Chicago & North Western Historical Society MODELER

Transcription

1 Chicago & North Western Historical Society MODELER Volume #10, Issue #3 In This Special Issue: Building a 1970s Grain Boxcar Fleet Part 8 Repair-in-Place, RIP Track Ridgeway, Wisconsin: The Restored Depot and Caboose Model Railroad Layouts by: Don Drum Dan Vandermause Clark Propst Gene Wheeler Ron Christensen PRESENTATION CAR 422

2 Features: Cover Photos: A Chicago & North Western way freight is passing over a Rock Island gas electric doodlebug at Nevada, Iowa, on Ron Christensen s layout. Building a 1970s Grain Boxcar Fleet Part 8 Repair-in-Place, RIP Track Ridgeway, Wisconsin: The Restored Depot and Caboose A Conversation About Chicago & North Western Train Operations with retired C&NW Conductor James Yanke Model Railroad Layouts by: Don Drum Dan Vandermause Clark Propst Gene Wheeler Ron Christensen PRESENTATION CAR 422 Editor POSITION OPEN Publications Editor Ron Christensen Technical Advisors Dennis Eggert Wes Ward Alastair Muir David J Stuefen Richard H. Berry Dan Vandermause Richard Green Lloyd A. Keyser Keith Kohlmann Layout/Design Jon Beard Find Us Online: An Invitation to join the CNW Historical Society The CNWHS is an independent non-profit educational corporation. The Society s purpose is to foster interest, research, preservation, and the distribution of information concerning the C&NW and related roads. Its membership is spread throughout the United States and numerous foreign countries, and its scope includes all facets of the CNW. Currently the Society has close to 3000 registered members. Members regularly receive a variety of information including a quarterly publication: NWL. North Western Lines NWL is dedicated to the publication of articles and news items of historical significance. Other Society publications include monographs, calendars, equipment rosters, and reprints of original CNW source material. This publication makes otherwise unobtainable data available to the membership at reasonable cost. Membership in the Society is a vote of support and makes all of the Society s work possible. It provides those interested in the CNW with a legitimate, respected voice in the railroad and historical communities. By working together, individuals interested in CNW are able to accomplish much more than by individual efforts. No matter how diverse your interests or how arcane your specialty, others share your fascination with CNW and affiliated railroads. The Archives Committee of the C&NWHS is very active and maintains a large collection of the C&NW and related roads. For more information see the CNWHS web site. Merchandise related to the C&NW, as well as back issues of NWL, Car kits and structure kits for modeling are offered through the CNWHS web site. Chicago and North Western Historical Society Modeler is a publication of the CNW Historical Society (CNWHS) for the purpose of disseminating CNW modeling information. An Illinois not-for-profit Corporation dedicated to preserving the legacy of the C&NW and its predecessor & successor roads since Copyright CNWHS 2010 All Rights Reserved. May only be reproduced for personal use. Not for sale other than by the CNWHS. Manuscripts and photographs submitted for publication are considered to be gratis and no reimbursement will be made to the author or the photographer(s) or his/her representative(s). Please contact the Editor with comments and corrections and for submission guidelines. Statements and opinions made are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the CNWHS. The Chicago & North Western Historical Society is in no way affiliated with the former Chicago & North Western or any of it subsidiaries or parent companies. Logos are used with the permission of the Union Pacific Railroad Company. 2 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #

3 Editorial By Ron Christensen This will be my last Modeler. Producing this publication has been an enjoyable and very rewarding experience. It is hard to believe that 10 years ago this project started as a couple of pages of pictures that I found in the CNWHS archives. Along the way many people have joined in the production of articles, editing and proofreading. I hope and believe we have succeeded in publishing a magazine that was worth a few minutes of your time. I know the society would like to continue producing The Modeler. So if you have an interest in making that happen, please contact me. Thanks to the following editors who helped make The Modeler the high quality and respected publication it has become: Gordon Andrews, the first man to sign on. Alastair Muir, who turned my writing into something readable. Richard Berry, the best proofreader I have ever met. Douglas Harding, who always has material for articles. Dennis Eggert, the author of many articles. Dave Nelson, who always helps with information and photos. Wes Ward, who edits the Presentation Car 422. Richard Green, who made the special drawings we published. Dan Vandermause, an author of articles. Keith Kohlmann, who is very knowledgeable of the C&NW. David J. Stuefen, the web site technical advisor. Joel Goldberg, an article author. Lloyd Keyser, Clark Propst, Gene Green and Dan Holbrook who always helped with information and articles. And thank you to the many others who helped and sent articles, for which I am grateful. Jon and Mac Beard did the final layouts for the web site. Thank you for supporting The Modeler throughout the past 10 years. Ron Christensen, Editor 3

