For Illinois Central Fans.( Celebrating over 1000 posts )

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole

As near as I can recall, the doodlebug that ran on the Missouri Pacific was........

I appreciate you answering my request about the doodlebug. Thanks!

BTW, since this an IC thread, I also have a few models of the IC. My first ride in a sleeping car was on the IC's Hawkeye from Sioux City, IA to Chicago (I got on in Fort Dodge). This was in the late 60's.

[icmr]

I finally got my Athearn BB ICG GP38 running and it is great.



ICMR

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[icmr]

[#welcome] to the forum ldunn85866. I for one am fully aware of the IC historical society. The address is www.icrrhistorical.org



ICMR

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[icmr]

Thats some great info cacole. Thanks for posting it.



ICMR

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[Anonymous]

In case you didn't know ther is an IC Historical Society. You can get the address from MR.

[cacole]

As near as I can recall, the doodlebug that ran on the Missouri Pacific was built by the Saint Louis Car Shops and was unique to the MOP. Sometimes it would be pulling a heavyweight passenger car, but usually ran alone. I remember that it was gasoline powered, and had a baggage/RPO section between the cab and passenger compartment. The front and cab were painted red, with tiger stripes on the nose, and the rest of it was black. It was taken out of service in the mid-1950's.

Our house was less than 100 feet across a back yard from the double-track Illinois Central line that ran between DuQuoin, Illinois, and Saint Louis, Missouri., and the MOP had a small depot and crossed the IC tracks on the other side of the city cemetery from our house, so both lines were clearly visible.

Both the IC and MOP had roundhouse facilities in Pinckneyville during the glory days of steam. Sometimes the IC City of New Orleans, pulled by diesels, would be detoured through Pinckneyville because of flooding or a derailment. That was always a major attraction, because all of the other IC passenger trains were steam.

Throughout World War II, troop trains would pass through on an almost daily basis heading toward Saint Louis. In those days, troop trains had priority, and we could always tell when one was coming through because all of the freight trains would be pulled off onto sidings.

[icmr]

That was very nice of you ac4400fan. That had to be a fun experience.


Thanks for repling guys.



ICMR

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[ac4400fan]

Years ago my dad rode the ill E-8 from freeport to chicago everyday as a kid ,so last xmas i bought him a set of p2k Ill E-8's with cars ,He really loves them and brings back alot of memorys ill post some pics of then later

Carl..

[icmr]

Thanks waltersrails.



ICMR

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[waltersrails]

hi icmr like your page

[icmr]

Have any of you recently saw any IC SD70's?



ICMR

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[icmr]

trainfreek92, Im not sure if he worked for them. Maybe someone else on here knows.



ICMR

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[icmr]

I didnt know how many IC fans were out there but now i have an idea. Im glad that so many are repling.

Besides Ebay, does anyone know where I could find IC timetables and if there are any from the 1990's floating around?




ICMR

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[Anonymous]

i will have more illinos central loco's on my layout-(i model BNSF) ic was purchased by CN and there are still some loco's painted IC. CN loans power to BNSF sometimes - you do the math on this one. my story is -CN "borrowed" me a IC loco. i had no idea there were so many IC fans.

[trainfreek92]

I do not model the railroad but they are a cool railroad. is IC the railroad Casey Jones worked for when he crashed the cannonball??? Tim

[icmr]

Nice picture 4884bigboy. Im glad to see this many people who, in a way, like IC.

Thanks for the posts guys.



ICMR

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[Anonymous]

I saw my first IC unit last month while railfanning CN. Never noticed what classy units they were.


IC 6015 heads onto one of 3 wyes in Durand, MI.

[mlehman]

I model the D&RGW standard gauge and Colorado narrowgauge, but I've always thought a layout based on railroading in the Bloomington, Indiana area would be cool. There the IC worked quarrys and other business off its long branch line to Indianapolis and interchanged with the Monon.

Having lived in Champaign County for 30 years, I suppose the IC should be more on my radar. I was disappointed that the second main was pulled up. A friend works MoW and collects Lionel, but I'm not certain he is specifically an IC fan. I'll have to ask him. I always liked the older, mostly black paint IC scheme with the green diamond. As icrr1964 noted, a few of these lingered long after you'd have thought they were gone.

I used to live in and near Rantoul and its east-west branch line through there would make an ideal small shelf layout.

