I offer this with utmost respect and appreciation for the builder of this magnificent layout: the heck with the layout - that is perhaps the most GORGEOUS train room any of us have ever seen. Fantastic videography as well. Stunning and inspirational on all fronts. On behalf of all, thank you for being in the hobby and sharing your fabulous work.
I encountered this following another video. I'm a displaced Iowan. I now live in southern California, but grew up in Oskaloosa Iowa. This really brought home some fond memories for me, and you have done quite excellent in your portrayal of Iowa scenery. My wife died a few years ago and I'm just returning to the HO scale hobby, and will be modeling Iowa Rock Island. Thanks for the amazing inspiration.
Thank you very much for your kind comments which I appreciate. Glad to hear that you’ll be modeling the Rock Island in Iowa. Good luck with your modeling! Mike
Wow! Amazing footage! This is another heavy freight train! May god bless you to make you keep running the ops sessions on this beautiful railroad layout!
Hi Dennis - Thanks so much for your comments and for watching. It's nice to have individuals watch this video that understand and appreciate the history of this segment of railroad. Mike
Perhaps your referring to the major derailment that took place in the mid-seventies in St. Joseph, MO just south of Randolph St. that took out the main line for a few days, I remember it well. I was able to get myself in the photo of the derailment in the local paper. Thanks for the memories.
Hi Richard - I wasn't aware of the derailment that you're referring to; however, it fits the reason for the video, so let's go with it (LOL). Thank you for watching the video and for the history about the St. Joseph derailment. Mike
Hi Mike, Thanks for posting another great video. It was nice seeing the C&NW power on your layout. I like the flat car with all the cab over tractors on it. That certainly sets the time period.-Tom
Good Day Gary - Glad you liked the flatcar load of semi tractors ...... I had fun making that one. As always, thanks so much for watching and commenting. Mike
I love the variety of photo angles used throughout the video. May I suggest a a view of the train from behind (as though following the caboose) on the long, wide curves where the entire train will be visible up ahead. My favorite location on the layout is still Shipley with the very Iowa looking farm and school house.
Good Day Bill - I'll keep your suggestion in mind about following the rear of the train with the camera. I, too, am fond of Shipley which is an actual location on the old Rock Island and named after my great grandfather W. V. Shipley. Thanks for watching! Mike
Hi Jack - I grew up in central Iowa which had quite a Norwegian population (I'm 50% Norske myself) ........ so I know exactly what you mean. Thank you for watching and commenting. Mike
I didn't read the text above the locomotives at the beginning because I was trying to multitask but the mars lights on the short hoods of the SD40s made me instantly recognize they were former Chicago Great Western.
Greetings Bill - I hope you're staying well during this shelter-in-place time period. I'm fortunate to have a model railroad that keeps me occupied. Thank you for watching! Mike
@@rimodeler7963 I always enjoy watching and it inspires me to keep working away on my own layout which I have additional time to do currently! LOL! Take care, Tony
Nice footage. Hope that the C & N W got there wreak cleaned up in due time. But I am sure that the Rock Island liked the money they got from the detour! Great looking loco's, nice weathering work on them and all of your cars.
Hi Todd - Thanks so much for your comments. Yeah, every bit of revenue was appreciated by the Rock Island ......... even money collected from a detouring freight train. Thanks for watching! Mike
Awesome video, I always love seeing this layout. Everything is perfect to the time era. Always excited when the bell icon tells me you have a new video. God Bless you and keep up the great work!
Hey. Where's the derailment? They could move back onto home rails at Albert Lea. Simple dispatch throw of the Curtis South power switch and that manifest could swing onto the former M&St.L. With a crew change at AL they would be back underway for Cedar Lake yard. But, on a serious note. Beautiful layout!
Due to an unusually heavy flow of freight traffic on the C&NW and to ease congestion, this was the only train that detoured all the way on the Rock Island. Thanks for watching. Mike
Hi J. Lewis - You are correct, the Spine Line was acquired by the C&NW and, as you know, is now UP. I'm just glad that the entire route from St. Paul to Kansas City is still intact and in great operating condition. Thanks for watching. Mike
@@rimodeler7963 I love your beautiful railroad. I would't mind seeing some modern fantasy ops should the Rock had survived to this day. Just for shits and grins.
