I'm planning to be in Jasper Alberta very briefly next weekend (arrive 1600 Saturday on Via No2, leave 1430 Sunday for Vancouver on No 1).  Anyone know of any interesting railfan sites within walking distance of the station?

David

I was looking for another project of limited scope that would still deliver some impact, so settled on finishing the backdrop behind my Junction City yard.  The yard is supposed to be on a valley floor adjacent to some river bottomland like the prototype UP yards at Riverdale and Ogden, UT, as well as the former D&RGW Ogden yard now used by a shortline.  The basics of the trees are similar to those needed for backdrops for other prototypes as well.

I looked at this article with great interest, being that I'll be handlaying HO track on one or more modules (code 70). The method sounded really good until Mr. Napper said he had to stain the ends of the ties once they were cut. That was a real turn-off for me. It's too much work.

I thought I'd share my method, not that I think it's better or anything, but it's what I've found is cheap and works for me. Caveat: I have tried this only on balsa ties. I have not yet tried it on basswood. I have also not read extensively on staining methods for ties.

Nothing innovative here – just a point of view and approach that may be of interest to some.

When I built my chainsaw I initially used DC and then converted to DCC to make objective comparisons. No surprise that DCC won the contest, but I was introduced to the dubious pleasure of obscure short circuit sleuthing.

One of the strangest was an intermittent short related to poor manufacturing tolerances on the built in switch of a solenoid turnout motor.