Modeling general discussion
Ugliest thing I’ve ever built for the layout
I’ve built some real Frankensteins but I think this one takes the cake. Yikes!
It’s pretty obvious what it is but a hearty digital handshake to the first one to recogognize what it is and pick out a couple of the key components used.
Anybody else have a photo of an ugly but useful device they have built to be helpful in the layout room. I double dog dare you to post them!

Expert's recomendation on beginner literature
Our club was at the Roundhouse show at the B&O railroad museum this past weekend and we had a gentleman stop by who was brand new to the hobby. We talked with him for a while and he asked, what would be a good overview of the different scales and the related aspects.
3D Printed Log Loader
I found the files for this on Thingiverse, though it was listed as and included files for a steam shovel. It was also set up as 1:48, so I multipled it by .55 when I printed it to make it HO scale. Printerbot Play printer. The roof is styrene and tin foil.

A Trip to the Rock Mountain Train Show 2018 (3 March)
I went to the Rocky Mountain Train Show in Denver Today, March 3, 2018. They say it is the "Largest Train Show West of the Mississippi." I really have nothing to judge by. It is big and there are lots of kids. Took a bunch of pictures with my smart phone. Some good pictures, some not so good. Should have taken a better camera. Oh, well...
First picture Just after getting into the main hall:

Anyone know what this is?
This seems to accompany most Western Pacific cabooses.
2slim

Pride goeth before a fall.
I'm scratchbuilding a loading dock for my #NMRAContest entry. I have to admit, it turned out well. I was proud. I showed my wife who was suitably impressed (who do I want to impress?) There was a piece of wood that was oversized and I waiting for the glue to dry before I cut it off. While cutting it off, my hand slipped (WAY too much pressure on the blade) and my hand literally crushed the delicate structure. I can repair it. But that's not the point. I learned to be more humble and to take time and let the blade do the work and not my muscle. I needed 2 things. 1.
New Rapido B36-7
Rapido is launching an HO scale B36-7. Details are on their website.
It looks very impressive.

HOn3 rerailer
Hi all, I have had a problem with putting my HOn3 locomotives and cars on the track.
On my standard gauge I used a plastic rerailer ramp.
It's a bit of an overhang on the narrow gauge equipment, so you can't easily grab the trucks to rerail them...
I heard that there was a commercially made rerailer ramp available, but I haven't seen one in many years.
I then designed this:
Image Converter
I have a number of traffic reports for inbound and outbound freight by location in PDF format. I only need some of the information so I did screen shots to PNG format....now I am trying to convert Excel format and not having luck. Anyone know of a excellent converter that is free that will do png to excel? Or should I try converting the original PDF to excel? What works best? Trying to save time from manually entering several hundred shipments.
Thanks
Michael
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