Phase III is announced!

Phase III of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific layout has been announced.

As stated previously, the Rock was blessed by the creative talents of the Peconic Railroad.  Within (literally) five minutes, the phase III concept was born.

As CRI&P officials gave Peconic management a tour of the facilities in Davenport and in particular the Chicago & Northwestern branchline/yard lead is where discussions began.  The original plan was for the C&NW trackage to continue out behind the Mississippi River as far as it could go before ending at the first obstruction (riser).  Larry suggested to curve the track around the riser and continue on further if need be.  Both management teams then had an epiphany.  It was pondered, why couldn't the C&NW tracks continue on as a sublevel below the main Rock scenery on the first level.  Discussions continued and it was decided that the C&NW could feasibly follow along the wall behind the Mississippi River, curve underneath the CRI&P mainline into the first scene.  The scene would host a small wooden grain elevator with no more than one or two spots.  The line would then curve back under the CRI&P mainline and reappear east of the Bureau station creating the second scene.  This scene would also host a small wooden grain elevator.  The line would continue on underneath the ovalix which will act as staging.  A train with 8 to 12 cars would depart staging, work the two grain elevators, work the newly designed industry flats behind the yard ladder at Davenport and swap out any interchange traffic.  This would create another job during operations and provide some operational interest.

As always, it is a pleasure to have the management team from the Peconic Railroad on site.  Their creative influence is incredible.  Officials from the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific have learned to never discount any ideas provided by the Peconic no matter how bizarre they might seem.  The Peconic's ideas have been implemented on almost all occasions.

Thanks again to Larry Keller and the Peconic Shops on their continued dedication to the Rock Island Railroad.