Hi Fred - Yes, Wabash did operate in Iowa. I was really focusing on the six major railroads that crossed the state. Thank you for watching and commenting ......... I appreciate it! Mike
Man, I'd love to visit your layout someday! My grandfather grew up next to the Burlington/Rock Island line in Texas and really enjoyed the Rock Island, and that has carried over to me!
I currently live in Texas since spring 2001 but lived in Mason City, Iowa from 1994 to 2001. Even though I'm originally from Minnesota I love & miss Iowa, I may eventually move back. Thank you for sharing!
Good video. My parents are both from central Iowa. The summer of 1972 my brother and I drove to Iowa from the PNW to visit relatives in Pilot Mound, Boone, and Ft. Dodge. He was still a student at the University of Oregon and I had just graduated from Washington State University (Go Cougs!). It was fun photographing the Illinois Central and C&NW in Ft.Dodge. Our elderly relative still referred to the IC line that followed the Des Moines River through town as the "Omaha Road." I found a small EMD switcher (SW?/NW?) still in M& StL colors sitting in the C&NW yard. Your video stated the C&NW acquired the M&StL in 1960, so I find it surprising the switcher had escaped the airbrush for 12 years.
Hi Bill - I spent my early childhood years in Ames and Nevada, Iowa ........ only a few miles from Boone. I'm surprised that you were able to see a switch engine in M&StL colors in 1972 ....... that's a lucky catch. Thank you for watching. Mike
You are perty dang knowledgeable there mister! Either you are a very young kid who spent a lot of time in the library or you are an old fart full of information.
Well, thank you for watching and your comment. I am the latter ...... an old fart ..... that is full of something, but it's probably not information :-) Mike
nice...I grew up near the CGW in westchicago...of course everything was yellow and green then....I remember SD38-2s, and SD40-2s as well as the SD40 models coming down the line.....then when it was cut back to carol stream it was GP7s and MP15s...…. Did you work for the BN?
@@rimodeler7963My dad worked for the BN in Cicero from 1991-1995....before that CNW from 1980-1991 and the rock island from 1974 to 1980.....there were a lot of modelers on the BN from savanna to cicero, (did you ever work that area) I remember threw highschool custom painting for a lot of those guys....
@@ALL-bj7mj Hi Shawn: I did not specifically work between Savanna and Cicero but rode business cars, geometry cars and hy-rail vehicles over that segment on several occasions. I'll bet your dad had some varied experiences working for 3 different railroads. Mike
@@rimodeler7963I recall painting some CGW GP30s....probably around 1992....was wondering if you were the gentleman who bought them....my dad took them to work, they never returned....LOL!!!!
Great video! I grew up in Western Iowa. I barely remember the Rock Island having a passenger train running between Atlantic and Audubon (this train may have run farther north). Currently I live in the Cedar Rapids area. I remember in the early to mid 70s a Milwaukee freight stopped by the Marion Station to top up the water on a FP45 (likely converted to freight service).
Thank you very much for your comments. Yes, the Milwaukee Road did put the FP45’s in freight service after Amtrak took over the passenger business. I appreciate you watching the video. Mike
Hi Bob - Thank you for your comment and for watching the video. Here is the link to a video of my track plan: th-cam.com/video/ZzyqaoF6fsw/w-d-xo.html As information, there is also a track plan of my layout in the March 2019 issue of Model Railroader magazine when my layout was featured in that issue. Mike
Thank you for watching the video. Given that all of these railroads except the IC ran through your hometown, I'm guessing your hometown may be the Des Moines area? Mike
Hi Todd - The route I model between St. Paul and Kansas City was known as the Rock Island's Mid-Continent Route and when Rock Island operations ceased in March 1980, this particular route was taken over by the Chicago & Northwestern Railway until 1995 when the C&NW was absorbed into the Union Pacific. The UP currently owns and operates the route and it is now referred to as The Spine Line. It is alive and well. Thanks for watching. Mike
A excellent tribute. I'm also from and still in Iowa. Always loved the Rock Island Lines and worked for the Milwaukee Road (DRI&NW) for a short time. Thx for sharing.
Hi Joe - I lived in Nevada and Dubuque, Iowa and left the state when my career with Burlington Northern Railroad swept me away. It's interesting to hear that you worked on the DRI Line in the Quad Cities. Thanks very much for watching. Mike
You made me have flashbacks! Really cool footage. I was lucky to see them before their demise. Great time era you have for your empire. It really shows in your efforts you make. Merry Christmas TOO!!!!