BTW, Bob B., I'm the assistant superintendent of the newly revived local NMRA division, renamed the Illinois Terminal Division. We're a small group so far, but if you're interested, drop me a line.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL

[sebamat]

Me too I am collecting IC trains (souvenir of my US stay), that I can then run on my temporary tracks...
I was able to put togheter quite a roster, unluckily, from early 4-4-0 to SD40, I have a terrible epoque mix-up.
At the moment I am running early diesels (GP7+GP9) because they are the only ones that fit my turntable, but my hope is to put togheter enough steam epoque stuff (and a larger turntable) so to be able to run a few steam epoque trains in proper style.
With a 4-4-0, 2x 2-6-0, 1x 2-8-0 and 2 x4-8-2 I have the engines, now I need the cars. Specially for the passenger ones, that is not so easy. (the Concor cars are too late, ran only behind diesel E8s).

sebastiano

[icmr]

I emailed Athearn about my trucks and they told me to send the trucks to them and they will either repair them or send me new ones.

Nice pictures ac4400fan.

Thanks for all of the replies.



ICMR

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[cacole]

icmr,

I have two of those Athearn Genesis Illinois Central SD70 models, and they run exceptionally smooth. I have DCC decoders in both, but one of them continually derails because of the warped truck problem for which these models are now infamous. The Illinois Central models are not unique, either -- I have two Santa Fe Warbonnet models and one of them also has a warped truck that causes derailments.

Athearn's web site does not list any parts for their Genesis products, so I sent them an e-mail asking about replacement trucks. Their response was that the part number for a Genesis SD70 powered truck is G63833, and that they cost $15 each plus shipping. I have ordered two of them and asked for one with black sideframe for Illinois Central and one in silver for the Santa Fe. I haven't received them yet, so I don't know for sure if they even include the sideframe.

I read somewhere that the problem with the SD70 trucks originates with warped pickup wipers on the sides, and that they can be disassembled and straightened out. If you don't feel comfortable disassembling the truck, you can order a replacement from Athearn. I just hope the replacement doesn't have a warped pickup wiper.

[ac4400fan]

Great Thred icmr I model IC also with my others i have a few locos of IC This ones for you icmr ,my new sd 70



Lets talk Illinios Central!
Carl..

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole


I wish someone would make a model of the Missouri Pacific doodlebug that used to run between Mt. Vernon and Chester. It passed through Pinckneyville twice daily. The last time I ever saw it, it was sitting on a siding in Dupo, Illinois, awaiting the scrapper's torch.

On the trains.com forum I asked about information about a doodlebug the C&EI ran. I am interested in what you can remeber about the MP one, such as dates and what kind of car it was (although I doubt that it is same one on the C&EI but your answer may give more information to go on). Here is the thread on the C&EI doodlebug:

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=49879

Thanks, Wayne

[icmr]

Ok. Thanks ICRR1964.



ICMR

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[ICRR1964]

icmr,

Let me look in my photos bro, I got to email some of these old pics I got to you!

[icmr]

Very cool ICRR1964. Thats too bad that you didnt have your camera.



ICMR

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[ICRR1964]

icmr,
IC is my favorite RR to model, I need to email some of the old family IC stuff I have, I had 2 generations that worked for the company that goes clear back to 1880. I have 4 GP9's, 4 GP7's, 4 GP35's, 2 SW's, 4 GP38's, 3 SD40-2 and a few steam loco's. All are HO and are part of a layout I have been working on for to long, its a freelance setup with some sections that are from real IC photo's. Your not going to beleive this, but about 2 years ago I was over in the town where I grew up checking on the farm that I own and noticed an IC engine that was tooling down the tracks and noticed something! The engine was about a half mile away from my farm and I noticed it was really loud, it only had about 6 or 7 flat cars behind it. I had to jump in my truck and follow it on a side road for a few miles before I realised what it was! It was an old GP9, it was smoking terrible, but was an original GP9 in the IC black and white trim paint with the good old green herald! It was pretty beat up and lloked like it had seen better days! Wish I had my camera, it would have made a good picture! I like CB&Q and TP&W.

[icmr]

Thanks for the replies. The last time I saw IC upclose was about a year ago. I did catch a glimps of a couple engines about two months ago though.

Im modeling IC in HO right now. I have an Athearn IC SD70 which needs new trucks. I also have an ICG SD38. I have a few IC freight cars. I plan on getting more though.



ICMR

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[Anonymous]

illinos central is definitly my favorite "fallen flag" railroad. although i model BNSF i still like IC. here's a link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Central

[orsonroy]

I model the IC in both HO and N, all in steam. A good friend is modeling the IC from Freeport to Rockford, in N scale, circa 1937!

So far, my HO roster includes one 2-8-0 and two 4-8-2s, as well as two steel center door cabs, two wood center cabs, one Iowa division wood cab, and one wood outside braced transfer cab (not to mention over 15 freight cars, in plastic and resin). In N, my roster is a bit smaller, consisting of one 2-8-0 and one 4-6-2, plus a scratch/bashed transfer cab. I've got a master for an N scale wood center door caboose about half done now. Eventually, I'll be making a mold out of it and pouring a few for my friend's layout!