This is a very long answer, and I don’t mean to be argumentative but… I strongly suspect the truck used under the Billmeyer & Smalls 3rd class passenger car was not a 3’ 7” caboose truck. “Brownie” or

Jim, you may want to ask some of your questions at the SPng groups io site... https://groups.io/g/SPng. That and consider joining the SPng HIstorical Society... https://www.spnghs.org/pr/welcome.htm R

What equipment do you want to run... what is important to you... a continuous operation, a place to build buildings... or?? For a first layout with continuous running and a chance to build building, t

I have used code 55 and a bit of 40... and if anything smaller rail allows for narrower flangeways, which can lead to better operation if gauge is correct. Randy

A diagram of a WP&Y 90 class including wheel diamiter and axle spacing can be found at https://wpyphotos.com/diesel/90class-specs-plans/gallery/90-diagram.jpg Randy Hees

I had a friend, who’s father was an SP official… telegrapher, later division despatcher, then division trainmaster, then VP… While Division Trainmaster on the Siskiyou line, they had a mild winter… an

Wayne, you may want to recheck your sources… A 1964 article in Trains; Frank Barry, Where it’s too hot to highball, Trans Magazine, May 1964, p 40-45 is very specific that Tela and NdeH are 42”… both

Both Tela and the National Railways of Honduras were 42" gauge.... 42" gauge was also the common gauge in Nicaragua and Costa Rica... In Guatemala and El Savador, and in north Panama, 36" was the gaug

NWSL will make custom wheel sets. but they won't be cheap.... alternatively just regauge a set of HO standard gauge wheel sets. I believe that any plastic wheel will move on a metal axle. If not or on

Hello Gavin Two or three of the narrow gauge preserved sites, The Colorado Railroad Museum, Central City and its revived railroad, and Georgetown Loop.... It is possible that there may be an official

Look for Jordan models... long out of production but still available on the used market... Randy Hees

The drawing shown below was described as "Eight-wheeled Double Drop Bottom Patent Coal Car." In East Broad Top, Lee Rainey and Frank Kyper say that these were the original 1874 design. “Weight about n

Hi Martin et all... In your original question, you asked about whether the underframe was painted or not... I realized that there are a few early 8 wheel B&S cars that I had forgotten... built for Nev

Hi Martin, There are two questions… first the issue of “D.&R.G.R.W.” lettering. I suspect that the “R.W.” suffix is an abbreviation for “Railway”, and as such it has no relaitionship to later “Rio Gra

This one would benefit from lowering the boiler... but if you do you may need to remotor. To lower you cut the cylinder saddle off the cylinder block and either just glue back on after removing a bit

The early Billmeyer & Smalls built cars, particularly the 4 wheel cars are very interesting, in part because they are built like no other cars (except possibly some copies built by Jackson & Sharp) In

Craft stores have a stencil adhisive spray, which holds a stencil down but can be cleaned off later... Try Michels of Hobby Lobby. Randy Hees

If the convention committe wants to record/video it I would be happy to let them... if not, Andrew and I may publish part of it...

It is derived from that talk but is about 30% new research... Randy

If anyone is interested in details of paint, and is going to Tacoma for the NNGC, Andrew Brandon and I are presenting a clinic on railroad paint from 1870 to 1930 or so... Randy Hees