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Calling All Chicago And NorthWestern Fans!

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  • Member since
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  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
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Posted by dknelson on Monday, January 31, 2011 9:30 PM

Well, I don't know if it will revive that very old thread ... but thanks for posting those great photos!

Dave Nelson

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Posted by matt56 on Monday, January 31, 2011 5:47 PM

This seems like a dead thread but I thought I'd put in my 2 cents. 

I moved around as a kid so I never had an extended chance at rail fanning, and when I was around trains they usually 100+ unit ore trains in Michigan's UP.  My family moved to central Wisconsin 11 years ago but it was only in recent years that I discovered the CNW used to be all around.  I live in Marathon City and it was a stop along the branch line from Marshfield to Eland. 

Seeing as the railroad was abandoned in the early 1980s there was very little to suggest that railroad had once passed through the middle of town.....all the rails and ties were pulled up and the bridges spanning small creeks were also removed.  I guess it was found after some years that the rails were in such a bad a state that a lot of the line would need to be replaced, but CNW just didnt have the money......it was determined the removal of the line would not have any effects on the small towns it passed through and they then abandoned the line.  There is still a grade one side of town that still has ballast and occasional piles of old ties, but it is overgrown and almost not noticeable.  It wasn't until I took a canoe trip down the local river that I discovered one of the last remaining structures from the line.......

If the tracks were to continue off the right of the picture, it would go into my town, but those tracks are long gone.  The tracks going off to the left of the picture are still in place and they go into the bigger city of Wausau, and these are the only tracks still in place from the branch line.  Most of the traffic (from what I've researched) was through freight, including trains that exceeded 200 cars in length!  Now the tracks are only used for industrial switching within Wausau's city limits  because the tracks west of the city are removed and the tracks to the east of the city are removed too.

The CNW was always one of my favorite roads, but now it has to be my favorite.  Researching this abandoned line taught me so much and I found alot of history on the CNW that I didnt realize even existed.  It brought to my attention the different kinds of power that were used on this line too, from Alco switchers to H-16-44s to GP7s and GP-30s.  I also realized the CNW was an important part of Wisconsin at the beginning of the century.  I look at any small town on mapquest and then notice what looks like an abandoned railroad.  I then go on the CNW history website and sure enough I find a picture of a depot in that small town.   Its just all so interesting to me....

 

Just a couple older pics of the railroad in town.

A train pulls up to the depot around the turn of the century

 

These 2 shots of a GP-7 appear to be around 1960-1970 as there is a bit over overgrowth seen

Modeling the C&NW in northcentral Wisconsin, late summer 1976

  • Member since
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  • From: Arizona. Born And Raised In Chicago ILL.
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Posted by ac4400fan on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 12:04 PM

Dan. Do you have a link to that Loco? I may have some ideas for you

Carl.

GO> Chicago NorthWestern.BNSF& Illinios Central, AC4400 ALLTHE WAY! DREAM IT! PLAN IT! BUILD IT! Smile, Wink & Grin
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  • From: MP 175.1 CN Neenah Sub
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Posted by CNW 6000 on Tuesday, May 8, 2007 10:10 PM
Thanks.  So does anyone know or have any suggestions for the -9W 8730?  This one was supposed to be the 450 Millionth Ton of PRB coal moved.

Dan

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  • From: Arizona. Born And Raised In Chicago ILL.
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Posted by ac4400fan on Sunday, May 6, 2007 10:32 PM

 CNW 6000 wrote:
Which one do you like better?  I like both -9W's and am considering selling the -8.

# 2250 Turnout great. Theres alot to work with there

Carl.

GO> Chicago NorthWestern.BNSF& Illinios Central, AC4400 ALLTHE WAY! DREAM IT! PLAN IT! BUILD IT! Smile, Wink & Grin
  • Member since
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  • From: MP 175.1 CN Neenah Sub
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Posted by CNW 6000 on Sunday, May 6, 2007 1:24 PM
Which one do you like better?  I like both -9W's and am considering selling the -8.

Dan

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  • From: Arizona. Born And Raised In Chicago ILL.
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Posted by ac4400fan on Sunday, May 6, 2007 12:14 PM
 CNW 6000 wrote:

Morning fellas!

Thought you might like to see this, this, and this. What do you think?

Isnt She A Sight! Great Work !Thanks for Posting That.Bow [bow]

Cant Wait to see more of those.

Carl.

