I have been studying, researching, and stocking up for 3 years, on important items that will be on my layout. The last thing that I will need to get done before constructing the layout is remove my red bookcase and fill the gap that connect my room with the laundry room in the basement. My benchwork consist of three long Office Max folding tables with three 6x8 plywood. There will be no lighting just wiring to the tracks.
The CIR have certain “rebuilt” (undecorated) locomotives on its roster:
Freight:
2 0-6-0 saddle tanks, ATSF
1 0-8-0, unlettered
1 Dash 8, Susqyehanna
2 Dash 9s, undecorated
1 MP-15, undecorated
3 NW2s, 2 SPs and 1 PRR
1 SD26, undecorated
2 SD45, Conrail and Denver Rio Grande
Mixed
2 2-8-0, unlettered
Passengers
1 4-6-0, Chicago & Northwestern
1 4-8-4, Rock Island
1 E7A & E8B, undecorated
1 E8/9A, undecorated
1 E9A/E(B, undecorated
The main customers of the line are with some being named later:
Coldingston Steel Iron Works
A coal mine
Brick company factory
Concrete/cement factory
Scrap yard w/auto garage
Rebuild yard (rebuild locos/cars for the CIR and other railroads for a price)
Lumber warehouse
When I get more room, my layout will truly be what I want it to be because right now I am only doing one part of my railroad “system”.
My fictional railroad owns and operate the following lines under the Blac Rail system (model after the Ohio Central System):
Sounds like you are well on your way to a railroad empire. I am glad to see that my favorite railroad, the New York Central remains an independent system. Does the CIR interchange with the NYC?
I see the CIR has many undecorated models. Have you come up with a CIR paint scheme and logo to effectively brand and market your road? I realize we are only modeling but your rolling stock and locos will need some sort of reporting marks.
The NYC will be added in the future and operate under the Blac Rail (Central Illinois parent company) system. The 20th Century Limited will be the only passenger train operated on the line. All the railroad Mr. LMD bought operate as they have since the beginning, except the parent company will handle all of the financial work.
There will be two different schemes but have the same colors. the little diesel switchers will have the SP tiger stripes, the larger diesel locos will be all black with red livery. The rolling stock are boxcars, flatcars, Tichy high side gondolas, regular gondolas, coalporters, open hoppers, and covered hoppers.
Right now I’m saving for a car, but when I’m done I will be working on the layout and if you love switching operations, then you will love my layout. I’m still drawing up the blueprints right now, but i will post it later.
