Bachmann H16-44

[Puddington]

Pudd,

Nice paint on those - I always thought the FMs looked great in that scheme.

Mark

Me too... Bachmann got the paint right on these...I changing the road numbers (I have three) added the extended exhaust stacks, brake wheel and correct horn but other than weathering, they were ready to rock... and they just "scream" CPR in British Columbia's interior.....

[christoph]

I just got a second N&W unit,  which I renumbered as 145.  The mechanisms are not so smooth, but working well.  Pulse power will make the motors growl, like other Bachmann motors, too.  I normally switch to filtered DC and they "sound smoother".

[FrankCampagna]

They were assigned to various lines in Iowa on the Milwaukee. There's a pic (actually two, but of the same plow train) of a unit in the MS Mason City book, as proof they showed up there at least once. I'll repeat this yet again for the record, I don't plan on faithfully modeling Mason City, but will base my layout on Mason City - it will not feature the real or even a falsely named Mason City on it, anywhere, period. I want to allow myself wiggle room and those who find that discomforting can build their own layout. 

Call it "River City". You can get away with that  ;D ;D ;D.

Frank

[sirenwerks]

I was thinking maybe Duhbewk.  ;D 

Seriously, since its fictional I'm still debating whether to situate it in Iowa or Minnesota; which is a considerable factor in choosing a name. Minnesota would mean I could have Great Northern or Soo in the mix, so it has a slight edge at the moment.

[FrankCampagna]

Robert Meredith Wilson, who wrote the original play "The Music Man",  was a native of Mason City. The setting of "River City" was believed to be Mason City.

Frank

[wcfn100]

Seriously, since its fictional...

Is there still time for a quote of the year entry?


Unless you model the Twin Cities proper, you won't have RI or the CGW along with the GN or SOO.  And I'm not really sure where the GN and SOO cohabitate outside of the Duluth/Superior area.

You may want to widen your layout scope to a state rather than a city.

Jason

[sirenwerks]

Jason,

Key word there would be "or". "...GN or Soo..." Get it? I'm thinking out loud, playing with ideas. Is it so out-of-this-world to think the GN may have had access south of Minneapolis via its partner CB&Q? Oh wait, it did. So, a little finagling and "Tada!", I can have what I want.

Glad I didn't mention how I was thinking early on about modeling a post-1968 CGW Red Wing to Milwaukee line, rewriting merger history to rid Weedy of the menace of green and yellow, but having it and M&StL merged and still running passenger trains. Oh, and I was going to run GP35s and 40s in red too and have GN pool power to Milwaukee. Would you have had a conniption?

[Sokramiketes]

Jason,

Key word there would be "or". "...GN or Soo..." Get it? I'm thinking out loud, playing with ideas. Is it so out-of-this-world to think the GN may have had access south of Minneapolis via its partner CB&Q? Oh wait, it did. So, a little finagling and "Tada!", I can have what I want.

Glad I didn't mention how I was thinking early on about modeling a post-1968 CGW Red Wing to Milwaukee line, rewriting merger history to rid Weedy of the menace of green and yellow, but having it and M&StL merged and still running passenger trains. Oh, and I was going to run GP35s and 40s in red too and have GN pool power to Milwaukee. Would you have had a conniption?

It's your railroad and you can do what you want.  But, what exactly is the appeal of the CGW to you if you don't like it's prototypes?  Just like the logo?

I wish the CGW home layout Dad and I built was more prototypical... I've just lost interest and find the prototype scenes we're modeling with Modutrak much more appealing.   

Then again, everyone should progress through their own experiences, and I wouldn't trade my Lionel days for the world even if someone told me they weren't prototypical back then...

[wcfn100]

Jason

[sirenwerks]

It's your railroad and you can do what you want.  But, what exactly is the appeal of the CGW to you if you don't like it's prototypes?  Just like the logo?

Wall of words ensues...

Likes - Radiating route running through tranquil grange scenery with rhythmic town-scenery-town-scenery-etc. tempo, so there's internal interchange and plenty of switching action possibilities; concentration on four-axle power (one reason I liked the WP) and matched covered wagon sets + almost all locos available in N; humble, modelable facilities that feature a curious mix of architecture styles from quintessential wood depot to 'modern' brick to steel out-building masquerading as a station, along with smallish engine houses and fueling racks; plenty of interaction with other roads, such as trackage rights with Rock Island into Mason City; and an industry base presents as well mixed in terms of size and traffic generation.

Dislikes - Not much real documentation I can find from the east coast, especially photos of lineside industries; somewhat limited variety in freight rolling stock fleet; passenger service gone by 60s; modeling the prairie land distance effectively; too few mainline trains; and merged with the C&NW. I like the C&NW, I just would have preferred they remained separate. I certainly understand the economics of merger but the loss of variety sucks when it comes to modeling.

Oh, and freaking yea I like the graphic quality of the paint schemes and the logo rocks (though it makes me want to start smoking again for some reason  ;D). I'm just getting into its history and learning the deeper details of operations now, so I'm learning more that I like as time goes on. And I like the possibilities the Chicago to Dubuque route seems to present, aside from so few mainline trains running on it. The problem with committing to a real part of the road is that I don't know enough to make that commitment now and, let's face it, there's not a lot of photos of one of the most important aspects of a railroad to me - the industries. I suppose I could wing what they look like, but I'd rather try the research first to see if I don't have to fudge it; and research takes time.

Considering I will (hopefully) be starting a new job soon and will likely be moving for that new job, and have two more part-time semesters online, time's not something I will be having a lot for at least a year. Once settled in a new community, I'll probably start looking for a house after a year or so and will have to move once more. I thought making something up featuring that which springs from the head of Zeus and pleases me would allow me to get some modeling underway after I have the first move done and enjoy the hobby before my sight goes. I'll work on that prototypical layout when I've a basement or outbuilding to put it in.

There's the complete line of logic. Let me know if there are any other questions I can answer to make you feel more comfortable with my modeling the CGW. I suppose I could model the Milwaukee if it really, really bothers you.