Their dark yellow scheme was my favorite. Took me some time to figure out there was a difference between an SD40 and an SD40-2. Never could find side by side photos of them. They both have porches and many refer to the dash 2 model as SD40. Prime mover is the same for both, I think, but SD40-2 is longer - more raked out.
One way to tell a regular SD40 and a SD40-2 from the outside is a glass window on the door for the engine coolant and a lip on the end of the cab connecting the long hood
Hi Tommy - I agree that the darker yellow was a better looking color compared to the brighter yellow which was often called "Zito yellow" for the name of the, then, C&NW railroad president. Thanks for watching! Mike
Mike: I read your reply about my link to the photo of the Shipley sign not working. Check your computer settings as I just tried it and it worked for me.
Howdy Wyatt - Once this COVID-19 is under control, we need to have an operating session so that you can spot some new cars in the Minnesota Transfer Yard :-) Anyway, I hope you're doing well and do take care! Mike
What do you do when you are sheltered in place? You search the internet for info on Shipley, IA, of course. So far I have found this photo of the RI track sign for Shipley. If I find some more interesting links, I'll post them up.
@@rimodeler7963 No big deal. It was an old (early 60's?) B&W photo with two railroad buildings in the background and a railroad trackside (station?) sign that said "Shipley." I'm sure can probably find it through a Google search like I did. I believe it is in the Iowa state photo archives.
Wow! This video is fantastic!!! Great Job!!! Where did you get those John Deere tractors on for your flatcar load? I need a few like that for the Marshline!!
Greetings Andy - I acquired the John Deere 4020 tractors several years ago and I think they are offered by ERTL Toy Company. I appreciate your comments and thanks for watching. Mike
Hi Nathan - The DCC decoder is a Tsunami2 from Soundtraxx and you can find instructions in their technical manuals for how to set up the gyralight. Thank you for watching. Mike
I used Micro-Engineering code 83 on the main and code 70 on the non-main tracks. For the helixes and staging yards (hidden areas) I primarily used Atlas code 100. All main line switches are Walthers and non-main switches are Micro-Engineering. Thank you for watching! Mike
Hi Jim - This is my personal home layout (life long dream that became reality in retirement). I appreciate you watching and thanks much for your comment. Mike
I offer this with utmost respect and appreciation for the builder of this magnificent layout: the heck with the layout - that is perhaps the most GORGEOUS train room any of us have ever seen. Fantastic videography as well. Stunning and inspirational on all fronts. On behalf of all, thank you for being in the hobby and sharing your fabulous work.
Hi David - Thank you very much for your nice comments which I truly appreciate ....... you are much too kind. Mike
I encountered this following another video. I'm a displaced Iowan. I now live in southern California, but grew up in Oskaloosa Iowa. This really brought home some fond memories for me, and you have done quite excellent in your portrayal of Iowa scenery. My wife died a few years ago and I'm just returning to the HO scale hobby, and will be modeling Iowa Rock Island. Thanks for the amazing inspiration.
Thank you very much for your kind comments which I appreciate. Glad to hear that you’ll be modeling the Rock Island in Iowa. Good luck with your modeling! Mike
This has to be my favorite video of yours, partially because I’m modeling CNW, but mostly because your layout is awesome!
Thank you very much! Mike
Wow! Amazing footage! This is another heavy freight train! May god bless you to make you keep running the ops sessions on this beautiful railroad layout!
Nice Job. Well done! How fitting to have the C&NW detour over trackage they would (unfortunately for the Rock Island), own a couple of decades later.
Hi Dennis - Thanks so much for your comments and for watching. It's nice to have individuals watch this video that understand and appreciate the history of this segment of railroad. Mike
Awesome model railroad, I really like that flat car with the cabover trucks on it 👍!
Thanks much for your comment and for watching the video. Mike
Perhaps your referring to the major derailment that took place in the mid-seventies in St. Joseph, MO just south of Randolph St. that took out the main line for a few days, I remember it well. I was able to get myself in the photo of the derailment in the local paper. Thanks for the memories.
Hi Richard - I wasn't aware of the derailment that you're referring to; however, it fits the reason for the video, so let's go with it (LOL). Thank you for watching the video and for the history about the St. Joseph derailment. Mike
Hi Mike, Thanks for posting another great video. It was nice seeing the C&NW power on your layout. I like the flat car with all the cab over tractors on it. That certainly sets the time period.-Tom
Top of the Day to you Tom! Thanks, as always, for watching and commenting. I trust your book project is going well. Take care! Mike
THANK YOU...for sharing. Fantastic detour run, like your flatcar loads, especially the semi load of new Freightliners.
