I have been working on a waybill generation program off and on for quite a few years.  I'm using Visual Basic 6 to do this.  Presently the program uses one database with many tables, some of which contain "static" data, others with the "dynamic" stuff.

I came across an interesting image in a NS video about signals & operations. It looks like it is basically a turnout, but instead of turning onto a siding, you would turn onto empty space!  I'm guessing this must be interlocked into the mainline up ahead so that any oncoming traffic would be routed to a derailment rather than a head-on collision. Can anyone confirm this? Might be an interesting thing to model too!

I'm going to strip and paint this 1951 Lionel Union Pacific loco but I have no idea how to repaint the raised plastic molded letters.  Where the paint is it seems to be a "trench" with sides forming the letters Union Pacific.  Has anyone had any experience in filling these "letter trenches" in with paint?  I need a How-to...101 lesson.

So, I was out railfanning the inspiration for my Ogden River Railway - the Utah Central Railway - when I happened across a dwarf signal. It was at the end of the old Rio Grande yard which now serves as a joint Utah Central/Utah Railway yard. I thought it was left over from the days when this was the Rio Grande's mainline from Ogden to Salt Lake City.

However, it looked too well maintained. Also there was a signal shed which said UP CP Wilsons Lane (or words to that effect). I wondered, is this signal still in operation and if so, how is it used?