I saw this on another forum.  It would take some work, but man would this make a cool model!

Original: http://www.revistaferroviaria.com.br/maxion2005/trabalhos/Mencao_AmelioLuizMandelli.html

I came across an interesting image in a NS video about signals & operations. It looks like it is basically a turnout, but instead of turning onto a siding, you would turn onto empty space!  I'm guessing this must be interlocked into the mainline up ahead so that any oncoming traffic would be routed to a derailment rather than a head-on collision. Can anyone confirm this? Might be an interesting thing to model too!

Went to Railfest in North Platte this past weekend.  UP had all of their heritage locomotives on display at their diesel repair shop.  Most of these locos are SD70's.  The Katy was my favorite.  I noticed that mounted at the back of each loco were two spare coupler knuckles.  They don't look like an afterthought.  The brackets are designed into the units.

Can someone tell me if these knuckles fail that often?  Also, what happens when they do?

Thanks!

John C

Hi guys,

I have had a go at coloring my rock cliff face with the Woodland Scenics pigments.My base color is slate grey.

I think it came out ok but for the very evident "white" between the rock castings.

I did not use Hydrocal as it is just too expensive for me . I used the Plaster of Paris rather as an alternative.I joined the castings with the same, unaware that I was going to have this unrealistic appearance .