Re: More WP&Y, Car details

Bob;
Liked the story about the FRA suggesting that C&TS convert to AB brakes. What a chore that would be! The Rail industry had lots of complaints about the conversion from K to AB they went through in the 30's and 40's. I'm not advocating change, but AB brakes may be an idea for the new cars. At some point parts for K triples will get very expensive (hard to get etc). There are outfits, mostly industrial and overseas, that still use modern versions of the triple valve, but it is slowly disappearing.
I'm glad that Mark stepped in when he did about aluminum. I have no experience in car repair with it. Like Mark says, there are a lot of freight cars, made from aluminum, there are several car/transit builders that use aluminum. I'd be concerned about bi-metal corrosion (electrolysis), but I guess the builders have minimized that problem? Also you would use a different paint, or at least a different primer. Is that still true? I'd definitely talk to someone with recent experience on building cars out of aluminum. You also have the C&TS Shop folks to consider. They will need to repair the cars, do they have the tools to deal with aluminum? Aluminum cars can certainly be built, if the price is right.
A little off subject, several of us at OERM donated to the C&TS, a couple of test racks for locomotive valves. I understand C&TS shop space is at premium, but hope when the time comes to set them up C&TS Shop folks will contact us. We'd really like to help install and set them up.
Thanks, Bill B.