Milwaukee Road 113
Milwaukee Road addict...
Great stuff guys, awesome!
Freelancing.....
- Thread starter Milwaukee Road 113
- Start date
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The neat thing about freelancing is that you're running a fictional railroad. Why couldn't you be running SD70ACe's on the mainline and yet have a 2-10-2 hauling local freight on a branch line? Maybe your CEO is a big fan of steam and decided to do that as both a self-indulgence and as good PR and community relations. Then there's the beautifully restored F9's that leave every day hauling the passenger excursion train just after the 10am Amtrak clears the station. And boy do the railfans love watching that freshly rebuilt GP9 in its heritage livery doing yard and local freight work lashed up to a more pedestrian GP40-2.
With the exception of the 2-10-2 being in revenue service instead of pulling an office train, all of that happens every day on real railroads. Even when modeling prototype railroads, it's still YOUR model railroad and you're allowed whatever leeway you want. When you're actually doing freelance, though, you really can quite literally do anything and nobody can really say a word even if they're a hard-core rivet counter. There's no template and really almost nothing you can't justify in one way or another. Go nuts
Even if you don't go quite that eclectically nuts with things, remember that within the type of train locomotives stick around for a very long time. Yes, the transition from steam to diesel happened very quickly because it was radical new equipment and a complete change in technology, but that's a singular event and even then some railroads stuck to at least some steam for a few decades. There are still GP7s and 9s running around and SD40's (not even dash 2's) that are being rebuilt to modern standards and still have long lives ahead.
I model a time period... late 1970's- early 1980's. For two reasons, first that is the first period I remember sitting along the tracks and watching the trains. I lived along the CNW route from Chicago to Milwaukee. I remember the two color bi-level commuter trains with the push-pull engines and the freights with seemingly endless strings of RBOX cars on them and the auto racks headed for the AMC plant in Kenosha. The second reason, I'm not a fan of steam or the carbody diesels, but I love the variety in rolling stock paint schemes from those eras. So the bankruptcy/merger era were for me the ending of that type of marketing being used to a heavy degree. I remember living along the BN main in the 80's and catching a tiger stripe GP-50(IIRC) was a HUGE thing to separate itself from the endless strings of green and black or the endless lines of TOFC cars and gray covered hoppers.
Cheers mate!
I wouldn't say that, I was thinking that they were salvaged from scrapped units etc., etc...
Seen a few of these for sale on eBay, handy for the car maybe? lol
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Milwaukee Road 113
Milwaukee Road addict...
These gave me ideas as well....love those Beeps!
Photo: Tony Kimmel
Photo: John Mallory
Photo: John Sjollander
Yip, definitely gonna have to try my hands on one of those! lol
Source: http://atsf.railfan.net/beep/
Photo: Tony Kimmel
Photo: John Mallory
Photo: John Sjollander
Yip, definitely gonna have to try my hands on one of those! lol
Source: http://atsf.railfan.net/beep/
photoman475
Member
MILW 113:
That is the only one they built-it was the "prototype", if you will, for the CF 7 rebuild program in Cleburne. Baldwin S12 switcher was used for the frame and cab, electrical and 567 from a GP unit.
That is the only one they built-it was the "prototype", if you will, for the CF 7 rebuild program in Cleburne. Baldwin S12 switcher was used for the frame and cab, electrical and 567 from a GP unit.
Milwaukee Road 113
Milwaukee Road addict...
You'll have to excuse the rather.....well, crude work. But the Beep gave me ideas. So I thought of another project for my shop workers....
Wonder if it would work?
http://www.trainweb.org/willstrainart/Art_Index.htm
Wonder if it would work?
http://www.trainweb.org/willstrainart/Art_Index.htm
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Milwaukee Road 113
Milwaukee Road addict...
Last edited by a moderator:
Milwaukee Road 113
Milwaukee Road addict...
Came across this website, while looking for stuff for my Milwaukee & Western, will come in handy as I'm planning to have tracks down to West Virginia..
http://appalachianrailroadmodeling.com/
http://appalachianrailroadmodeling.com/
Iron Horseman
Well-Known Member
Too bad Athearn Genesis isn't doing that paint scheme on their new GP7Bs. http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/012315/02_Gen_GP7-GP9_012315.pdf
Milwaukee Road 113
Milwaukee Road addict...
