Model Train Journal

Mid-Central Region’s Division 2 is fortunate to have a terrific woman as a longtime member. She has served as an officer (including superintendent), merit judge, keeper of the corporate memory, and all around pillar of the division. Two years ago, she earned her MMR.

George

A problem with AI is. It’s not smart. AI will use wrong or fake answers to gather info. By scanning the internet If we started to say “ use 40LBS 1,2,3 blocks to square up you boxcar projects”. AI would start telling people “ use 40lbs 1,2,3 blocks” Only 1/2 of the problem -- the users of AI stop t...

I bought my first Lionel Lionchief engine last year. It's a Santa Fe FT. Came with a remote. I am really impressed at how well these engines operate. I think Lionel hit a home run with Lionchief. Since it has bluetooth and you can run it with a cell phone I decided to try it out. Apparently the LC ...

I'm working on a project to make removable lighted loads for these cars for use during operating sessions. Evans designs may have something that will work for you. I’ve used their flickering LED’s in barrels to simulate fire. They look pretty good to me. Thanks Greg, that's who I ordered from. We'r...

Updated 6/7/2025: Since the pipe bridge was installed, I attended the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society's Annual Meeting in Harrisburg last month. I've also been busy weathering slag and hot metal cars. IMG_0667.JPEG IMG_0853.JPEG I'm working on a project to make removable lig...

webenda wrote:Volume 1, Number 1, Issue 1
https://magazine.newtracksmodeling.com/books/lgfx/#p=1

Thank you, Wayne!!

Very interesting stuff.

George

Short answer...maybe. I've noticed some significant activity during the first few months of this year, presumably bots/hackers trying to find an opening so they can take down the site for illicit purposes (see Most Users Ever Online stat of 4135 on May 12, 2025), and the March 2025 Weekend Photo th...

All: I just noticed that my "What's New on the Panhandle 2.0?" thread has 584,733 views! :shock: That's happened in just 8 years. Can that be correct? Does MTJ get that type of traffic (mostly from non-members)? Obviously, I'm really pleased and flattered that this is the count, but I'm ha...

George, your slag car looks appropriately well-worn to me. I've never seen a real one, but I suspect they look pretty similar. Didn't someone make a slag car with a glowing load of muck in the bowl? Maybe I'm dreaming that... Yes, Lionel makes cars with a glowing or smoldering load in them. These c...

Yup, it's awful, Greg. A guy here in town, a former USN nuclear sub commander, recently diagnosed with dementia issues. He has a massive postwar collection that will need to go somewhere. Fortunately, his wife, who is overseeing his care, is also an antiques appraiser and archivist, so she likely h...

Looks pretty good to me for an in service slag car! When I duck duck go ‘slag car’ most are out of service and have that rusty orange color. What’s your technique? Greg, It's kind of a long and winding road. First, I used gray acrylic paint and a sponge brush to sloppily (it's what I do best :lol: ...

First attempt at weathering a slag car.

George

Honestly, I think the money (the NMRA leadership claims that no member funds were used) and effort could have been channeled in a much more effective and useful way. For one thing, the vast majority of model railroaders live east of the Mississippi River. How many members will actually get to visit ...

Congratulations, George, the model looks terrific. I expect one might learn a bit about steel-making studying your work. Paul R. Thanks, Paul! :lol: Well, I certainly did learn quite a bit about 1950's steel-making technology. I studied Chapter 13 - The Open Hearth of The Making, Shaping, and Treat...

Hi Everyone! Been a while since I posted. This is the pipe bridge I recently constructed. It's loosely attached to the Open Hearth. IMG_0358.JPEG And here's a better look at the Open Hearth. It measures 37" wide x 38" high x 72" long. IMG_0488.JPEG And I'm pleased to report it made th...