The S scale Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville layout

A model railroad trackplan

Facts and features Name: Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville (Monon) Scale: S (1:64)Size: 38 x 62 feetPrototype: MononLocale: west central IndianaEra: late 1940sStyle: walk-in Mainline run: 180 feetMinimum radius: 48″ (main), 36″ (sidings and spurs)Minimum turnout: No. 6Maximum grade: 1% (main), 2.5% (to staging)Benchwork: L girderHeight: 46″ to 49″Roadbed: HomasoteTrack: code 100 (main), codes 83 and […]

Read More…

Fort Wayne society names Lynch as executive director

Man in period rail garb in front of steam locomotive

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, known for its stewardship of Nickel Plate Road steam engine No. 765 and the Indiana Rail Experience rail tourism program, has named Kelly Lynch as its first executive director — the first paid employee in the organization’s 52-year history. Lynch has been a member of […]

Read More…

Railfan Road: Railfanning the upper Mississippi

A red diesel leads a freight train over a earthen fill across a river inlet

Railfanning the upper Mississippi River is a rewarding experience. The area’s scenic beauty rated a slogan from the Burlington Route: “Where nature smiles 300 miles,” enticing passengers to Chicago, Burlington & Quincy passenger trains along the east bank of the river. Milwaukee Road’s Hiawathas (slogan: “Nothing Faster on Rails”) competed for Chicago-Twin Cities business using its own […]

Read More…

Wisconsin Great Northern owner sentenced to prison in tax case

Man working inside railroad car

MADISON, Wis. — The owner of the Wisconsin Great Northern, the heritage rail operation in Spooner, Wis., which gained significant attention for its efforts to restore the Mark Twain Zephyr, has been sentenced to a year and a day in prison for failure to pay employment taxes. Greg Vreeland, 55, of Springbrook, Wis., was sentenced […]

Read More…

Amtrak combines Capitol Limited, Silver Star to create the new Floridian (updated)

Locomotive and caboose on display next to passenger station

WASHINGTON — Amtrak is temporarily combining the Capitol Limited and Silver Star trains to create the new Floridian. Amtrak says the change is due to the upcoming East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project in New York. During this project, one tunnel tube will be closed at a time, minimizing service impacts, maximizing construction access and modernizing the tunnel infrastructure to […]

Read More…