Have to give up after a while, as the (censored) Gimp2 was doing my head in, to put it mildly, coffee saved the situation here!
Anyway, before I could tidy it all up, removing those wee 'hooks' or what you want to call them, those on top of the 'M' and at
the bottom of the 'W', I closed the program, me and the Gimp2 do not get along...
Anyway, what it's supposed to look like, is the logo for my Milwaukee & Western Railroad, as you maybe notice, is that I borrowed
the old N&W logo, as I thought that I could fiddle with the 'W' and turn it to an 'M'. I was also thinking of borrow those stripes that PRR used
on their E units etc., not sure if I should go for all black locomotives or dark green, red or whatever...oh well..time for another coffee!
Anyway, before I could tidy it all up, removing those wee 'hooks' or what you want to call them, those on top of the 'M' and at
the bottom of the 'W', I closed the program, me and the Gimp2 do not get along...
Anyway, what it's supposed to look like, is the logo for my Milwaukee & Western Railroad, as you maybe notice, is that I borrowed
the old N&W logo, as I thought that I could fiddle with the 'W' and turn it to an 'M'. I was also thinking of borrow those stripes that PRR used
on their E units etc., not sure if I should go for all black locomotives or dark green, red or whatever...oh well..time for another coffee!
MikeOwnby
Active Member
I'm still a little miffed you didn't use the name with Midland in it 
, but looks like you've got some great plans.
If you're wanting to model up some really unique stuff, there's always Shapeways as a resource to check out. After all, your freelance railroad could have bought just about anything from anywhere. Of course, I personally love anything that's particularly "ugly" or unique so that place is a candy store for me as far as oddballs that never got put into production by the model manufacturers.
I personally have plans already to create some "heritage" units that throwback to the original real Midland Valley railroad. The geography is all wrong since my modern Midland Valley interchanges with NS, but I can pretend the modern Midland Valley expanded eastward a bit
In any case, I think that paint job will make for a somewhat striking look on a GEVO or SD70ACe, even if the logo is a bit retro and plain-ish.
, but looks like you've got some great plans.If you're wanting to model up some really unique stuff, there's always Shapeways as a resource to check out. After all, your freelance railroad could have bought just about anything from anywhere. Of course, I personally love anything that's particularly "ugly" or unique so that place is a candy store for me as far as oddballs that never got put into production by the model manufacturers.
I personally have plans already to create some "heritage" units that throwback to the original real Midland Valley railroad. The geography is all wrong since my modern Midland Valley interchanges with NS, but I can pretend the modern Midland Valley expanded eastward a bit
In any case, I think that paint job will make for a somewhat striking look on a GEVO or SD70ACe, even if the logo is a bit retro and plain-ish.
Milwaukee Road 113
Milwaukee Road addict...
You're in luck Mike...
The Michigan Interstate Railway Company (reporting mark AA) was formed on October 1, 1977, to operate the Ann Arbor Railroad from Toledo to Frankfort. The AA had declared bankruptcy and was included in the assets of Conrail, formed on April 1, 1976. Just 18 months later, the operations of the AA under Conrail were transferred to the MIRC. The MIRC operated until October 7, 1988, when the Ann Arbor Railroad (1988) assumed operations.
Operations
The MIRC began operations on October 1, 1977, and operated until October 7, 1988. The MIRC was operated by the State of Michigan. With its experienced directors, the MIRC was able to regain lost traffic. In 1982, the MIRC ceased car ferry operations across Lake Michigan. On September 30, 1982, the MIRC ceased operations north of Ann Arbor. The remaining portions from Ann Arbor to Frankfort were split between the Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway, running from Ann Arbor to Alma, and the Michigan Northern Railway, running from Alma to Frankfort. The southern portion of the MIRC from Toledo to Ann Arbor continued to operate until October 7, 1988, when the Ann Arbor Acquisition Corporation assumed operations.
Roster
Upon the formation of the MIRC, the State of Michigan purchased all rolling stock, supplies, and equipment from the Ann Arbor Railroad, which included GP35s, S-3s, and RS-1s. Several of the GP35s were in a state of disrepair by late 1982 and upon the formation of the TSBY, were sold to the TSBY along with several other pieces of equipment. On March 11, 1985, the MIRC acquired three former Conrail GP38s numbered 7771, 7791, and 7802. The MIRC also contracted a long term lease with the Ludington and Northern Railroad to operate SW8 16.
