where was this thread last year when i was in shawano for a family reunion. LOL
jeff
MilwaukeeRoad wrote:Right in your area METRO! How big is the Walthers shop?And did you ever check out Muskego Yard by the Brewer stadium? I hear they still have some MILW bandits sitting around down there..
Right in your area METRO! How big is the Walthers shop?
And did you ever check out Muskego Yard by the Brewer stadium? I hear they still have some MILW bandits sitting around down there..
The Walthers shop isn't a browsing place basically there's a bank of computers, a few things out in the showroom and a pickup desk. One uses the computers to get a list of things they want, give it to the guy at the pickup desk and they go get it in their MASSIVE warehouse. Their selection is absolutely incredible because that's the distrubution warehouse for Walthers operations, if it's listed on their website as in stock, that means it's sitting in the warehouse in Milwaukee ready to be picked up immediately.
As for the Muskego yard, I know a few guys that work there and yes there are still some bandits on property but they are getting rare. They also come out on CP trains a lot too, there's a GP40 and last summer there was an MP15, although I'm not sure if that one has been repainted yet.
CP keeps their power interesting and there are plenty of places around Milwaukee to watch their trains, especially The Village in Wauwatosa, Watertown Plank Road in Elm Grove and the park on Barker north of Bluemound in Brookfield.
Their power is quite interesting, especially in the summer. Along with the standard SD40-2s, AC4400Ws and GEvos there are SOO SD60s and SD60Ms (which are rarer) CP Red Barns, the above mentioned bandit GP40, SOO hockey-stick GP38-2s and from time to time there are some CN GP40Ws, former Wisconsin Central engines and IC Death Stars as well as other visiting power.
Another interesting operation is UP's switch job in Harborview just across the river from the Third Ward and the summerfest grounds. The engine is usually a UP GP38-2 but the most interesting thing is how the job transverses some of the worst trackage I've ever seen. The stuff down there makes Penn Central trackage look good.
South of the Muskego yard is the main line to Chicago with the Amtrak Hiawathas and some great old swing bridges over the branches of the Milwaukee River. A great place to watch this from is the riverwalk in the Third Ward, where you can see lake freighter, barge, and train traffic all in one place, there are also great places to eat with views of the river and the tracks there too.
As I said before, I haven't gotten up to the northwest side to see the WSORR operations, but that should change as I've decied to finally shell out for a car again.
Cheers!
~METRO
METRO wrote: MilwaukeeRoad wrote: Right in your area METRO! How big is the Walthers shop?And did you ever check out Muskego Yard by the Brewer stadium? I hear they still have some MILW bandits sitting around down there..The Walthers shop isn't a browsing place basically there's a bank of computers, a few things out in the showroom and a pickup desk. One uses the computers to get a list of things they want, give it to the guy at the pickup desk and they go get it in their MASSIVE warehouse. Their selection is absolutely incredible because that's the distrubution warehouse for Walthers operations, if it's listed on their website as in stock, that means it's sitting in the warehouse in Milwaukee ready to be picked up immediately. As for the Muskego yard, I know a few guys that work there and yes there are still some bandits on property but they are getting rare. They also come out on CP trains a lot too, there's a GP40 and last summer there was an MP15, although I'm not sure if that one has been repainted yet. CP keeps their power interesting and there are plenty of places around Milwaukee to watch their trains, especially The Village in Wauwatosa, Watertown Plank Road in Elm Grove and the park on Barker north of Bluemound in Brookfield. Their power is quite interesting, especially in the summer. Along with the standard SD40-2s, AC4400Ws and GEvos there are SOO SD60s and SD60Ms (which are rarer) CP Red Barns, the above mentioned bandit GP40, SOO hockey-stick GP38-2s and from time to time there are some CN GP40Ws, former Wisconsin Central engines and IC Death Stars as well as other visiting power. Another interesting operation is UP's switch job in Harborview just across the river from the Third Ward and the summerfest grounds. The engine is usually a UP GP38-2 but the most interesting thing is how the job transverses some of the worst trackage I've ever seen. The stuff down there makes Penn Central trackage look good. South of the Muskego yard is the main line to Chicago with the Amtrak Hiawathas and some great old swing bridges over the branches of the Milwaukee River. A great place to watch this from is the riverwalk in the Third Ward, where you can see lake freighter, barge, and train traffic all in one place, there are also great places to eat with views of the river and the tracks there too. As I said before, I haven't gotten up to the northwest side to see the WSORR operations, but that should change as I've decied to finally shell out for a car again. Cheers!~METRO
MilwaukeeRoad wrote: Right in your area METRO! How big is the Walthers shop?And did you ever check out Muskego Yard by the Brewer stadium? I hear they still have some MILW bandits sitting around down there..
