MILW Some more Avery, ID questions and a request.

Wow, you guys have been busy whilst I was away! I've just spent several enjoyable hours catching up with just a bit of what's going on. I'm particularly blown away by Michael's work on his layout including the Avery depot model.

I just ordered and received the 3rd quarter 2000 TMR with the article on Avery and had 2 questions.

1.) The article says that the catenary was only over the main, and tracks 2, 3, 6 and 7. I've gone back over the pictures I have of Avery but it's hard to tell. Anyone know for certain?

2.) The track schematic in the article indicates the icehouse was on the logging extension eastward off of track 7 just before that logging line crosses the North Fork. A picture in the article shows the icehouse west of the depot, and on the North side (i.e. opposite the river) of the yard. Are both right? different times perhaps?

And now the request: Does anyone have (or would be willing to write) a description of what it was like to run the boxcabs (or even the Little Joe's)? I've read a good portion of the articles on Michael Sol's website including the GE training, but I'd love to hear what it was really like. What there the gotcha's, did the heaters work worth a damn, what did you have to do to start up the consist, go into regenerative breaking, etc.

It's good to be back. I'm still arm-chairing it and enjoying my 4-year old boy, but some day.....

Cheers,
Geoff

 

Thanks for the quick answer. I'm sorry to hear of your health issues and hope for a quick resolution of them for you.

 

Thanks for the kind words about my work.

The new icehouse was east of the depot, the old one west. I have no information as to when they relocated it.

Consulting Fred Hyde's book, I found a photo of the yard, taken from the highway towards the east and it looks like all yard tracks had catenary, but I cannot tell for sure.

Hope, this helps you a bit.

Michael