Some notes and thoughts.

[Anonymous]

Hello all. I was just collecting some thoughts on my way home from college this evening and I came up with some stuff I needed to get put down. I figured I might as well share them.

To put them into context. There is a closed down factory here in town that I am thinking about aquireing. It is fairly inexpensive compared to other properties here in town. Its primary draw for me is that once I put in a second floor, It would give me about 35 X 75 feet of open space for which I can construct a model railroad.

Given that criterea, I have been considering a freelance depiction of the CB&Q from Miniapolis to Milwaukee. (I know I am all gung-ho GN But the Q fowarded alot of GN and NP traffic from Minapolios-St.Paul to Chicago) So with this in mind I came up with a simple sequence of trains for this supposed layout. I am also putting notes as to what in my collection will cover the scedule and what I might need to fini***hese consists.

Trains listed in order of sequence.

#1 Morning Zephyr.
Eastbound covered by Athearn ATSF Streamlined Passenger Consist. (With PPW powered Varney F7-As
Westbound covered by Athearn Amtrak Streamlined Passenger Consist.(With MRC Amtrak F7 ABAs)

#2 Chicago-Portland Intermodal.
Eastbound 3 Walthers Dash 8-40Bs Two BNSF 1 LMX. And mix of Walthers and Athearn Piggyback and Double Stack cars correct for BNSF era.
Westbound. 3Walthers Dash 8-40Bs Two BNSF 1 LMX. (Different numbers than listed above. Need to be aquired) and Mix of Waltehrs and Athearn Piggyback and double Stack cars. A-line may suppliment.

#3 Chicago-Miniapolis Perishbles.
Eastbound. "King Crab Special" 3 Athearn SD45s for BN. With Several Mechanical Reefers.
Westbound. "Hambuger Helper" 3 Spectrum SD45s for BN. With Several Mechanical Reefers.

#4 Empire Builder
Eastbound. "Balboa" Brass Consist. (Need to find remaining cars. Currently Two domes and a Baggage) (No Power Assigned as of yet.)
Westbound. Upgraded Con-Cor Superliner consist. (Walthers or Spectrum F40PHs [Yet to be aquired])

#5. North Coast Merchandise
Eastbound. Hot Shot freight of various cars powered by Three EMD Lease SD40-2s (BN Caboose)
Westbound. Hot Shot Freight of various cars powered by MRL SD45 &SD40-2 and UP SD40-2

#6 Local
Eastbound. Varous cars switched out. Powered by Bachman UP 2-6-2
Westbound Varous cars switched out Powered by custom painted UP 2-6-2

#7 North Coast Limited.
No Equipment aquired as of yet. Looking into Brass Car sides.

#8 West Coast Merchandise
Eastbound. Hot shot Freight of farious cars powered by Athearn. MP Cannary GP-50 & GP38-2 and UP GP-50
Westbound. Hot Shot Freight of Varous cars powered by Athearn BNSF GP38-2 ATSF GP38-2 and EMD Lease GP38-2.

#9. Through Freight.
Eastbound General freight powered by Two Athearn CNW SD40-2s Doing Varous set picups and set outs for locals to work.
Westbound General Freight powered by two Athearn GATX Lease SD40-2s

#10 Twin Cities Zephyr.
Eastbound. Amtrak Amfleet consist with Bachmann Full Length Dome. Powered by Walthers or Spectrum F40PHs
Westbound Spectrum UP Heavyweight Consist with Bachmann Overland 4-8-4.

#11. Chicago-Miniapolis Perishibles.
Eastbound Minapolis Bound "Tropicanna Juice Train" Powered by GSB BN SD40-2 and Bachmann BN and CSX SD40-2
Westbound East coast bound "Apple Train" Unassigned Power. Leaning Toward ABBA CB&Q Proto 1000F-3s

#12. Mixed Freight.
Eastbound. Varous Freight cars passing through. Powered by Bachmann GP40, Life-Like GP38-2, and Repowered Tyco GP20. ATSF
Westbpimd Varopis Freogjt cars passing through, Powered by Walthers GP9Ms

#13 Western Star.
Eastbound. Restored Tenshodo Brass Shortie Consist. Powered by Bachman Life-like ABA Fs in BN (9700 series)
Westbound Unassigned Leaning on Rivorossi Cars and CB&Q Passenger F-3s or Intermaounan Big SKy BLue Fs

#14 Inside Gateway Mercandise
Eastbound Chicago-LA Hot Shot Freight routed Via CB&Q-GN-WP and ATSF. Powered By Proto-2000 BN GP18s and Proto-2000 BN GP30
Westbound. Chicago-LA Hot Shot Freight Routed Via CB&Q-GN-WP and ATSF (Intended to be powered by a corrosponding set of Proto 2000 GP-9s and GP 30 Painted BN)

#15 Through Freight.
Eastbound. Varous Freight cars Powered by Custom Painted GN GP-35 and GP30 (Big Sky Blue)
Westbound. Varous Freight Cars Powered by two Proto-2000 UP GP-9s

#16 Mainstreeter.
No Equipment Aquired as of Yet, Looking into Brass Car sides.

