Just wanted to intorduce myself. Joe here, I live in Joliet, IL. and am a model railroader.
I currently do not have a functioning layout although I’m planning one for the future. I’m on the 5 year plan, hopefully in about 5 years, I’ll have a layout. There are other more important “obsticles” (sp) in my way at the moment.
I model the Rock Island, 1965 through shutdown(1980), the EJ&E, the Iowa Interstate and the CSX New Rock Subdivision. this way, when I build my layout, I will be able to operate a variety of trains through several time periods.
I joined this site a few days ago and have recognized quite a few screennames from Model Railroad Forums . com as I’m sure some of you will recognize me also.
I’m looking forward to participating in the forums here when I have time available.
Hello, Joe. Nice to see you here. Keep us up to date as you plan and begin to build your five years’ worth of fun! Maybe post some images when you get 'em.
Sounds as if you have a good, firm handle on the prototypes and eras that interest you - one of the hardest ideas for a lot of modelers to grasp.
As you build your empire, try to get wheels rolling as early as possible - even if nothing more than a work train with a couple of gondolas full of track nails and rail joiners. Even on the Plywood Pacific or the Great Blue (or pink) Desert, nothing keeps interest alive like running a train!
Also, don’t be surprised if your five year project actually stretches out over a much longer span. Be prepared, so that you won’t be disappointed by slower than expected progress. (I reached my ‘one year’ mileposts about 25 months into construction!)
I highly recommend building in modules (2’x4’ sections). You can do some switching and test your equipment with only one. Each module will encourage you to build the next and increase the operations! [^] Check with a LHS for clubs in your area and get their specifications for modules. You will find many new friends there.[:)]
More about myself, I have a 17 year old daughter and a 14 year old son. Of course, my daughter could care less about this hobby, so I will not waist anymore space on her. Now my son, thats a whole different story. Joey & I belong to the Will County Model Railroad Association. The “club” will be moving to a new home out in Mokena within the next few months. So we do have a place to operate our trains.
Yes, I have my railroads picked out for what I want to model. I grew up on the Rock Island. I have some very good friends that are retired railroaders that, before shutdown, let me ride the local jobs with them. Looking back on those days now, if upper management knew how many times there was a 13/14/15/16 year old operating their locomotives, all my friends would have been fired. Times were different though.
Anyway, my avatar, or picture, is of Rock Island Alco C-415 #424. This was the first Rock Island locomotive I ever was able to ride on. A few years back, Overland Models produced them. I wrote to them and I was able to get an HO scale model of the 424. Every time I operate it, it brings back that wonderful memory.
As for our collection, my son & I have around 100 locomotives(98% diesel), about 300 freight cars & cabooses. So, when our layout finally gets built, we’ll have freight trains ready to go.
Rock Island huh! My grandfather modeled that RR in HO way back in the late 1950’s and through the 1960’s, then he dismantled the layout and donated it to a local Boy Scout troop near his house in Pineville, LA. Here is a shot of the only known surviving item from his old layout, its a pulpwood car with a load of pulpwood made from matchsticks. The decals have fallen off, but it was a Rock Island. This piece must be around 50 years old!
Take Chuck’s advice and be flexible with your goals and schedule, time has a way of slowing down when workin’ on the railroad.
Hello Joe. I used to live in Mokena Illinois, just down the street from you, spent many a morning around the overpass of the EJ&E yard. I model the Mokena RR, which runs thru the mountian area of Illinois (?) from Mokena to Watsika, Ill. The main real road I model is the Rock Island. There was a Rock Yard along Route 30 thru Joliet I went to , got booted out after the line was bankrupted. It was close to the Joliet woods somewher Had a round table and everything.
I second the module reco whole-heartedly. Mine are 3x6 and one of the best things about them is that I can take them out by the pool on a nice day and work on 'em there.
Kind’a got a laugh out of your first line, reminded me of various help group intros with what ever is the current PC problem. This is a good help group! I don’t consider model railroading a problem tho.[swg]
I think you will like these Kalmbach forums! “Anything you want to know” can be answered here. Frankly, its been a lifesaver for me, and also has given me a chance to share my experiences and what little expertise I have with others. I recommend you check out all the different RR forums listed here, and get a feel for what info is addressed in each.
Your posting caught my eye as I lived in Joliet from 1970 to 1977. I helped build the Durkee Foods refinery on I55 & the Desplaines river and was with them until 1973 when I got a good job across the street at the Mobil Refinery. What a terrific place to work, and I stayed with Mobil thru the Exxon “merger”, and retired last year. Working at refineries (6 of them) gives you lots of train and train related paperwork exposure!