Good Day Gary - Glad you liked the flatcar load of semi tractors ...... I had fun making that one. As always, thanks so much for watching and commenting. Mike
this video is a lot of fun viewing the train from the front. thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching and commenting! Mike
Enjoyed! Especially liked the flatcar load of cabover semis. Haven't seen that in person in a very long time.
Hi Rick - I appreciate your comment and thanks for taking the time to watch the video. Mike
Thanks for sharing. What a great layout, love seeing time and time again.
Hi Ken - I appreciate you taking the time to watch the video and comment. Thanks! Mike
I love the variety of photo angles used throughout the video. May I suggest a a view of the train from behind (as though following the caboose) on the long, wide curves where the entire train will be visible up ahead. My favorite location on the layout is still Shipley with the very Iowa looking farm and school house.
Good Day Bill - I'll keep your suggestion in mind about following the rear of the train with the camera. I, too, am fond of Shipley which is an actual location on the old Rock Island and named after my great grandfather W. V. Shipley. Thanks for watching! Mike
Great vid! When I belonged to the local train club in Sioux Falls we referred to the C&NW as the Chicago Norwegian. Them was the days!
Hi Jack - I grew up in central Iowa which had quite a Norwegian population (I'm 50% Norske myself) ........ so I know exactly what you mean. Thank you for watching and commenting. Mike
Lol! Never heard that one. We always called them the Cheap & Nothing Wasted
Nice video and well shot. One of the best I have seen. Very nice layout!
Thanks for your very nice comments ......... much appreciated! Mike
I didn't read the text above the locomotives at the beginning because I was trying to multitask but the mars lights on the short hoods of the SD40s made me instantly recognize they were former Chicago Great Western.
You've got a good eye for detail ......... thank you for watching the video. Mike
Thanks for the new video from all of us who are confined to quarters during the Covid-19 quarantine.
Greetings Bill - I hope you're staying well during this shelter-in-place time period. I'm fortunate to have a model railroad that keeps me occupied. Thank you for watching! Mike
MIke, Very nice video of the C&NW detour train. Love the ex-CGW SD-40's on the train. Tony
Hi Tony - As always, I appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment. Take care and stay healthy! Mike
@@rimodeler7963 I always enjoy watching and it inspires me to keep working away on my own layout which I have additional time to do currently! LOL! Take care, Tony
Really enjoyed this video over breakfast. Thanks for sharing. Dave
Thank you, Dave ......... I appreciate your comments. Mike
Nice footage. Hope that the C & N W got there wreak cleaned up in due time. But I am sure that the Rock Island liked the money they got from the detour! Great looking loco's, nice weathering work on them and all of your cars.
Hi Todd - Thanks so much for your comments. Yeah, every bit of revenue was appreciated by the Rock Island ......... even money collected from a detouring freight train. Thanks for watching! Mike
0:56 There’s a Fort Dodge Des Moines and Southern Ry. boxcar!
Yes sir ....... gotta love those Ft.DDM&S freight cars! Mike
RImodeler79 I’ve got an old Fort Dodge Des Moines and Southern switch lock. It’s really neat.
Awesome video, I always love seeing this layout. Everything is perfect to the time era. Always excited when the bell icon tells me you have a new video. God Bless you and keep up the great work!
Hello Dave - Thanks so much for your nice comments and for watching ........ I really appreciate it! Mike
Hey. Where's the derailment? They could move back onto home rails at Albert Lea. Simple dispatch throw of the Curtis South power switch and that manifest could swing onto the former M&St.L. With a crew change at AL they would be back underway for Cedar Lake yard. But, on a serious note. Beautiful layout!
Due to an unusually heavy flow of freight traffic on the C&NW and to ease congestion, this was the only train that detoured all the way on the Rock Island. Thanks for watching. Mike
Nice video! Very realistic layout, must've taken a while!
Greetings Railfan611 - I started building the layout in 2007 and was mostly complete by 2016. Thank you for your comments and for watching! Mike
@@rimodeler7963 that really did take a while! Nice job!
