Dear Jeff,

I did a quick search for Bennington and found these sites:

1.  A description of the geology along the tracks.  Particularly interesting to me with a penchant for rocks.

http://www.jstor.org/pss/982646

2.  A nice little site with pictures.

http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/pa/bennington.html

When I get some time I will trek there or ride there on my mountain bike.

Again, thanks for the tip !

Best Wishes,

Jack

Jeff,

You have a poet's heart.  I'll have to find Bennington and spend some time there if possible.  Thanks for the tip !

Jack

Dear Ebnut,

Thanks for the correction !

Best Wishes,

Jack

Dear Jim,

We are talking about the 1940's when George was a boy.  Thus, lots of steam and cinders !

One can get a similar effect at the EBT in Orbisonia, PA, and at the Ma & Pa in Cumberland, MD.

Best Wishes,

Jack

Thanks a million ! Sid,

That link is worth its weight in gold !  Like you !

Best Wishes,

Jack

Dear Friend,

I think this is what you might be looking for.

http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips3/smoke_tips.html

Best Wishes,

Jack

Dear Friends,

Bachmann years ago at the Phila Flower Show, Bachmann had a booth and sold a nice little VHS tape that showed how to construct a small garden RR.  They used chicken grit, or similar which is crushed granite.  You wet it and tamp it and it appears to form a  nice compact roadbed.  Not sure if you would want to glue it, would you ?  As Glenn Haege, "America's Master Handyman" quotes, "Water always wins. That's why there is a Grand Canyon."  I think someone else here stated that frost heaving would destroy any glued balast, as I remember.

My garden RR will be set up on the patio, where the roadbed will not be a problem.

Best Wishes,

Jack

Dear Friends,

There was an unusually quiet weekend in Lake Woebegone (sic) for rail fanning.  There was something neat to see.  "Downtown" Altoona Friday am there was a west bound empty coal train on the north side track, a full coal train eastbound in the center track, and a carrier train just down from "Coburn crossing" about 24Th St bridge area eastbound.  Lots of choo choo's at on time.  Fun to see, lots of noise, etc.

Our drill Sgt friend, George used to stand on the 24Th St bridge as a kid and signal the engineers to blow the steam whistle.  He said they usually accommodated him by blowing cinders all over the place !  Imagine all the cinders raining down and being enveloped in steam !

Best Wishes,

Jack

Dear Bill,

Got one for the kids about 4 years ago. Nice runner with its being the Berk instead of the Mtn.  The power pack is another matter:  OK for a small layout, the horn button stopped working, I think.  The instructions are NOT to open the power pack, for obvious reasons.

I would definitely recommend it for kids of any age !

Best Wishes,

Jack

Thanks, Jeff.

Good work, as usual.

Jack
Altoona, PA

Dear Friends,

I, too like the looks of these products.

On another side, and sorry to hijack this, is our dear old Mr. B the same nice guy we have always had, or has there been a change ?

Best Wishes,

Jack
Altoona, PA

Dear Pete,

Roger that.  Here in central PA spring has sprung.  I, too am doing yard and garden prep.  My Annie's smoke unit still works because I am careful not to let it run dry.

My Aristo 2-4-2 Rogers is a nice runner whose smoke unit, I believe can be run dry with no ill effect.

Next in the offing is to get the G scale side tank Porter converted to battery power and Aristo TE throttle control.  I have the TE and do not wish to invest in a Revolution.

Best Wishes,

Jack

Dear Pete,

Is that Aristo smoke unit a Suethe or similar to it ?

I was thinking about replacing the smoke unit on my Annie.  How much cutting and rewiring did you have to do ?

I don't particularly like running smoke units in the house, but the kids like to see smoke.

My O-Gauge MTH Connie throws out an unbelievable amount of smoke.  Any ideas how the Aristo unit would compare ?

Thanks and Best Wishes,

Jack
Altoona, PA

Dear Jim,

Canada vs. USA hockey, gold medal game.  Being a Pittsburgh boy, I was not too sad that Sidney Crosby had the winning goal.

As for me, I dropped the TV cable years ago, so only have internet access from work !  But guess what !  I own the work, so I get this litttle bennie !

Best Wishes,

Jack

P.S.  Since this is to Jim, I will hijack this part.  I had lots of spare styrofoam boxes and pieces that I cobbled together with Liquid Nails for Projects to make portable tunnels for the layout under the X-mas tree.  I used bits of broken foam and egg cartons glued to the outside and covered with plaster of paris soaked paper towels, then applied extra plaster.  Worked great and only cost a few bucks !  Being portable, I will store the tunnels for next year.  The kids will have a blast finishing with spray paint and texture.  A local craft store has lots of differently colored sand, very cheap that will be used for ground cover.  Too, I mixed the styrofoam tiny pieces with plaster to give more texture.  Great fun and very messy !  For all the boys in us !

Jim,

Brilliant suggestion !

My boy Sidney pulled one out of his back pocket, wouldn't you say ?

You DO have the telly out your way, don't you ? 

Best Wishes,

Jack