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Good point regarding the whitewashed interiors (although this practice depended upon individual railroads' procedures). In any event, whether one darkens the interior walls or paints them white, the result (and purpose) is the same: to keep the lights from glowing through the "brick" walls and...

I think lights will make a great addition to that structure, Michael -- in fact, I think the darn thing practically cries out for them! -- but I'd reiterate the importance of what hooknlad's already mentioned about darkening (really painting) the interior walls. That, and make doubly sure you...

Simple and very effective. Thanks again, Mike. -- Paul

I was hoping the reason was something like that, Mike! On an unrelated topic, though, can you tell me what kit (if any) you kitbashed to create that bowling alley on your layout? -- Paul

Mike -- That's a very well put together tutorial, and one that's needed, I suspect, considering that it's a Walthers kit. (They're always described as "simple," and yet Walthers always finds a way to confound!) Out of curiosity, what's the reasoning behind cutting down the tower to a specific...

Great collection of photos! I remember the area all too well from my time (up to a year ago) at the Marine Exchange . . . Regards, Paul

Back in the early 40's, San Francisco's Market Street Railway discontinued its Castro Street cable car line, which terminated at 26th Street. I don't know how thorough they were about removing the tracks, but I do recall that a buddy of mine (who lived three doors down from 26th and Castro) was...

It happened quite a bit in the old industrial areas here in San Francisco, once the town pretty much quit being industrial (starting back in the mid-60s or so). A lot of the old trackage was simply paved over, and not very well at that. -- Paul

loggerhead -- Frankly, neither could I care much less about modeling that particular portion of Espee, but I couldn't resist pointing out that it is possible to realistically model 1948-era Southern Pacific without a cab-forward in sight. (For the record, one could also model a certain...

Sure you can! The Santa Cruz branch was renowned for its absence of cab-forwards! ;) -- Regards, Paul

Broadway Limited N Scale SD40s??

Mike -- One suggestion re that ramp (which is very nice work, incidentally): There would generally have been a series of 2 x 4s nailed onto (and parallel with) the slats at regular intervals (probably every four or five, say) to keep the livestock's hooves from slipping as they made their way...

CAS --I believe you may be referring to a kit originally offered by Pola. According to information at Reynauds Euro Imports ( http://www.reynaulds.com/pola/pola.html ), Faller has acquired the Pola N scale line and should eventually be releasing that company's kits. (Including, ideally, the...

Regarding the structure in the final photo, Miles, is that a scratchbuilt version of the old Suydam HO Union Ice kit?Looks like you're off to a strong start, by the way.Paul

There's a prototype for everything . . . And yet, if you check out page 42 of the latest Classic Trains(Spring 2006), you'll find a photo of " . . . A rare 0-6-2," snapped while still hard at work at Birmingham's Thomas Works in July 1963. Regards,Paul

I doubt that I'm the only one around here looking forward to those photos, Will! -- Paul

Two sources, either of which should either inspire you or else convince you to look elsewhere for your prototype: Model Railroader's October 2005 issue contains an article/trackplan for Gary Hoover's Cajon Pass layout. Great Model Railroads 2005 (also from Kalmbach) leads off with an...

Sheesh!! I just realized that, in my first response, I managed to post the same link four times, rather than four separate links. (Yeah, and I dozed off in the rocker here at the rest home and spilled porridge as well . . .) OK, let's see if we can get it right this time around...

bruce -- Walthers' current catalogue lists the following four possibilities: http://walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-3203 http://walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-3203 http://walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-3203 http://walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-3203 which ought to at least...

ESSO, Sohio, and a whole host of others (Exxon, etc.) all trace their roots back to John D. Rockefeller's original Standard Oil Company. Following a Supreme Court decision in 1911 (which came after years of lower-court wrangling) the original company -- having sought refuge from Sherman...