Hi Chad - I appreciate you taking the time to watch the video and thank you very much for your comments. The 1960 - 1970 decade was definitely my favorite era of railroading ........ lots of colorful freight cars. Merry Christmas!! Mike
I just came across this video. Very impressive! I really liked the rolling stock mix on each of the trains. I spent some of my formative years in Iowa (69-74) and this really evokes the feeling.
Hi Brian - I appreciate you watching the video. Best of luck to you on your modeling of the CGW and Milwaukee Road ........... two great railroads. Mike
Great video. Of course I liked the Illinois Central train the best. My grandfather worked for the IC and I spent a couple of summers with him while he worked. He was an operator, handing up orders to the Southbound Illinois Terminal train 201 at North Lincoln where the "Terminal" got off their interurban trackage and got back on the IC for the trip to Mount Palaski and then on to Springfield on the "Green Diamond" line to Mont, before getting back on their own trackage again to St. Louis.
Hi Todd - I can't say for certain, but in the mid-1960s, I believe there were at least 3 train order offices between Des Moines to and including Mason City (Nevada, Iowa Falls, Mason City); sorry I don't know the exact number. Thanks for watching. Mike
Thank you for running your trains at realistic scale speeds. Seeing trains run like slot cars is tiring. And how come all model railroads have that same yellow ACY boxcar ? I have one as well. LOL
It's good to know that there are some who appreciate scale-speed operations. I've determined that about 50 MPH is a decent top-end scale speed. It seems like anything greater than that just doesn't look realistic. You're right about the yellow ACY box car ........ seems to be a popular model. Thank you for watching and for your comments! Mike
Great performance once again although I was expecting that the Plainsman would go faster than all other freight trains, according to the shown notes, but it didn't as I noticed it.
Hi Antoine - The Plainsman can operate up to 60 MPH on my layout; however, I ran all trains slow for this video so that the equipment would not be blurry as I filmed. Thank you for your comment and for watching. Mike
Hello RImodeler79 The railroads had some interesting history which i didn't know about so thank you for sharing, Could Penn Central Run with Rock Island?
Hi Tom - Thank you for watching. Yes, Penn Central locomotives could definitely run with Rock Island power. In the 1960's Rock Island had a run-through train with the New York Central that operated to NYC's Elkhart, Indiana yard. This run-through lasted into the Penn Central era and I have seen photos of RI and PC power pulling this run-through freight train. Mike
Hi Nick - I did mention the M&StL when discussing the locomotives pulling the C&NW freight train. The tribute was to 6 fallen flag railroads of Iowa, but not to all fallen flag railroads of Iowa. I was really concentrating on the 6 major class 1 railroads of Iowa in the mid to late 1960's. The M&StL was merged into the C&NW in 1960. Thank you for watching! Mike
Hi John: The Wabash operated on a secondary line into Des Moines and was merged into the Norfolk & Western in 1964. While it certainly does qualify as a fallen flag, I was focusing on the major main line railroads that operated in Iowa during the mid to late 1960's. Thank you for watching. Mike
Awesome! I'm from Wisconsin and I'm going to do something similar!
Outstanding. Wabash also operated in Ia.
Hi Fred - Yes, Wabash did operate in Iowa. I was really focusing on the six major railroads that crossed the state. Thank you for watching and commenting ......... I appreciate it! Mike
A fitting tribute!
Thank you. Mike
That's a very nice layout!!
Thank you. Mike
Man, I'd love to visit your layout someday! My grandfather grew up next to the Burlington/Rock Island line in Texas and really enjoyed the Rock Island, and that has carried over to me!
Thanks for watching. Mike
I currently live in Texas since spring 2001 but lived in Mason City, Iowa from 1994 to 2001. Even though I'm originally from Minnesota I love & miss Iowa, I may eventually move back. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for watching and for your comments. Mike
Good video. My parents are both from central Iowa. The summer of 1972 my brother and I drove to Iowa from the PNW to visit relatives in Pilot Mound, Boone, and Ft. Dodge. He was still a student at the University of Oregon and I had just graduated from Washington State University (Go Cougs!).
It was fun photographing the Illinois Central and C&NW in Ft.Dodge. Our elderly relative still referred to the IC line that followed the Des Moines River through town as the "Omaha Road." I found a small EMD switcher (SW?/NW?) still in M& StL colors sitting in the C&NW yard. Your video stated the C&NW acquired the M&StL in 1960, so I find it surprising the switcher had escaped the airbrush for 12 years.
