While I was on the highway, I saw a tractor-trailer with a backhoe.  Ordinary--until I saw that the backhoe was shiny, and so was the tractor and trailer.  The only weathering was a SLIGHT bit of dirt on the tracks, and the boards on the trailer were a bit old.  This seemed unusual, and then I noticed other details.  There were stickers on the windshield of the backhoe, clear plastic over the operator's seat, and no scoop on the unit.  The tractor-trailer was marked for a transportation service, not a construction company.

I have searched through the past posts and was hoping to pose a question that has been answered to some degree, but not fully.

I would like to hear from people out there that have examples of operating sessions exclusive using Sergent couplers. I am thinking multiple operators (vs a single person) and perhaps larger layouts (vs smaller switching layouts). I'm most interested in hearing about HO scale. Comments, complaints, observations, things that could be done better, lessons learned, etc.

Here are some pictures of my almost completed CP Rail GP9u locomotives. These are Kaslo kits with Proto 2000 frames. I have added Miniature by Eric bells, horns, and MU stands. 8218 has Kaslo pilots and both units have A-line windshield wipers. I drilled the fans out of both units and added Canon and Co fans. The paint is Model Master and True Line Trains with Micro Scale decals. 8218 still needs LED's and sound installed.

Can somebody point me toward some accurate dimensions for freight car handbrakes?  I am trying to draw some (both wheel and gear box), and I'm not finding a lot of information beyond the fact that the wheel is 22" diameter.

I suppose I could go out and measure some, but if the information can be had from the comfort and safety of the house, I'd much rather do that!