Reminds me of Illinois in the mid 1970s. Very cool! Love it!
Thanks, Glen, for watching and for your comments ...... I appreciate it! Mike
Nice blast from the past. And in the not too distant future C&NW wound up owning that route.
Hi J. Lewis - You are correct, the Spine Line was acquired by the C&NW and, as you know, is now UP. I'm just glad that the entire route from St. Paul to Kansas City is still intact and in great operating condition. Thanks for watching. Mike
@@rimodeler7963 I love your beautiful railroad. I would't mind seeing some modern fantasy ops should the Rock had survived to this day. Just for shits and grins.
Their dark yellow scheme was my favorite. Took me some time to figure out there was a difference between an SD40 and an SD40-2. Never could find side by side photos of them. They both have porches and many refer to the dash 2 model as SD40. Prime mover is the same for both, I think, but SD40-2 is longer - more raked out.
One way to tell a regular SD40 and a SD40-2 from the outside is a glass window on the door for the engine coolant and a lip on the end of the cab connecting the long hood
Hi Tommy - I agree that the darker yellow was a better looking color compared to the brighter yellow which was often called "Zito yellow" for the name of the, then, C&NW railroad president. Thanks for watching! Mike
Dash2's also have the HT-C trucks
Ex-CGW SD-40s! Nice homage...
Thank you, Robert, for watching. I have a soft spot for the CGW and really all railroads. Mike
Mike: I read your reply about my link to the photo of the Shipley sign not working. Check your computer settings as I just tried it and it worked for me.
I know it pained you to have CNW run over R.I. tracks.
Great job! Nice overall weathering.
Wyatt
Howdy Wyatt - Once this COVID-19 is under control, we need to have an operating session so that you can spot some new cars in the Minnesota Transfer Yard :-) Anyway, I hope you're doing well and do take care! Mike
I've lived in Mason City, Iowa but now after being in Texas since early 2001 I want to move back. I'm originally from Minnesota though.
What do you do when you are sheltered in place? You search the internet for info on Shipley, IA, of course. So far I have found this photo of the RI track sign for Shipley. If I find some more interesting links, I'll post them up.
Hi Bill - The link to the photo of the Shipley sign did not come through. Mike
@@rimodeler7963 No big deal. It was an old (early 60's?) B&W photo with two railroad buildings in the background and a railroad trackside (station?) sign that said "Shipley." I'm sure can probably find it through a Google search like I did. I believe it is in the Iowa state photo archives.
Wow! This video is fantastic!!! Great Job!!!
Where did you get those John Deere tractors on for your flatcar load?
I need a few like that for the Marshline!!
Greetings Andy - I acquired the John Deere 4020 tractors several years ago and I think they are offered by ERTL Toy Company. I appreciate your comments and thanks for watching. Mike
@@rimodeler7963 Thanks Mike!
Five stars. Great operation
Hi Bruce - Thank you for your nice comments and I appreciate you taking the time to watch the video. Mike
Wonderful train...
Thank you very much! Mike
Great video!
Thanks for watching! Mike
how did you get the gyralight to pulsate? id like to get mine to do that
Hi Nathan - The DCC decoder is a Tsunami2 from Soundtraxx and you can find instructions in their technical manuals for how to set up the gyralight. Thank you for watching. Mike
What Brand of track are you using? On this layout?
I used Micro-Engineering code 83 on the main and code 70 on the non-main tracks. For the helixes and staging yards (hidden areas) I primarily used Atlas code 100. All main line switches are Walthers and non-main switches are Micro-Engineering. Thank you for watching! Mike
Really nice, I've subbed
Thank you for subscribing to my channel. I appreciate you watching and commenting! Mike
RImodeler79 no worries, please sub me back
Superb!!!
Thanks very much for your comment and for watching. Mike
Oops, I forgot to post the link: 128.255.22.135/cdm/ref/collection/railroadiana/id/1991
Nice - subbed 👍
Thank you for watching, commenting and subscribing ........ I appreciate it. Mike
That’s a big layout... is it a club layout or a personal layout. Very nice looking layout really enjoyed watching the train ..
Hi Jim - This is my personal home layout (life long dream that became reality in retirement). I appreciate you watching and thanks much for your comment. Mike
Fantastic👏👏👏
Greetings Luiz - I appreciate your comment and thank you for watching! Mike
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