#17. Portland Merchandise.
Eastbound, Hot Shot Freight from Chicago-Portland Powered by Athearn SP SD45 U30C and FM Trainmaster
Westbound Hotshot Freight from Chicago-Portland Powered by trio of athearn SP Dash 9-44CWs

#18 Drag freight.
Eastbound Varous freight cars in low priority frieght powered by Custom Painted GN Athearn 2-8-2
Westbound Varous Freight cars in Low Prority freight powered by custom painted GN 4-8-2

#19 Afternoon Zephyr
Eastbound, Athearn Santa Fe Heavyweight Passenger consist. Powered by Mantua 4-6-2
Westbound, OK Streamliners Consist. (Needs Coaches) Planning on Proto-2000 or BLI CB&Q E-7s

#20. Through Freight.
Eastbound. Varous freight cars powered by a UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boy.
Wesbound Varous freight cars powered by a UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boy.

#21 Through Freight.
Eastbound. Varous Freight Cars Powered by a UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boy
Wesbound Varous Freight Cars Powered by a UP 4-8-4-4 Big Boy.

#22 Midwest Auto Train.
Eastbound. Walthers Scale Lenth auto Train consist. Powred by Athearn P40s
Westbound Waltehrs Scale Lenght Auto Train Consist Powered by Athearn P40s

#23 Through Freight.
Eastbound Varous Freight Cars Powered by Bachamann UP GP40 U33B and LL GP38-2
Wesbound Varous Freightt cars powered by Bachman F7AA and Dummy F7A In UP.

#24 Through Freight.
Eastbound. Varous Freight Cars Powered by Proto-2000 BNSF SD60M and Oakway SD60
Wesbound Varouns Freight cars powered by Athearn ABA F-7s in BN.

Various Extra Freights thrown in at whim during and after sequence.

Again this is just a tentative sequence for a layout that I have been thinking about a lot. I just thought I would get it down someplace for reference and take comments on it. Thank you all for your time.

[Anonymous]

wow that sounds really awesome. i can tell you have really put a lotta thought into this =D well keep us updated about this b/c it sounds like a dream railroad to me... except mine woudl be SP

[krump]

This must be way more than a hobby for you Big Sky. I think that's great, and if / when you can achieve this goal, it'll be wonderful. Are you considering museum or tourist attraction status ( a money maker, cover costs, or a career ?) for this project, or would it be primarily personal interest...? The only other though I had, was that it is worthwhile for you to check with local building / business regulations to ensure that the building is properly zoned for your purposes - that shouldn't be a problem, more of a detail concern ...
all the best with this.

cheers

[lupo]

You set your goals up high James!
best of luck in achieving this! [:)]
keep us informed !

[Big_Boy_4005]

Well James, that's a pretty wild lot of trains you have planned there. I think it would be fun to see a Big Boy chugging along the Mississippi. I just hope you have about 10 people to help you build and run a club sized layout like that.

As for Krumps theory of turning it into a business, I wouldn't count on it. Take it from someone who knows about such things first hand, TURNING YOUR HOBBY INTO YOUR BUSINESS CAN TAKE THE FUN RIGHT OUT IN A HURRY!!!!!

Turning dreams into reality takes hard work, and lots of money. Best of luck on this. By the way, MINNEAPOLIS. If your trains are going to go there, it helps to spell it right.[swg]

[AntonioFP45]

Student,

Compliments to you! Very well thought out.

Your post serves as a very good reference chart for modelers that would like to run trains "prototype style". Basically they could take your post and make minor changes to locomotive and trains consists to fit their own railroads.

Will definetly work for me!

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all your kind responses, there are several I would like to respond to at once, So here goes.

QUOTE: Originally posted by krump

This must be way more than a hobby for you Big Sky.

You have that right. [8D] I freely admit that it is an all consuming obsession generating addiction that my parents feel I should seek treatment for. But then again, there is the old standby. "Ye who dies with the most trains wins" [swg]

QUOTE: I think that's great, and if / when you can achieve this goal, it'll be wonderful. Are you considering museum or tourist attraction status ( a money maker, cover costs, or a career ?) for this project, or would it be primarily personal interest...?