Hi Bill - I spent my early childhood years in Ames and Nevada, Iowa ........ only a few miles from Boone. I'm surprised that you were able to see a switch engine in M&StL colors in 1972 ....... that's a lucky catch. Thank you for watching. Mike
I love to see those roaring sd40s leading a heavy freight train!
Thanks for watching. Mike
I am near an old CGW line in Iowa. What Iowa towns do you have in your layout?
The Iowa towns on my layout include Des Moines, Shipley, Nevada, Iowa Falls, Clear lake Jct., and Mason City. Thank you for watching. Mike
You are perty dang knowledgeable there mister! Either you are a very young kid who spent a lot of time in the library or you are an old fart full of information.
Well, thank you for watching and your comment. I am the latter ...... an old fart ..... that is full of something, but it's probably not information :-) Mike
nice...I grew up near the CGW in westchicago...of course everything was yellow and green then....I remember SD38-2s, and SD40-2s as well as the SD40 models coming down the line.....then when it was cut back to carol stream it was GP7s and MP15s...….
Did you work for the BN?
Hi Shawn: Yes, I worked for the BN for 33 years. Thank you for watching my video! Mike
@@rimodeler7963My dad worked for the BN in Cicero from 1991-1995....before that CNW from 1980-1991 and the rock island from 1974 to 1980.....there were a lot of modelers on the BN from savanna to cicero, (did you ever work that area) I remember threw highschool custom painting for a lot of those guys....
@@ALL-bj7mj Hi Shawn: I did not specifically work between Savanna and Cicero but rode business cars, geometry cars and hy-rail vehicles over that segment on several occasions. I'll bet your dad had some varied experiences working for 3 different railroads. Mike
@@rimodeler7963I recall painting some CGW GP30s....probably around 1992....was wondering if you were the gentleman who bought them....my dad took them to work, they never returned....LOL!!!!
@@ALL-bj7mj Nope, that wasn't me. I own one CGW GP30 that is an Ajin Brass Model which I acquired from Overland Models about 2 years ago. Mike
Doin the Freight Train Boogie in the Hawkeye state. Nice!!
Thank you! Mike
I like how you have the upper yard set up with all switches at the front edge and yard tracks trailing away toward the back. Good access for ops.
Thank you for your comment and for watching the video. Mike
Great video! I grew up in Western Iowa. I barely remember the Rock Island having a passenger train running between Atlantic and Audubon (this train may have run farther north). Currently I live in the Cedar Rapids area. I remember in the early to mid 70s a Milwaukee freight stopped by the Marion Station to top up the water on a FP45 (likely converted to freight service).
Thank you very much for your comments. Yes, the Milwaukee Road did put the FP45’s in freight service after Amtrak took over the passenger business. I appreciate you watching the video. Mike
Great layout pplease show track plan
Hi Bob - Thank you for your comment and for watching the video. Here is the link to a video of my track plan: th-cam.com/video/ZzyqaoF6fsw/w-d-xo.html As information, there is also a track plan of my layout in the March 2019 issue of Model Railroader magazine when my layout was featured in that issue. Mike
I liyes in st paul mn i rembember these trains niw live in california bid mistake no basmenta here. Bov
Nice video, all of these except for I.C. Ran through my home town
Thank you for watching the video. Given that all of these railroads except the IC ran through your hometown, I'm guessing your hometown may be the Des Moines area? Mike
You have done a great job and it is truly inspiring to behold.
Thank you very much for your comment and for watching! Mike
I love to see multiple units on the head end. Nothing like we see today. Thanks again.
THANK YOU...for sharing. Thank you for the history of the six.
You are most welcome. I always appreciate you watching my videos. Mike
Is the route that you model, now abandoned?
Hi Todd - The route I model between St. Paul and Kansas City was known as the Rock Island's Mid-Continent Route and when Rock Island operations ceased in March 1980, this particular route was taken over by the Chicago & Northwestern Railway until 1995 when the C&NW was absorbed into the Union Pacific. The UP currently owns and operates the route and it is now referred to as The Spine Line. It is alive and well. Thanks for watching. Mike
Excellent layout. Excellent rolling stock. Thanks for posting.
