A brief summary of the layout. I model the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad from 1972 to 1978 from Davenport, IA to Chicago, IL. The towns are real, but I have exercised my modeling license greatly to fit my personal desires. Modeled industries are typical for the region. I started construction Memorial Day Weekend 2010. I'm amazed by the progress made since then. I have long aspired to have a layout to operate and finally my dream has come true. The layout continues to be a work in progress. Visible progress will slow as now more detail work will begin including scenery, weathering of equipment, etc.
I owe much gratitude to Marcus Neubacher and Larry Keller for their assistance in converting to N scale from HO and for design and construction. They have been a tremendous asset to making my dream come true.
This Saturday will be my third operating session. Operating Sessions require 4 operators running a total of 19 trains (4 General Freight, 6 Passenger, 6 Locals, 1 Grain Road Local, 1 Coal, 1 Intermodal train). We operate on a 4:1 time clock (15m = 1hr). The session typically takes 4 hours to run plus a 1hr lunch break. With the addition of the N&W Peoria Branch, most likely we will increase to 5 operators.
Welcome to the ROCK!
West Davenport, IA Staging Yard
Quad Cities Rocket, Eastbound Pig Train, XtrFE2, XtrFE
Looking East from West Davenport Yard.
Continental Grain Elevactor and Iowa Ready Mix on the Right
Continental Grain Elevator ~ Davenport, IA
Iowa Ready Mix ~ Davenport, IA
One of the new Rock Island "Boom Time" Blue Grain Hoppers
Iowa Ready Mix ~ Davenport, IA
Looking West back toward West Davenport Yard
Iowa Read Mix ~ Davenport, IA
Continental Grain Co ~ Davenport, IA
Davenport, IA Yard
Carrie Ave Shops to the Left(View from top of Continental Grain Elevator)
A telephoto view of Carrie Ave Shops from the top of the Continental Grain Elevator
E8A and GP40 in the Back Shop for Repair
High/Wide Load on the Eastbound pickup track
E8A #644 and GP40 #367 in for repairs at Carrie Ave Shops
Carrie Ave Shops ~ Davenport Yard
Davenport Yard looking West
New "Boom Time" Blue Bay Window Caboose
Our Yardmaster is OCD lining his cars up in the class tracks with precision
Davenport, IA Station ~ Walthers Clarkesville Depot
East Davenport Industrial Park ~ Davenport, IA
Teamster Truck rules permit trucks to load holding up the local until 11am daily
Davenport Freight House ~ Davenport, IA
Southern Railway Trailer
Davenport Freight House ~ Davenport, IA
Davenport Freight House ~ Davenport, IA
Electrolux ~ Davenport, IA
DPM Models Kit built by Larry Keller
General Electric Co. ~ Davenport, IA
DPM Woods Furniture Kit
Consumers Ice & Fuel Co ~ Davenport, IA
Walthers Golden Flame Co. Kit
Helicopter view of East Davenport Industrial Park ~ Davenport, IA
A view across the Mississippi River east to Illinois
The Mississippi River Bridge Crossing from the Illinois Side
The grade climbing out of the Mississippi River basin
Franklin Farms outside of Rock Island, IL
Named after my "adopted" (wife's) grandparents Eulice & Mavis Franklin
Eulice's family car sitting out the family home
The Franklin Farm home
Looking from the fields back toward the Franklin's house
Up on the bluff looking down across the field toward the house
The Franklin's front porch where many family get togethers take place.
The stories that could be told from this porch.Gallons upons gallons of homemade ice cream made here each summer.
A helicopter view of Franklin Farms and the grade up from the Mississippi River
The curve into Rock Island, IL
The rural road crossing at Rock Island, IL
Blair Line wood grade crossings
Putnam Oil Company ~ Rock Island, IL
Named after the street my in-laws live on
Intermountain Great Northern 40' Box Car at Sunrise Feed Mill, Rock Island, IL
Sunrise Feed Mill ~ Rock Island, IL
The complex track arrangment at Rock Island, IL
It gets operators every time!
Downtown Rock Island, IL
Bar Mills Sidewalks
Downtown Rock Island, IL
Barlow Pharmacy ~ Rock Island, IL
Named after one of my best friends from High School Andy Barlow
Looking down the industrial trackage from the Johnson Milling Co spur
Rock Island, IL
Downtown Rock Island, IL
Main Street ~ Rock Island, IL
Around the curve from Rock Island in West Bureau, IL
Farmers Grain Co. ~ West Bureau, IL
Farmers Grain Co. ~ West Bureau, IL
West Bureau Siding Switch
The Wyzas' Sisters Homes up on the bluff in the background
The Wyzas' Sisters ~ Bureau, IL
Both the Quad Cities Rocket and Peoria Rocket make stops in this town solely for these two residents.
