M&StL Freight Train Operates from Peoria, Illinois to Minneapolis, Minnesota in HO Scale

[@stevetandysr.2816]

I know this video was from 2 yrs ago . But enjoying it a bunch . My parents and Grandparents were from Oskaloosa , Iowa . Both my Grandfathers worked the M-StL . When I was about 9 yrs old I got to go on a trip with my grandpa Harrison , who was a conductor . The train didn't stop for the crews to change , it moved slowly and they hopped off and on . My Grandpa put me on his back and stepped up on the caboose . We left Oskaloosa and made our way to the Mississippi river and crossed to Monmouth , Ill. Stayed in the boarding house for the night and then returned to Oskaloosa the next day . I wish I could remember every detail , but it is lost somewhere in my memeory . Yea old age . I just am getting into "N" gauge and have bought some "Frisco " cars . Might do the M-StL later . Hard to find those cars . Steve

[@rimodeler7963]

Hi Steve - what an experience and memory to have ridden on the M&StL with your Grandfather. Thanks for sharing the story. I appreciate you watching the video and thank you for your comments. Mike

[@ThomasKlimoski]

The weathering on the M&StL F7A units looks really good. Another excellent video, thanks for posing.-Tom

[@rimodeler7963]

Thanks so much, Tom. All the best ....... Mike

[@JoKe4244]

You have done another great video. The fog horn takes me way back to the late 70's, running through the Kansas countryside in GP7's and GP9's on the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Thank you.

[@rimodeler7963]

It seems that many of the MP locomotives were equipped with the single horns (fog horns). I very much appreciate you watching and commenting ........... it's always great to hear from another railroader! Mike

[@billanderson4619]

Another great video of a great layout. It looks as though you have spent the "off season" adding to your motive power and rolling stock rosters. Bravo!

[@rimodeler7963]

Hi Bill: Actually, I've had all these locomotives and pieces of rolling stock for many years .......... just decided to memorialize them in a video or two. As always, thank you very much for your comments and for taking the time to watch the video. Mike

[@billanderson4619]

@@rimodeler7963 I am still waiting for an RI Fairbanks-Morse switcher.

[@yrunaked4]

simply beautiful. I love the farm scene, really helps set the place for the rural running. Beautiful Train. Cheers Rob

[@rimodeler7963]

Hi Rob - I very much appreciate your comments about the video and thank you for watching! Mike

[@toddbehrends1373]

I live across the Illinois River from Peoria. I don't remember much of the old M & St. L, but the road that took them over was big in South Pekin. That was a crew change point and big yard for the C & NW on their line to St. Louis. Thanks for modeling the "Toot'n Louie." According to the December 28, 1947 timetable No. 8 train 19 would have left Peoria at 3:30 AM. Arrival in Monmouth at 6:20 AM. Arrival in Oskaloosa at 10:40 AM. Arrival in Marshalltown at 1:15 PM. (the meet at Gordon would mean that the Rock Island train would have had to have less than 86 cars) Arrival in Albert Lea at 5:40 PM. Arrival in Kenwood at 9:05 PM. According to the timetable the train terminated there. There is no arrival time listed for Minneapolis. The Eastbound counterpart Train 20 started in Cedar Lake. Question, the timetable states that the double track ended at Hopkins, but I don't see where it starts. Any answers?

[@rimodeler7963]

Hi Todd - I'm unable to definitively answer the question regarding the double track; however, I would assume that the double track likely ran from Hopkins to Cedar Lake Yard, a distance of maybe six miles or so. Also, as I understand it, Kenwood Yard was an M&StL yard very near Cedar Lake Yard (maybe an auxiliary yard?). I appreciate the information you were able to obtain from the 1047 timetable ......... pretty neat. Thank you for watching and for your comments and input. Mike

[@chadmartin1528]

Top shelf entertainment! You do the "Fallen Flags",honor!your talent,artwork,and skills never waver!!BTW, Merry Christmas to you,and your family Sir.-Chad

[@rimodeler7963]

Hi Chad - I greatly appreciate your nice comments and thanks much for watching. Merry Christmas to you and yours as well! Mike

[@mysticrailroad]

very fine layout and trains. i'm mostly unfamiliar with MSL. thanks for the exposure.

[@rimodeler7963]

The M&StL was merged into the Chicago & Northwestern Railway in 1960, so unless you were able to observe trains in that time frame it's unlikely that most people would be familiar with this Fallen Flag railroad. Thank you for taking the time to watch the video and for providing your comments. Mike

[@hondachopper6978]

Very nice. I still run my all red caboose & the 0055 Husky from my 1964 Christmas set.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you, Karl! Mike

[@davidl.miller8168]

Dang those F units are beautiful! Great video Mike, please keep them coming

[@rimodeler7963]

Hi David - Glad you liked the F Units and I appreciate your nice comments. Thanks for watching! Mike

[@Mooseman-fg4nv]

What a great layout, and so nice to see one of the old Fallen Flags represented so superbly! Thank you for sharing this with us...!

