Recently I began adding rolling stock to my switching layout after converting many to steel wheels and adding weights and adjusting coupler heights. I ran a few of these to check and enjoy the track work and industries at the upper level BD yard. One of the reefers kept derailing at a switch and losing a wheel and coupler. This was an RTR car right out of the box that checked out for weight and coupler height. After several "run bys" and much frustration, I set the "problem child" aside and proceeded onward.

Here is a video taken by one of our club members, Mike Forshey, of 765's return to its home in Indiana. He also sent along some shots from the photo contest which, unfortunately, was canceled but some postings were made to Facebook. Enjoy.

Before returning home last Monday, the Fort Wayne Historical Society's NKP 765 was in the Enola Yard near Harrisburg for a series of NS Employee Appreciation Day excursions. Several trips across the famous Rockville Bridge and into the Harrisburg Amtrak station brought about several "incidents."

On the first day of excursions, a number of rear end "fender benders" were reported  - - according to officials, some motorists were startled by something they had never seen before and weren't paying full attention to their driving.

Steam on the Horshoe Curve! Posted by a friend, this was reportedly, the first time in nearly 40 years that steam under its own power negotiated this famous landmark. I was there and witnessed its journey back home. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiV1hb4PYGA&feature=share&list=ULSiV1hb4PYGA

It's Monday. It's 1645 hrs. It's not visible. So? 

Couldn't we have had a special issue from the show instead of waiting? A "two for one" month would have been nice. Sorry, I'm just in a grumpy mood having had minor surgery at the VA today and nothing to read while "recuperating."  

BTW, live steam comes to Harrisburg, PA today - NKP 765 Berkshire visits the Enola Yard for a week of NS Employee appreciation rides. There will be a big "to do" next Monday at Altoona as it heads back home to Indiana.

I need to convert my favorite freight and passenger cars for use at our club to steel wheels. However, as evidenced by the latest article on ExactRail, I need some help in determining which wheels for what cars. I have seen 28 inch, 33 inch, 36 inch and God knows what other inch is coming down the line. 

Simply put, what size wheel for what type of car and/or what manufacturer? I don't want to by trucks and wheels together - just wheels. Is there some simple guideline?

Thanks.

HELP! Someone posted a blog with a link to a shop in the midwest that does DCC Conversions (Tom's Trains?) and now I can't find it. Pease re-post or send me the link (gryhound1@verizon.net) as I need to send some info to them on my Bershire conversions.

Thanks.

Dave C.

The Greater Nickel Plate has a brand new work area thanks to the completion of my challenge. A dark, dingy and lifeless basement with an old, run down, dilapidated work bench has been brushed aside - - literally. Starting with a hammer and crowbar, the area was cleared, swept and washed down. A coating of Dri-Lock waterproofing paint added security and helped brighten a dingy cinder block wall (along with some elbow grease) and WD-40 freed up a stubborn window that hadn't been opened in 16 years.

The Corps of Engineers has been hard at work restoring the old stream out back of Elwood's place. Folks started fishin' (the DNR re-stocked the stream) and swimmin' right away. There's some environmental work to be done with land contouring and trees being planted, but it's a start. Even the new 'facilities' out back got approval from the county.

Things sure move fast now that FEMA is reeling from the criticism it got over the N'awlins Relief Disaster. Not everything is done, but the County Extension Agent has been busy. The well and pump have been certified; and they hired that Pearl woman who runs "The Good Earth" landscaping company to come in and plant trees, ground cover (Elwood doesn't own a mower and sees no sense in buying one) and survey the river bank for some shoring up work later on.