Is the IC not popular?

PhilM May 2, 2010

  1. PhilM

    PhilM TrainBoard Member

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    I have only been interested in US railiroads since last May when I visited the mid-west (Illinois mainly but also Indiana and Ohio). The only loco I saw up close was a black geep in IC livery - so I immediately got addicted! For the last 11 months I have been collecting whatever IC turns up this side of the pond so my emerging layout is exactly what I set out not to do and the stock collected covers about 40 years from about 1970 to 2010. But my web searching for inf - and this section of this site - leads me to the question, why is the IC/ICG so unpopular? The major companies provide plenty of models for much more obscure railroads, why not for the IC/ICG? Even the GMO seems more popular than the IC. Very strange.
     
  2. MRLdave

    MRLdave TrainBoard Member

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    I know how you feel.......I model Milwaukee Road, and they aren't very popular (by the manufacturers) either. At least for them, it's a little more understandable.......MR built a lot of their own cars, so you can't just take a "standard" car and put Milwaukee paint on it. My Dad worked for IC, so I have a small collection of IC cars in his honor, and I have an IC passenger train I run at NTRAK setups. There are a few new items coming out in rolling stock, but there's a definite lack of engines. I'm not sure why either.........
     
  3. traintodd

    traintodd TrainBoard Member

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    It is interesting that you bring that up. As a long time resident of Chicago, I was always more aware of the larger railroads that came into the city. The Santa Fe, Burlington, Chicago NorthWestern and NYC/PRR/PC/Conrail were much more visible to me than the "other" railroads like the Soo Line, Rock Island, Milwaukee Road and the IC. Maybe it was the smaller footprint or the less colorful paint schemes, but the IC just never seemed to be in my mind as a railroad fan here. Its a shame too as the IC has a storied history as one of Abraham Lincoln's first large legal clients, and being the railroad with the best railroad song ever written about it, Steve Goodman's City of New Orleans.

    Nothing at all wrong with the IC, and you are probably right, it doesn't get the respect it deserves,

    Todd
     
  4. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Years ago there was a fellow who did some excellent work creating IC diesels. Long before we had the variety of today. Nothing against other paint schemes, but I always liked their white/orange.

    Dave- There have been quite a few Milw factory painted N scale models. FT, F7, FP7, FP45, E9, GP9, GP40, NW2, SW1200, SD7 & 9, SD40-2. I've probably missed a few.

    Boxcab E50
     
  5. BOK

    BOK TrainBoard Member

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    Having started railroading a long time ago on the IC as a brakeman it has always been my favorite. I worked when the diesels were black with white striping and green diamond heralds, bright red side door cabooses and orange and brown streamliners.

    If you go on ebay and do a search for Illinois Central or Illinois Central Gulf chances are that you will turn equipment in various gauges. On the yahoo groups there are few IC groups including ones for N, HO and historical.

    As time goes on, more and more equipment is being produced by Atlas, Wheels of Time and others.in several gauges. Although the only model of a side door caboose available Is in HO by Centralia Car Shops, get a hold of Marty Coil who is on this site and arrange to have him build one for you in N scale. He does a great job!

    Barry
     
  6. MRLdave

    MRLdave TrainBoard Member

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    Boxcab....you're right about the engines.....That's one place they've done better than the IC. I have most of the engines you mention, but cut off at 1960, so nothing "new".....I actually also have RS1's,RSC2's,RS3's,E6's,E7's,FM C-liners and 16-44's, DL109's and I've seen some LL Erie-builts.I've actually picked up quite a few cars too (around 120 with only 12 duplicate #'s), but noone (prior to the FVM '35 Hiawatha) has addressed the passenger trains. They've made them, but not correctly.......tail/observation cars that aren't correct....always with vista-domes......no ribsides.....I have a set of ConCors that are factory painted in a scheme I've never been able to locate a sample of. Same for the Milw specific freight......there's a lot of incorrect items out there....which is almost as bad as no items. Our club is doing an NTRAK setup at the Milwaukee Depot in Harlowton in June, and I've been trying to sort thru my stuff to figure out what's "right" and what's "wrong". I have a lot of items I can't match to the prototype.
     
