Maggie, re-post this on the "Large" section of the message board.  Someone there will have the answer.
Jerry

Quote from: SteamGene on June 24, 2007, 06:05:47 PM
Interesting convert, Harold.  So HO track is the same gauge as Sn3.5, or 42 inches between the tops of the rails?  Who used that gauge, not that it matters?
Gene

Hi Gene, Jerry again.  One 42" gauge RR was the Big Sandy & Cumberland.  It was a logging road that ran from a connection with the N&W at Devon, WV to Grundy, VA.  The N&W purchased the BS&C in the '30s and converted it to standard guage to access coal deposits in the area.  About one half of the orriginal ROW was kept in the process.  The west was relocated to create better grades for the standard gauge line.  The N&W Historical Society has a series of articles on the BS&C in their recent magazines.

Jerry

Quote from: SteamGene on June 21, 2007, 11:11:51 AM
Does any of the RoW still exist in a visible form?
Gene

Gene, there's not much left of the original SS&S RoW.  I have not been able to pinpoint any of it.  According to Crittenden's book, "The Comp'ny", there are some Virginia secondary roads that were built on the Row, but I have not made any effort to follow them.

Jerry

Quote from: SteamGene on June 20, 2007, 03:45:54 PM
Add Smithfield, Sussex and Southampton in southside Virginia.
Gene

NO!!!   Not Smithfield!!!
Gene, it was the Surry, Sussex, and Southampton; named for the counties it ran through.

Jerry

Mike, if it's a vertical boilered engine you want, it should be a vertical boilered Climax with the half-roof / full-roof option you suggested.

http://climaxlocomotives.com/confirmed/img/index.php?P=10083

http://climaxlocomotives.com/confirmed/img/index.php?P=10091

Jerry

Hey Mr. Bach-man, On the general topic message board there is a thread concerning old steam locomotives pulled from the woods.  One of the posts included a link to a picture of a a two-truck, T-boiler shay:
http://www.shaylocomotives.com/data/lima/sn-196.htm   
Except for the wide wheels on the shay in the photo, this is exactly what we need in Large Scale, 1:20.3 - A two-truck, T-boiler Shay.

Jerry

"Here's a picture of one of those abondoned shays:
http://www.shaylocomotives.com/data/lima/sn-196.htm "

Hey Mr. Bach-man, except for the wide wheels, this is exactly what we need in Large Scale, 1:20.3 - A two-truck, T-boiler Shay.

Jerry

Gene, don't be so pessimistic. Check out the web site. The plan is to restore them to operation!

Jerry

Hey there again Mr. Bachman. The guys at the Southern Railway forum on Yahoo have made a couple of suggestions for Southern Rwy models.

DPayne suggests using "The "SERVES THE SOUTH" slogan that appeared in the mid- to late- sixties until "GIVES A GREEN LIGHT TO INNOVATION" began appearing in the seventies would be a good choice. Seems almost every manufacturer has done the circular herald and similarly the GREEN LIGHT slogan, but the middle ground has been overlooked."

And Frank Greene adds the following information.  "The circular boxcar herald never said "Look Ahead - Look South".  It said "The Southern Serves the South" around the ring with "SR" in the center. The earliest version (mid-1930's, I think) had the words almost running together ("The Southern" was always on the top half), while the later version (early 1940's, I think) separated "The Southern" from "Serves the South" <http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/sout/sou260909amh.jpg>. During the 1960's - 1970's block lettering era, slogans included "Serves the South" or "Super Cushioned Service" to the right of boxcar doors and "Gives a Green Light to innovation" on the left below "Southern".

Jerry

Hi there Mr. Bachmann.  I have tried several sites and so far I have not found any pictures of freight cars with the "Look Ahead Look South" herald.  The only pics I could find are of diesel engine nose heralds. Look at  http://www.srha.net/public/photos/photo_detail.asp?ID=66715

This is a picture from the Southern Railway Historical Association.  They might can answer your question.  Their web site is: http://www.srha.net/default.asp

Also, there is a forum, the Boxcars & Freight Cars of Noth America site, for posting pictures of freight cars at http://www.nonotuck.us/kens/boxcars/index.html#Web_Pages_Details
but I did not find any "Look Ahead Look South" heralds there either.

Good luck with your search. 
Jerry

Wow, I wish I'd know about this fix before I converted all of my equipment to Kadees! I might not have made the switch!   Oh well, at least the Kadees work well.  I've never had any problems with properly installed Kadee couplers.

Hi Mr. Bach-man, I was just browsing through the pictures of your On30 ventilated boxcars and was wondering when these would be available in Fn3?

Jim, Yes, I would be intrested.

Jerry

Jim, Great circuit! I think that might be just what I'm looking for.
Jerry

I want both! I would like to see someone design a circuit to combine track power with batteries.  Track power would light the lights and charge the battery while the train is running and the battery would keep the lights on for a time while the train was stopped.  I would not know where to begin to design such a circuit but I am sure that some electrical genius could do it for us.

Jerry