Chicago Great Western Railway in HO Scale

Follow two CGW trains as they move freight between St. Paul and Council Bluffs / Omaha.

[@TomDonald-j5d]

Always enjoy your videos. Grew up in Oelwein and the CGW put my two brothers and myself though college with our summer jobs. All three of us also worked for the CNW because of the take over in 1968. Have a great fondness for your RI. Some of the "spine line" runs through the county in which I have lived for 45 years. (Buckeye and Iowa Falls are both in Hardin county) Iowa Falls has a rich RR history. IC had major maintenance there when they were running steam. Also had CNW/MSTL as well as IC and RI. Very interesting track work. Now, CN runs over IC track and, of course, UP runs over your beloved RI track.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you for watching the video and for sharing your connection with the CGW. Mike

[@brucepeyton1584]

I started on the CNW in Iowa Falls 11/3/80 and helped tear out the CGW from McIntire

[@kadenemerson3569]

Being part of the oelwein museum I must say you did an awsome job modeling cgw and rock island

[@bcrnfan]

I lived along the CGW Kansas City line and I never saw the GP30's mixed with F-units. It was always 5 or 6 F-units, 4 GP30'2, or 3 SD40's. I'm not saying that they never did though. There might have been exceptions. The Leslie air horns didn't show up until the arrival of the GP30's. The Mars lights on the F-units could be seen at night several miles away sweeping across the sky.

[@Need4Life]

Very nice video!!! Thumbs up!!!

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you for your comments and for watching, I appreciate it! Mike

[@jamesmorrell2901]

In my much younger days, the CGW used to run about 1/4 mile from my house in Elmhurst, IL. I remember riding my bike up to the tracks, which were right next to the Chicago, Aurora, and Elgin (CAE) tracks: if you were lucky, you could see both railroads running at the same time.

[@rimodeler7963]

Sounds like great memories of growing up in Elmhurst with the CGW and CA&E. Thank you for sharing the story and thanks for watching the video. Mike

[@patmurphy520]

I grew up in Berkeley illinois, in 1968 the CGW went from Two tracks to none.

[@thomaswood6118]

My era and beloved F units and early second generation EMD's

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you for watching! Mike

[@ronaldbrooks5982]

Mike what a neat video. First the Chicago Grape Western, then the Chicago Red Western.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you, Ron!

[@jamespascarella3336]

For those of us who live in a small apartment and have no room for a layout, it's good to be able to watch HO videos.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you, James, for watching the video. Mike

[@gregoryhainsworth2663]

Try N scale

[@clarkpropst5480]

Layout really looks good! Love Clear Lake Jct,

[@rimodeler7963]

Thanks so much for watching the video and for your comments. Mike

[@ronaldbrooks5982]

Love the gp 30 gyra light

[@rimodeler7963]

I like the oscillating light as well. Thanks, Ron! Mike

[@MLWQC]

Video and scenery well done

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you! Mike

[@ThomasKlimoski]

I enjoyed seeing the CGW trains. Those were some neat lash ups of power. That is a nice touch having the box car door open and seeing the grain door over the opening at the 9:36 time mark. Thanks for posting.-Tom

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you, Tom. Take care! Mike

[@timetable5245]

Beautiful CGW power set - F3A's and B's and TOFC. What a treat. Thank you!

[@rimodeler7963]

I appreciate you watching and thank you for your comments! Mike

[@jacks4733]

I was born and raised in Austin, MN, just west of the CGW mainline. I managed to snag a couple of cab rides on Saturday afternoons to switch the Hormel plant. Thought I'd died and gone to Heaven!

[@rimodeler7963]

That's a great and memorable experience. Thank you for watching the video. Mike

[@chrissharp5073]

What an outstanding layout. It's certainly captured the essence of the line. As a Brit who models North American Railroads it gives me a great insight into the modelling standards, look and feel of trying to get it right when I'm 3000 plus miles away from the real thing! Thank you for sharing. Stay safe.

[@rimodeler7963]

Hi Chris - I greatly appreciate your nice comments and thank you for watching! Best wishes and good luck with your modeling. Mike

[@billanderson4619]

Good video. The CGW was famous for lashups of multiple B units between front and rear facing A units. Good to see you at this site, Tom.

[@rimodeler7963]

I lived in Dubuque just prior to the CGW merging with the C&NW and I enjoyed watching the very long freight trains roll through town pulled by six F-Units. Thanks for watching! Mike

[@davestrains6816]

Awesome running session. Thanks for sharing. Dave

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you, Dave. I appreciate it! Mike

[@jacksonthomas1851]

If there was a railroad I have hunted for more than any other it would be Chicago Great Western in HO scale.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you for watching the video. Mike

[@SleeTheSloth]

Great video and exquisite model railroad!