  7. PhilM

    PhilM TrainBoard Member

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    I model in HO and it's the lack of current models in IC/ICG livery that I find a bit disappointing. If you look at current on-line catalogues there is very little available. I suppose it saves me loads of money though! I will have to save all my pennies for the Athearn GP10 when it comes out :tb-wink:

    Importing to the UK from the US can get a bit expensive, even used off ebay, as you have to pay tax and the carrier adds a significant handling charge. Although hopefully an Illinois based friend is bringing me a GP38-2 in deathstar black when he next comes over. I am looking forward to next year when I hope to come over with a big empty suitcase and a bankloan!!
     
  8. hoyden

    hoyden TrainBoard Supporter

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    I don't think the lack of IC equipment is because the IC is unpopular. I collect L&N and M&StL equipment and have had a similar experience. The equipment is available, just not in regular production and off the shelf. I watch manufacturers advanced product release info, and when something I want is planned I make a note of it, or place an advanced reservation. When I see equipment for sale I buy it then because I know it won't be around for long. Over time I have built up a decent roster.

    I'm thinking I will have to create my own M&StL caboose. I waited several years before I could buy a WM caboose.

    Nancy Jean
     
  9. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    I truly believe that manufacturers are driven by sales and any roadname that has high interest will get it's do. I think too that Historical Societies that are very active can also drive manufacturers towards their roadnames by keeping members informed of what models are out there and when Pre-Orders are happening.

    :tb-nerd: :tb-nerd: :tb-nerd: :tb-nerd:​
     
  10. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    A good friend of mine based his layout on the IC in and around Naches, Mississippi. He had to paint and decal most of his locomotives and cabooses.
    [​IMG]
     
  11. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Have you checked with C&NWHS? At one time they had some kits, I believe done by AMB.

    Boxcab E50
     
  12. hoyden

    hoyden TrainBoard Supporter

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    The kits are HO and I need N. They were bay window kits, which I would really like to get hold of. For a long time I couldn't find n scale bay window cabeese. Now Athearn and Microtrains have unfinished versions. I bought some F unit decals from Microscale and will eventually marry the two along with a coat of paint.

    I did check out the C&NW HS website and found lots of useful and interesting information. Thanks for the pointer!

    Nancy
     
  13. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Ah. N scale. Tom Latzig has done some real beauties in N M&St.L. But AFAIK, just one of kind.

    PM me if you'd like. Or we can start a new thread. I don't want to hijack this topic... :eek:

    Boxcab E50
     
  14. Fishplate

    Fishplate TrainBoard Supporter

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    I've also been puzzled by the relative lack of interest in Illinois Central. Maybe it's because it was a north-south railroad in a country oriented to east-west railroads?

    IC diesels are okay, but a steam-era layout would be the hot setup. IC had great steam engines (and lots of 'em), and they dieselized quite late.
     
  15. caseyjohns

    caseyjohns New Member

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    It's a shame that the IC is not covered like other roads...
     
  16. Chad Cowan

    Chad Cowan TrainBoard Member

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    Years ago there was a fellow who did some excellent work creating IC diesels. Long before we had the variety of today. Nothing against other paint schemes, but I always liked their white/orange.

    I think the gentleman you're maybe referring to is Kent Lannert from the St. Louis area. He did some amazing kitbashing in the 1980s of IC/ICG equipment in N. Actually was the one that inspired me to kitsbash my own IC/ICG equipment.

    Chad
     
  17. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Chad-

    Yes. That is his name. I remember seeing his work in the late 1970s, early 1980s, NTrak Newsletters.

    Boxcab E50
     
  18. caseyjohns

    caseyjohns New Member

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    Actually was the one that inspired me to kitsbash my own IC/ICG equipment.

    Chad[/QUOTE]

    Would love to see photographs of what you have done.
     
  19. Flashwave

    Flashwave TrainBoard Member

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    Psst: Athearn is doing models of the GP7 and 9 in HO Genesis, and they plan to do ALL of them. Including Paducah rebuilds if they can get ahold of the information on enough of them...
     

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