I'm assuming that, if the railroad had managed to survive, they would have created a few more SD10s and home built GP20s to fill in the holes in the roster of GP38s. (Maybe even a few more RSC2.5's...) They had 64 MP15AC's though. How many more would they have needed?
Had the entire system carried on, remember they had an aging fleet of switchers still rattling around. How much longer would they have been in service, before retirement? Those units other than MP15ac numbered 115, and included very old (25 to 40+ years old) SW1,7,9,1200, NW2, TR4, FM H12-44 and even GP9 units. Would a CRP have been worth doing? I have major doubts. Something would have been required to replace many of these before much longer. Their existing MP15ac were not just being used as switchers but also as road power. Which reduced their availabilty for switching duties. In the SD10 and GP20 programs, by the time March 1 of 1980 came along, those done had all been pretty well thrashed. Some GP20 were over ten years old. There were not that many available SD7 or 9 to use for a new campaign. Would another CRP have been cost effective? Many of those which had not been rebuilt were well used up and some were simply being retired.
While we're at it, let's also assume they became a player in the Powder River Basin and started a heritage steam program with one of their streamlined F7 Hudsons
Wouldn't that have been something? What about one of their high stepping A class lokeys? It's sad that for such a large company, very little was preserved.
I suppose some more MP15's might have been in order, then. It's also a bit mind boggling that the management of such a large company cared so little about maintenance, in terms of both infrastructure and hardware, ie: their rolling stock and locomotives. Most of what I've read indicates that the Milwaukee was traditionally very creative and effective in terms of marketing. It's amazing they never were able to secure more transcontinental traffic to pay for the Pacific Extension. Well, maybe they were, after the western gateways were opened, but by then, apparently the track was too far gone. On the plus side, a F7, or an A class would be a nice ambassador for such a storied railroad company, although I think the 261 does quite a good job of carrying the flag at home. You can get an A class in N scale, and take it to all the local train clubs on fan trips.
Actually, financial records which have come to light since 1980 show conclusively the west end was all that kept the whole system limping along, even before those Gateways. Note what miles were operating versus post-1980 embargo what had to be axed, in order to get to a so-called "viable" (struggling) core- Nearly 5000 miles of lines east were dumped, many were branch lines falling apart which had been losing money since the 1960's. Track out west was still in fair shape until after the mid-1970s, when Chicago starting slowly cutting off all funding for upkeep, personnel, etc. Motive power was going down hill after about 1975, and then after the deliberate destruction winter of 1977-1978, (again, there is paperwork existing which commands winter motive power procedures not be enacted), it was all finished. It was really hard to watch this all happening, not just as a fan and MILW family member, but seeing what was happening to acquaintances and friends employed there. I was amazed that morale held up so well. They were a very proud bunch and rightly so.
Yes, I have read those rather teeth grinding facts from other sources. It's too bad there weren't any whistle blowers who could have called into question the wisdom of that order to let the all the motive power freeze up. I'm really itching for some more photos, though. Where is Greg Lussier to give us some more photos of freights crossing Renslow Trestle? I have found this video of a fairly nicely modelled Milwaukee Road freight on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iQVW9jk6Ks
Life and who knows what else is keeping Greg occupied. Last time I checked with him, his job had picked up in pace, and he had not had enough time to do a lot with hobbies. The book was being completely re-written into a different format for printing, and that was taking a lot more time for him to do than expected. Hopefully, one of these days....
I can't blame him for that: I rather wish I had a job that kept me that busy, if it was fulfilling enough. (Well, maybe at least a little bit of time for hobbies).
I have too much free time. Hence my post total, etc. You wouldn't want to be in my shoes. Surviving near death, and ending up early out of the work force with a beat all to heck body is no fun. Rather boring in fact, especially with what it does to minimize hobby funds.
"I have too much free time. Hence my post total, etc. You wouldn't want to be in my shoes. Surviving near death, and ending up early out of the work force with a beat all to heck body is no fun. Rather boring in fact, especially with what it does to minimize hobby funds." I know what you are saying... a widow maker nearly did me in and the transition to disability was rough. Money tends to be tight (but better in some ways than it had been, what with a lot of passenger car resources eating at my modeling dollars and good sense). Guess that is why 90% of my time is spent making the Passenger Car Photo Index[/a] such a great and useful site. 'course if I would quit buying so many books I could maybe finish that business car project I started last year but having a chance at having some of the references I need is hard to pass on... gotta keep the info as up to date and accurate as possible...
While I don't envy either of you your life's events, it's still probably a pretty safe bet that you've both accomplished much more in life than I've been able to. On the upside, though, I found the perfect solution to the Milwaukee's MP15 shortage. If they had still been in a buying position, in addition to buying some more MP15's, I see no reason why they couldn't have acquired a fleet of GP15-1's to replace their home-built GP20's and SD10's, and supplement the MP15 fleet on road and transfer freights
Hmmm. I don't think I have ever seen the GP15-1 previously suggested in a MILW "what if" conversation. Interesting to think about...
It would certainly fit the bill for a dedicated branchline and yard work locomotive, and it also fits right with the Milwaukee's tendency to acquire rare or unusual models of locomotive, a la the SLD39's, and the lightweight GP38's. Also, this is a conspiracy of mine to do away with the GP38-2's, because I've always felt GP38s look unattractive, although I do look GP40s for some reason. Glad the Milwaukee chose GP40s and SD45s, and I would never even have considered getting an SD40-2, or even a U-boat in n-scale if it wasn't for the orange and blank.
Alright, so I just had someone tell me yesterday that one of the N scale magazines at one point ran an article where someone described painting Milwaukee Road SD90s. It would be interesting to see: Anybody remember viewing an article like that or remember which magazine it was in?
Well, I haven't found the article I was looking for, yet, but I have managed to find someone with some custom painted modern Milwaukee locos, so I should have two Dash 9s by the end of the week. They aren't really anything along the lines of the fantasy schemes other people have posted here: they are essentially just the final Hiawatha scheme applied to the modern hi-horsepower locos. I'm still working on a fantasy scheme, but I think this one would just about do it for a Heritage paint scheme.
Nothing comes into mind at present. I know people have indeed painted various N scale diesel units into "what if the RR had continued" schemes. Photos of such efforts, beyond what JKD started here, have been seen through the years. But where?
Well, I've been meaning to post this for a long time, but to satisfy you curiosity, here are a couple images of what it might look like:
Well, they are mine in that I own them, but I didn't design the paint scheme or paint them myself. I contracted them out to a custom painter. Actually the same person who did the double-ended F7 I also have. Right now, the total stands at four C44-9W's, but there will also be a couple SD70's and SD80/90's in the future.
