Finally finished painting an F7B to go with my IM FP7's - Unfortunately, the Microscale E/F decal set is for an earlier paint scheme, so apart from the "Rock Island" lettering it was fairly useless. Consequently, I pretty much had to make things up as I went along vis'a'vis all the stripes, so don't look too closely Cheers, -Mark
Haven't posted in a while but I've finally found some time to get some model railroading done. After being a car wreck back in December and subsequent shoulder surgery, it's taken me some time to get back in the swing of things. Lately I've been on a Rock Island kick. My friend and I had purchased new 35mm cameras in the fall of 1975 and with our newly minted drivers licenses, we started to hit up Blue Island quite regularly in early '76. Although getting pretty run down by then, the RI was trying it's best to get the job down and there was still hope for better days. The four axle U boats were everywhere then and some of them were quite the sight. 211 had suffered an engine room fire but the shop crew got her back in service but looking a little bedraggled. And 216 was still in maroon and yellow but was quite dirty with faded heralds. Bob
GP40 370 is another Atlas. The EMDs were definitely faring better in the later days of the RI. And you have to have a caboose in '76. 17061 is an Atlas model with windows modified and wire grabs added. Bob
I've posted these photos in a few places -- and, I figured this thread could use a resurrection and them added as well. I hope I did justice to this loco. Rock Island - BL-2 428 Thanks, Wolf
Thanks for bringing this thread back to life. I really like the Rock Island paint schemes of the 1940 to 1960. Then RI management over simplified the paint schemes in the1960s and I really don't like them much. I have a few of the simplified maroon/white striped hood units (BL2 and U25b)... but most of what I have are the multi-toned red/maroon/silver with white outline striping. I like the black/red units... got some of them too (FM switchers, Kato F2s and Alco FA1s). I am hoping that Kato will do the small sets of Rock Island Rocket consists with the TA diesels. Sent from my SM-J737T using Tapatalk
I am not a Rock Island modeler, but could not help picking up a couple of the great kits made by Rocket Express. The cars could use with a couple more washes of dark weathering, and the lighting does not do the kits justice, but the only photo I have of them- and they are currently packed away awaiting construction of new layout. Tom D IMAG0142 by Thomas Davis posted May 1, 2019 at 10:12 AM
Completely forgot about this thread. Even though I have these in my thread, thought I'd get them posted in this one. 4 of my GP18's. All of these LifeLike models are sitting on modified Atlas DCC ready chassis. I've got one more to go.
Well, as the old song goes, "The Rock Island line is a mighty fine line!". I much prefer the maroon over the red and black, but that's because I grew up along the Rock Island mainline and suburban line in Chicago, from the 40's 'til I left for the Army in 1963.
Absolutely LOVE the GP18s !!! I can picture one (or ALL !!!) of them pulling 2-bay hoppers of silica sand from Ottawa, IL to Chicago through Joliet or New Lenox, IL. They would be on "Mokena Hill", turning RPMs that would make NASCAR and NHRA mechanics cry !!! Definitely a sound you don't forget. I'm not knocking anybody's modelling at all, but it seems that the only way to get the bells straight on GP18s and GP20s is pure luck !!! With a combined total of 13, only two of mine are straight !!! Either way, BEAUTIFUL locomotives, Bendtracker !!! Love your work, and I hope you got some of the C415s that are now available.
Wow, thanks for the kind words. I know what you mean about the horns, I've lost a few of them as well. As for the C-415's, no plans to get one, though I'd love to add one to the fleet. By my modeling era, most were relegated to Chicago and Blue Island running transfers IIRC?