4 Building a 1970s Grain Boxcar Fleet Part 8 Modeling Original C&NW and CStPM&O Welded PS-1 Cars By Dennis Eggert Prototype Information During the 1950s, the C&NW continued to upgrade its freight car fleet purchasing thousands of new cars. A large percentage of the new units were 40-foot PS-1 boxcars built by Pullman Standard. Pullman produced 100,000 of the PS-1 boxcars between 1947 and 1963 in various configurations. Approximately 6,000 PS-1s went to the C&NW as forty-foot, six-foot door cars. Included in the 6,000 car C&NW group were approximately 200 cars with CStPM&O reporting marks, which were eventually re-lettered with CNW reporting marks. There were only small production changes that affected the appearance of the cars over time; the most noticeable being the bottom sill tabs being replaced by a continuous bottom sill on later cars. This group of cars came delivered in several paint schemes. The early cars came with slogans promoting the 400 and Overland Route passenger service, some with large four-foot tall C&NW billboard lettering and the last group came with a simple 36 diameter ball-and-bar medallion. The majority of the cars that survived into the 1970s remained in their factory paint schemes with some repainted with Railway and Employee Owned medallions during the 1960s and 1970s. Some cars were modernized and had their running boards removed and A-end ladders shortened. During the early 1980s, the 40-foot boxcar fleet disappeared quickly as new 100-ton covered hoppers replaced them for grain service. 4 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

5 During my mid-1970s modeling period, the 1977 Official Railway Equipment Register shows about 3,900 original C&NW welded forty-foot PS-1s with six-foot doors still active. Using the grain boxcar roster data from Part One of this series, my 30-car HO grain boxcar fleet needed to have eleven welded PS-1 boxcars to have a prototypical mix of cars. I chose to model the eleven cars using Kadee PS-1 ready-to-run and kit cars. Most of the ready-to-run cars were disassembled and had their paint removed, but two of them were modeled retaining their Kadee factory paint and required very minimum work. Based on the availability of prototype photos, I chose to model cars 1432, 1470, 1638, 6933, 7453, 8833, 9343, 23233, 23276, 24028, and former CStPM&O car Prototype photos of cars 1470, 9343 and were not available for publication. This diagram showing cars (odd and even numbers) built in 1954 is from the March 15, 1976, Chicago and North Western Ry. Book of Car Diagrams. 5

6 The diagram for cars (odd numbers) built in 1955 and 1956 is found in the March 15, 1976, Chicago and North Western Ry. Book of Car Diagrams car diagram book. 6 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

7 Another diagram for cars (odd and even numbers) built in 1956 is also from the March 15, 1976, Chicago and North Western Ry. Book of Car Diagrams car diagram book. 7

8 Another diagram for cars (odd and even numbers) built in 1956 is also from the March 15, 1976, Chicago and North Western Ry. Book of Car Diagrams car diagram book. 8 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

9 CNW 1432 was photographed by Lloyd Keyser in August 1983 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was part of a 1000 car order in This group of cars was built with notched bottom sills. CNW 1638, shown at Appleton, Wisconsin, on June 5, 1973, was possibly on its first revenue run after receiving heavy repairs. It was released from the Clinton Car Shop on May 30, This is another car from the 1000 car order of This car was renumbered to and reclassified from XM to XF in Dennis Eggert photo. 9

10 CNW 6933 is from an order delivered in 1955 and Shown at Huron, South Dakota, in December of 1978, the car is still wearing its original factory paint job with 48 tall billboard letters. The cars in this group were built with a continuous bottom sill. - Larry Nast photo from the collection of Lloyd Keyser. CNW 7453 is also from the order delivered in 1955 and It s July 1974, and the car has just arrived in train 482 at Mankato, Minnesota. Looking at the compressed springs, it s probably loaded with grain from western Minnesota or South Dakota. - Dennis Eggert photo. 10 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

11 CNW 8833 is another car from an order delivered in 1955 and The car was photographed at Proviso on October 20, 1985; it was a late survivor for a 40-foot boxcar. When new, this car had 48 tall C&NW billboard letters on the right side of the door. - M. Spoor photo, Lloyd Keyser collection. CNW was part of an 1100 car order built in Lloyd Keyser photographed the car in Plano, Texas, in November of

12 CNW was also part of the 1100 car order built in Lloyd Keyser photographed the car in Dallas, Texas, in June CNW 24028, another car from the 1100 car group built in 1956, was photographed in Huron, South Dakota, on December Larry Nast photo, Lloyd Keyser collection. 12 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

