Re: The optimum solution for the can of worms

In the past years they used to give each engine a new paint job before every season just after yearly mechanical work was finished. This would be the time to do it with the Rio Grande, which aside from the stencils would be no extra cost to the railroad, except the C&TS magnetic type signs.

Actually I see some marketing ideas here as well. The railroad could run a "RIO GRANDE" train once in awhile as a special and the engine is basically ready to go....all of them!!! They could market a once a month RIO GRANDE engine on the train if they wanted to, or some other gimmick.

For the serious photo charters all the guys have to do is weather the tender so the area where the magnetic overlay was is not so noticeable.

I have a solution for weathering as well. During the winter my wife offered to suck out the ashes from our wood stove with the shop vac. I had cleaned most with a shovel. So I am out dumping my ashes in the garden when she comes running out of the door and this huge cloud of what looked like smoke coming out of the door. Well she had reversed the suction somehow and blew all the ashes out the back of the shop vac. It was hilarious of course, except she had a lot to clean up afterwards.

So for the weathering you somehow get a bunch of ashes from the Chama pit and blow them on the tender. Maybe you wash the whole tender first to even the edges from where the magnetic sign was, then spray it down with ashes or other dirt to make it look like real D&RGW road grime.....and you would be using real engine ashes!!!

Greg Scholl