I sent Trains an email about this, but have not heard anything back yet so I figured I would ask here. I heard that the NS was going to re-align the Southern West district from St. Louis, MO to Princeton, IN to move off of the property of Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. I was stationed there recently (I am in the USAF, but now stationed in England), and I am modelling this line. I think this is going to be quite interesting as there isnt a whole lot of places the line could go to detour around the base. Has anyone heard anything about this?
Matt
Although I myself don’t know anything but a little bit about the Eastern lines of the Southern. I would hope that some of Mr. Claytor’s sons or daughters could help this guy model a goodly part of what was a part of the old Southern system.[^][tup]
the property as you call it is the railroads. the base was built around the railroad. and then to the other side. also the new airport made the same statement that they would have the railroad moved and the runways made longer so they could get biger plains in there. guess what the railroad is still thier nothing has moved. and scott is destined to close in a few years anyways and that aint the word from a airman . much higher up.
Wouldnt be a good prototype modeller if I didnt know the history. Interesting note about the airmen there, two were charged with murder back in the 40s or 50s (Id have to check my book) for throwing a switch against a Southern fast freight, derailing the locomotive and killing the crew. The spurs that used to run to all of the warehouses in the area are for the most part gone, except for one we unearthed by accident while doing a road repair project. Apparently this line has become a security concern post 9/11 (understandably so), and now they want to go forth and move it. Hopefully the base does not close too soon, I was hoping to finish out my career and retire from the USAF there…Love that area!!!
Matt
This isn’t the first railroad to be re-aligned around an airport. Prior to World War II, the 59th Street line of the BRC was moved to its current alignment to accomodate the expansion of Chicago Municipal Airport (later renamed Midway). Of course, there was almost nothing there at the time, so it wasn’t too hard to do.
Same seems to be true at Las Vegas’s McCarran Airport…UP branch makes a jog around the southwest corner of the property.