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Wisconsin Modelers Post Here!!

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  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: South Eastern, Wisconsin
  • 414 posts
Posted by MilwaukeeRoad on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 12:18 AM

Nice pictures!

Like I said that bandit I am looking out for lol.

What are you going to college for?

Alex Czajkowski
  • Member since
    October 2003
  • From: Milwaukee & Toronto
  • 929 posts
Posted by METRO on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 11:52 PM
 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.

 

Cheers!

~METRO 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 2,354 posts
Posted by WCfan on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 9:12 PM
At one of the book sortes here in town this one guy found a WC Photo acrive for me from 1987-1995. And it only cost 20 bucks, in very good condition. I really like that book. You can see when the BN units started to dissaper and the ATSF units came, then the F45s and FP45 came. Then The AC units came. Then the F45s/FP45 got painted. It's a really good book.
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: New London WI
  • 347 posts
Posted by B.Erdmann on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 8:55 PM
i got an old wc pentrex video on sale for 25.00 kinda high but its soudns better then 40.00. some videos are high their. i was looking to buy the cn mainline across wi dvd  that adds some to it but ya 35.00. then their was a  gbw dvd from the same video company. 35.00. i got my wc gondola & my wc GP38-2 2004 from their. the loco was 70.00 & the car was 8.00. my hopper car i got at fondy hobby, btw if anyone wondered its in the forest mall. got it for 6.50. i really liked the service. the guy at the counter asked if i was looking for anythign other & i asked well see what you can find in wisconsin central so he went on his computer & found a athearn F45, Kato SD 45, Kato SD40-2, Athearn GP38-2. also some discontinued stuff, the gondola, wc acf hopper, wc gondola, wc pipe car & the reefers & box cars. next time im in fond du lac ill stop in & see what he has. he said the local railroads are the favorite mainly wc & wsor not much cn or cp or up.
  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 2,354 posts
Posted by WCfan on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 8:44 PM
 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??

 

Sign - Oops [#oops] Never thought of that one.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Oconto Falls, WI
  • 240 posts
Posted by graphitehemi on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 8:37 PM
 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??

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 2,354 posts
Posted by WCfan on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 8:34 PM
 3railguy wrote:

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.

I've been there too. Pretty good slections. But To me there magazine prices are kinda high.

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Kaukauna WI
  • 2,115 posts
Posted by 3railguy on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 8:13 PM

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.

John Long Give me Magnetraction or give me Death.
  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: South Eastern, Wisconsin
  • 414 posts
Posted by MilwaukeeRoad on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 7:50 PM
Milwaukee is very violent now. Most areas anyway. That's why my family decided to move to Muskego 2 years ago.
Alex Czajkowski
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Oconto Falls, WI
  • 240 posts
Posted by graphitehemi on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 7:49 PM

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!

 

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: South Eastern, Wisconsin
  • 414 posts
Posted by MilwaukeeRoad on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 4:10 PM
Oh and with the WSOR building new rails like no other, is it somewhat possible for them to come to Muskego?
Alex Czajkowski
  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: South Eastern, Wisconsin
  • 414 posts
Posted by MilwaukeeRoad on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 3:48 PM

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.

Alex Czajkowski
  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 2,354 posts
Posted by WCfan on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 3:27 PM
 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 

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.

  • Member since
    October 2003
  • From: Milwaukee & Toronto
  • 929 posts
Posted by METRO on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 2:47 PM
 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 

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: THORNTON,CO.
  • 230 posts
Posted by jpmorrison on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 1:46 PM

where was this thread last year when i was in shawano for a family reunion. LOL

                                                                                 jeff

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • From: Mankato MN
  • 1,358 posts
Posted by secondhandmodeler on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 12:49 PM
Anybody from the other side of the state?  I live in the La Crosse area.  Plenty of trains around here.  I never even cared about that until a few months ago.  I was talking to my neighbor across the street, turns out he's a train master for BNSF.  I think I might have to ask him for a ride sometime!
Corey
  • Member since
    August 2002
  • From: Somewhere here and there
  • 1,012 posts
Posted by Milwhiawatha on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 9:39 AM

Walthers / Terminal Hobby Shop which is now just Walthers / Show room. And your correct Walthers is the one with what use to be the hobby shop. They had to change the saying of Hobby shop to Showroom and shoroom pick up due to LHS. I know many of the guys who work the showroom they are nice and most are knowledgable on trains. The Prices at Walthers are higher because they are distrubitors to other LHS and because usually you can get what you want right away (unless its owned by Horizon Hobbies then you have to go to a LHS). Walthers does have a damaged package section sometimes you can get things for 50% off. One hint if you live in Waukesha tho if you plan on going to Walthers always make sure you make it worth going because its one heck f a trip.

