| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| IAISfan |
Posted - 10/17/2011 : 11:42:57 AM
Tom Johnson encouraged me to join here a few months ago, and I'm glad he did. I've enjoyed the forum, and especially like the long-running layout posts that allow you to follow along chronologically with progress. That "progress" is something that's been somewhat lacking on my own layout in recent months as I've been focused on upgrading the rolling stock roster and a few locomotives. However, I'm planning to get busy on the layout again, so I thought I'd start a post of my own, with photos in order from east to west (left to right on my layout) around the room. I'm including both model and a prototype photos to give you an idea of what I'm trying to recreate. Things are still very much under construction, so pretty much everything you see here is incomplete.
I always enjoy seeing others' layout plans, as it helps me to get a feel for the big picture, so here's mine. A few things have changed since this was created, mostly as the result of a recent push to make things as prototypical as possible. When I originally designed the layout, I included several industries that either hadn't used rail service since Rock Island days on the line, or that started up after the era I model. Getting started with frequent operating sessions, though, made me realize that I didn't need more customers in order to keep my crews busy. So, with the exception of Cass County Elevator (explained below), the only active customers on the layout are those that were active on the prototype in my era.
The double-ended staging yard serves both ends of the layout. It isn't much to look at, but here's where the mainline exits staging on the east end of the layout. The opening in the backdrop will eventually be disguised with the Hwy. 6/71 overpass. This end of staging, representing central Iowa and points east, is used by both IAIS trains and UP detours. The other end, out of view to the left, represents Omaha and points west on the UP, and is used exclusively by UP detours.
Curving to the left, we immediately enter Atlantic, Iowa.
The small yard seen in this 2010 prototype photo is used mostly for MOW during my 2005 era, but "1 track", where the gon is tied down, is still active.
Here's my attempt to replicate the above scene thus far. The former Rock Island depot, now the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce, will be a pretty significant scratchbuilding challenge. The two overgrown tracks to the right are used exclusively for MOW cars.
Looking east at Atlantic. Fortunately, the property has been cleaned up a lot since this Mark Hall photo was taken in 1993. Cass County Elevator, to the right of the depot, was torn down in 1995-96, but I chose to model it in my 2005 setting since its replacement is located on the Atlantic Spur a couple miles north of town, so I don't have room to model it.
On the east end of Atlantic, looking north from the mainline, the Atlantic Spur (left) exits the main, and the Pellet Spur (right) diverges from the Atlantic Spur.
East of Atlantic Spur is Walnut Creek.
Curving to the right we pass Hancock Elevator on our way to Hillis siding, seen behind the elevator to the right.
Here's a prototype view of the elevator.
Looking west from the elevator we see the main and Hillis siding on the left. The Outside and Pocket tracks, both full of empty covered hoppers waiting to be spotted to the elevator, drop down the hill from the main. The Oakland branch, passing to the left of the covered hoppers, is now used exclusively for car storage.
Here's a prototype view of an IAIS local dropping down from the main on the Outside track.
...and one taken from the top of the hill at Hancock Jct. On the prototype, Hillis siding is about three miles in the distance in this photo, but I had to compress the two due to space limitations.
Hancock Jct. and the future location of the West Nishnabotna River bridge.
Looking west at McClelland and the out-of-service McClelland Feed & Grain spur. The classic car show has left town since this photo was taken. :-)
Rolling hills west of McClelland.
Future locations of the bridges over McPherson Ave. (lower left) and Valley View Drive. On the right is the fill leading up to the Harry Langdon Blvd. overpass. The rise in the fascia is the future location of the I-80 bridges. To the far right you can see trailers parked at the east end of the Bluffs Yard intermodal facility.
Prototype view of the main portion of Bluffs yard looking east. The BNSF interchange, main, and 2 tracks are to the right of the containers.
Bluffs yard.
Looking west from the west end of Bluffs yard, showing the BNSF main (passing left-to-right through the photo), CBEC/CBGR (pink ballast paralleling the IAIS), and BNSF KC yard west lead (passing in front of the green truck tractor). In the distance, a string of tank cars destined for Searle Petroleum is tied down on the Steel Dock track, used for Searle storage. To the right is the east end of UP's Pool Yard.
Prototype view looking west at UP's Pool Yard.
Looking east at the Steel Dock track and the UP's 12th St. Line crossing. The pink-ballasted line leading away from the main and crossing the aisle is based on the prototype's lead to the north Pool Yard tracks, seen to the right in the prototype photo above. I'm using that track to instead connect to the west end of my shared staging yard.
Looking west at UP's Pool Yard. The IAIS Bluffs switch job runs over to this yard 2-3 times a day to interchange with the UP.
Hopefully I haven't bored you all to tears with everything I've packed into this one post. I'll be sure to limit future posts to progress updates. Given the pace at which I work, those promise to be very brief. 
