explain why that might be. […]