I think that my Michigan Interstate Railroad, will now become Michigan Midland Railroad....
The Michigan Interstate Railway Company (reporting mark AA) was formed on October 1, 1977, to operate the Ann Arbor Railroad from Toledo to Frankfort. The AA had declared bankruptcy and was included in the assets of Conrail, formed on April 1, 1976. Just 18 months later, the operations of the AA under Conrail were transferred to the MIRC. The MIRC operated until October 7, 1988, when the Ann Arbor Railroad (1988) assumed operations.
Operations
The MIRC began operations on October 1, 1977, and operated until October 7, 1988. The MIRC was operated by the State of Michigan. With its experienced directors, the MIRC was able to regain lost traffic. In 1982, the MIRC ceased car ferry operations across Lake Michigan. On September 30, 1982, the MIRC ceased operations north of Ann Arbor. The remaining portions from Ann Arbor to Frankfort were split between the Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway, running from Ann Arbor to Alma, and the Michigan Northern Railway, running from Alma to Frankfort. The southern portion of the MIRC from Toledo to Ann Arbor continued to operate until October 7, 1988, when the Ann Arbor Acquisition Corporation assumed operations.
Roster
Upon the formation of the MIRC, the State of Michigan purchased all rolling stock, supplies, and equipment from the Ann Arbor Railroad, which included GP35s, S-3s, and RS-1s. Several of the GP35s were in a state of disrepair by late 1982 and upon the formation of the TSBY, were sold to the TSBY along with several other pieces of equipment. On March 11, 1985, the MIRC acquired three former Conrail GP38s numbered 7771, 7791, and 7802. The MIRC also contracted a long term lease with the Ludington and Northern Railroad to operate SW8 16.
I think that my Michigan Interstate Railroad, will now become Michigan Midland Railroad....
Milwaukee Road 113
Milwaukee Road addict...
A bit of an all time diesel roster, for my Milwaukee & Western Railroad with subsidiaries...
25 Alco C630's... 3000-3024.
50 Alco EMD SD9's... 1700-1749.
10 FM H24-66's... 4800-4805 and S1-S4. 6 road units and 4 slugs/B-units, re-powered with Alco 251-16’s.
20 EMD SD24's... 2400-2419.
8 EMD TR4A-B... 2000-2007 A/B
Milwaukee & Western Railroad
With subsidiaries,
North Shore & Hudson River Railroad, NS&HR,
Pittsburgh, Cleveland & West Virginia Railway, PC&WV,
Minneapolis & North Western Railroad, M&NW,
Montana & Wyoming Railway, M&W..
Alco:
10 Alco FA-1 A-B-B-A sets
4 Alco PA-1 A-B-A sets
15 Alco S-2
20 Alco S-4
9 Alco RS-1
12 Alco RS-2
39 Alco RS-3
33 Alco RS-11
9 Alco RS-32
15 Alco RSD-7*
9 Alco RSD-12*
15 Alco RSD-15*
17 Alco RSC-2
25 Alco RSD-5
10 Alco C-420
14 Alco C-424
19 Alco C-425
23 Alco C-628
15 Alco C-630
15 Alco C-636
Baldwin:
12 Blw VO-1000
9 Blw AS-16
6 Blw AS-616
10 Blw RS-12
8 Blw S-12
20 Blw DS4-4-1000
7 Blw VO-660
Fairbanks Morse
15 H10-44
25 H12-44
20 H16-44
15 H16-66
5 Erie-Builts A-B-A sets
7 C-Liners A-B-A sets
General Electric
11 GE U23B*
18 GE U25B
23 GE U28B
56 GE U30B*
28 GE U30C
25 GE U33C
15 GE U36C*
EMD
8 EMD NW2
10 EMD SW1
18 EMD SW7 (6 TR4 sets)
14 EMD SW9
30 EMD SW 1200
15 EMD SW 1500
8 EMD E7 A-B-A sets
10 EMD E8 A-B-A sets
18 EMD E9 A-B-A sets*
15 EMD F3 A-B-B-A sets
25 EMD F7 A-B-B-A sets
8 EMD F9 A-B-B-A sets
24 EMD GP7
121 EMD GP9
26 EMD GP18
25 EMD GP30
42 EMD GP35
18 EMD GP38-2*
25 EMD GP40-2*
24 EMD SD7
30 EMD SD9
27 EMD SD24
15 EMD SD35*
126 EMD SD40-2*
35 EMD SD45*
Well, that's my all time diesel roster for the Michigan Interstate and Milwaukee & Western for now anyway, as those marked with a * might disappear from the list, because with a lot rebuilds and upgrades, those might not be needed, plus....I'll most likely will concentrate on time period between '65-'75, which means that are quite a few recently outshopped and those still in the shops being rebuilt wheels up, so I don't know if those -2 are necessary as the rebuilds will get new electronics, shopped noses, new engines where needed, etc., etc...