[@rimodeler7963]

I appreciate your comments ........ thank you. Mike

[@theknickerbocker5808]

Another amazing video. Everything looks and sounds right. Thanks for sharing

[@rimodeler7963]

Hi Greg - I appreciate you watching and commenting. Thanks! Mike

[@modelrailroadadventureswit6347]

Nice action!! Great modeling too

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you, William. Mike

[@CornCountryRails]

Mike, My second favorite railroad. I truly enjoyed it. I wish you well and enjoy the upcoming holidays! Tony

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you, Tony. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Mike

[@davidl.miller8168]

Mike, This is another winner, awesome trains and of course the beautiful layout

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you, David ......... I really appreciate your comments. Mike

[@dfwrailvideos]

Awesome video, but I have a question. What was the standard horn of the CGW? Thanks!

[@rimodeler7963]

Most of the F Units had a single chime horn while I believe the GP30's and SD40's had Leslie S3L horns. Thank you for watching and I appreciate your comments. Mike

[@dfwrailvideos]

Thank you for the information! I am assembling a small roster of CGW equipment in a game called Trainz (mostly stuff I’m making), and having information about the horns is awesome. Thank you!

[@elsdp-4560]

THANK YOU...for sharing. Nice catch Mike.

[@rimodeler7963]

You bet, Gary, and thanks for watching! Mike

[@daleym79]

Love the Fs. Awesome video!

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you, Michael! Mike

[@AndyDorsch]

Mike this is great! I love seeing the CGW being modeled! Great modeling and video work as always! Take care, Andy

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you, Andy, I appreciate it. Looking forward to your next update. Merry Christmas! Mike

[@AndyDorsch]

@@rimodeler7963 Merry Christmas!

[@JoKe4244]

A funny statement that we used to say about “B” units. “They’re all power and no brain.” I love how you show the locomotive consists in multi-generation lash ups. Many modelers use the theme that “Birds of a feather, stay together.” But the reality is locomotives were haphazardly put together just as you illustrate in your operating scenarios.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thanks so much. Yes sir, I enjoy mixing locomotives together of varying models and styles. I appreciate you watching and commenting. Mike

[@capt.jaybrooks6540]

Thanks that was AWESOME !

[@rimodeler7963]

You're most welcome. I appreciate your patronage! Mike

[@tomzorko6589]

Great job making a “time machine”. Great scenery . Seeing my favorite F units is a real treat. Thanks.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you, Tom, I appreciate your comments! Mike

[@nickelplate79]

What state are you located in? Do you do op sessions?

[@rimodeler7963]

I am located in Texas. I do occasionally have operating sessions. Thanks for watching the video. Mike

[@OORRIIGGIINNAALL]

Amazing train consists and beautiful layout! Love how long the trains are and how realistic everything looks! Now the only thing left to make it perfect would be a 2-10-4 T class steamer. As far as I know only Glacier Park Models made them and they are VERY rare.

[@rimodeler7963]

Those Texas type locomotives were powerful and beauty in motion. I appreciate your kind comments and thank you for watching. Mike

[@ThomasEide3318]

Fancy as always!

[@rimodeler7963]

Thanks, Thomas! Mike

[@toddbehrends1373]

I noticed that the CGW boxcars have DF / C / SL on their sides. What is the purpose? I really enjoy the 'old' time railroading, especially using cabooses. With the equipment that you have you could model many railroads in Iowa. The towns are true, the names were changed to adapt to the video .............. Go Joe Friday!

[@rimodeler7963]

Hi Todd - The designations DF (Damage Free) / C (Compartmentizer) / SL (not specifically sure ........ maybe Secure Load ?) are for the type of load restraining devices that the car is equipped with. Thank you for your comments and I appreciate the reference to "Dragnet" ....... one of my favorite shows :-) Mike

[@seattlefan8890]

Nice work! I'm not at all familiar with CGW, so it was great to see a lesser-known railroad modeled. I sense that a lot of the CGW-painted equipment was self-painted and decaled. From my years (a long time ago) in model railroading, I don't recall much off-the-self rolling stock in CGW.

[@rimodeler7963]

Interestingly enough, the majority of my CGW models were painted by the manufacturer. I agree that there weren't many CGW models available many years ago, but by the 1990s there were actually quite a few options. Thank you for watching and commenting. Mike

[@fokusnikfim]

Super... .👍👍👍🚅🚌🚌🚌🚌🎄🎄🎄👏 Fim🚂👮✋

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you! Mike