Chicago in the 1990's (Now with a track plan)

[LIRR]

The steel mill does look a bit out of proportion.....

[mcjaco]

Flew over Gibson Yard a couple of weeks ago.  I didn't know the roundhouse was still there.  So that was a nice surprise.

[soo]

Great job!!! Now there are two IHB's on the Railwire!!!

Maybe we can take over the world from the ATSF and the Borg!!!

  I love the time frame,, nice mix of power to choose from.  I remember yarding a coal train in the GT yard at Blue Island,,the track actually sunk beneath the water from the weight of the car.  Anyways,, keep up the great work!

I love the IHB slugs,, SWEET !!!!!!!!!!

Adios, Wyatt

[Rossford Yard]

Ok, now I see why both of us are lobbying MT for those IHB SW1500's. Hopefully our orders are enough to tilt the meter for MT.  Probably half the presumed 300 minimum between us!

I think the steel mills and NS crossing are very identifiable.  I see you did Blue Island backward view from how I did it, but very nice variety for N scale viewers.  Your Michigan Ave Yard is more prototypical than mine.  Looks like you even got the bridge piers right. I couldn't resist just one big yard at Gibson with that full iconic roundhouse, even if I use it more for Michigan Ave type switching.

Haven't posted any updates lately, but did manage to push a 6 track staging yard into the next room simulating a destination for all the northbound trains out of Gibson to the area modeled here.

A few questions - how did you do the slug?  Did you paint the IHB SW9/NW2 (and which are they) yourself? Any other IHB locos, like the SD20?  Trying to figure out how to kit bash that shell out of SD35 and SD26 locos right now.  I have some SD39 to replicate 3601 and 02.  And, are those Inland Steel hoppers stock models?  Seem to have missed out on those.

Look forward to at least a room(s) size, if not a track plan, but hopefully a track plan, too.

[RSWController]

Ok, now I see why both of us are lobbying MT for those IHB SW1500's. Hopefully our orders are enough to tilt the meter for MT.  Probably half the presumed 300 minimum between us!

I think the steel mills and NS crossing are very identifiable.  I see you did Blue Island backward view from how I did it, but very nice variety for N scale viewers.  Your Michigan Ave Yard is more prototypical than mine.  Looks like you even got the bridge piers right. I couldn't resist just one big yard at Gibson with that full iconic roundhouse, even if I use it more for Michigan Ave type switching.

Haven't posted any updates lately, but did manage to push a 6 track staging yard into the next room simulating a destination for all the northbound trains out of Gibson to the area modeled here.

A few questions - how did you do the slug?  Did you paint the IHB SW9/NW2 (and which are they) yourself? Any other IHB locos, like the SD20?  Trying to figure out how to kit bash that shell out of SD35 and SD26 locos right now.  I have some SD39 to replicate 3601 and 02.  And, are those Inland Steel hoppers stock models?  Seem to have missed out on those.

Look forward to at least a room(s) size, if not a track plan, but hopefully a track plan, too.

Thanks for all the comments.  Ill try to get an overall shot this upcoming weekend in between the basketball games.  My time frame of 1995 precludes any of the newer IHB units.  If Atlas (hint hint) releases the GP38-2 in black I might consider moving the time up a bit as I believe IHB aquired those in early 1996.  I think the SD20's didn't come til 1997. I painted 3 LL SW9/12's myself and purchased one Kato NW2 custom painted on Ebay.  I was preparing to do a couple SW1500's like tehachapifan did but I'm going to wait now and see what comes out of Microtrains.  I did the PB-slug using a donor LL switcher.  Its not powered obviously. It actually came together pretty easy. I ended up basically using only the frame/walkways and everything below that.  I used an Atlas fuel tank and scratchbuilt the rest of the top.  I took out the gears so it's free rolling.  I think it turned out pretty nice.  I'd like to do a couple of the other ones eventually.  I enjoy seeing all the IHB love on here.

[Rossford Yard]

RSW,

I got an NW2 on Ebay, too, from a Steve Koening, who does great work.  Liked it so well, I just got three custom painted from him - GP38 3802 (01 has the centennial logos, hard to replicate) included, so naturally, Atlas will do that one now.  Actually, Cory told me that the fans were wrong, so they were afraid they wouldn't sell in IHB.  Damn those nitpickers!

Well, your era does seem to allow for a wide variety of leased units. I actually bought four tunnel motors, which were leased a bit earlier and retired by my 2005 time frame after the GP40's came back from Mexico, but I don't mind stretching the era a bit.  Also have some Conrail SD's and a few other things. Not sure all the cabeese you can get in IHB really ran the same era, but again, I like cabeese on my trains.

Look forward to more info and updates.

And, I need to screw up my courage and try my hand at those slugs!

[RSWController]

Oh and the Inland Steel hoppers are stock Trainworx 100-ton 4-bays.  They were released a few years ago (2009?) in two schemes, and they are sweet.  They really fit the bill and scream Chicagoland. I've accumulated quite a few.  And I got lucky as a couple years ago MBK had them on clearance for $9.99.  I went a little crazy and bought enough to fill my needs as I figured these would be tough to replicate.  Hard to find now.  Every so often they appear online. I checked a few months ago and Trainworx website still listed some as "in stock", so you might have some luck.

[Rossford Yard]

Do you know how much coal got delivered by rail?  Looking at the aerial photos on Google and Bing, it seems as if they have a ship dock right there for delivery, but I also see some rail cars with coal in the yard.  I am thinking it is a supplemental thing, which is fine by me, hoping smaller cuts of cars work there.  But, you are right, Inland does scream Chicago!

[RSWController]

From what I've researched and seen with the Inland Steel plant and associated hoppers is that it's not so much coal but metallurgical coke inbound. I've seen photos of cars mixed in with CSX coke trains. Also I've seen some loaded with coke that come from downstate Illinois from the Illinois Central. I plan on representing those loads.

[Rossford Yard]

I figured that might be the case.  Will do likewise.  Again, how many car lots would go in a typical delivery?  Full train? Less?

[RSWController]

Prototypically I'm not sure but for my operation I'm planning on running a 10-12 car train into Lakefront yard and then "as needed" switch them into the Inland plant.  But that's all subject to change.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Just saw this today, and it looked pretty familiar!
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=476433

[Baronjutter]

I really like your highway with the little offramp.

[wm3798]

That's a winner.  Love the industriousness of it...  Reminds me a bit of East Baltimore...




Lee

[nscalemike]

Blue Island Junction.

I drive by here a few times a year to visit family.  Very nice looking layout!  Post more pics and trackplan!

Mike