Also have some serious thinking about those GE's...
As always, ideas, suggestions and so on, are very much welcome!
Michigan Midland Railroad
30 Alco C628's... 2800-2829.
25 Alco C630's... 3000-3024.
50 Alco EMD SD9's... 1700-1749.
10 FM H24-66's... 4800-4805 and S1-S4. 6 road units and 4 slugs/B-units, re-powered with Alco 251-16’s.
20 EMD SD24's... 2400-2419.
8 EMD TR4A-B... 2000-2007 A/B
Milwaukee & Western Railroad
With subsidiaries,
North Shore & Hudson River Railroad, NS&HR,
Pittsburgh, Cleveland & West Virginia Railway, PC&WV,
Minneapolis & North Western Railroad, M&NW,
Montana & Wyoming Railway, M&W..
10 Alco FA-1 A-B-B-A sets
4 Alco PA-1 A-B-A sets
15 Alco S-2
20 Alco S-4
9 Alco RS-1
12 Alco RS-2
39 Alco RS-3
33 Alco RS-11
9 Alco RS-32
15 Alco RSD-7*
9 Alco RSD-12*
15 Alco RSD-15*
17 Alco RSC-2
25 Alco RSD-5
10 Alco C-420
14 Alco C-424
19 Alco C-425
23 Alco C-628
15 Alco C-630
15 Alco C-636
Baldwin:
12 Blw VO-1000
9 Blw AS-16
6 Blw AS-616
10 Blw RS-12
8 Blw S-12
20 Blw DS4-4-1000
7 Blw VO-660
Fairbanks Morse
15 H10-44
25 H12-44
20 H16-44
15 H16-66
5 Erie-Builts A-B-A sets
7 C-Liners A-B-A sets
General Electric
11 GE U23B*
18 GE U25B
23 GE U28B
56 GE U30B*
28 GE U30C
25 GE U33C
15 GE U36C*
EMD
8 EMD NW2
10 EMD SW1
18 EMD SW7 (6 TR4 sets)
14 EMD SW9
30 EMD SW 1200
15 EMD SW 1500
8 EMD E7 A-B-A sets
10 EMD E8 A-B-A sets
18 EMD E9 A-B-A sets*
15 EMD F3 A-B-B-A sets
25 EMD F7 A-B-B-A sets
8 EMD F9 A-B-B-A sets
24 EMD GP7
121 EMD GP9
26 EMD GP18
25 EMD GP30
42 EMD GP35
18 EMD GP38-2*
25 EMD GP40-2*
24 EMD SD7
30 EMD SD9
27 EMD SD24
15 EMD SD35*
126 EMD SD40-2*
35 EMD SD45*
Well, that's my all time diesel roster for the Michigan Interstate and Milwaukee & Western for now anyway, as those marked with a * might disappear from the list, because with a lot rebuilds and upgrades, those might not be needed, plus....I'll most likely will concentrate on time period between '65-'75, which means that are quite a few recently outshopped and those still in the shops being rebuilt wheels up, so I don't know if those -2 are necessary as the rebuilds will get new electronics, shopped noses, new engines where needed, etc., etc...
Also have some serious thinking about those GE's...
As always, ideas, suggestions and so on, are very much welcome!
Milwaukee Road 113
Milwaukee Road addict...
Gonna have a closer look at my diesel roster this week as I'm off work...happy days!
Anyhoo, what I wanted to ask you lot, that are freelancing, how are you doing the time set, is it set in particular year, or more like 5-10 years, like 50-55 or is it a decade, like the 60's?
I've been thinking of putting the Milwaukee & Western in time period of '65-'75 and should I go back further in time, being the steam fan that I am, possibly around '45-'55...
Ideas, suggestions?
Anyhoo, what I wanted to ask you lot, that are freelancing, how are you doing the time set, is it set in particular year, or more like 5-10 years, like 50-55 or is it a decade, like the 60's?
