This is the reason you can not currently buy a Rail Runner locomotive. I have been told the locos have been made but can not be released until this issue is cleared up.
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Mike

FYI, I just got a reply to my inquiry with Roundhouse/Athearn/Horizon about their upcoming USRA light 4-6-2.

If you want to model a steam railroad, the most generic and appropriate roster would feature USRA light 4-6-2s and USRA light 2-8-2s on the mainline, USRA 0-6-0s in the yard, and modern 2-8-0s. There are a number of light 2-8-2s out there, as well as 0-6-0s....so getting the 4-6-2 again is nice since they are hard to find. Previously, the subpar IHC 4-6-2 was the only option (I have one...it is seriously lacking). Hopefully, the 4-6-2 will be upgraded from the original Genesis version.

The plain version is expected in December and will list for $150. The Tsunami version will be in March and list for $240. I'd guess they'll have discount store prices of $100 and $160...with lower street prices after the initial introduction. I need these enough that I'll probably buy two when they are offered and keep an eye out for more at the street prices later (I picked a $280 list price 2-8-0 for $70...new...a few months back).

Just arrived today after almost a year wait...as soon as I can for those who are interested, I'll post a review with some pictures. More to come!

United Corn Growers is a cooperative owned by more than 900 farmer producers in the nation’s Grain Belt region, including: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and others.

The region combines excellent work ethics, good transportation, a strong agricultural infrastructure, diversified crop and livestock enterprises, and progressive farming practices to create a spirit of cooperation and partnering.

We provide quality farm inputs to our member patrons. Farm supplies include feed, seed, fertilizer, chemicals, and petroleum.

The Project

Anyone who models the pre-1960's era can appreciate wooden grain elevators, which once littered the North American landscape. The vast majority of these structures are gone now, having gave way to concrete facilities. If anyone is interested, please feel free to use the above image on your own wooden grain elevator project. This way, these magnificent structures can continue to live on, if only in miniature. Perhaps UCG can represent what once was, and be a multi-layout, multi-scale, feature across dozens of landscapes.

Personally, I will be using the Branchline Trains Laser Art wooden structure for my own build. I'll be sure to post progress pics here! Maybe we can have another GERN-like phenomenon.

By WTVN Newsroom
Sunday, August 16, 2009
The intersection of Neil Avenue and Vine Street is closed after a train derailment Sunday afternoon.

Columbus firefighters say seven to eight trains tipped over spilling their loads of coal. Police have shut down several parking lots in the area around the tracks.

The train damaged a bridge and an engineer is being sent to the scene to take a look at it.

The area will be closed until 6 pm or 8 pm this evening.
Copyright © 2003-2009 Clear Channel. All rights reserved.

Also...

A massive clean-up is underway inside the Arena District after a train derailment.

Six CSX trains jumped off the tracks near Neil Ave. & Vine St. shortly after noon closing several streets for hours.

Hundreds of tons of coal spilled into a parking lot near Nationwide Arena.

The train was headed to Rochester, New York when it overturned.

Bridge inspectors are now investigating if a bridge overpass is safe for trains to use.

CSX investigators says it could be several days before it's determined why the six cars fell off the tracks.

Ever since I purchased the game, I've been getting into it more and more. I'm still trying to figure the game out, especially the Surveyor mode, but I'm getting the hang of it. Here are some shots of stuff I've downlaoded, stuff I'm running, my surveyor mode experiments, etc. Sit back and enjoy!

And as always, all comments are welcome.

In this post I'll arrange the screenshots in order of taking them, since they are all on my surveyor mode experimental layout, and it shows progress that I'm making.

Took this picture to show that the United Way SD40-2 worked


Took this picture to show that I had made a big hole in the ground to become a lake, and that I downloaded UP1995


Next couple shots are of the United Way SD40-2 showing progress in the scenery



And from the other side of the scenic area


And of a BNSF ES44AC showing more progress in scenery. You can see an abandoned car, a tent with feet sticking out, and if you look close enough, fish in the water. The fish are very hard to see in the screenshots, and aren't very easy to see in the game itself.

To all Big Blue members---don't panic,Doctor Wayne is temporarily unavailable---I received a phone call today from Wayne indicating his computer is on the fritz and he won't be able to post or respond to any threads until it's fixed---not sure what the problem is but he hopes to be back on line ASAP---I'll be glad to pass on any messages in the meantime

I know this shouild be in the scratch building forum but it don't have much covreage . I'm looking to recreat the wide aluminum siding used in the 50's and 60's as best i can tell the wide stuff is close to 12 inches wide and was wondering if Plastruct's 1/8 inch clapboard siding would make due for HO scale?as its only .020 thick it would have to be applied over a sub wall just as the real stuff was over laid on wall. the corner 's could be phonied up with .005 styreen i think.
any thoughts ?
jim