13 The following four photos are details of car at Dallas, Texas. Lloyd Keyser took the photos in June of

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15 Car cards were kept on file by the railroad s mechanical department office to record the history of each car. This is the car card for the former CStPM&O car 22438, which was modeled. The card indicates the ownership was transferred to the C&NW in Due to the large number of cars modeled in this article, not all of the associated car cards will be shown. This interesting card, for car 1432, is typical for many of the cars modeled. There is no destroyed date on this card, which indicates it was still in service when the records were converted to digital format in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It s a mystery why the text C.G.W. RY. appears on the top of the card. 15

16 This is the card for car The back of the card has the note Car renumbered and reclassified XF 10/23/76 North Fond du Lac, WI. Clinton heavy repairs 5/30/73. The XF classification was for food service loading only. The car was renumbered to CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

17 Construction for cars 1432, 1470, 1638 and with notched sills: This group of cars required very minimal changes to match the prototype. The cars all received new cut levers, made from brass wire. Car 1638 was built without a running board, its A-end ladders were cut short and crossover platforms were added to the ends. Car 1432 was built without tack boards on the doors. To eliminate the cast-on tack boards, four doors were used to make one set of doors. The doors were cut into sections and spliced back together into two doors without tack boards. Except for these minor changes, the cars were built per the kit instructions. Cars 1470 and started as RTR decorated cars and retained their factory lettering. On car 1470, the factory silk-screened number 6592 was removed and changed to 1470 using decals. On car 22438, the factory silk-screened reporting mark CMO and number were similarly replaced. For cars with doors without tack boards, two doors were used to make one door without a tack board. The doors were cut into sections and spliced back together. A fixture was made to align the door segments while they were cemented together. 17

18 Construction for cars 6933, 7453, 8833, 9343, 23233, and with continuous sills: The seven cars in this group received the same modifications as the notched sill cars. In addition, the bottom sills were changed to match the prototype cars. The part of the bottom sills near each bolster was removed and replaced with a strip of.040 styrene sheet. These photos show the steps involved in converting the sills. The areas to be removed are marked with an X. This photo shows the same view after cutting and filing. 18 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

19 The styrene strip is glued in place. The styrene is cut oversized. The finished sill is shown after sanding the styrene strip to match the car. 19

20 Painting and Lettering: Cars 1470 and retained their Kadee factory paint and lettering which was prototypically correct. On the other 9 cars, Polly Scale acrylic paint was used for all of the painting. All of the cars that were painted were airbrushed with PRR Tuscan, except for car Car 1638 received a coat of Mineral Red to more closely match the prototype car after it was repainted in Except for car 1638, the ends of the cars were painted Engine Black. The roofs of the cars were painted with a mixture of Aluminum and White to simulate a galvanized appearance. The decals for the cars are from Microscale sets # for C&NW 40 & 50 brown boxcars and # for C&NW 40 Slogan Box Cars. The large 48 (diameter of ball) Employee Owned medallions on car 1638 were custom decals made by DM Custom decals. This shows one of the cars with the continuous sills after the modifications were complete. The running boards were left off the cars until after the roofs were weathered. A piece of Post-It Note paper was used to keep paint overspray out of the interior of the car. This car is ready for painting. Six of the cars that were painted PRR Tuscan are shown just after the gloss coat was applied. These cars are now ready for decals. 20 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

21 Weathering: As done on the previous groups of cars, air brushing and oil paint wash methods were used for weathering. Colored artist pencils were used to make rust spots, scratches and chalk marks. To simulate the fading of the 4- foot billboard letters, a hobby knife was scraped over the dried decals. To simulate the fading of the white lettering on the 36-inch ball-and-bar medallions, spots of black paint were applied. To simulate the faded billboard letters, a hobby knife was scraped over the thoroughly dried decals. A fresh Xacto #16 blade was used with the blade in the horizontal position, using only vertical strokes with a light pressure. This was done on all three cars with billboard letters. To simulate the faded white stenciling on the black and white medallions, black paint was applied with a small paintbrush. This is typical of the four cars with 36 medallions. 21

22 Car 7453 is shown during the oil paint wash process, which was done on all eleven of the cars. A U-shaped styrene fixture was built to provide a means to handle the cars without touching the uncured oil paint. The fixture also keeps the oil paint off the trucks and underbody of the car. Two pieces of masking tape protect the couplers and secure the car to the fixture. Turpanoid (odorless turpentine) was painted over the entire car, starting with the roof and working downward. With the car wetted with the turpanoid, starting at the top, artists oil paints are lightly applied to the wet car using only vertical strokes. As the turpanoid dissolves the oil paint, gravity slowly streaks the paint downward on the car, simulating the rain-streaked rust and dirt on a prototype car. The following photos show the eleven finished models 22 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

