The ROCK has laid dormant for nearly a year now. I operated last September 2015. That's awful! Life has been busy with my family, work, and entirely way too much research on the Peoria area. I have found that subject very fascinating!
Anywho, back to the layout. I tried to operate in July, but there was just no way. I got more serious after being inspired operating on a few local layouts. During this off time, I have acquired a lot of rolling stock and locomotives which I occasionally posted photos of the custom painted units. With so much new stuff, I have the strong desire to implement a few minor changes, but not completely re-doing the layout. That's way more than I want to take on at this point. I have decided to merge my Peoria area (the recently built addition last year of Iowa Jct) with the sand operations of Ottawa.
So, here are some changes.
Bureau Junction is being modified. It will now be Bridge Jct in Peoria, IL. It used to connect to the RI Yard. The tracks will now be moved over to the right to connect with the Peoria & Pekin Union (P&PU) Railway. The former RI yard will remain, but be the Peoria Terminal trackage now.
The P&PU 91 Yard will be extended all the way down to the mainline. The leg going down to the lower right will lead to the P&PU 90 Yard.
You can see the roadbed was laid in preparation of the track move.
A Burlington Northern coal train is lined up at CNW Jct awaiting to be transferred to the Chicago & Illinois Midland to fuel the Powerton Plant.
These should actually be empties, but I haven't removed the loads. A unit C&IM train ready to swap with the BN on the main at Wesley Road.
New Toledo, Peoria & Western Power sitting in the Peoria Terminal Yard just north of Iowa Jct.
Things look normal over at Ottawa Silica.
As well as Libbey-Owens Ford.
The box cars look a little larger, but business as normal at L-O-F.
Hmm....Westclox or Quaker Oats Boxboard Company?
Not photographed - Peru Power. Looking more like a chemical company now.
Whoa! Illinois Terminal train? Where did that come from?
This train will now run from the drop down staging to Ottawa Yard.
Completely non-protoytpical, but I want to run it.
This will replace the Soo Line freight (which was also non-prototypical).
PQ is looking different. I see a line of grain hoppers and a bunch of these yellow and white
Corn Products covered hoppers loading corn starch. CPC International is taking over!
A view of Ottawa Yard.
Jobs will change slightly:
- Ottawa Yard Job - Duties remain the same although car classification will be modified.
- Ottawa Sand Job - Duties remain the same.
- Utica Sand Job - Annulled. Replaced Peoria Terminal Job.
- Rock Island Iowa Jct yard - Annulled.
- Peoria Terminal Job - Starts on the drop leaf staging, works American Oil, CPC International, Quaker Oats and unknown business (former Utica Sand Plant).
- Rock Island #113 - Joliet to Bureau Turn - Annulled.
New Through Freights:
- Illinois Terminal Freight #200 / #203 - Madison, IL to Ottawa, IL
- Toledo, Peoria & Western Freight #121 / #122 - Lomax, IL to East Peoria, IL
- Burlington Northern loaded coal trains to Chicago & Illinois Midland (power swapped on the main at Wesley (in front of Quaker Oats at Wesley Road).
- Toledo, Peoria & Western Kickapoo Job - Works Iowa Jct.
Crazy, right? Why, sure! But, it's my world and I want to mix it up a bit!
(without rebuilding the entire thing this time around).
I hope to post more photos this weekend as I get Bridge Jct trackwork redone. I also have a bunch of decoders on order. Most of them will be easy drop in decoders, but I have two CN-GP decoders to install on two TP&W C424s. A little over two weeks until operating day. Time to get to work!
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