A rigorous review of wheel design is described by Tad Daito in the May-June issue of the O Scale Resource on line magazine.  His test of custom "O" scale stainless steel wheels ran two hours a day for 13 years.  http://oscale.uberflip.com/t/62954-the-o-scale-resource   This work is being done in Japan using American prototype models, described thoroughly and bluntly.   His Low-D reduces friction !

A train of over 100 cars weighs 100 pounds and the locomotive pulls 1 amp.

I'm starting a new HO layout after a 20 year plus layoff from the hobby. I'm planning on using manual turnout throws where possible for economic reasons, but I'd rather not use Caboose throws because of their large size. Instead I'm thinking of using SPDT slide switches, wiring the switches to control the frog polarity. The appeal is that the slide part is very small and I can even cut it down smaller so it doesn't stick up above the scenery too much.

Purchased a Stewart/Tomar Sanding Tower couple years ago.  Having trouble figuring out how the sand pipes connect to the bottom of the tank.  Anyone built one of these that can post some photos of that attachment? 

To All: The Des Moines, Iowa Falls & Northern RR existed under that name from 1899 until 1908. In 1908 the successor road was the St. Paul & Des Moines RR. Eventually this line became part of the Rock Island System. I scratchbuilt, painted and lettered this Early Rail Boxcar. Photo by Elvin Howland. Yours, Elvin Howland/E. St. Louis Rail Group Layout.