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28 Project Completion: This will be the last article in this series. After working on this project for about four years, I now have a total of 33 prototypically accurate grain boxcars for my C&NW based layout. The construction of 26 of the 33 cars has been documented in the eight CNWHS Modeler articles. It was a rewarding task to research the prototype car data that was used to build the models. Hopefully, future C&NW freight car historians and modelers can use this information for their projects. I would like to thank Lloyd Keyser for giving me access to his C&NW boxcar slide collection, and the C&NWHS Archive staff for providing the freight car card scans and Clinton paint shop information. A westbound extra, with 33-grain empties, is seen near Eyota, Minnesota, on the author s HO layout. Sources: The Official Railway Equipment Register, Vol. 92, No.3 Issued January 10, 1977 Chicago and North Western Ry. Book of Car Diagrams, dated March 15, 1976 Chicago & North Western Historical Society Archives Freight car cards and Clinton paint shop records. Photos not marked by Dennis Eggert 28 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

29 Repair-in-Place, RIP Track By Lloyd Keyser Here is a series of photos taken for future modeling ideas when building a RIP on a model layout. Looking west at the Escanaba, Wisconsin, RIP track area. Seen to the left are two ore cars that have been raised on jacks, put on stands and the truck rolled out; more than likely to replace a bad wheel set. The small A frame hoist located to the right is placed crosswise to the track over the truck. A hand hoist is attached at the center of the frame and the bolster raised to free the spring packs for removal and the truck disassembled. A rubber-tired forklift equipped to pick up the bad wheel set replaces it with a new set and the truck is then reassembled. The bad wheel set is then moved on the rails to the right of the air-operated hoist. When a carload of bad wheels is accumulated, a flat car of new wheels is unloaded by the hoist, reloaded with a load of bad wheels and then returned to Clinton. Note the facing wheel set on the car has a burned off journal. Today all of this service area has been removed and the ore dock closed. Lloyd Keyser 29

30 This October 1997 shot shows the Omaha CMO RIP track that is used for minor repairs. Any repairs requiring more effort are sent across the river to the Council Bluffs CNW RIP track. Note the interesting containers holding spare parts and the boxcar also used for storage to keep certain items dry. The converted ore car is used to sand the Omaha switch engines. There were many of these on the system until replaced with the larger converted quad coal hoppers. Compressed air supplied by the locomotive loads the sand into the locomotive sand boxes. At this date the road power was serviced across the river at the CNW facilities. A shortcut was used by crossing the river on the IC bridge. Lloyd Keyser 30 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

31 The next three shots were taken in the Mason City, Iowa, Milwaukee yard in May This RIP track is equipped for light repairs including wheel change outs. The first track, by the electric operated hoist, contains new roller bearing wheel sets. Absence of bad wheel sets indicates a recent delivery of new roller bearing wheel sets. The hoist is holding a steel frame that will pick up a wheel set by the axle and then place it on the track or driveway for a forklift to carry further down the track to a second or third car. At the second car is the A frame, hydraulic jacks, steel stands to hold the car in the vertical position and various blocking allowing the truck to be rolled out for a wheel replacement. Lloyd Keyser 31

32 Shown is an excellent view of the construction of the three-legged hoist. Note the bad wheel set at the right and the rows of new wheel sets. In the background are parts containers, a rack holding brake shoe frames and a large forklift for moving wheel sets. The building contains bins of small parts such as grab irons, brake wheels, air hoses and paint. Lloyd Keyser Shown at left is the homemade steel frame that is used to pick up and move a wheel set. Lloyd Keyser 32 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

33 This photo shows a very clean and tidy RIP track area on the Milwaukee at Janesville, Wisconsin, in The hoist is another of the air operated three-legged designs. Note the blocking, jacks, support stands and parts such as brake shoes and brake wheels. The building contains bins of small parts, paint, repack materials, stencils, etc. Probably the most important item in this excellent view is the narrow four-wheel cart that carries a wheel set parallel to the RIP track. Note on each end of the cart is a small concave bracket that is at the wheel track level. The cart is placed at the end of a wheel track and a wheel set rolled onto the cart brackets. It is then shoved to where it is needed. The area where trucks are disassembled is covered with wood planks so the wheel set can be rolled from the cart to the work area and installed into the truck. Lloyd Keyser 33

34 This RIP track at Mankato, Minnesota, in August of 1977 is ideal for modeling due to all the details and the small amount of occupied real estate. At the right are jacks, blocking, support stands, steel tote boxes for brake shoes, scrap iron, etc. Next is the typical air-operated three-leg hoist. This one appears to be constructed from steel. In front of it is a narrow four wheel cart to transport wheel sets to the required locations. The amount of new wheel sets and empty old wheel tracks indicate a flat car has just been unloaded and reloaded with bad wheel sets headed to Clinton. Next to the area is the shed containing bins of parts, stencils and paint. Lloyd Keyser A backside shot of the storage shed, taken two years earlier in 1975, shows more storage and building detail. Lloyd Keyser 34 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