I've been thinking of putting the Milwaukee & Western in time period of '65-'75 and should I go back further in time, being the steam fan that I am, possibly around '45-'55...
Ideas, suggestions?
MikeOwnby
Active Member
The neat thing about freelancing is that you're running a fictional railroad. Why couldn't you be running SD70ACe's on the mainline and yet have a 2-10-2 hauling local freight on a branch line? Maybe your CEO is a big fan of steam and decided to do that as both a self-indulgence and as good PR and community relations. Then there's the beautifully restored F9's that leave every day hauling the passenger excursion train just after the 10am Amtrak clears the station. And boy do the railfans love watching that freshly rebuilt GP9 in its heritage livery doing yard and local freight work lashed up to a more pedestrian GP40-2.
With the exception of the 2-10-2 being in revenue service instead of pulling an office train, all of that happens every day on real railroads. Even when modeling prototype railroads, it's still YOUR model railroad and you're allowed whatever leeway you want. When you're actually doing freelance, though, you really can quite literally do anything and nobody can really say a word even if they're a hard-core rivet counter. There's no template and really almost nothing you can't justify in one way or another. Go nuts
Even if you don't go quite that eclectically nuts with things, remember that within the type of train locomotives stick around for a very long time. Yes, the transition from steam to diesel happened very quickly because it was radical new equipment and a complete change in technology, but that's a singular event and even then some railroads stuck to at least some steam for a few decades. There are still GP7s and 9s running around and SD40's (not even dash 2's) that are being rebuilt to modern standards and still have long lives ahead.
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Milwaukee Road 113
Milwaukee Road addict...
Thanks for the reply Mike!
Almost the same with doing a roster, may it be steam or diesel or both, should one really care about the output of a certain diesel in real life, if I want 50 RSD-15's, I'll have 50 RSD-15's... A bit of a headache, but a fun headache...
Almost the same with doing a roster, may it be steam or diesel or both, should one really care about the output of a certain diesel in real life, if I want 50 RSD-15's, I'll have 50 RSD-15's...
A bit of a headache, but a fun headache...I model a time period... late 1970's- early 1980's. For two reasons, first that is the first period I remember sitting along the tracks and watching the trains. I lived along the CNW route from Chicago to Milwaukee. I remember the two color bi-level commuter trains with the push-pull engines and the freights with seemingly endless strings of RBOX cars on them and the auto racks headed for the AMC plant in Kenosha. The second reason, I'm not a fan of steam or the carbody diesels, but I love the variety in rolling stock paint schemes from those eras. So the bankruptcy/merger era were for me the ending of that type of marketing being used to a heavy degree. I remember living along the BN main in the 80's and catching a tiger stripe GP-50(IIRC) was a HUGE thing to separate itself from the endless strings of green and black or the endless lines of TOFC cars and gray covered hoppers.
Milwaukee Road 113
Milwaukee Road addict...
Cool...
I don't have much interest in anything after '76 and Conrail....
I don't have much interest in anything after '76 and Conrail....
Milwaukee Road 113
Milwaukee Road addict...
Gentlemen....
Is there any rules/laws, as to which air horns to use on freight, passenger diesels or switchers, or was/is it up to the railroad company?
I was thinking of using the Nathan M5 horns as a standard equipment for my diesels, I imagine them being perfectly fine for the road units, but maybe a bit of a overkill on the switchers, or?
Nathan M5R2 Horn
3 Forward, 2 Reverse
Is there any rules/laws, as to which air horns to use on freight, passenger diesels or switchers, or was/is it up to the railroad company?
I was thinking of using the Nathan M5 horns as a standard equipment for my diesels, I imagine them being perfectly fine for the road units, but maybe a bit of a overkill on the switchers, or?
Nathan M5R2 Horn
3 Forward, 2 Reverse
Iron Horseman
Well-Known Member
hmmm interesting question. I don't know. I don't think there were any rules other than it has to have a horn that souded at a certain decibel level.
So you have a very wealthy railroad! I would think cost was the driving factor in why different roads choose different horns, and why most switchers just had a single tone "honker".
Milwaukee Road 113
Milwaukee Road addict...
Cheers mate!
I wouldn't say that, I was thinking that they were salvaged from scrapped units etc., etc...
Seen a few of these for sale on eBay, handy for the car maybe? lol
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