Hi Ray - Thank you for your comments and for watching. Mike
You have an awesome model railroad, thank you for sharing it. Best regards, Anthony
Hi Anthony - I appreciate your comment and taking time to watch the video ...... thank you! Mike
A excellent tribute. I'm also from and still in Iowa. Always loved the Rock Island Lines and worked for the Milwaukee Road (DRI&NW) for a short time. Thx for sharing.
Hi Joe - I lived in Nevada and Dubuque, Iowa and left the state when my career with Burlington Northern Railroad swept me away. It's interesting to hear that you worked on the DRI Line in the Quad Cities. Thanks very much for watching. Mike
You made me have flashbacks! Really cool footage. I was lucky to see them before their demise. Great time era you have for your empire. It really shows in your efforts you make. Merry Christmas TOO!!!!
Hi Chad - I appreciate you taking the time to watch the video and thank you very much for your comments. The 1960 - 1970 decade was definitely my favorite era of railroading ........ lots of colorful freight cars. Merry Christmas!! Mike
I just came across this video. Very impressive! I really liked the rolling stock mix on each of the trains. I spent some of my formative years in Iowa (69-74) and this really evokes the feeling.
Hi Rick - I really appreciate your comments and thank you for watching. Iowa will always hold a special place in my heart. Mike
Awesome as always!
Thanks so much! Mike
Modeling the CGW and Milwaukee Road Cannon River branch lines in Minnesota. Enjoyed your video. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Brian - I appreciate you watching the video. Best of luck to you on your modeling of the CGW and Milwaukee Road ........... two great railroads. Mike
Great video. Of course I liked the Illinois Central train the best. My grandfather worked for the IC and I spent a couple of summers with him while he worked. He was an operator, handing up orders to the Southbound Illinois Terminal train 201 at North Lincoln where the "Terminal" got off their interurban trackage and got back on the IC for the trip to Mount Palaski and then on to Springfield on the "Green Diamond" line to Mont, before getting back on their own trackage again to St. Louis.
Thanks, Todd. I can see why you are partial to the IC. Mike
Originally, how many train order stations were on this route?
Hi Todd - I can't say for certain, but in the mid-1960s, I believe there were at least 3 train order offices between Des Moines to and including Mason City (Nevada, Iowa Falls, Mason City); sorry I don't know the exact number. Thanks for watching. Mike
Thank you for running your trains at realistic scale speeds. Seeing trains run like slot cars is tiring.
And how come all model railroads have that same yellow ACY boxcar ? I have one as well. LOL
It's good to know that there are some who appreciate scale-speed operations. I've determined that about 50 MPH is a decent top-end scale speed. It seems like anything greater than that just doesn't look realistic. You're right about the yellow ACY box car ........ seems to be a popular model. Thank you for watching and for your comments! Mike
Great layout my friend.
Hi Chris - Thank you so much for the comment and for taking the time to watch the video! Mike
very nice!
Thank you, Gary, I appreciate your comment. Mike
Mike,
Great job! I also learned things that I did not know.
Once again awesomeness all around.
Wyatt
Thanks, Wyatt.
Great performance once again although I was expecting that the Plainsman would go faster than all other freight trains, according to the shown notes, but it didn't as I noticed it.
Hi Antoine - The Plainsman can operate up to 60 MPH on my layout; however, I ran all trains slow for this video so that the equipment would not be blurry as I filmed. Thank you for your comment and for watching. Mike
Hello RImodeler79
The railroads had some interesting history which i didn't know about so thank you for sharing, Could Penn Central Run with Rock Island?
Hi Tom - Thank you for watching. Yes, Penn Central locomotives could definitely run with Rock Island power. In the 1960's Rock Island had a run-through train with the New York Central that operated to NYC's Elkhart, Indiana yard. This run-through lasted into the Penn Central era and I have seen photos of RI and PC power pulling this run-through freight train. Mike
You forgot the Minneapolis & St Louis Railway.
Hi Nick - I did mention the M&StL when discussing the locomotives pulling the C&NW freight train. The tribute was to 6 fallen flag railroads of Iowa, but not to all fallen flag railroads of Iowa. I was really concentrating on the 6 major class 1 railroads of Iowa in the mid to late 1960's. The M&StL was merged into the C&NW in 1960. Thank you for watching! Mike
Does the Wabash qualify?
Hi John: The Wabash operated on a secondary line into Des Moines and was merged into the Norfolk & Western in 1964. While it certainly does qualify as a fallen flag, I was focusing on the major main line railroads that operated in Iowa during the mid to late 1960's. Thank you for watching. Mike