I am considering getting one or two Athearn/Roundhouse "old time" 2-8-0 steam locomotives for my layout. I want the version with DCC and sound. Do any of you have experience with this locomotive that you would be willing to share?

Jim Six

Going through some of my old photos of Bingham canyon mine (my prototype) I realized I did not have a rotary drill at the Copper King mine. It is not a H O model you can buy, so I scratch built one using a tank from All A Dollar, parts from trains, bridges, and buildings I had leftover. I did not know it was going to turn out so good, I wish I would have filmed the progress. I am going to make a video on my YouTube channel, (Bingham Canyon and Copper King mine), telling about Bingham Canyon Drill and Blast department, it is an exciting time when they blasted at the mine.

I just watched a video of Tom Miller’s former Big Boy which is now in New Zealand.  This made me start to wonder what happened to all his other magnificent models and layouts,along with the 7 1/2 gauge railroad and the property? Does the railroad still exist in any form? What about the smaller scale indoor layouts? I never heard anything after seeing the sales video for his estate that was online a few years ago. Also curious why he liquidated everything,but if it’s a private issue,it doesn’t need to be answered here. 
 

Are there some special technics that need to be observed when using really small diameter drills? These drills are very fragile, and some act like they don't cut that well.

I do realize that its likely they should be used with a pin-vise (hand tool),... but that is extremely slow when trying to drill thru thicker stock.  Is there a method/tool that would allow for power drilling? The dremel tools appear to operate at too high of a speed. I had thought that drilling brass might be easier?