Hey Milwaukee Road, If you go there, get me a pic of a SD60M and some WC stuff. Hard to get WC Locos around here. As fro the SD60Ms.......I always wanted to see a SOO one.
My Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/JR7582 My Flickr Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wcfan/
I wouldn't be able to go there for awhile.
Isn't that a terrible part of town also?
Could you PLEASE get me some MILW pictures of some bandits ETC, ETC?
And maybe some SOO and WC for WCfan.
I thought about checking out the Walthers place when I was in Milw. a few months back. I'm not use to driving around down there so I was wayyyyy to scared to try to get there. Those people in Milw. drive like maniacs on a mess of spagetti highways!
i go to the toy train depot in the northland mall in appleton , good selection & ok prices
The Toy Train Depot is not far from where I work. Have gotten some good videos there at decent prices. Also get good deals on consignment sales of N scale.
3railguy wrote: i go to the toy train depot in the northland mall in appleton , good selection & ok pricesThe Toy Train Depot is not far from where I work. Have gotten some good videos there at decent prices. Also get good deals on consignment sales of N scale.
I've been there too. Pretty good slections. But To me there magazine prices are kinda high.
WCfan wrote: I've been there too. Pretty good slections. But To me there magazine prices are kinda high.
Don't the magazines have the publishers retail prices printed on them??
graphitehemi wrote: WCfan wrote: I've been there too. Pretty good slections. But To me there magazine prices are kinda high.Don't the magazines have the publishers retail prices printed on them??
Never thought of that one.
MilwaukeeRoad wrote:I wouldn't be able to go there for awhile.Isn't that a terrible part of town also?Could you PLEASE get me some MILW pictures of some bandits ETC, ETC? And maybe some SOO and WC for WCfan.
Walthers is in a rough area, but all of the trainwatching spots I suggested are in great areas of town that are very safe from crime and are very safe and comfortable to watch trains in. Even Harborview, an industrial district is very safe as it's home to a police station as well as their horse stables.
I've got a whole roll of film I took of a SOO SD60M up close and that's around here somewhere, I've got to fire up the scanner sometime.
As for the bandit, well that's the money shot everyone wants, I've only seen her a few times and haven't gotten a shot off yet, but the summer is still young.
Anyways here's a few pictures of railroading in the Milwaukee area for you. The first two are very bad shots and just prove that I did indeed see these pieces, the second two of UP 496 are very much more the quality I like to get in my photography.
These are two Operation Livesaver Illinois Central Death Stars that were seen in Wauwatosa WI this past spring.
Here's a CP double-door boxcar with friction berings, a full height ladder and in Multi-Mark paint, shot in downtown Milwaukee this past winter.
Here's UP 496 switiching a chemical plant in Harborview a few days before Memorial Day.
Another shot of UP 496 doing moves, check out the catwalk on top of the second tank car.
Nice pictures!
Like I said that bandit I am looking out for lol.
What are you going to college for?
WCfan wrote:I live in Wausau, West side. So what you guys want to talk about here. There aren't amny clubs around here. But we do got some pretty good Hobby shops, Popes Hobby Land is good on prices and a good slection. But Hobby Connection has a Huge slection, but higher prices.
