History of the MR&T?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’ve always enjoyed Model Railroader’s own railroad, the MR&T. But the MR&T seems to be a ‘modern’ railroad. I’ve always wondered, has anyone ever written a (fictional) history of it?

For example, the MR&T started in 1934. But nobody just started railroads in the depths of the Great Depression. I assume that the MR&T was created by the merge of two or more struggling railroads. Were they both steam, or was one an interurban?

What kind of steam power did the MR&T run: Pacifics, Northerns, or bigger? If one of the predecessor lines was an interurban, how long did electric operations last?

When did the MR&T dieselize? Were there any Baldwins/Limas/FMs?

Did passenger service end at some point, or was it handed off to Amtrak? Any named trains, connecting Pullman service, joint passenger trains headed south or west?

The MR&T is on Lake Michigan, were there ever any lake ferries?

Other people probably have their own questions. Course, if no one has ever sat down and figured this all out, it would make an interesting article[;)]

2

I imagine, since it’s been around in one form or another for so long, that someone worked out a “history” of the Milwaukee Racine & Troy. Unfortunately, search engines don’t recognize an ampersand so searching on “MR&T” for more info only came up with…

“I pity the fool who don’t like model trains!!”

[:O]

3

You have to put it in quotes/ Of course a google search for “MR&T” history returns - THIS thread. LOL.

–Randy

4

I did a Google search for MR&T without the ampersand and came up with lots of pages for the A-Team guy :slight_smile:

5

I ereally wish MRR would toot their own horn more often than they do, I’d love to read aout the MR&T, it’s history & evolution, the whole 9 yards.

Jason Shron did a minsclule bit when he did the 75th anniversary car, but it;'s hardly a page of history.