AJ

I've noticed this on a lot of trains. The E.O.T. will be on one train and the light won't blink, the next one has an E.O.T. that is blinking. Why is that? Does it have to be turned off sometimes? Or is it a preference?

I heard that they were awful locomotives. So what do you engineers and conductors think of them?

I've noticed that on a lot of ethanol trains, there are always one or a few sealed hoppers, then the ethanol tankers. What's up with that? I've seen that especially on UP. Is it just a coincidence? Or is there a reason?

I have noticed this different style truck to be more on CP and CSX. Here's a photo of one style: http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1... Here's the "other" style: http://aprjaa.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.as... . I also read on another website that it is a different "phase" truck. Is this true? So what's the difference if there is one? Does it have to do with adhesion?

Today I had been watching a few Youtube videos, and then all of the sudden I can't watch a single one and now all I have are black screens. Everything else is there but the video. I tried to mess with all of the internet settings such as cookies, history, etc. but still nothing worked. Does this eventually go away? Or is this permanent?

I have a model railroad and my power supply has an overload indicator/relay on it. I have been wondering about this because it has gone off before, when it is lit, does that mean that it is cutting power to it and there is an overload in the circuit, or is there still current flowing and there was an overload detected?

I'm a railfan and see the red lights on railroad crossing signals be "real" red that normal humans see all of the time. But when I take a photo, it's a yellow-ish/red tone. Why is that? It's not just on my phone camera, it's on practically every camera! What's up with that? Here's an example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajuprr/5097714667/in/...

I constantly clean my track with an abrasive block and make sure the rail joiners are secure on this curve. I thought it was my locomotive, but it is only on this curve. What is going on? The track is completely level with the ground also.

Also, does anyone know the DOT number to the Shane Rd. crossing where everything happened? Thanks, AJ.

I have a model railroad crossing signal controller that says on the package 19VAC but I have only 18VAC. I have tested this but it won't work for either that reason or some other reason. So does one volt really make a difference in this situation? If so, what can I do to fix this and please thoroughly explain how.

I was thinking a little bit today and I remember that I see these small signs about 8-16" tall and no more than 12" wide in certain locations near the railroad tracks. They always have white backgrounds with one, two or three horizontal black lines going across them. What does this mean? In case it helps, I saw this on an Iowa, Chicago & Eastern line in Janesville, WI and a WSOR line in McFarland. If I need to add details, let me know. This has been troubling me for about a year and I really want to find out! If I find a picture, I will post the link immediately.

I have some extra Christmas lights that the packages always make sure to include in a little bag that I want to use for my model railroad on either 16VDC or AC. Either way it doesn't matter what type of voltage because I tested it on DC and it lit up for about 1/2 second each time. They are your average incandescent either 3 or 5mm individual light bulbs. (Odds are they are more likely 3 mm. I don't have a cm ruler right now so I don't know. The voltage tester I used isn't working either.) Please let me know if I need to add details. Thanks, AJ.

I have a bridge that has nothing that goes under and need to add a small creek that goes through it. And I don't really have the money to get the Woodland Scenics water right now. I just want to know of an inexpensive way to make a creek/river that looks realistic. Thanks, AJ.

I was deciding on whether or not to get some track bed because I'm getting some things that involve trackwork for Christmas. I was debating and decided to ask the people of Yahoo Answers for this. So, if roadbed really does make a difference, what would be the best brand and/or type to go with? Also, what would I want to do about a bridge because I'm planning for a bridge on my layout? Would I just cut if off at the bridge section, or bring the roadbed through the bridge? Please let me know if I need to add details. Thanks for your input, A.J. (Gonfiantini)

I model railroad and need to know if I can hook up a circuit breaker to a Hobby transformer that gives off 16VDC. Please tell me to add details if necessary so I can get the answer I need. Thanks, AJ.

What was the first train you ever saw like, how old were you, and what did you do? What I remember, is that I was at Beloit Ave. in Janesville, WI, and I just went through the intersection of Kellogg Ave, when Reuther Way wasn't even made yet. The lights started flashing, the gates began to close, and my dad rolled down the window so I could hear the mechanical bells clinging. All I remember was that it was a Union Pacific Autorack train switching early in the morning back when GM was still alive and running. It took forever and remember saying is this ever going to end? I realized it was when it backed up of course. I was 3 at the time so my parents remember this too and they told me I freaked out because I was so excited. This was back when the crossing had 2 gates instead of four, and I haven't found a picture of the crossing with only 2 signals. But that's basically what I remember. Then after that the trees would be moving that were right next to the crossing and think a train's going through. Then I realized there's no train. I was soooo sad LOL.

I have an HO scale locomotive that constantly on straight aways and my switch studders with its speed. The headlight goes bright and dim and bright and dim again. Why is it doing that? It's just straight and it's nickel silver rail. The part about the switch and why it doesn't run well, is because I think it's nickel silver rail to just plain nickel rail and back to nickel silver again.

I was looking at some of my photos and I was wondering how much of a kick you locomotive conductors/engineers or any other railroad personel that run big trains when you know you're going to make motorists extremely mad that the crossings. And when you can tell they're mad, what have they done?