I am sure everyone has an opinion and it's all subjective and debatable, but how would you rate manufacturers of locomotives (DCC/Sound). What would be your top three in terms of quality and reliability?

I see photos of beautifully detailed and weathered locomotives and cars in all scales. I think they are works of art. But when it comes to my own rolling stock and engines I prefer them pristine. I don't know why. I almost took to an Atlas C424 to weather it and make it look used. I couldn't do it. The gorgeous CPRail action red, the crisp whiteness of the pac-man, the dark black of the trucks and underframe....

I have three Atlas B&M PS-2, 2003 cu. ft. Covered Hoppers - 5520, 5540 and 5541. The 1959 B&M Summary of Equipment shows the numbers are correct, a build date of 1956 and their having been delivered with roller bearing trucks.  My question is what color would the trucks have been when delivered?  The Atlas ones are black.  I cannot tell from my 1989 photos of two of these cars with 33 years of weathering.

Thanks

Ian Stronach

Modeling the CPR Montreal Terminals Division in September 1968 in HO.  

I have been going through bins of HO model trains that I have been storing for 30+ years.  Included in the bins are a bunch of German/Austrian trains that my dad got when he was stationed in Germany in the mid-1950s -  locomotives, freight cars and passenger cars, mostly Kleinbahn brand, but some Fleischmann and Marklin.

I took pictures of everything and sent it to Trainz.com and talked to Carlie there - they say they will look at them and give me a sense of what they might be worth and if they can sell them.