GO> Chicago NorthWestern.BNSF& Illinios Central, AC4400 ALLTHE WAY! DREAM IT! PLAN IT! BUILD IT! Smile, Wink & Grin
  • Member since
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  • From: MP 175.1 CN Neenah Sub
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Posted by CNW 6000 on Sunday, May 6, 2007 9:01 AM

Morning fellas!

Thought you might like to see this, this, and this. What do you think?

Dan

  • Member since
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  • From: Arizona. Born And Raised In Chicago ILL.
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Posted by ac4400fan on Monday, January 22, 2007 11:53 AM

Hi guys , Been awhile. but thought id give this thred a bump. I was detailing my C&NW AC4400. Did some painting to the rails act ill post a picture of it when its complete.

Carl..

GO> Chicago NorthWestern.BNSF& Illinios Central, AC4400 ALLTHE WAY! DREAM IT! PLAN IT! BUILD IT! Smile, Wink & Grin
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 12, 2006 11:20 AM

Yeah there are a lot of BB CNW AC4400s- they are somewhat hard to find. I think my LHS may have a few, tho.

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  • From: Arizona. Born And Raised In Chicago ILL.
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Posted by ac4400fan on Sunday, November 12, 2006 2:21 AM

I seen alot of ac4400;s C&NW locos on ebay today but theres no RTR Not that i care ,i like to build them but ,i see there rare

Carl..

GO> Chicago NorthWestern.BNSF& Illinios Central, AC4400 ALLTHE WAY! DREAM IT! PLAN IT! BUILD IT! Smile, Wink & Grin
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 3, 2006 12:12 PM

Yeah, I model CGW (for now, anyway).

 

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  • From: Arizona. Born And Raised In Chicago ILL.
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Posted by ac4400fan on Friday, November 3, 2006 10:12 AM

Ive Thought about it ,I will on my next layout ,I also model EJ&E not alot of those around

Carl..

GO> Chicago NorthWestern.BNSF& Illinios Central, AC4400 ALLTHE WAY! DREAM IT! PLAN IT! BUILD IT! Smile, Wink & Grin
  • Member since
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  • From: Peoria IL
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Posted by cspmo on Friday, November 3, 2006 9:10 AM
Does anyone else model railroads that CNW bought like CGW (I know Dingoix does this one), MStL, L&M, CSPMO,FDDS,and /or DM&CI.
Brian
  • Member since
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  • From: Tyler, TX
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Posted by daschilling on Sunday, October 22, 2006 2:15 PM

Re:  When you finish someone will come out with them.

Of course, it's always that way.  The other side of it is if I don't build them, and wait for someone to produce them, it will never happen.  I believe there's a sub-set of Murphy's Law that is in force.  It's sort of like rain and washing your car... if you wash your car, it's sure to rain on it; but if you want it to rain, washing your car will never make it rain...   Go figure...  Question [?]

       daschilling ------ CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN -------- in S Gauge!

  

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  • From: Peoria IL
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Posted by cspmo on Saturday, October 21, 2006 10:29 PM
 daschilling wrote:

I'm a C&NWHS member also, and therefore subscribe.  The Northwestern Lines alone is worth the "contributing member" annual fee, and you get a C&NWHS calender!  Wink [;)]

I also model (albeit loosely) the CNW; the "Northwest Line," from Clybourn Jnt. to Seeger Jnt.  One project I'm working on is scratchbuilding or kitbashing a small fleet of bi-levels.  I am in S-gauge, and there's no models of bilevel coaches or cab-cars available. Sad [:(]

When your finish someone will come out with them.

Brian
  • Member since
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  • From: Tyler, TX
  • 32 posts
Posted by daschilling on Saturday, October 21, 2006 6:05 PM

I'm a C&NWHS member also, and therefore subscribe.  The Northwestern Lines alone is worth the "contributing member" annual fee, and you get a C&NWHS calender!  Wink [;)]

I also model (albeit loosely) the CNW; the "Northwest Line," from Clybourn Jnt. to Seeger Jnt.  One project I'm working on is scratchbuilding or kitbashing a small fleet of bi-levels.  I am in S-gauge, and there's no models of bilevel coaches or cab-cars available. Sad [:(]

       daschilling ------ CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN -------- in S Gauge!