This project is purely for personal interest powered by my own grand ambitions to be the owner and builder of the largest model railroad in the world. Perhaps once things are up and running and things are completed to a state of presentation. (Since we all no a model railroad is never finished.) I may consider opening it up for tours. I think it would be a cool Idea to take like a family group. Have one of my regular operators be a conuductor. and everyone else fills in on the rest of the crew and the visiters get to participate in running the model trains under the "conductor's" supervision. But right now This is just for my own interest. Maybe my plans are so big is because of the fact that since I got into the model railroad hobby, All my model railroads have been in the 4X6 foot catagory which at this time my ambitions find woefully inadaquate. (Although I am planning to incorporate my current presently dismantled 4X6 railroad into one of the towns to serve as the right of way to an interchanging road as its track layout is aptly suited to such an endeavor.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Touche, James. Where I come from it's MINNESOTA, but it's your world, so Minisoda sounds like a nice place too. They have lots of trains there!!!

I'm guessing that you are in your 20's, because you kind of sound like me when I was that age. My parents thought I was crazy too. These days I wonder myself.

[dave9999]

Wow James,

Now that's ambition!!!! Good luck. Sounds like you have more "modeling drive" than I do. I'm
35 and I think I'll stick with my room size layouts.(bedroom size, not factory size[:D]) Dave

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

Touche, James. Where I come from it's MINNESOTA, but it's your world, so Minisoda sounds like a nice place too. They have lots of trains there!!!

I'm guessing that you are in your 20's, because you kind of sound like me when I was that age. My parents thought I was crazy too. These days I wonder myself.

Its all in good fun of course. [:D]

You are correct about me being in my 20s. I will be 22 on the 18th of this month.

QUOTE: Originally posted by dave9999

Wow James,

Now that's ambition!!!! Good luck. Sounds like you have more "modeling drive" than I do. I'm
35 and I think I'll stick with my room size layouts.(bedroom size, not factory size[:D]) Dave

As far as the modeling drive is concerned, I need a layout large eneugh to hold all my stuff. [8D]

Catch you all later.

James

[krump]

[^] sounds like things are off to a great start. Chase that dream, and all the best.

visiting my in-laws this week... we are reflooring their 15 x 15 foot livingroom. with everything out of the room, totally empty room and the sub-floor now down, I told them that this was the perfect place for a train layout ... [:o)][:D]
although they permitted me to stay the night [^], they were not in favour of my lofty idea to redesign the livingroom [V][V][V][:(][:(] - I think I'm expected to leave in the morning. (and we were having such a good visit too.)
cheers,
Krump

[Anonymous]

Don't feel bad Krump. Your Inlaws are just simply non-beleavers. It is not your fault they are not open minded eneugh to grasp the grandness of your proposal. Pour your self a drink and toast yours and mine model railroads.

James

[krump]

re visit: they make the worst coffee ever, so now I insist on making it when we visit. I can toast the rr with a coke though, so that's what I'm doing James. I wonder if they'll notice the railroad tracks I drew in the corner...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by krump
I wonder if they'll notice the railroad tracks I drew in the corner...

[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]Exellent. I will have to start doing that. [(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]

[Anonymous]

you should really do it in N scale, huge mainlines... *drool* and sprawling yards... *drool* 200+ car trains... *drip, Drip...Drip...*

[Anonymous]

Good ideas but I need to correct one thing. Maybe you didn't say what you meant to say. The Q did not go throught Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Road (now CP) went from Minneapolis to Chicago by way of Milwaukee. The CNW (now UP) also went from Minneapolis to Chicago by way of Milwaukee. The Q went from Minneapolis to Chicago along the Mississippi River by way of LaCrosse, East Dubuque, Savanna (where it leavse the river) and Rochelle. Of course if this is free-lance, then maybe you could have the Q go through Milwaukee.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cnwrwyman

Good ideas but I need to correct one thing. Maybe you didn't say what you meant to say. The Q did not go throught Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Road (now CP) went from Minneapolis to Chicago by way of Milwaukee. The CNW (now UP) also went from Minneapolis to Chicago by way of Milwaukee. The Q went from Minneapolis to Chicago along the Mississippi River by way of LaCrosse, East Dubuque, Savanna (where it leavse the river) and Rochelle. Of course if this is free-lance, then maybe you could have the Q go through Milwaukee.

Good Point. But when it comes down to it, Its a proto-freelance layout set in that reagion, set roughly between the two points stated. Prototype Hyper-Accuracy is not the goal of this layout, but more of an artistic expression of the subject involved.

[Wdlgln005]

Perhaps Ebay or amazon has a copy of the BN in Nscale. It was a project layout set in the mid-80's. Most of the scenery invilved the CBQ line along the Mississippi from St Paul to Savannah. It had some great tips on the structures found along the route. It was done by a group of modelers from Madison. A good search of MR back issues should also bring you to this layout.

[FThunder11]

SO did ya buy it???