I barely go to any other LHS I do go to Hiawatha Hobbies in Waukesha just because they have a nice selection on Athearn, and you doget discounts if your a NMRA member but prices arent high at all wthout being an NMRA member. Greenfield is great to nice people decent prices also

 

Owner & Operator of Midwest & Northern RR and Midwest Intermodal (freelanced HO)
  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 2,354 posts
Posted by WCfan on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 9:28 AM
 MilwaukeeRoad wrote:
 METRO wrote:

Hey I'm in downtown Milwaukee but modeling South Boston (go figure) but my takes for you on the hobby shops in the Greater Milwaukee Area are as follows:

First, Walthers Terminal Hobby Shop, it's great to be able to check inventory right before you go to buy something, and their sales are really quite nice. (I got a P1K C-Liner there for around 30 bucks once) 

Second, to get good selection on Athearns, try Greenfield News And Hobby by Southridge. Most of their roadnames are local (which gets difficult for a Conrail modeler like me) but their prices are good, generally below Walthers on full price items, and their selection is very nice for a more traditional hobby shop.

Also don't forget the golden hobby shop that is E-bay, odds are if you need it, it'll be on there before long.

 

As for clubs and such, I'm a bit of a lone wolf, as I don't really have too much time to work on my layout thanks to also being a college student and an appartment dweller, but I get along with it well.

I've been meaning to get out more around the area to build on my library of prototype photos. Would you believe I've never even seen a Wisconsin Southern engine? Last time I was up there on that end of town watching trains there were still Green Bay Western gators!

So if anyone knows where a good spot around Milwaukee to watch the WSORR is I'd be thankful, I'm starting to get a bit bored with the same old UP power (although the CP does manage to keep things interesting)

Cheers!

~METRO 

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 store dow there is Huge.(If it's the one I'm thinking of) Large retail store by there factory. Any way my cousin got like 5-7 UP Passenger cars for 100 bucks or somting. I never asked him. But they do have a LARGE slection. I need to go down there somtime again.

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 2,354 posts
Posted by WCfan on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 9:24 AM
 wgnrr wrote:

I live in Oxford, WI, and model a HO Tourist Railroad, that gets it's share of Wisconsin related equipment. Of course, before I started this, I ran all Wisconsin equipment.

My nearest shop would be Galaxy Hobby in Plover, WI. I see that they sold their layout in the window, and they are limiting their HO stock. Too bad...

Other than that, the Madison Hobby Stop is the best one. They know what they are doing down there.

I see there is a new hobby shop in Stevens Point that susposedly sells Walthers cars (I'll have to check on that)

If you guys are interiested, the local Antique store in town has a Walthers H10-44 in C&NW and a Burlington GP30 P2K. The GP is damaged, and is selling for $60 and the H10-44 is a steep $75. Notice that I am the local HO modeler, and they don't sell their HO engines...

Phil

I down to Galaxy Hobby when ever I go to stveens point. Yeah it is to bad that there limiting there stock. It was a pretty good slection. I found a Walthers Soo Line Grain Car I wanted down there, and I also found a SOO ACF grain car that is out of production.

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: South Eastern, Wisconsin
  • 414 posts
Posted by MilwaukeeRoad on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 1:31 AM
 METRO wrote:

Hey I'm in downtown Milwaukee but modeling South Boston (go figure) but my takes for you on the hobby shops in the Greater Milwaukee Area are as follows:

First, Walthers Terminal Hobby Shop, it's great to be able to check inventory right before you go to buy something, and their sales are really quite nice. (I got a P1K C-Liner there for around 30 bucks once) 

Second, to get good selection on Athearns, try Greenfield News And Hobby by Southridge. Most of their roadnames are local (which gets difficult for a Conrail modeler like me) but their prices are good, generally below Walthers on full price items, and their selection is very nice for a more traditional hobby shop.

Also don't forget the golden hobby shop that is E-bay, odds are if you need it, it'll be on there before long.

 

As for clubs and such, I'm a bit of a lone wolf, as I don't really have too much time to work on my layout thanks to also being a college student and an appartment dweller, but I get along with it well.

I've been meaning to get out more around the area to build on my library of prototype photos. Would you believe I've never even seen a Wisconsin Southern engine? Last time I was up there on that end of town watching trains there were still Green Bay Western gators!

So if anyone knows where a good spot around Milwaukee to watch the WSORR is I'd be thankful, I'm starting to get a bit bored with the same old UP power (although the CP does manage to keep things interesting)

Cheers!

~METRO 

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..

Alex Czajkowski
  • Member since
    October 2003
  • From: Milwaukee & Toronto
  • 929 posts
Posted by METRO on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 1:05 AM

Hey I'm in downtown Milwaukee but modeling South Boston (go figure) but my takes for you on the hobby shops in the Greater Milwaukee Area are as follows:

First, Walthers Terminal Hobby Shop, it's great to be able to check inventory right before you go to buy something, and their sales are really quite nice. (I got a P1K C-Liner there for around 30 bucks once) 

Second, to get good selection on Athearns, try Greenfield News And Hobby by Southridge. Most of their roadnames are local (which gets difficult for a Conrail modeler like me) but their prices are good, generally below Walthers on full price items, and their selection is very nice for a more traditional hobby shop.