I live in Wausau, West side. So what you guys want to talk about here.
There aren't amny clubs around here. But we do got some pretty good Hobby shops, Popes Hobby Land is good on prices and a good slection. But Hobby Connection has a Huge slection, but higher prices.
WCfan,
You were only about 20 feet from one of the best model railroads in the Wausau area. I was just there over this last weekend. The RS&W Model Railroad is located in the basement of the Hobby Connection store. Just walk in the front door, head straight ahead to the back of the first room (not to the right where the train stuff is) and you'll see a sign on the door that says "RS&W Model Railroad Club - Open 10-5", or something like that. Go on a weekend, and go during those hours. My father will likely be there if you get there early on Saturday. He usually opens up the club for the shop owner on Saturday mornings.
My wife's family has a cottage in the Northwoods on Lake Nikomis. There's a local that comes through every day that I've pretty much only seen from below.
WC, I might be there in about 2 weeks if I can work it out.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
BigZee wrote: WCfan wrote: I live in Wausau, West side. So what you guys want to talk about here. There aren't amny clubs around here. But we do got some pretty good Hobby shops, Popes Hobby Land is good on prices and a good slection. But Hobby Connection has a Huge slection, but higher prices. WCfan,You were only about 20 feet from one of the best model railroads in the Wausau area. I was just there over this last weekend. The RS&W Model Railroad is located in the basement of the Hobby Connection store. Just walk in the front door, head straight ahead to the back of the first room (not to the right where the train stuff is) and you'll see a sign on the door that says "RS&W Model Railroad Club - Open 10-5", or something like that. Go on a weekend, and go during those hours. My father will likely be there if you get there early on Saturday. He usually opens up the club for the shop owner on Saturday mornings.
WCfan wrote: I live in Wausau, West side. So what you guys want to talk about here. There aren't amny clubs around here. But we do got some pretty good Hobby shops, Popes Hobby Land is good on prices and a good slection. But Hobby Connection has a Huge slection, but higher prices.
I haven't been there in along time. I've heard that there was a huge layout there. Does it model the Stevens point to Wassau line? So I haven't been to up to date. I'll have to check that out some time. Thanks.
Looks like I am in the wrong part of the country to model Wisconsin.LOL
Living in Texas and modeling the Soo, Milw, and Cnw in the 80's is different. Everyone down here models the borg or the bean sniffer.
Being born in GREEN BAY!!!! I model what I remember.. Lived in WI, and ILL. rail faning during the 80's was great. GBW alco's,,,,, Green street engine facility at Bensenville... Diamonds at Duplainville... Were all within reach since I lived the suburbs of Chi-Town,,,,, and the railfanning around there,,,,,,, was great.
I am planning on modeling the central Wisconsin area in the Mid 80's on a two level N scale garage sized layout. I have purchased about all the books and vids/dvd's on the area and the railroads,,,,,, So we will see how well I can interpret my memories and facts from books into a layout.
Adios Wyatt
I live on the northside of Milwaukee, about a mile or two from Walthers, and shop there regularly. The surrounding area is not so great, but Walthers itself is very secure, fenced in and quiet. I have never experienced anything bad there.
I would recommend it to anyone visiting Milwaukee -- the availability of merchandise is great, the staff is friendly and they give customers a punch card. For every $25 spent they give you a punch -- 20 punches is worth $50.
I model HO freelance southeastern Wisconsin, and grew up here, playing along the Glendale/North Milwaukee yards and the beerline.
Does anyone model Wisconsin Southern? They own the No. Milwaukee yards now, and have a shop on Villard Ave., in the old Lakeside Steel bldg.
There are a few model railroaders here in western Wisconsin. I live in Trempealeau just NW of La Crosse, overlooking the banks of the mighty Mississippi and the BNSF. I spend a fair amount of time on the deck watching river traffic and railfanning the BNSF, with the beverage of my choice. Oh, did I mention there is a 16' x 33' HO layout in the basement.