[@rimodeler7963]

You are welcome and I am glad that others appreciate the Fallen Flag railroads. Thank you for your comments and for watching. Mike

[@tommythomason6187]

They had a nice scheme that suited the F units well.

[@rimodeler7963]

Agreed, Tommy, it was a nice scheme. The M&StL also experimented with a variety of unique paint schemes on their ALCO switch engines. Thanks for watching! Mike

[@davestrains6816]

This is one great looking layout. Thanks for sharing. Dave

[@rimodeler7963]

Thanks, Dave, for taking the time to watch the video and comment on it! Mike

[@therealstuffedzebra]

M&StL has interested me ever since I received a Lionel set containing a car with their paint scheme in the mid-60s. I always thought it was cool. I’ve long been fond of the midwest grangers although I’ve always lived in Oklahoma.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thanks for checking out the video. I agree that the M&StL paint scheme is very nice. Mike

[@bupp90]

very nice

[@tootalll3332]

Beautiful layout! Heck I didn't know the M&STL went near Oskaloosa Ia. So many have disappeared it's really sad.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you very much for watching and for your comment. Mike

[@jdmills4370]

Those F Units sharp. Love the colors. Reminds me of the Red Wings sweater. I enjoy all the vids of “foreign power” in addition to your RI consists.

[@rimodeler7963]

The F Units were a classy locomotive and, along with the E Units, are among my favorites. Thank you very much for your comments and for watching. Mike

[@elsdp-4560]

THANK YOU...for sharing. Great looking F units Mike, thanks for a safe ride.

[@rimodeler7963]

Always a pleasure, Gary, to serve up videos that are enjoyed by others. Thank you for checking this one out! Mike

[@theknickerbocker5808]

Love those M&StL Fs. I do enjoy your videos not only the trains but scenery. Curious as to painted the backdrops. A good friend of mine who also happens to be a CRIP fan was going to build a layout similar to yours. He went narrow Guage instead. I did however manage to score some of his custom painted M&StL XMs

[@rimodeler7963]

Hi Greg - I used commercially available backdrops from Radical Flats (KingMill Enterprises), Sceniking Backdrops, Walthers Instant Scenes, and Realistic Backgrounds on portions of my layout (maybe 30%) and then I hand painted the backdrop on the balance (maybe 70% ....... very amateurish). Thank you for watching and for your comments. Mike

[@SootheMilwaukeeRoad]

Mike, you always find a way to assemble nice lash-ups with quality freight in tow. The rear facing camera, looking at the nose of the F’s is great, as is the chase video. Keep up the great videos!

[@rimodeler7963]

Hi William - I really appreciate you taking the time to watch the video and thank you so much for your nice comments! Merry Christmas to you and your family. Mike

[@Longshadowsmodeltrees]

Great Op's video, you got some nice F units. Bob

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you, Bob, for your loyal viewership of my videos ........ I appreciate it! Mike

[@dannyhonn973]

Right up there with Neil Schofields CP in Vermont layout. You wonder what wouldve happened if the merger hadnt happened. Such smaller roads aways seem to give better service.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you for watching the video and I appreciate your comments. Mike

[@JohnMullerJDGCTRy]

Your motive power is so awesome and inspiring! Thanks again for another great post. I'd love to see some of my power and/or rolling stock run on your layout.

[@jdmills4370]

I know. His locomotives always sharp; look like the real thing. Never a corner cut. And he’s got so many of them......

[@jdmills4370]

And that’s not even mentioning the train room I haven’t watched vid of finer accommodations. Definitely well thought out. Wood floors. Trimmed doors. Finished ceilings. Ceiling fans. Almost like it’s own house.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thanks, John, your comments and for taking the time to watch this video. Mike

[@NaomiClareNL]

Just loved this video, thanks for making it.

[@rimodeler7963]

You are welcome. Thank you for your comment. Mike

[@J3scribe]

Love this. So easy to lose oneself in these videos, as I often do. You model an era when I was but a zygote, or an infant. Or a toddler. Perhaps you have, but you should invite other videographers to shoot your layout. It would, for them, be like going to visit the real deal. I look forward to each new video you post. Thanks Mike!

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you, J. Lewis, for your very nice comments which I appreciate very much! Mike

[@Need4Life]

Very nice video!!! Like!!!

[@rimodeler7963]

I appreciate it and thank you for your comments and for watching. Mike

[@cprtrain]

Great video.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you very much! Mike

[@tony1961chl]

Que cosa tan hermosa ,gracias , felicidades.

[@rimodeler7963]

Muchas gracias por tus lindos comentarios y por ver el video. Miguel

[@trolleytyme]

Love your layout! Happy to see the Mstl! What is the model make and paint on the caboose? Looks Great! Thanks!!

[@rimodeler7963]

The caboose is an Ajin (South Korea) brass model. Thank you very much for watching and for your comments! Mike

[@milwaukeetrainman9880]

Elephant style F's. Nice!

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you for watching and commenting! Mike

[@ericlang5791]

Hottest train on the “Louie.”

[@MLWQC]

I like it

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you very much! Mike