Remembering the Rock Island in HO Scale

Remembering the Rock Island in HO Scale.

[@cnwtrain]

I love it, especially that you have it all weathered. Very nice video, thanks for posting.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you very much! Mike

[@YouSimon1000]

One of your best videos yet! Great close-up shots of flawless modeling. Excellent! 👍

[@rimodeler7963]

I very much appreciate your kind comments. Thank you! Mike

[@normansilver905]

All siblings of my mother were Rock employees. One was the Supt of the Little Rock div. one was the Round House Foreman at Silvis and another an Auditor in the HQ office.

[@rimodeler7963]

That’s what I call a Rock Island family! The fact that they all had careers with the same company is very cool. Thanks for sharing the information and I appreciate you watching the video. Mike

[@J3scribe]

Always a pleasure getting to see another video of your wonderful layout. If I were to nitpick anything, it would be that your lash-ups are always so uniform. I know it's modelers' choice, of course, But some of my fondest memories of the Rock Island in the Chicago area during the '70s were the unlikely consists you'd see pulling freights. Es leading U-boats on intermodals. Mixed Geeps and SDs of different generations. Not to mention that oddball E8AB hauling commuters. Such a fascinating railroad. We really lost a unique character in the world of railroading. Long live the Rock Island, indeed!

[@rimodeler7963]

I appreciate your feedback and suggestions which I’ll definitely keep in mind. I did include a lash-up of the pug-nose F2A #49 along with a BL2 and a GP7 and also lash-ups of 4 Geeps in different paint schemes, but I get your point. Thanks much! Mike

[@thecnwmondovilinepaulscota7304]

Very nice! The red/black/silver Route of the Rockets is my favorite paint scheme of all these.

[@rimodeler7963]

The old Rocket scheme of red/black/silver was a very classy paint scheme! Thank you for watching and commenting. Mike

[@Joel-sy4ho]

The RockIsland Railroad had a Passenger Train called the Hot Springs Limited.

[@danasoroko]

Just an idea for you to consider: you might contact the Minneapolis Institute of Art. See whether they might be interested in photos of your layout. Perhaps in black and white. Superlative effort on your part.

[@rimodeler7963]

You’re much too kind. Thank you for your suggestion and nice comments. Mike

[@kd5gsp]

I have enjoyed immensely your feature in the June 2023 Model Railroad Craftsman. Thanks for posting these great videos!

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you, Rick! Glad you enjoyed the recent RMC article on the Mid-Continent Route. I always enjoy the great photos you post on Facebook! Mike

[@PaulFotschky]

NICE.

[@Grainexpress]

Mike, I was listening to the podcast and thought to myself this guy sounds familiar. Sure enough I'm a subscriber! LOL! Speaking of the Rock, a family friend went to grad school in Manhattan Kansas and found out he hated teaching. He had worked a summer for the Rock and ended up working for the Rock and ran from Omaha to Fairbury KS I believe. An old Rock guy told him this ship is going down so he applied to the UP and they said we have a job in North Platte. He said well, where is North Platte? LOL He lived in a pup tent in the park for a bit before finding a place to live and ended up retiring from the UP in North Platte. He met his wife while working for the Rock and they stayed together through it all with two daughters. Take care Mike and thanks for all you do for the hobby!

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you for your message which I appreciate. I enjoyed the story about your friend who went to work for the Rock Island and retired from the UP. Thanks for being a subscriber to my channel. Mike

[@dmcry600]

VERY NICE!!!!! I miss the RI and other fallen flags from the Mid West!!!! It's nice that The RI lives on this way!!!! Dave

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you, Dave, for taking the time to watch the video and I appreciate your comments! Mike

[@jerrywikstrom2431]

Nice compilation Mike. Enjoyed your RMC article.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you, Jerry. I appreciate it! Mike

[@bruceboyer8187]

What a difference it makes when yourself working grade crossings

[@rimodeler7963]

Thanks for your comments which I appreciate. Mike

[@tricenow]

Prototype location question, where is the real world is your "Big Cut" actually located? Searched up and down south from Des Moines to Ia/Missouri bourder area on Google Maps on the current UP spine line but cant seem to find it?I think it's such a cool portion of your Railroad I wanted to see the actual real life inspiration for that portion of your prototype. Thank you so much for a amazing re-creation of CRI&P!

[@rimodeler7963]

There is no specific prototype location that I referred to in creating the cut section. I used my "modelers license" to create it. Much of the scenery on my layout is not location specific, but rather intended to reflect a midwestern feel. Thanks so much for watching the video and I appreciate your comments! Mike

[@rguiweghuioghsoihgsg]

Quick question, Was your layout featured in the Cowcatcher May/June issue?