  

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Posted by wjstix on Friday, October 13, 2006 1:43 PM
I subscribe (I'm a member of the CNWHS). I just picked up some back issues at the last Twin City Model RR Club fleamarket, one on the Omaha / CNW in Hudson WI and the two issues on Duluth / Superior. Also bought Vol. 2 "Chicago and NorthWestern in Color: 1954-1958" so it's been a green and yellow couple of weeks since then !!
Stix
  • Member since
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  • From: CN Flint Sub(Eastern Michigan)
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Posted by NS2591 on Friday, October 13, 2006 1:32 PM
I do. I finally got around to detailing my Proto CNW GP38-2
Jay Norfolk Southern Forever!!
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 13, 2006 1:24 PM

Does anyone here subscrbe to The Northwestern Lines (www.cnwhs.com)

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  • From: Arizona. Born And Raised In Chicago ILL.
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Posted by ac4400fan on Friday, October 13, 2006 2:29 AM

WoW! Those are really nice pictures,Im glad to see some of those ac4400's still around great job!

Dingoix  i Think you making a wise choice indeed

Carl...

GO> Chicago NorthWestern.BNSF& Illinios Central, AC4400 ALLTHE WAY! DREAM IT! PLAN IT! BUILD IT! Smile, Wink & Grin
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, October 12, 2006 10:07 AM

Glad to see this topic going again. Lately all I've been able to think about is CNW. I'm considering modeling CNW in either '78, '81, or '84. (I currently model CGW in '68) Of course, there'd still be plenty of stuff in FULL CGW PAINT (it's MY layout)

Then I could run CNW-GP38-2s-GP35s-LOTS of GP7s/GP9s

the list goes on......

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, October 12, 2006 7:46 AM
Its been a while since I've posted on this thread also. Anyway, I finally got around to posting the pictures of the C&NW units I saw out ion Wyoming back in 2003. 1 C41-8 and 4 AC4400's including cab shots in 8831. http://cnw8835.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?id=CNW
  • Member since
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  • From: Arizona. Born And Raised In Chicago ILL.
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Posted by ac4400fan on Thursday, October 12, 2006 1:46 AM

Hi Guys Been Awhile since theres been a post.Thought id give it a bump.

Carl.

GO> Chicago NorthWestern.BNSF& Illinios Central, AC4400 ALLTHE WAY! DREAM IT! PLAN IT! BUILD IT! Smile, Wink & Grin
  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: CN Flint Sub(Eastern Michigan)
  • 507 posts
Posted by NS2591 on Monday, August 28, 2006 11:29 AM
I used to be CNWfan5525. I still am a CNW Fan. My layout is NS, but is going to have quite a few CNW engines on it. Unpatched of course.
Jay Norfolk Southern Forever!!
  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: Arizona. Born And Raised In Chicago ILL.
  • 743 posts
Posted by ac4400fan on Monday, August 28, 2006 11:25 AM

Hi Guys ,Been awhile since ive seen a post ,or myself posting one haha,this is my new AC-4400

#8833 waiting on the siding for a on comming illinios central northbound.

 

 

Carl...

GO> Chicago NorthWestern.BNSF& Illinios Central, AC4400 ALLTHE WAY! DREAM IT! PLAN IT! BUILD IT! Smile, Wink & Grin
  • Member since
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  • From: New Brighton, Minnesota
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Posted by wctransfer on Monday, July 17, 2006 8:50 AM
The BLI SD40-2 looks GREAT! Besides the front number boards (up to high) and the logo!
And I know CNW didnt have the -9s long, but its still CNW, and one of the coolest schemes on a Dash 9.

Alec
Check out my pics! [url="http://wctransfer.rrpicturearchives.net/"] http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=8714
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  • From: Arizona. Born And Raised In Chicago ILL.
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Posted by ac4400fan on Thursday, July 13, 2006 1:52 PM

I Here Ya! ,Me and the family went to San Deigo last week and i seen alot of trains on the way ,most were UP,And BNSF but,There were alot of C&NW cars in those loads I was releved to still see them..

Carl..

GO> Chicago NorthWestern.BNSF& Illinios Central, AC4400 ALLTHE WAY! DREAM IT! PLAN IT! BUILD IT! Smile, Wink & Grin
  • Member since
    April 2003
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 13, 2006 1:28 PM

The reminds me of 3 ex-CNW hoppers I saw a few weeks ago. They had been painted gray with the UP logo, but where the CNW logo is, the paint was falling off and you could clearly see the employee owned logo. You cannot surpress the awesome!

 

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 13, 2006 1:00 PM

Gone but not forgotten.....

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