RRRerun wrote: There are a few model railroaders here in western Wisconsin. I live in Trempealeau just NW of La Crosse, overlooking the banks of the mighty Mississippi and the BNSF. I spend a fair amount of time on the deck watching river traffic and railfanning the BNSF, with the beverage of my choice. Oh, did I mention there is a 16' x 33' HO layout in the basement.
My Wife use to manage the gas station in Trempealeau. She is now the district manager.
WCfan wrote:I haven't been there in along time. I've heard that there was a huge layout there. Does it model the Stevens point to Wassau line? So I haven't been to up to date. I'll have to check that out some time. Thanks.
Sorry for the delay. I was in Fond du Lac when I wrote my first response, and am now back home in Indy. The RS&W Model Railroad models the Wisconsin Central Valley Subdivision from Wisconsin Rapids to Wausau. Wisconsin Rapids, Stevens Point, and Wausau are all there. They've taken a bit of artistic license and have added on parts that aren't on the Valley Sub, but all around it is a nice layout. If you're not a member of the club you probably won't be able to run trains on the layout, but membership doesn't cost much. I believe my father said it was $50 a year. Can't beat that!
SpaceMouse wrote: My wife's family has a cottage in the Northwoods on Lake Nikomis. There's a local that comes through every day that I've pretty much only seen from below.WC, I might be there in about 2 weeks if I can work it out.
My Mom and my dad wrote their name on that bridge (underneath and on a girder) on their honeymoon to Canada in the 80's. My dad used to fish up on Nokomis in the 60's and 70's, and remembers vintage and modern SOO power crossing it while in a boat with his dad. He took us up there in the 90's, and I have photos of a WC ballast train going through there. It was a impressive sight for a young railfan!
Unfortunetly, the campground there went out of business, and was being turned into condos as of a few years ago. Too bad, as it was a really good shot of the bridge...
Phil
Just heard from wctransfer and B. Erdmannn that WC SD45 7495 is heading up to the Twin Ports. It is parcked up in the Stevens point Round House. wctransfer said it's most likely to be painted in NP colors. If you haven't heard already.
Any body going up to Stevens Point Tuesday for some railfanning?
Another Wisconsin modeler. Obviously from Green Bay, based on my handle. Enjoy canoeing a lot! Model the WC in HO.
Another out of state WI modeler here. Im just a skip across the river though, over in the twin cities. I model the WC and the SOO Line, but I dabble in the CNW also. Havent got a layout yet, but It will be here once I get some room.
You guys want the bandits, well, heres some stuff as recent as two days ago. The bandits live in the Twin Cities here.
http://img180.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1020818xp5.jpg
http://img180.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1030174xb6.jpg
The last shot has 3 ex MILW units in the consist, the third back is still in bandit paint also.
WCFan, that book your talking about is authored by a good friend of mine. Frank W Jordan, good guy, glad you like his book. He also made a SOO Line,and a CNW one also. Mike Guss sound familiar? He is also a great guy.
Alec
wctransfer wrote: Another out of state WI modeler here. Im just a skip across the river though, over in the twin cities. I model the WC and the SOO Line, but I dabble in the CNW also. Havent got a layout yet, but It will be here once I get some room. You guys want the bandits, well, heres some stuff as recent as two days ago. The bandits live in the Twin Cities here. http://img180.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1020818xp5.jpghttp://img180.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1030174xb6.jpgThe last shot has 3 ex MILW units in the consist, the third back is still in bandit paint also.WCFan, that book your talking about is authored by a good friend of mine. Frank W Jordan, good guy, glad you like his book. He also made a SOO Line,and a CNW one also. Mike Guss sound familiar? He is also a great guy.Alec
Yeah, I love that book. Great Refrence. I wish they would make a 1996-2001 one. Finsih it off. Also I have been looking for the SOO one. I think My LBS (Local Book store) can find one off line. Wow, that's pretty amzing that you know him. I have heard of Mike Guss, but I can't rember where.
BTW: I've always amired your pictures. Great shots.