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| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Ollie |
Posted - 04/03/2013 : 03:28:49 AM
I have just a few active accounts around. Earlier I was quite busy on forums but laely I have dropped them to just a few.One of the later finds that is cool is www.the-gauge.net and there are quite a few in bit of smae situation as me, big dreams and much less space and some of the guys there are doing amazing stuff on smaller rooms. I am going to miss this thread as I love your choise of prototype and the progress. So pleas don't be a stranger here! I browsed through your very inforative web site and you are right the early era with older engines in patch up paint will make your modeling very interesting and the splash of colors will make the consists to stand out. My fave engine is right now the green IAIS GP9 303....
I guess that the forums are like fashion, some come and go in popularity as anything else in modern world. One thing I like the non Scandinavian forums like these is the more laid back and positive post here, there is only a brotherhood of people with common interests. So these forums are relaxing, inspirering and informative reading like this thread!
Best Regards from Sweden! |
| IAISfan |
Posted - 03/31/2013 : 6:53:40 PM
Thanks very much Brian. Happy Easter.
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| Brian K.Woolven |
Posted - 03/31/2013 : 11:26:03 AM
quote:
Originally posted by IAISfan
Thanks Ollie. I'm trying to minimize my on-line time, so I'm leaning toward not updating this thread any further, but anyone who cares to monitor my progress can do so by visiting http://www.iaisrailfans.org/gallery/Sub4WestEnd . One of the two photos at the top will typically change as I complete each project.
Joe, I know where you are coming from. Yours is one of several sites I have saved in my 'Favorites', as I find it easier to follow sites that interest me by looking at them a couple of times a month or so.
Yours, and several others, have made me change my thinking in what I want to model, and therefore my approach to modeling (even if my layout is Santa Fe!).
Brian |
| IAISfan |
Posted - 03/27/2013 : 11:29:07 AM
quote:
Originally posted by CVSNE
Joe, I know what you mean. I have my BlogSpot blog, my own layout Yahoo group, RRL, and Proto-Layouts.
They're all different.
Thanks Marty. Nice to know I'm not alone.
quote:
I look at the MRH forum but I find the level of idle "chatter" annoying - and there's lots of posting for the sake of stirring the pot that goes on over there. Not as bad as the old Atlas forum, but close at times.
I've been feeling the same way. I still check in there for the magazine itself, and to keep up on a few key blog updates that don't often make it to Proto-Layouts (Rob Spangler's WP, Mike Confalone's Allagash, Tom Patterson's CWE). However, I've found very little of interest there lately outside of those and a few of the threads following up from articles such as yours and those from Jack Burgess.
Since the Atlas Forum shut down, I'd settled in at RRL longer than any of them, and very much enjoyed my time here. I just found the traffic to be lower, and contemporary prototype modelers seemed to be few in number. What finally prompted me to begin exploring other options several months ago was when there was a big hobby show with what I considered some important new product announcements made, but not a single mention of it here. I began to feel as though I needed to move on or risk missing new offerings. That's not an indictment of RRL, but just an indicator to me that the focus here didn't line up with my own preferences.
Looking around, I next tried out MRH as noted above, and then the Atlas Rescue forum, which seemed to be the most like the old Atlas Forum from what I've seen - for good and bad. Lots of good folks there, like here, and some familiarity to the threads and general layout. However, I was only on there a couple of days before the same old fights became evident regarding "atsfan", "Monsterrailroad", etc. Maybe I just stopped in at a bad time, but it just struck me as too much drama.
Rustbucket is very nice for its niche, and I saw some great stuff on Protomodeler, but found the site itself to be a little less intuitive to navigate, and traffic is lower.
Which led me back to Trainorders, and my all-time favorite, the Proto-Layouts list on Yahoo. Good signal-to-noise ratio on both for my interests, and a lot of really inspirational prototype modeling.
quote:
I've been trying the approach that works for Bernie - put the photos and detailed update on the blog and then a short synopsis with one or two photos on the other lists with a reference to the blog for those who want more.
That's pretty similar to the path I've chosen. I don't have a blog, but the owners of the IAISrailfans site kindly allow me to post captioned photos there, and I just link back to those updates from Proto-Layouts, Trainorders, and the IAIS list on Yahoo.
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| CVSNE |
Posted - 03/27/2013 : 08:14:42 AM
quote:
Originally posted by IAISfan
I just decided it was time to simplify life a bit, so I think I'm going to focus on Proto-Layouts and Trainorders, since I feel like I have the most in common with the greatest number of people there. I hope to continue staying in touch with you all, one way or another.
Joe, I know what you mean. I have my BlogSpot blog, my own layout Yahoo group, RRL, and Proto-Layouts.
They're all different. My layout Yahoo group is something I intend to use for crew calls and work/op sessions, but that's not always the case.
The blog is handy since the photos are easy to upload and the information is indexed, provided I remember to tag it. But I find frequently there is little or no feedback on the blog posts. One or two comments, but no real "back and forth." It's noticeably different than the feedback on this forum or the Yahoo groups.