[@rimodeler7963]

Yes, that was my layout. Thanks for watching the video. Mike

[@conrailfan6277]

Awesome video Mike, your layout Video's are always a must watch!!

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you very much! Mike

[@MLWQC]

HIghly impressive video . Great job on the trains/weathering/layout/scenery. Always a pleasure

[@rimodeler7963]

Thanks so very much. I always appreciate your kind comments! Mike

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing. Hello Rock Island Railroad, very much enjoyed the video.💥💥💥💣💣💥💥👍

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you, Gary. Your viewing loyalty and comments are always appreciated! Mike

[@randysrockandrollrailroad8207]

Oh yeah! 👍🤠👍

[@rimodeler7963]

Thanks for watching, Randy! Mike

[@randallellison6421]

Very cool video! Always liked Rock Island's red and yellow scheme with the large billboard speed lettering on the long hood, it just looks cool!

[@rimodeler7963]

I, too, really like the red and yellow scheme. Thank you for watching the video and for your comments! Mike

[@rogerr4620]

Excellent video. Great work! Thanks.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you! Mike

[@gregbowen617]

Great video of one of my favourite model railroads. Cheers from Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺!

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you so very much, mate! I really appreciate it. Mike

[@sernajrlouis]

Beautiful layout and trains

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you very much! Mike

[@anthonystewart3447]

Loving them engines and layout scenery spectacular 😮

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you so much! Mike

[@kimrok1]

I love the stretch of jointed rail, not sure which video that was in.

[@rimodeler7963]

Glad you enjoy the jointed rail section. I, too, like the clickety-clack sound. Thanks for watching! Mike

[@garymcmills3493]

You have a wonderful layout.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you very much! Mike

[@jimjohnston7688]

Absolutely beautiful, such a great variety of diesels and paint schemes, just superb.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you very much! I appreciate it. Mike

[@minnesotarailfan12]

A complete locomotive roster video would be cool!

[@rimodeler7963]

Thanks for watching and for your suggestion. Mike

[@patrickhalsey4000]

great video......well done!

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you very much! Mike

[@daveskinner5131]

Mike, I just wanted to extend best wishes and hope the convention tours were a big success for you and everyone who visited. I hope you now have a framed copy of RMC's cover in your living room, as Dan Munson has in his. The best part of all this is, your road looks like the Rock Island just as much as Bill Heiden's looks like the Milwaukee. Another on the list of all-time greats.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you, Dave, for your very kind comments. The NMRA layout tour was a great success. I haven’t yet framed any of the RMC photos, but I do have intentions of doing so. Dan Munson took some excellent pictures! Thanks again! Mike

[@daveskinner5131]

Dan sure did. Shot it like a railroad, not a layout.

[@toddbehrends1373]

Another great video of a line gone to soon.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you, Todd! Mike

[@JoKe4244]

Very nice. I love how you concentrate on the business end of the train. As a locomotive engineer, the muscle of trains are their engines and that’s what you concentrate on in this video. Well done. Thank you! Kevin

[@rimodeler7963]

I appreciate your comments, Kevin, and thank you for watching the video. Mike

[@Shaken_AND_Stirred]

So cool to see that BL in there.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thanks for noticing the BL2. I appreciate you taking the time to watch the video. Mike

[@tyhik9338]

Nice

[@timhentges6359]

Super nice!!!

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you! Mike

[@xavierleggett4117]

Absolutely love these Rock Island roll bys.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you for watching the video and for your comments! Mike

[@Trainlm]

Excellent video

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you! Mike

[@luvindemtrains]

Loved it!

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you! Mike

[@JasonTrew2018]

I was only a year old when the rock shut down

[@BrodyLapean]

the rock is back as a short line pant and all

[@grantv2313]

Love this video. FYI, Tangent just released four different of those bay window RI cabooses with working interior light and top red and green lights that you turn on and off with a magentic wand through the roof. Has a keep alive and the lights stay on for about 25 seconds after power is cut. I bought one of the white repaint Route Rocks from 1979 down at the St.Louis RPM meet and was playing with it this evening. Details are off the charts. Metal screen over the door windows, open grate steps. They have red and yellow ones too. Also UP repaints. They just dropped this weekend 7/20/24. I in no way am associated with them, just thought you'd be interested.

[@rimodeler7963]

Thank you for watching the video and I appreciate your comments about the new Tangent cabooses. Mike

[@clearlycaribbeanreb2895]

Man, this is a really sweet layout. I’m a Chessie system modeler but these RI engines look fantastic. Was always interested in this railroad. Thanks for sharing.

[@rimodeler7963]

I appreciate your comments and thanks for taking the time to watch the video. Mike

[@centraliowarailproductions2810]

Nice video!

[@rimodeler7963]

Thanks! Mike

[@centraliowarailproductions2810]

Your welcome @@rimodeler7963!