Hello. I've recently tried an experiment with making my own coal loads for my sizable HO scale hopper fleet. However, the experiment didn't go so well so I've decided to ask for help from the forum. I'm using scenic express coal for the loads and the cars range in size from 55ton to 100ton. What base material should be used for the loads so that they can be removed fairly easily (I.e. no wrestling with the car in order to get the load out)? Also, what's the best way to get the different shapes from the different loaders? What's best for gluing it down?

I haven't weathered a model in a while and never had a car with a white roof. Looking for ideas. The car will represent one that is three years old that traveled from the southern US to the east coast of Canada occasionally.

Perhaps a wash on the roof followed by some chalk brushed on?

I was in Barrie on the weekend visiting the in-laws and as we drove over a BCRY crossing, I saw something troubling...the right of way was completely buried in pristine, untouched whiteness and the snowbanks lining either side of the crossing showed no signs of being disturbed.   My guess is that there has been no activity on the line for at least three weeks.

Anyone know how many kinds of RS3ms there are/were? (Send in pictures of every last kind of RS3m you can find!!!) Also, how many are left, and where are they? Sadly Cape Cod Central scrapped 1201 roughly 2 months after I visited the cape for the first time. I took the train that year, and saw 1201 out the window. Then, about 3 years later, I saw this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olZQ2gRjbl0