I really like the feedback I get on RRL and Proto Layouts but dealing with the photos is a pain sometimes.
I look at the MRH forum but I find the level of idle "chatter" annoying - and there's lots of posting for the sake of stirring the pot that goes on over there. Not as bad as the old Atlas forum, but close at times. I also find loading photos to that forum is kind of annoying.
I really do need to cut one or another of these off at some point. Not sure which makes the most sense. I've been trying the approach that works for Bernie - put the photos and detailed update on the blog and then a short synopsis with one or two photos on the other lists with a reference to the blog for those who want more.
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| BandO Boy |
Posted - 03/26/2013 : 7:54:57 PM
Joe, I'll track you, Molly and Wrigley on the IAIS rail fan site!... (not sure how thrilled Molly looks w/ a new brother)... had no idea about some of those other sites... I typically check out MRH and personal blogs, but maybe I need to explore some of the others that you mention... maybe that's where some of my favorites are hangin' out! |
| IAISfan |
Posted - 03/26/2013 : 11:27:11 AM
Thanks Jim. There are a lot of options in forums these days, with each having their own "specialty", it seems. I think RRL is a great fit for many, but I just found myself getting spread too thin. Since the Atlas Forum shut down, I've been visiting here, on MRH, Atlas Rescue, Rustbucket, Protomodeler, Trainorders, and the Proto-Layouts list on Yahoo. It's no wonder I don't seem to get as much modeling done! ;-)
I just decided it was time to simplify life a bit, so I think I'm going to focus on Proto-Layouts and Trainorders, since I feel like I have the most in common with the greatest number of people there. I hope to continue staying in touch with you all, one way or another. |
| BandO Boy |
Posted - 03/26/2013 : 11:09:26 AM
Hope to still see you on here occasionally, Joe... amazing amount of posters seem to have withered away, especially in the Mid Scale and Construction threads... many of whom I looked forward to just seem to be gone... I guess new endeavors, new options, personal issues, etc. take their toll on everyone's time and energy... oh well. |
| IAISfan |
Posted - 03/26/2013 : 09:24:05 AM
quote:
Originally posted by BBLmber
I can understand Joe, I still wish you would pop in ocasionally when you finish a big update.
Mark
Thanks Mark. I may try to pop in now and then, if for nothing else than to provide a link to the latest changes. I've got a busy couple months ahead with trying to get some updates done in time for OS Omaha, a big op session weekend at the end of May. I'm hoping to get all my roads done by then, as well as the scenery between Bluffs Yard and the UP's yard. |
| BBLmber |
Posted - 03/26/2013 : 09:13:28 AM
I can understand Joe, I still wish you would pop in ocasionally when you finish a big update.
Mark |
| IAISfan |
Posted - 03/26/2013 : 07:44:51 AM
Thanks Ollie. I'm trying to minimize my on-line time, so I'm leaning toward not updating this thread any further, but anyone who cares to monitor my progress can do so by visiting http://www.iaisrailfans.org/gallery/Sub4WestEnd . One of the two photos at the top will typically change as I complete each project. |
| Ollie |
Posted - 03/26/2013 : 04:24:16 AM
I understand that as I have a really hard time to jump up and order something that looks good. I am now eyeballing on the Genesis SP GP9.s in Bloody nose paint and a couple of Genesis GP 38-s for SP aswell. Recently I picked up a quartet of Zebra striped Geeps for Santa Fe... not to mention some european models aswell.... I don't seem to have the dicipline to skip what is new and have a respectable collection of models from almost anywhere... Love to follow your thread and please keep it alive!
Best Regards!!!! |
| IAISfan |
Posted - 02/19/2013 : 5:13:01 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Ollie
Looking good! Love these variations in your roster!! Great photos of the both units too!
Thanks Ollie. These older units definitely make me glad I'm modeling an earlier era. The announcement of the new Intermountain ES44ACs in IAIS paint was certainly tempting, but to me, there's just no comparison between the interest level of the IAIS before and after those new GEs arrived. I know some love them and all the associated ethanol and DDG traffic, but I'll take older, less-uniform power and shorter trains any day.
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| Ollie |
Posted - 02/19/2013 : 05:33:39 AM
Looking good! Love these variations in your roster!! Great photos of the both units too! |
| IAISfan |
Posted - 02/13/2013 : 2:25:16 PM
quote:
Originally posted by CVSNE
On your roster you have a note on some engines "returned" - were these borrowed power that was returned to the owner? Or was it leased power painted IAIS where the leases expired?
Hi Marty - The units marked as "Returned" at http://www.iaisrailfans.org/info/Locomotives were all lease returns. SD20s 100-103 and GP7 309 were in IAIS paint due to longer-term leases, but the others all remained in the scheme of the leasing company (or the prior owner before them).
By the way, just to clarify, the IAISrailfans site isn't mine. It's owned by Nathan Holmes and Michael Petersen, but they've been great about letting me play in their yard. The roster pages are entirely their work.
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