Hi Mike, thanks for posting another great video. I really like the six U25B locomotive lash up. The weathering on all the locomotives looks very realistic. The shot of the trains passing each other in Des Moines, IA was one of my favorite in this video.-Tom
Thank you, Tom. The U25B's could put on a pretty good show at times of "smoking it up'" in keeping with a trademark feature of an ALCO/GE locomotive. Take care! Mike
Very nice. That brought back some memories - as a teenage railfan in the 1960s I remember seeing RI U25Bs and U28Bs chugging through Lincoln, NE. I still associate the U-Boats with the RI.
Thank you, Gary. The U25B locomotives were routinely operated between Chicago and Denver right through Lincoln, so you were fortunate to see them as you did which would be quite a memory. Mike
Excellent! And all the loco look good, run smooth and are all impressive. Cool view with parallel line (train) and seeing it from the front (at the end) very well done. Layout is superb.
As always, superb modeling! My beloved Rock Island, well represented! What a model empire you have! I have seen your video production skills grow over time -- your films keep getting better. You are a leader in the hobby!
Greetings Jim - I value and appreciate your comments. The Rock Island grabbed my attention in a big way as a youth and time seems to have increased my interest and affection for "the mighty fine line". Thank you very much for watching! Mike
Thanks for the ride down memory lane! My 1st ever visit to the cab was a U25B #202, the train was northbound, stopped at the depot in Allerton waiting for a southbound to come off the "short line"
You obviously have a great memory of the Rock Island U25B locomotives and to be able to visit the cab is a real bonus. Thanks so much for watching the video and for your comments. Mike
Great video and absolutely museum quality modeling. You never disappoint with your videos and recreation of historic livery. This brings back a wonderful memory. My very first train that I operated as an engineer was a grain train from Wichita to Durand, KS on the former MoPac in late December 1980 and the lead unit was a U22B rebuild with an EMD Spartan cab. These were unique engines to the MoPac. When these 3 engines were involved in a wreck that required a rebuild, all of the car body was rebuilt back to GE except the cab, which the MoPac replaced the GE cab with the EMD cab. The insides of these engines were barebones. No insulation and rattle traps. The heaters were behind the control stand at the front of the cab and they uses radiator/engine water to circulate through a series of pipes that made a makeshift heater. No fan to circulate the heat. To turn it on, a large water/steam valve was twisted similar to an outside water spigot on your house. In theory, the more it was twisted open, the hotter it would get. In reality, it was like a volcano or like an icy cave. I was just barely 19 years old at the time and one of the youngest engineers at the time.
Interesting background story on the MoPac U-boats ....... man how things have changed! Thank you very much for watching the video and for your valued comments. Mike
Nice lash up Mike!! I still have the issue of Trains Magazine that had the article about these engines, near the end when the Rock was doing whatever they had to do to keep Motive power available some of these engines with the Rock Island logos on the doors were mixed and matched on a few, one was RoRo Island!! That's what is nice about your Era, those days the Railroad and equipment was in better shape and the winds of change was still a decade or two away!!!
There are some great photos of the mis-matched hood doors on the U-boats resulting in a mis-labled name of the railroad just like what you said "RoRo Island". I appreciate your comments and thanks for watching. Mike
Another great video. I like the way you added other trains in the different clips. Just added realism. On some of the covered hoppers I noticed that you had weathered the trucks which, again, adds to the realism of the layout. Thanks for the time to make another one.
Hi Tommy - For some reason, I always liked the looks of the U25B locomotives and I always liked the chug-chug exhaust sound. Thanks for watching and I appreciate your comments. Mike
Cool model rail clip😀👍👍 Greetings from Germany, Martin
Hi Martin - Thank you very much for watching the video. Mike
Excellent video. Beautiful layout. Thanks for sharing. Dave
Thank you, Dave ....... I appreciate it! Mike
Hi Mike, thanks for posting another great video. I really like the six U25B locomotive lash up. The weathering on all the locomotives looks very realistic. The shot of the trains passing each other in Des Moines, IA was one of my favorite in this video.-Tom
Thank you, Tom. The U25B's could put on a pretty good show at times of "smoking it up'" in keeping with a trademark feature of an ALCO/GE locomotive. Take care! Mike
Always enjoy your videos. I really like the trains rolling through Clear Lake Junction. Thanks for posting!
Thank you for watching and commenting. Mike
Very nice. That brought back some memories - as a teenage railfan in the 1960s I remember seeing RI U25Bs and U28Bs chugging through Lincoln, NE. I still associate the U-Boats with the RI.
Thank you, Gary. The U25B locomotives were routinely operated between Chicago and Denver right through Lincoln, so you were fortunate to see them as you did which would be quite a memory. Mike
Excellent! And all the loco look good, run smooth and are all impressive. Cool view with parallel line (train) and seeing it from the front (at the end) very well done. Layout is superb.