35 Here are three photos with the RIP track on my old layout. The area is slightly condensed, as I left out the track for the M&StL and two of the GATC tracks, so there should be five tracks instead of just two. I had a retired CNW car man stop by to check this area out. He offered a couple of suggestions, so I modified the scratch built GATC building somewhat. The passenger car on the ground for the M&StL is a kitbash of two MDC cars to come close to the real car. I did embellish the surrounding somewhat. The General American Company worked on reefers that were leased to Armour and also on GATX tank cars, both for the Mason City packinghouse. In 1957 the M&StL bought the facility and retired their old RIP. GATC continued to repair cars at the Armour plant. The CNW continued to use the RIP for many years after the merger. The concrete slab upon which the GATC building was built is still there along with bits of track. The timber jib crane was cut up and some of the pieces are lying around. The entire area is now overgrown. Repair-in-Place Modeling Clark Propst Editors note; Clark modeled the Mason City, Iowa, area and this is a close representation of the M&StL prototype. 35

36 These views depict the RIP track on Dale Kuhn s HO layout. 36 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

37 Doug Harding describes the following RIP process on his layout: I have a RIP track above my workbench that was never sceniced, but it is both a convenient location to return repaired cars to the layout and a handy destination during an operating session for rolling stock that needs attention. It is easy to tell a crew to leave it at RIP. Here is a Bad Order card. A few blank ones are placed at each town and yard. When I am told of a car that is malfunctioning during an op session, I look at the car and determine if it is movable. If so, I instruct the train engineer to take the car to the RIP siding. If they are not going that direction, they are to take it to the nearest yard, and the yardmaster directs the car to the RIP siding. If the car is not movable, it and the car card are taken to the siding. Either way, a Bad Order card is filled out listing the problem and inserted in the car card pocket. Then the following week I can sit at the workbench, check the paperwork in the setout box and begin repairs. The RIP siding is also used for introducing new rolling stock. When a car is finished, a car card is prepared. The new car is placed on the RIP siding and the car card placed in the pickup box. Editors note; I like Doug s bad order procedure and plan to make it an action card on my railroad. 37

38 Ridgeway, Wisconsin: The Restored Depot and Caboose By Joe Piersen ( ) Ridgeway, Wisconsin, has restored its 1913 C&NW depot, and it is now open to the public at certain times. See the list of web addresses below for information on visiting. It is along the Military Ridge Trail, which uses the right-of-way that once belonged to the C&NW and was nicknamed the Ridge Runner Line while operated by the C&NW. The line was abandoned in This C&NW line ran from Madison to Lancaster and Fennimore and to locations to the south. In fact, the southernmost point was in Galena, Illinois. The C&NW never reached Galena directly from its line to Freeport, Illinois, but had to reach the town by this strange and circuitous route out of Madison. Part of that route was constructed as a narrow gauge line, but soon was standard gauged. The portion through Ridgeway was constructed in This depot was built in 1913, replacing the old depot which was probably built in 1881, though nothing is known about the old one. The 1913 depot, however, is well-documented. Included in this article is the Valuation sketch for the depot, which indicates that it was a Standard # 2 Depot, built to C&NW Standard Plans. The # 2 Depots were very common on the C&NW in this 1913 era, and were used in towns that had medium-level commerce and passengers. In fact, it was the middle sized, Standard Depot. Also included is a Valuation list of the other structures in Ridgeway, but only the depot exists today. The list of other structures would be typical of numerous towns along the C&NW. The Valuations were mandated by the US Government in order to place a value on all company owned items. The Valuation agent had to personally inspect the structures and items, but he could refer to plans back in Chicago if needed. The friends of the depot recently purchased a wood, bay window caboose, which was put on display adjacent to the depot. While it is not a former C&NW caboose, it is old and authentic. It was built as a wood, bay window caboose #1542 by Northern Pacific shops in Brainerd, Minnesota, from a boxcar during WWII ( ). The caboose was renumbered #10542 before the Burlington Northern merger when it became BN # It was for sale in Hyde, Wisconsin, and sold to Ridgeway, Wisconsin. The folks at Ridgeway would love to have you come and visit. The location is authentic, and hiking is available along the former C&NW trail there. Sources: C&NWHS Archives Linda Lynch, color photos (Friends of Military Ridge) William F. Armstrong, b&w photo Roger Kirkpatrick, caboose expert Data and links to the depot: Standard # 2 Depot, built in 1913 Depot closed in 1964 Abandonment: Mt. Horeb to Fennimore: 1980 Verona to Mt. Horeb: 1982 The Friends of Military Ridge Trail web page, check the Events and Photo section CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

