Hi All,

I've recently been contemplating some freelanced B-units as part of a very long term project, and I've realised there's a gap in my locomotive knowledge. While I understand the various locomotive body styles (hood unit, cab unit, low/high nose/ full width cab etc) and their advantages and disadvantages, and I understand the major locomotive components, I don't actually know how they need to be arranged within the bodywork.

I found a link to a good 15-minute documentary from Canada regarding the spotting and loading of 40' boxcars. It shows a worker using a rail jack to maneuver the car into place (and handbrake), as well as boarding up the door to accommodate the grain. Just figured that some transition-era (or 1980's for you Canadians) modelers might find this useful for modeling purposes. Boxcar segment begins at 4:45.

Edit: YouTube Link for the ones who want a YT version.

I've always heard that during the steam age, trains typically traveled about 100 miles between engine & crew changes. That kind of makes sense for locals or perhaps mountain segments, but what about long distance passenger and freight trains on the prairie? That seems a little short to me: If you are moving at an average of 30 miles an hour with no setouts/pickups, you change engines and crews every 3 hours? Or is it more of a case that the engine needs to re-coal every 100 miles but it can keep going if the crew hasn't hour-lawed out?

For all you Old Heads...

Got a certain D****** you love...or maybe Hate???

All Roads allowed....you are NOT allowed to B****...