I very much appreciate your comments and thank you so much for watching! Mike
As always, superb modeling! My beloved Rock Island, well represented! What a model empire you have! I have seen your video production skills grow over time -- your films keep getting better. You are a leader in the hobby!
Greetings Jim - I value and appreciate your comments. The Rock Island grabbed my attention in a big way as a youth and time seems to have increased my interest and affection for "the mighty fine line". Thank you very much for watching! Mike
Thanks for the ride down memory lane! My 1st ever visit to the cab was a U25B #202, the train was northbound, stopped at the depot in Allerton waiting for a southbound to come off the "short line"
You obviously have a great memory of the Rock Island U25B locomotives and to be able to visit the cab is a real bonus. Thanks so much for watching the video and for your comments. Mike
Thank you for sharing. Fantastic catch Mike! 👍👀
Thank you, Gary! Stay warm and think Spring. Mike
Great job on this layout👍
Thank you very much. Mike
Great video and absolutely museum quality modeling. You never disappoint with your videos and recreation of historic livery. This brings back a wonderful memory.
My very first train that I operated as an engineer was a grain train from Wichita to Durand, KS on the former MoPac in late December 1980 and the lead unit was a U22B rebuild with an EMD Spartan cab. These were unique engines to the MoPac. When these 3 engines were involved in a wreck that required a rebuild, all of the car body was rebuilt back to GE except the cab, which the MoPac replaced the GE cab with the EMD cab. The insides of these engines were barebones. No insulation and rattle traps. The heaters were behind the control stand at the front of the cab and they uses radiator/engine water to circulate through a series of pipes that made a makeshift heater. No fan to circulate the heat. To turn it on, a large water/steam valve was twisted similar to an outside water spigot on your house. In theory, the more it was twisted open, the hotter it would get. In reality, it was like a volcano or like an icy cave. I was just barely 19 years old at the time and one of the youngest engineers at the time.
Interesting background story on the MoPac U-boats ....... man how things have changed! Thank you very much for watching the video and for your valued comments. Mike
Really liking them engines 😊
Thank you, Randy. I appreciate you watching the video. Mike
Great video Mike! Nice to see you have some turnout maintenance planned!
Thanks much, John! Mike
A nice, long consist near entirely elephant style. Very cool!
Thanks very much for watching! Mike
I’ve gotten really interested in the rock island lately! I think your layout and models are really, really cool!
Glad to hear that you are gaining an interest in the Rock Island. Thanks much for watching the video. Mike
I’m a fan of the weathering on the engines and freight cars
Thank you very much for watching the video and I appreciate your comments. Mike
Nice lash up Mike!! I still have the
issue of Trains Magazine that had
the article about these engines, near
the end when the Rock was doing
whatever they had to do to keep
Motive power available some of
these engines with the Rock Island
logos on the doors were mixed and
matched on a few, one was RoRo
Island!! That's what is nice about
your Era, those days the Railroad
and equipment was in better shape
and the winds of change was still
a decade or two away!!!
There are some great photos of the mis-matched hood doors on the U-boats resulting in a mis-labled name of the railroad just like what you said "RoRo Island". I appreciate your comments and thanks for watching. Mike
Another great video. I like the way you added other trains in the different clips. Just added realism. On some of the covered hoppers I noticed that you had weathered the trucks which, again, adds to the realism of the layout. Thanks for the time to make another one.
Thank you, Todd ....... I appreciate your comments. Mike
Nice to see your urban scenes. I think we’ve only seen them sparingly in past. Not to take away from the rest of the layout.
Thank you very much for watching and for your comments. Mike
Love it!
I appreciate your comment and thanks so much for watching! Mike
It rocks 👍😉
Thank you! Mike
I think I see a few of those heading off to the MEC
I believe #234 ended up at the MEC. Thank you for watching the video. Mike
Nice video Mike!
Thank you for taking the time to watch the video and I appreciate your comment. Mike
Your welcome @@rimodeler7963!
Impressive modeling, sir!
Thank you so much! Mike
Great video again! Are these the Bowser (I think) foobies from a few years back?
Yes, the U25B’s are Stewart/Bowser models from several years ago. Thanks for watching and for your comments. Mike
Nice consist Mike. Noticed your adding more clouds. Backdrop is really setting off the modeling, good depth of field.
Who makes the dozers?
Hi Jerry - the dozers are an Artitec model D7 bulldozer, part #487.801.55. I appreciate your comments and thanks for watching. Mike
Nice GE locomotives. They look a bit like the handsome ALCO C-420s, but I think the U25-Bs were much more powerful than the ALCOs.
Hi Tommy - For some reason, I always liked the looks of the U25B locomotives and I always liked the chug-chug exhaust sound. Thanks for watching and I appreciate your comments. Mike