39 Ridgeway, Wisconsin, Track diagram 39

40 Pictured is the Ridgeway, Wisconsin, standard #2 depot in 1976, after the station was closed. The Standard #2 was also built with the plans reversed, depending on which side of the track the depot was on and the access to the road into town. Shown is page six of what is believed to be the 1919 Interstate Commerce Commission Valuation. 40 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

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42 On July 29, 1920 an audit of the Ridgeway, Wisconsin, station was taken. This is a listing of the items found on that audit. 42 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

43 Chicago & North Western Plans for a Standard #2 Depot 43

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46 This drawing of an outhouse (water closest) is the design for the 5 X 8 building that the valuations documented at Ridgeway. System map showing Ridgeway s location in Wisconsin. 46 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

47 Photos of Ridgeway Today 47

48 A Conversation About Chicago & North Western Train Operations with retired C&NW Conductor James Yanke This discussion was on practices when Jim was a brakeman from 1960 to the 70s, after which he was promoted to conductor on the Wisconsin Division of the Chicago & North Western. Jim retired in Ron - Where did you first report? Jim - Everyone reported to the Yard Office. The Yard Office was sometimes a dedicated building constructed just for that purpose. Some yard offices were in depots or were former depot buildings. Some were mobile homes or old coaches set on the ground. They were usually large enough to house the yardmaster, more than one-yard clerk and sometimes an agent. Some had a locker room for crews. As the conductor you made sure all crew members were present. Then you put on your work clothes and work shoes, checked to see if orders and wheel reports were ready and if your train was made up. Next you would verify how far out the incoming train was and then be sure everyone was present. Next you talk to crew members from other trains. So you were ready to go when duty time begins and power comes out of the diesel ramp. The enginemen on road jobs reported to the diesel ramp sometimes. Ron - What made up a yard crew? Jim - A switch crew would have an engineer, fireman, switch foreman (conductor) and two yard helpers (switchmen) Ron - The switch crew made up the train? Jim - The yardmaster gives the switch crew their lists of cars to make up trains. If you started out of a major yard, the switchmen made up the train in station order with cars blocked properly. The car men would couple up the air hoses. Ron - Now that the train is made up who puts the locomotive and caboose on the train? Jim - The outbound road crew gets the units out of the roundhouse or diesel ramp and couples on to the train. In a terminal, the yard crew making up the train puts the caboose on. Otherwise we would do it. The engineer pumps up the air and checks the air gauge in the caboose or FRED. When correct pounds were indicated on the gauge, the engineer would set the brakes. The brakemen walk the train and during the air brake test, being sure the brakes set and than a final walk to be sure the brakes release. If some car had a bad leak or brake that would not set, you set it out where the yardmaster tells you and then give that waybill back to the yardmaster. Ron Ok, we are ready to go. Who gives the clearance to leave the yard? Jim - The operator gives the road conductor and engineer clearance and train orders to depart the yard and enter the main track in yard limits. Ron When does the dispatcher get involved? Jim - At some point the dispatcher or operator gives the okay to operate on the main beyond the yard limits. Ron - What kind of orders would you get? Jim - On double track operation every mainline train had to have a clearance whether it contained orders or not, there could just be slow orders on a normal day. On single track, you needed running orders unless you were a timetable-scheduled train. If you were a timetable scheduled train, it is possible meets would be changed or times. When you came into a town and the order board was set red, you had to have a new clearance even if the dispatcher changed his mind on a change. Two trains having a time table scheduled meet. If nothing were changed, no orders would be necessary. First class trains have authority over 2nd class, 3rd class and extra trains. When two trains of the same class meet, eastward trains have rights over westward trains (C&NW). Sometimes the dispatcher would change the meet for example; have the 150-car freight hold the main and put the passenger train in the short siding. Different localities have different rules: Signals, C.T.C. yard limits, interlocking, etc. Employee timetables have instructions for certain localities. 48 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

49 CSTPMO train order No. 332, 1916 written at Mankato, Minnesota. Work extra 226 Klages will work seven 7 PM until seven 7 AM between Mankato and Shane Hill Praket against second class trains and extras east and west C&NW form 19, train order 42, February 21, Engine 1690 run as no 2 Aberdeen to Huron initial MAS 49

50 Air hose in middle of the track to put air in the brake system that will test the air system on the train before it is coupled to the engine. 50 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

51 A Picture Trip on Don Drum s Chicago & North Western, Lakeshore Division - Ashland District HO Model Railroad. Time Period 1956 to Photos by Don Drum The trip starts in Antigo at the roundhouse, where F7s are waiting for the inbound time freight 281. There will be a power and caboose change at this division point station. 51