Also don't forget the golden hobby shop that is E-bay, odds are if you need it, it'll be on there before long.

 

As for clubs and such, I'm a bit of a lone wolf, as I don't really have too much time to work on my layout thanks to also being a college student and an appartment dweller, but I get along with it well.

I've been meaning to get out more around the area to build on my library of prototype photos. Would you believe I've never even seen a Wisconsin Southern engine? Last time I was up there on that end of town watching trains there were still Green Bay Western gators!

So if anyone knows where a good spot around Milwaukee to watch the WSORR is I'd be thankful, I'm starting to get a bit bored with the same old UP power (although the CP does manage to keep things interesting)

Cheers!

~METRO 

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Wisconsin
  • 735 posts
Posted by wgnrr on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 12:28 AM

I live in Oxford, WI, and model a HO Tourist Railroad, that gets it's share of Wisconsin related equipment. Of course, before I started this, I ran all Wisconsin equipment.

My nearest shop would be Galaxy Hobby in Plover, WI. I see that they sold their layout in the window, and they are limiting their HO stock. Too bad...

Other than that, the Madison Hobby Stop is the best one. They know what they are doing down there.

I see there is a new hobby shop in Stevens Point that susposedly sells Walthers cars (I'll have to check on that)

If you guys are interiested, the local Antique store in town has a Walthers H10-44 in C&NW and a Burlington GP30 P2K. The GP is damaged, and is selling for $60 and the H10-44 is a steep $75. Notice that I am the local HO modeler, and they don't sell their HO engines...

Phil

My Photo Albums: http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k32/martin_lumber/ http://tinyurl.com/3yzns6
  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: South Eastern, Wisconsin
  • 414 posts
Posted by MilwaukeeRoad on Monday, June 11, 2007 11:51 PM
Whoa man..I live a block away from little muskego pretty much..now I'm just excited.
Alex Czajkowski
  • Member since
    August 2002
  • From: Somewhere here and there
  • 1,012 posts
Posted by Milwhiawatha on Monday, June 11, 2007 11:40 PM

 MilwaukeeRoad wrote:
I sent you a message on a forum you made Milw. I asked about your layout. Very nice, and close to my house!

Yup I think I remember that message. Close I'm sure speciallyif you live near Little Muskego.. I havent worked on it in the last 3 months but I get out of my fishing moods so I started messing with my MR stuff.

Owner & Operator of Midwest & Northern RR and Midwest Intermodal (freelanced HO)
  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: South Eastern, Wisconsin
  • 414 posts
Posted by MilwaukeeRoad on Monday, June 11, 2007 11:17 PM
When I had a hockey tourney in Fondy. Across from the rink was a giant hobby supercenter..I go inside to find plants. Banged Head [banghead]
Alex Czajkowski
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: New London WI
  • 347 posts
Posted by B.Erdmann on Monday, June 11, 2007 11:15 PM

New london

 

15 mins west of appleton.

working on a HO layout of byron hill in the late 90's.

i go to the toy train depot in the northland mall  in appleton , good selection & ok prices

or i go to fondy hobby in fond du lac great servcie, great selection & great prices.

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Kaukauna WI
  • 2,115 posts
Posted by 3railguy on Monday, June 11, 2007 11:08 PM

 graphitehemi wrote:
Oconto Falls here! Just north of Green Bay. Modeling freelanced town along WC in HO. There are 3 shops in Green Bay that I can go to. 1 is Hobby Town (Limited selection not the best prices). 2 is Hobbytown USA (Mostly older stuff, but great prices). 3 is Engine House Services (Dedicated to model railroading, good deals, great selection).

I make it to Engine House Services every other weekend and sit in on clinics occasionally. A real treasure chest if you're into HO but they do have a good selection of Atlas and Intermountain N scale. My other favorite spot is GB TV Service on Velp Ave which is an all O gauge store.

John Long Give me Magnetraction or give me Death.
  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: South Eastern, Wisconsin
  • 414 posts
Posted by MilwaukeeRoad on Monday, June 11, 2007 11:05 PM
I sent you a message on a forum you made Milw. I asked about your layout. Very nice, and close to my house!
Alex Czajkowski
  • Member since
    August 2002
  • From: Somewhere here and there
  • 1,012 posts
Posted by Milwhiawatha on Monday, June 11, 2007 11:03 PM
Well Of course you know I live in New Berlin WI, Waukesha county. I model in HO freelanced area, the Milwaukee Road, WC, and most other railroads come around due to trackage rights.
Owner & Operator of Midwest & Northern RR and Midwest Intermodal (freelanced HO)
  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 2,354 posts
Posted by WCfan on Monday, June 11, 2007 10:31 PM
 graphitehemi wrote:

 WCfan wrote:
Hey graphitehemi, did you get your SW1200s painted yet? BTW check your PM.

Laugh [(-D]

No....... I still can't find any way to make my spark arrestors. I need them before I paint. Then I just need to figure out the railings.

I did a search on the Walthers Site and came up with this. Hope it helps.

http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?quick=Spark+Arrestors

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