These are pictures from one of our operating sessions earlier this year. In my basement, the Milwaukee is still going busy between 1980 and 1983. So busy, that the Avery Yardmaster has a though job! Enjoy a travel back in time to a place where the sun always shines, the birds sing and the Milwaukee sends as many as 12 trains a day over St Paul Pass, not counting locals and the Olympian Hiawatha, which is still going strong! This picture shows one of the more stressful moments for the Avery Yardmaster - main and siding occupied and a third train has no other place to go except on the last Yyard track left free! Between those trains, helper #148 is stuck between them and has no way to go! That's why #99, Bensenville to Tacoma piggypack gets a yellow board at Kyle (Yes, the Milwaukee had to switch to CTC to master the volume of traffic!), the last siding before Avery. All 48 signals currently in operation are scratchbuilt, which took the better part of the last two years. The next picture reveals the pressure the yardmaster is under! His yard is also totally plugged with loaded and empty log cars and two locals. Our Yardmasters usually do a very efficient job to get the trains out and earn money for the Railroad! Later, when the dust had settled, #5002 is seen approaching it's train. It soon will be ready to get another long cut of log cars to Silvertip Landing. (Not modelled yet). Enjoy! Michael
The last pix has nothing to do with Avery, but it is such a fine photo, made by my son Florian (he did also all the other photos in this thread) that I simply have to post it: NW2 #672 after getting spark arrestors! Enjoy!
Too cool! With you building St Paul Pass, you may want to see a recent issue of N Scale RRing mag. Kirk Reddie is building the same, and he showed how he built his trestle approaches, distinctively MILW-style. I love the Train #99 shot. very nicely done.
That yard actually would get very busy and almost as plugged up as modeled. More photos, please! Do you have a layout plan drawn up? Boxcab E50
If you like modeling that section of the Milw, you are going to be stunned by what Kirk is doing. I went back to old home turf in June. While there caught up with a few old friends. Got the tour of what is under construction at Kirk's and what the end result will be. It is monumental. So keep watching that magazine! Boxcab E50
Only a schematic: http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/picture.php?albumid=1106&pictureid=15239 I drew the layout plan with CADRail, but I lost it. Michael
I visited the NScale ModelRailroading site and the issues look really outstanding to me. I ordered a few issues immediately and looking forward to learn more.... Michael
Very well worth subscribing. I have every issue of NSR. With that new info in mind, I will definitely keep my sub up to date!
I think I have found some other fellow N scaler that might actually have more MILW log cars than me. I have 52 of them in either CWWR or MILW.
Kirk also changed the format slightly with this issue. I need to win the lottery. Start getting my fleet together of Milw log cars. Boxcab E50
Ken, I am ALWAYS on the hunt for more log cars. Gee I wonder why, considering the RR that I model. LOL I just scored another 5 cars last night for the bargain price of $20! I need more cars like I need a hole in the head but I continue to keep finding them and they just happen to leap into my hands. If you are seeking to expand your log car fleet. Dont hesitate to ask me.
Wow, Michael, great looking layout! I sold you a couple of MILW SD40-2's sometime earlier this decade. Glad to see they went to an exceptionally good home!
Hi, Dave! I remember very well, although I don't know which numbers I gave them. As all my SD40-2s are working hard on the layout you can be sure that yours are among them too! More photos and stories follow when we make a photo-session with (hopefully) better photographs that show much more of the layout! happy MRRing Michael
Speaking of seeing more- Hey, Bob! What projects were you working on this summer? I'm betting you were busy at the workbench with something top secret. (Ha ha.) Anything you would share here with us? Surely you didn't stop modeling during the warm months? Boxcab E50