52 CMO boxcar #21824 was unloaded at the Antigo Feed and Seed Co. before being sent to the Antigo yard for cleaning on yard track six. Downtown Antigo, Wisconsin, was modeled using pictures that provided the inspiration for the city scene courtesy of the Antigo Historical Society. 52 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

53 The Fall potato harvest is in full swing. There will be over reefers with potatoes departing Antigo this fall. The loading dock of the Felix Zeloski warehouse cannot keep up and an outside conveyor was set up to handle the extra loading. The scene was recreated from a late 40s potato-loading picture. Leaving Antigo, we stop at the Monico, Wisconsin, freight depot. The model was scratch built using pictures of all four sides from Jim Parker. 53

54 The next stop will be Rhinelander, Wisconsin. The kit bashed paper mill buildings have tracks leading to the powerhouse for coal delivery, a chemical and pulpwood track as well as a track going inside of a building for paper loading. A small yard beside the plant is for railcar storage. Woodruff, Wisconsin, 24.9 miles north of Rhinelander, is the next stop. The depot was scratch built using pictures from Joe Piersen and the CNWHS. Note the flagmen behind the white car at the station. 54 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

55 Milepost 413 on the Lakeshore Division is the town of Hurley, Wisconsin. In the background is the depot and to the left is the Cary Iron Ore mine. The local gas stations are served by the Sinclair fuel dealer. On the right side of the picture we see ladies relaxing on a raft before going to work at one of Hurley s many bars and gambling establishments. We complete our trip of just over 161 miles at Ashland, Wisconsin. The freight station was scratch built after five years of searching for pictures. Tom Tardiff sent aerial and side photos of this station to get the project started. The return trip will be on the 1959 Flambeau 400, train 216, ready for the 8:05 AM departure from Ashland, Wisconsin. 55

56 Layout Photos from Dan Vandermause s S Scale Layout Ex-CGW F3 units sit ready to depart the National Avenue Yard in Milwaukee. Models are by S Helper Service. The 208 is a factory paint job while the 207 has been detailed and repainted. GP9m 606 (ex-m&stl) sits in the Third Ward Yard in Milwaukee. Both models are by American Models. The 606 has been detailed and painted while the caboose is a stock model. 56 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

57 Two GP35s await their next assignment at the National Avenue Yards. These are American Models engines, with added details. View of Third Ward Yard, showing car card boxes for Hansen Storage. Dan is experimenting with a combined waybill/car card multiple movement card, described in a recent issue of Railroad Model Craftsman. 57

58 Scenes from Clark Propst s M&StL Layout Under Construction The Story City Branch layout is modeled to recreate the late 1949 to early 1950s period; at the changeover from steam to diesel. So far, the Story City and Roland areas are finished, for now. All bench work is in place. The town of Photos by Clark Propst Zearing will be added along with staging that represents Marshalltown. The tracks are laid from halfway between Roland and Zearing so a train can be staged for a run through Roland to Story City and back. Train X316, pulled by #316, is crossing the Skunk River heading into Story City, Iowa. The local switch engine #149, a GE 44 ton diesel, is spotting empty boxcars at Williams Grain in Story City, Iowa. The GE 44 tonners replaced and steam engines on the branch. 58 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

59 Train X316 is shown making its twice-weekly trip to Roland, Iowa. Trains were numbered, but they were annulled and run as extras with crews off the extra board. Empty PFE #47433, is being set out at Marshall Canning in Roland, Iowa, while several men are looking over the coal elevator. Looks like a shipment of coal for the canning company boiler arrived earlier. 59

60 Gene Wheeler s West Chicago to Sterling HO layout. Photos by Andrew Caster The control panel for West Chicago yard makes management of movements on the east end of the layout look pretty much a straight-forward process. The quarry just outside of Ashton makes interesting use of a small space along the ROW. Northwestern Steel & Wire mill in Sterling provides much revenue for the C&NW with both inbound scrap metal and outbound product. A joint CNW/IC Sandusky spur at Dixon hosts a power plant and grain elevator; both of which generate tonnage for the line. Another shot of the joint spur has Medusa Cement entering the view. Medusa is a significant source of income on the Sandusky. West Chicago s engine facility seems well equipped with a variety of motive power and cabooses to handle any assignment. 60 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

61 Ron Christensen s C&NW and Milwaukee Railroad Some Scenes from the Main Line in Iowa Photos by Ron Christensen Otter Creek #7 school is located at Gladstone, Iowa. I attended grade school in this one room schoolhouse. The two-tone yellow and white 55 Chevy is as a stand in for the 1953 Chevy Mrs. Croskey drove. Remembering an old friend Bob Janz, by naming the Railroad Salvage yard after him. 61

