While my interests have been for a modern Texas shortline the last few years, I've recently been rolling around some ideas for a much different layout. It models a "powerhouse" of a freelanced railroad that represents a "what-if" scenario of two classic railroads that merged to pull themselves out of financial ruin. I just thought I'd share and see what you guys think. I've fabricated a history and theme, but BEWARE.....I must emphasize that this is a freelanced railroad lol. Here's the story: Midland-Pacific System •Milwaukee Road/Rock Island Merger •Late 1980s-Early 1990s •Pacific Coast Extension in Montana •Class 1 Railroad Conrail of the West. The Milwaukee Road and Rock Island merge in 1975 to form the Midland-Pacific System. Locomotives and rolling stock are pooled together, a new line is built to tap the Powder River Coal Basin, and unprofitable lines are sold or abandoned when the 1980 Staggers Rail Act is passed. The large system begins to turn handsome profits and becomes a major rival to the Burlington Northern in both the Midwest and Northwest by the mid 1980s. The former Milwaukee Road's Pacific Coast Extension becomes a major corridor for intermodal and other time sensitive freights. Intermodal, unit grain trains, and unit coal trains make up the backbone of the railroad's traffic system-wide. Much like the Burlington Northern, EMD SD40-2s are a dime a dozen and handle virtually every type of mainline service on the system. Many of the hot intermodal trains are hustled by GP60s, new General Electric B40-8s, and some GP40-2s. General freights will be seen behind virtually any and every type of locomotive on the roster, including units listed above, SD60Ms (with 2-window cabs), SD50s, and GE C30-7s. Coal drags primarily see SD50s, SD40-2s, and SD60Ms. Electro-Motive GP38-2s and aging GP35s handle most branch and local service. A few MP15AC switchers are stationed in some major terminals. A small handful of SD45s left over from the Milwaukee Road are almost exclusively found in helper service over the mountain passes of the Pacific Coast Extension. The railroad is receiving its very first orders of fresh new General Electric C40-8Ws and is using them on almost every type of mainline service. All units purchased after the 1975 merger, and most from both predecessor roads, have been painted in the Midland-Pacific System scheme. Cabs and long hoods are painted black, while noses are orange with BN-style diagonal black stripes on the front. The undercarriage, including fuel tanks, trucks, and front/rear pilots are painted in Union Pacific-style Harbor Mist Gray. An orange sill stripe separates it from the black car body. Locomotives in former Milwaukee Road and Rock Island schemes are rare and have Midland-Pacific reporting marks stenciled on the cab. Though in good operating condition, these units are heavily weathered and faded. Also: Layout will be N scale, and most likely be a slightly modified version of the Salt Lake Route track plan featured in Model Railroader a few years ago. Small mountain town and engine terminal on one side of the backdrop, mountain pass scenery on the other.
I think that sounds great. Sometimes I wish I had gone a bit more freelanced instead of prototype. It all sounds plausible and you will enjoy running the motive power and modeling the scenery that you like. Go for it and learn from the experience. Post up progress photos!
Thanks guys, I appreciate the positive comments! This concept has been sticking out to me more and more lately. It just seems to have more of a purpose since I'm modeling lines that actually existed, instead of just duplicating other lines in areas already choked with countless other railroads. It also helps that Montana is one of my favorite states. I'm not sure how long it'll be before I could start on the proposed layout, as space is an issue right now. I have, however already purchased some scenery materials to start building small modules with in the meantime. I'll soon be purchasing rolling stock, too.
I did a little experimenting with the paint scheme I had in mind and I'm happy with the results. I decided to go with a white sill stripe instead of orange. I also reversed the name to Pacific-Midland. Seems to sound more "northwest-y" somehow . I used Australia's Pacific National logo as inspiration for mine. It looks nice to me and it just seems unique. I played with a patched Rock Island unit as well, though it looks much cleaner than what I imagine. Both are SD40-2s.
The name reverse sounds like the company started in the West and bought lines eastward. Really like the two color logo. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Update: Here's the biggest and newest example of power on the Pacific-Midland. The railroad took its first orders of these General Electric C40-8Ws in early 1991 after having good experiences with its 4-axle, standard cab counterparts. At an impressive 4,000hp, these units are proving to be very successful in almost every duty on the P-M System. I think this color combination really looks sharp on the GE wide nose body. This paint scheme varies from the standard hood unit scheme only by modifications for the wide nose and larger lettering on the hood.
