Dear Bob,

I recently visited Roaring Camp to inspect the Jim Vail Memorial bench. It is in good shape and in a great location for train watching.

Sincerely,
-Jim Blain, via email

Dear Bob,

When I read Craig Symington’s article on HOn3 kits in the November/December 2021 GAZETTE I was specifically interested in his comments about Rail Line boxcars. I too believe these cars are some of the nicest cars to build. However, the metal roof is not often found on western coast narrow gauge lines. So, I undertook a little kit bashing and added scale styrene 2 x 6 pieces between the cast roof boards, removed the end roof walks, and made my car a little sway backed, by cutting or breaking the thin plastic under the side door frames. Then I painted and weathered my car giving it a unique western look.

Sincerely,
-Steve Bradley, via email

Dear Bob,

Interesting comment by John Nichols on researching the real configuration of the historic Pescadero Creek RR on page 12 in the January/February 2022 GAZETTE. The Railroad Valuation Records may have just what he is looking for, Google RR Valuation Records at the Library of Congress. Also, the Lands Office of the Bureau of Land Management often has records not found elsewhere. I learned about these sources when doing archaeological research on the RRs of Rocky Mountain National Park and other areas of Colorado.

Sincerely,
-Bill Butler, via email

Dear Bob,

Regarding Johnny Graybeal’s excellent series on ET&WNC locomotives and the #12 model by Bachmann. I have the following information by the late Jim Hobbs. The Bachmann pilot model was a kitbash created by Jim Hobbs, retired Vice President-Operations of the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad for his own model railroad. Lee Riley of Bachmann “borrowed” the kitbash to create the Bachmann Big Hauler. Jim told me that Lee provided him with one of the first run of that model because his kitbash had gone to China and Jim suspected it had been disassembled when the Chinese factory reverse engineered the kitbash to create the Bachmann production model.

The reason the Big Hauler was spot on in most of the important measurements was due to Jim being an excellent craftsman, together with his background for information to create the model. Jim’s father was Chief Mechanical Officer for the ET&WNC, and Jim told me many a tale of accompanying his father to work during Jim’s formative years. Jim was an active member of the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina Railroad Historical Society. All that gave Jim the details and drive to create that excellent model.

Jim was an avid scale outdoor railroader, running 70+ reefer blocks with double headed WP&Y Diesels on over ¼ mile of backyard track on his Pine Tag & Gumball Railroad.

Sadly, Jim passed away on May 25, 2021, leaving many a tale yet to be told.

Sincerely,
-Ken Montero, via mail

Dear Bob,

During many summers in my youth, I worked for Rice Mill Wright Service to make money for school. The company did mostly on the spot repairs or replacement of machinery for cattle feed lots, flour mills, and large ranches. One such place was DM&H Cattle in Henderson, Colorado, 35 miles north of Denver, where there were two surplus Army halftracks. One had a small crane on the rear section of the chassis over the tracks. The image of this vehicle stuck with me until I finally had to make one for my On30 layout. I found some track bogie castings in my parts drawer, along with a Match Box Mac C cab truck. With the addition of a Berkshire Valley winch kit, my halftrack came to life.

Sincerely,
-Alan Olson, via email

Dear Bob,

I thoroughly enjoyed Craig Symington’s HOn3 article in the November/December issue. I was particularly pleased to see his tribute to our late friend Keith Koch. I worked with Keith for more than ten-years restoring cars at the Ridgway Railroad Museum. When we had finished D&RGW gondola #703 we argued whether to use the so-called toilet seat logo of the 1930s, or the Flying Grande loco of the 1940s. We couldn’t agree, so we lettered one side with the toilet seat logo and the other with the Flying Grande logo, I also have one of Keith’s San Juan Swill cars and have included a photo of it at the San Juan Swill Brewery in Montrose on my HO/HOn3 railroad.

Sincerely,
-Don Paulson, via email