62 In the town of Tama, Iowa, Beale had two elevators; this one was on the Milwaukee Railroad. As is always the case in modeling, a lot of things are not quite correct. I do not have a picture of the elevator so a Walthers model will have to stand in. The elevator was on the flat flood plain, but again some modeling license has taken over. I guess the only really true thing is that Beale had two elevators in Tama. Beale s C&NW elevator has been scratch built from the government s railroad evaluation drawings. The C&NW owned the elevator at the time and Beale leased it. Beale could make the best deal for shipping by getting rates from both railroads. 62 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

63 Miscellaneous Model Photos First appearing in Modeler V9 #2, this southeast corner view shows concrete bins for coal, which would have been unloaded by hand from gondolas. - Lloyd Keyser photo David Leider built this scratch built model of the lumber dealer in Plymouth, Wisconsin. The building is interesting because it is on two levels. The track level is above and gravel, lime, etc is shoveled out of boxcars and sent to the bins below for storage. The model is now on Jim Osborn s Chicago & North Western layout. David Leider photo 63

64 Walt Kierzkowski scratch built a Jull rotary snowplow. His model is of a NYO&W Jull listed on the 1899 OER. Although not the Chicago Great Western model of the Jull plow, it could be with a change of lettering. An article about the CGW X-30 Jull rotary snowplow was featured in the Winter 1992 North Western Lines. - Walt Kierzkowski photo This coaling tower shown at the 2017 Collinsville RPM show was built by Gregor Moe. - Ron Christensen photo C&NW J-4 and C&NW J-A double head on the Sandsoft River bridge of the North American Prototype Modeler s layout in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 64 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3

65 Compare Photos for Modeling Improvements Photos by Ron Christensen 1 The fuel tanks need weathering. 2 I decided on a complete rebuild on the workbench. 3 Warning strips alert drivers to be aware of the underpass s guardrails in Iowa were wood posts with a cats eye reflector and a cable stretched between posts. 5 A brass rod protects the guardrail posts from aisle traffic. 65

66 Modeling Scenes By Our Contributors By Wes Ward Howard Garner s Chicago Great Western Layout 66 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3#

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68 Marker Lights The Final Run By Alastair Muir In the United Kingdom, where I was born, upon the passing of one monarch and the ascension of a successor to the throne, one may hear the saying, The king is dead, long live the king! Such saying has a double meaning; the most important being the Ron Christensen - Editor acknowledgment of the challenges of life s changes which must be accepted and embraced. With the editorial announcement that this will be the final issue of The Modeler, all who have reaped the benefits of the seemingly unlimited knowledge incorporated into this digital magazine are at the point where we must accept and embrace change. For the past ten years Ron Christensen has applied his seemingly unlimited skills and knowledge of every aspect of railroad history and operations to assemble three issues per year of a digital magazine of the highest quality: The Modeler. Although it has been a part of the C&NWHS website, The Modeler has been available to anyone who has interest in model railroading. Further, while most of the articles have been related specifically to the C&NW family of railroads, many have been of a generic nature with modeling tips and ideas that can easily be applied to layouts of any railroad. Ron has given his time and effort with no reward other than the satisfaction of sharing not only his wealth of knowledge, but that of other highly skilled modelers and railfans as well. With the support of only a small group of editors, Ron has consistently published a medium of idea exchange that has inspired and delighted hundreds of readers and active model railroaders. Like many of us, Ron s favorite roads are those of his boyhood Tama, Iowa, hometown: The Chicago and North Western and the Chicago, Milwaukee, St Paul and Pacific. Although his favorites, much like the favorite roads of many of us, have been swallowed up in the numerous mergers and acquisitions of the railroad industry, Ron s efforts have helped to keep alive the memory of all of our favorite railroads of years-gone-by. In other endeavors, Ron has been actively involved in the leadership of the C&NW Historical Society and the NMRA. A busy lad, indeed! Ron s deserves the thanks of all of us, as The Modeler will be missed. And so, with the final run of The Modeler, we can say in a perhaps more apropos declaration in railfan terminology, The flag has fallen. However, to complete the declaration of change, the good news is that Ron s efforts will continue in a more abbreviated format, as he will soon begin to publish (on the CNWHS website) shorter articles of a singular focus entitled The Mini Modeler. Watch for it soon! Thank you, Ron, for ten years of modeling interest, dedication and effort. And with that, we can say, The Christensen extra is leaving the main and turning onto the branch. Gordon Andrews Dick Berry Dennis Eggert Richard Green Doug Harding Charles Hostetler Keith Kohlman Alastair Muir Dave Nelson David Stuefen Dan Vandermause Wes Ward 68 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #10, Issue #3