The two hate each other so much that they require different trains to ride to Chicago daily.The special arrangements are made only due to the sisters being relatives of the CEO.
Bureau Station ~ Bureau, IL
Bureau Station ~ Bureau, IL
Looking toward East Bureau ~ End of Siding ~ Entrance to Ovalix
The Ovalix connecting the lower and upper levels
Estimated 3.8% grade
The Wye at East Bureau, IL
Future Peoria, IL
Future Peoria, IL
Central Stone Co ~ Chambersburg, IL ~ N&W Meredosia Branch
Billy J Hucks Machine Shop ~ Stockdale, IL
Named after my uncle Bill Hucks
Illinois Valley Grain Co ~ Stockdale, IL
Empty Grain Truck ~ Illinois Valley Grain Co ~ Stockdale, IL
West Stockdale, IL
View from top of Illinois Valley Grain looking east toward Stockdale
View from ADM Milling Co in Stockdale looking back West
View from the Archer Daniels Midland Elevator looking West
Stockdale, IL
Archer Daniels Midland Elevator ~ Stockdale, IL
ADM Milling Co ~ Stockdale, IL
ADM Milling Co ~ Stockdale, IL
Missouri Pacific Truck passing ADM Milling Co ~ Stockdale, IL
Archer Daniels Midland ~ Stockdale, IL
Hwy 104 into Stockdale, IL
Bader Ag Inc ~ Stockdale, IL
Bader Ag Inc ~ Stockdale, IL
Santa Fe Trailer in front of Bader Ag Inc ~ Stockdale, IL
The Majestic Theater ~ Stockdale, IL
Downtown Stockdale, IL
The Majestic Theater ~ Stockdale, IL
Downtown Stockdale, IL
Looking West into the sun ~ Downtown Stockdale, IL
Helicopter view of Stockdale, IL in the background
Helicopter view of the peninsula
Grain truck unloading at Joliet Grain Co ~ Joliet, IL
Helicopter view of the Peninsula
Chicago Express Trailer at Midwest Paper Stock Co ~ Joliet, IL
Wood Chip Hoppers ~ Midwest Paper Stock Co ~ Joliet, IL
The curve by Midwest Paper Stock Co ~ Joliet, IL
A helicopter view of Joliet, IL
Midwest Paper Stock Co ~ Joliet, IL
Midwest Paper Stock Co ~ Joliet, IL
The wood chip piles at Midwest Paper Stock Co ~ Joliet, IL
Frederickson Truck loading paper rolls at Midwest Paper Stock Co ~ Joliet, IL
Frederickson Trailer loading paper rolls at Midwest Paper Stock Co ~ Joliet, IL
View from top of Kraft Mill ~ Midwest Paper Stock Co ~ Joliet, IL
Hotel District ~ Joliet, IL
View from top of Kraft Mill ~ Midwest Paper Stock Co ~ Joliet, IL
Joliet, IL
Complex industrial trackage at Joliet, IL
Hotel Windsor ~ Joliet, IL
Looking East ~ Joliet Station ~ Joliet, IL
Aerial View of Joliet, IL
Main Street ~ Joliet, IL
Main Street ~ Joliet, IL
Main Street ~ Joliet, IL
American Can Co on Left
American Service Co on Right
American Service Co ~ Joliet, IL
Looking west into the sun ~ Joliet, IL
Aerial view of east Joliet, IL~ UD Tower ~ AT&SF Interlocking
West Blue Island, IL
Indiana Harbor Belt Crossing ~ Blue Island, IL
Indiana Harbor Belt Crossing ~ Blue Island, IL
Blue Island Station ~ IHB Crossing ~ Blue Island, IL
Midwest Lumber Co ~ Blue Island, IL
Main Street ~ Street Running ~ Blue Island, IL
Blue Island Freight House ~ Blue Island, IL
Aerial view of Blue Island, IL
Main Street ~ Street Running ~ Blue Island, IL
Main Street ~ Street Running ~ Blue Island, IL
Looks like Mavis Franklin is in town for some grocery shopping
Main Street ~ Street Running ~ Blue Island, IL
Looking west from the staging yards at Blue Island, IL
Downtown Blue Island, IL
Looking East toward the Staging Yards at Blue Island, IL
Burr Oak Yard ~ Chicago, IL
The Rock Island Cabooses lined up for the latest assignments
Notice to visitors
Another overall view of the layout room
Another overall view of the layout room
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