Railroaders' HO scale is just "cute" and that they've got such a huge selection of cool kits is quite amazing. Combining our hobby with theirs is somehow gratifying albeit that both are in stark generational decline in popularity with the average modeler being a male in their late fifties to mid sixties and railroaders being at least a decade or so older on average. The numbers aren't kind; I'm also wondering how I strayed so far off topic...

I've always found the two hobbies go well together. Not off topic at all. But I think if I dig out my Fleischmann and yes, even Piko rolling stock, I'll find that very car or one like it in my stash from over thirty years ago. What amazes me is that in the 21st century those awful Euro couplers are still standard on stock railroad equipment. German stuff for by DB layout: US stuff for my Southern Pacific/Union Pacific/ATSF layout.