This brings back memories for me as well. My first house in West Allis (sub or Milwaukee) was two block from the main building for the interurban. One block south of Wisconsin State Fair Park. There were three very large rosettes for the power to the over head lines. It went southwest to Big Bend were there's still signs of it. Then on along the Fox River to Mukwonago were there's still the piers for the duel tracks to cross. Just beond US43 & 83 is were the tracks still exist and go on to East Troy were they end. There is a repair shed filled with old rail cars and two interurban cars. Also a depot were you can ride back to Elegant Farms Mart in Mukwonago. There's still over head lines and they want to run the interurbans again. These were not just for freight but also took the big wigs to there big lake cottages. And the POWs to there jobs.
I suggest the book "TM" by Joseph Canfield. CERA bulleting 112. It covers the Milwaukee system. Including the carhouse at 84th and Lapham in West Allis.
I believe you are referring to Central Electric Railfans' Association. As a non-member I seem to be limited to the larger cities. Nice prices but will I need to become a member for more? I'm not to interested in that kind of rail but, may want to build a sample of the road from 84th and Lapham to East Troy. I lived at 86th and Orchard and then on Eagle Springs Lake. This will have to be in HO.
I'm actually from East Troy Wis. I encourage you to take a look through this thread. There is a lot of info here.
Its a great time to be in N Scale !!! I grew up watching this car pull the freight trains into town, Obviously I would be remiss if I didn't buy it . Here is the link to 3rd boxcar and his extensive collection of interurban cars. Many of the photo's I posted here are his products. TMER&L M-15 (UC2M6RC6G) by 3rdboxcar (shapeways.com)
I'm not sure how I ended up with three Electroliners but. I'f anyone else wants one here are the materials I used to this point. I used several different grits of sandpaper and several coats of Mr. Surfacer. I do not know how much I would or should sell one for because of all the labor to smooth out the prints.
Completed in 1927, the Houston North Shore Railway was the last new interurban electric railway to be built in the United States. It was the only electric traction operation the the Houston area to make it past WWII. While the Galveston-Houston Electric was a high speed mostly straight line route, the HNS was a meandering 33 mile route between Houston and Goose Creek running a small fleet of light weight passenger cars and a substantial amount of freight. Even before the line was complete, it was sold to the Missouri Pacific who saw the great potential for a freight feeder line for its system. Mostly because it ran right by the huge Humble Oil refinery in Baytown. In the MoPac system it was called the electric division of the Mop subsidiary Beaumont, Sour Lake & Western.
The housings on the locomotive look like N scale worm gear covers. It would be a neat model I think. THe North Shore lives in Great Britain ! David added some nice touches like a line crew. I like it !
Interesting! You guys stop it! I can't get anything done now and I can resist anything but temptation.
Gmorider, Aha, a great British thought from Oscar Wilde, "I can resist everything except temptation". He might not have been thinking about Interurban cars but why not! - Tonkphilip
Thanks Randy for posting that.....it is finished and lightly weathered, though the numbers should be black not silver, but that's all I have a the moment (they will get changed!!). When the North Shore closed, the section in the south closest to Chicago bacame part of the CTA network, operating as the 'Skokie Swift'. It was run with I-50 cars using the overhead trolley wires (now all 3rd rail). These cars are available 3D printed, so painted up a couple to run as something slightly different Regards David (North Yorks, UK)
There are a lot of decals on the electroliner. I have just started the decaling process. Not for the faint of heart for sure.
Here's a new website for interurbans !! Boxcar Models 3D printed models (wixsite.com) I think the photo's of the equipment are outstanding !!
As far back as 1926 the North Shore line had mechanical refrigeration on a series of interurban cars. This is my attempt to duplicate them. Its getting there...
I have ended up with some spare North Shore Electroliner stuff. I am willing to sell the unpowered display model for my break even price of $230.00 ea. PM me if you want one. Randy