Just spent some time assembling the Walthers Chip loader. I decided to test fit it before painting. I discovered a slight issue. As can be seen in the two photos below. The older Walthers chip car fits nicely. The ExactRail car does not. When I install it at the mill I'll have to pack it up and disguise the packing with a good cover of wood chips. I'm glad I discovered this before installing it as it would have been a pain afterwards.

In 1987 while visiting the US a friend of mine photographed this car passing Tower 55. I discovered the picture while scanning some of his slides. Does anyone know the history of the car and how it is used? I have never seen a picture of one before.

Michael.

I've often seen photographs of trains in silohette with the sun setting behind them.

While looking through my photo's for Gondola Scrap loads I found these two taken from Pepper Ave, at Colton, CA. They show two gondolas loaded with tin cans. I think they would make an excellent load but I can't figure out how to make them in HO. Any ideas. Perhaps someone has already done it.

ExactRail Southern Pacific 2420 Cu. Ft. Gondola.

These cars were buily in 1965 by Gunderson Brothers and given the SP class 100-7. They were in the number series 333500 - 334655. In 1985 65 of the cars recieved a re-build and were numbered 800000 - 800064. ExactRail have just released a re-run of this car in the 800000 number series. See this web site for photo's and details.