Who here model Chicago & Northwestern? Why? What scale? Do you live along the old line? If not do you have any Engines or rolling stock? I will start: I live in Sterling, IL. along the old C&NW route. Road the passenger line, way back when. So I model C&NW, to a degree. HO is my scale (circa 1960's) because I have a large investment from purchases in the 80's. My new layout will include Dixon to Fulton. So much there including the steel mill that had steam until 1983. Both eras all on one layout. Now I just need to get started.
Bruce- I am not in C&NW territory. However, they do hold some interest for me. I friend grew up in M&St.L territory. (Minnesota.) He got me into a bit of looking at that RR. I do like seeing the older diesels in 400 schemes. Depots, CGW, etc. Past member C&NWHS. I'd certainly enjoy seeing photos of modeling efforts in any scale. Boxcab E50
I am not a C&NW modeler per se' But I was born and raised in River Forest Illinois. Famous as the first "end of the line" for the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad and it's Pioneer. So it's in the blood as it were. I don't have anything yet, but I do plan to have at least 1, if not 2 SD40-2s with nose bells running about my railroad.
I am not a C&NW modeler exactly, but I have become very interested in Milwaukee Road and Milwaukee Road, of course, did a lot of granger road business in the Midwest. CNW's logo is, I think, one of the best looking ones from that part of the country, so I have been buying some rolling stock. The recent PS-4000CD covered hopper from BLMA did justice to the roadname, I think. There is a good small CNW layout in the current issue of N Scale.
I model the CNW here in Australia.At first it was the colour scheme that attracted me but as I digged deeper I also liked the history to it.It also appealed to me because they run the same side as us here in Oz and I could rum Aussie stuff as well if I wanted. I am now building a double deck 5.2m x 4.5m layout of what is my take on the West Chicago-Proviso to Rockford area. I have never seen the place but hope to in the near future.Have a lot of pics and use google street view
I'll always have a soft spot for the C&NW as that is where I started my railroad career...I don't model it though. -George Widener CN Fond du Lac, WI
Hi Guys, I model the C&NW here in the UK!!! In H0 scale. I've been into the yellow and green since shortly after i got into US model railroading about 20 years ago. I became interested as i have "catholic" tastes and wanted to run Alcos and other older diesels along with GEs and EMDs - prefferably all from the same railroad and not too wide spread timeline wise. Initially, C&NW simply fit the bill but as i learned more, i completely fell in love with it. I have since started following other US railroads (C&O, KCS, NY,NH&H, BAR!!) but the L/H road is still my favourite. I follow two periods - mid-late 70's and early 90's, this covers my desires to run most loco types! As to location, somewhere north of Chicago will have to suffice as i only have what you guys would call a shelf layout. Cheers, John E.
I don't model the CNW exclusively.. I'll say though.. by the time I'm done on this earth.. Over half of my roster will be CNW
I wouldn't say I "model" the CNW, but I do have a fair amount of HO equipment: locomotives, freight cars, and passenger cars. It's one of the three lines I have concentrated my rosters. I live near the Harvard subdivision, when I worked downtown I commuted to Northwestern Station (regardless of what they call it), and first got interested in the railroad in the very early 80s. After moving into the area, I saw the yellow and green bi-level commuter trains, including the E or F units at the head end. So one of my consists includes the commuter cab car and two coach cars with an E6. Maybe not prototypical, but it works for me on my layout!
Old thread, but since this is a quieter area of the forum I suppose it doesn't matter. I model the C&NW almost exclusively. My grandfather worked in the switch tower in Grand Junction IA until it was abandoned, and my father worked for for them in Marshalltown and later Mankato, MN until he passed away a few years after UP. I still live along the Alco line in Minnesota, and have an N scale layout based on a generic granger town along the line. Aside from the family connection, I like the variety C&NW had. I'm working on my collection of Alco's, right now only a C425 and RS11. I have parts for an RS3 slug, and one of the RS3's repowered with RS11 parts. Still looking for another RS3 to leave alone, and another C425 to mate with the other and slug. Not sure what to do about the RS32, but between now and later maybe someone will start making them.
Well, since my last post, wherein I'd noted an interest in the M&St.L, I have managed to do some horse trading or sold other "surplus" items. I now have a few cars and three of their multi-colored (N scale) ALCo RS1 diesels. My next step is to pick up the C&NWHS depot book and cobble together a depot. Am looking at one of the board and batten style siding structures.
I had a C&NW passenger train once. All that is left of it is an RPO Baggage. I think I repainted everything else. I grew up in a small town in central Wisconsin along the route of the Flambeau 400. Down at the station with my two older brothers.
C&NW I grew up in Winona MN and most of the family worked at the "Shops" there. C&NW, Millwaukee Road, and the Burlington Route all went through Winona. I live in LaCrescent MN now and have all three roads as part of my modist "N" scale layout. I like to collect and enjoy my trains.
I grew up in Hudson WI. I remember trios of C&NW SD40-2s slamming the hill at the St.Croix River. The occasional "Falcon Service" in the mix. That was back when the Dash 2s were pretty new. Great memories...
