Rick,
Every turnout that will work with a Caboose throw uses one.  Those that won't, use a double pole electric switch without electricity to throw the turnout via a wire connecting turnout to switch.  The sole exceptions are a few at the Gordonsville end of  staging which use Atlas above table controls.  I was going to use the below table Atlas controls on the east end of South River Yard, but gave up on them, especially after I talked with the Atlas tech rep who says he can't get them to work, either!     Fortunately, I was able to sell them at the Tidewater Division January inter club white elephant. 
Gene

Jeffrey,
I hate to say this, but it just barely surpassed the tractive effort of the last of steam.  Two C&O H-8s could pull it backwards while it tried to go forward. 
Gene

These are only layout pictures.  Some are from the last two days. 

http://photobucket.com/VTAPRR

Gene

Well, what do you expect - it's a diesel and had no idea what the thing was.  Sort of like the city slicker walking behind the frisky horse...
Gene

Has anybody else used Water effects?  It seems like the Alexander Falls of Mickie's Run is a bit too much for one bottle.  It has a nice ripple effect, but is too transparent for the most part and the bed can be seen.  Any thoughts on painting it gloss white? 
Gene

Brats either eat or are eaten, depending on the pronunciation. 
Gene

I've taken the boiler off one of my 2-6-6-2s and it was fairly easy, though I've forgotten some of the process. remove the cab first.  There is a screw or two and then the cab needs to be spread from the bottom out of the rails which hold it in place.  IIRC, there is a screw hidden by the cab which holds the boiler and then one from the bottom. 
Gene

One of the characteristics of C&O steam was a large tender.  The 16V tender is authentic for the J-2 (USRA Heavy Mountain) as well as the J-1.  Match the USRA light Mallet to the 16V and the COHS says you have something that looks close to the H-4/H-6, though the C&O never supplied their H-5s with any Vanderbilts.  My personal theory is that the H-5 insulted C&O brass hats because it a as good as, or close to as good as their own H-4s and 6s. 
Gene

The best thing to do:  find a document that begins "When in the course of Human events..." and ends "...our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

Gene

The Virginia Tidewater and Piedmont is a fictitious railroad running from Gloucester Point, Virginia to St. Louis, Mo.  The modeled portion is the Valley sub of the Alleghany Division, running from Gordonsville, Va to Sugar Grove, WV.  These two, which are east and west staging, are real towns, as was Basic City, Va, now a part of Waynesboro.  The rest of the towns are named for my children and grandchildren except for Leesboro, which is a fictitious city from my novels The C&O has trackage rights  from Noah Junction to Sugar Grove.  Since diesel facilities are sparse in September/October 1957, the C&O is forced to bring steam out of reserve when using the VT&P shortcut. 
BTW GG, are you a devotee of Cthuluthu (sp)?
Gene

It's not a product,  but I saw a picture of a Southern gon lettered "Suothern"
Gene

Josh,
I'm not sure - are you back up and running again?   One thing to consider is that most public libraries now have computers for patrons to use. 
Gene

Jack,
There is no question that there are whistles and bells other than Colorado narrow gauge.  But, if they control 10 of 36, that means Colorado narrow gauge controls between 1/4 and 1/3 of your available choices.  (10/36=5/18; 6/18= 1/3; 4/18 ~ 1/4)
Gene

I guess my main problem with the AG USRA light Mike and Pacific is the fact that Athearn knows it has/had a problem and is fixing it, apparently wit the new run, but is doing nothing for those of us with the old run.  I'd be more than willing to trade my old ones in for new ones and send Athearn $25 or so for each.  But that is not what they are willing to do.
Gene

If anybody is interested in an Allegheny Midland 70ton offset three bay hopper, let me know.  Do it off the board, of course.  You can find my e-mail on my profile. 
Complete information at:
http://www.cincy-div7.org/projects.html

Gene