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It depends! I like the Kato plastic handrails - they were much easier to install than Athearn metal rails. But... I had more trouble with the Stewart plastic handrails. So it would depend on if the Athearn plastic handrails were more like Kato's or Stewart's in design! - George

Wolv - The BOOK publication date was 1987. Hastings probably drew his map over the two decades he watched the ROCK in action (from KC to Chicago and throughout Iowa and Illinois). It is the most accurate and detailed RIL map of the Iowa region in the '60s and '70's that I have found...

Interesting old RI map Here is a map taken from Philip Hastings' book "Remember the Rock" ca. 1987. Hastings was a RI railfan who lived in Waterloo, IA. He drew the map. Note what I paid for the book! Found it in a used bookstore in Wichita. - George

Wolv (and all) - I am trying to alter the original RI Iowa map to show the 1996 regional Rock Island Line. I will stick with more of the original RI track than with the IMRL, I think. Of course the IAIS mirrors the old RIL, so no problem there. Just deciding which of the old RI track to...

Now - I just need to "merge" the Iowa routes. I know I will keep the RI-IAIS main route across Iowa, and the RI-IMRL "river" route from Clinton to Muscatine. I will keep one of the Northern routes to M-StP (IMRL or original RI/Northern Iowa), and one of the Southern routes to KC IMRL or...

OK - here was the ORIGINAL RI track in Iowa. Note that the IAIS track is mostly RI's major route thru Iowa!

Ok - here is a clearer IAIS map:

AND:

I haven't drawn the "official" RIL map yet, but my RIL is a blend of the IMRL and IAIS, so:

YES!!! I talked to them today - the order had vanished from the website "Ordered" list due to time (was ordered last MARCH) they told me, but still was in their "real" order/backorder list! My loco is in the mail as of tomorrow !!! Interesting that Walthers was showing "Sold Out" on the...

Too bad, Mike. Luckily, in 1996 the Rock Island has gone to DBs for some of their locos (like my older Athearn SD40-2 which has them)! Or you could leave the GP35 as a RI and say they are trying the DBs out as a test! You can rationalize ANYTHING on your layout !!! :D Later...

Hi Debbie! Welcome to the Forum !!! Er... you don't happen to model the Rock Island, do ya ??? It's a mighty fine line, ya know! Almost as good as beer & apple fritters sounds! Anyhoo, see ya around - you can usually find the RIM (Rock Island Mafia - we are small in number, big in...

I wonder how much that Kinko blow-up would cost! If cheap enough it would be a great idea ... otherwise, pass the pencil! - George

Thanks for posting the historical information about the RI, the QCA and Abe Lincoln, Andy. THERE is some mixture! An 1856 QCA layout .... I think I would need a much bigger basement and far fewer locomotive types - but I wouldn't have to worry about mixing the wrong color schemes! No...

Alas! Sorry about your loss, Andy. :( I'll now go with a display cabinet instead of a shelf, too. Like Wolv, I was debating between the two - just sorry that you had to be the one to show us which way to go.... If Ted's or Mike's ideas won't work for you, at least you have a spare...

Shane - Thanks for the offer, but Andy knows a dealer who had some, so I've already got one on order! Seem to be good folk to order from - will order from them again. So... my caboose is in the mail! That's more than I can say for the P2K GP18 - I think Walthers has lost my order (Made...

Mike - I've got a Walthers Trainline AMTRAK F40PH. It is a good runner, but the detail is not up to Atlas Master/P2K/Kato standards. I like it, though. I have heard that the quality of the Trainline series varies greatly. Hopefully you can find someone that has the GP15-1 model and get a...

Hi Dan! Welcome to the RI madness ... er... modelers group (called the Rock Island Mafia by some!). - George

Mike - Unless you are changing the date of your layout, remember the RS-3s were gone from the RI by the end of 1973. Of course, it's your layout, so what your RI did may vary! Mine does. The U28B is not made by anyone, as you said, but the early U28Bs looked like U25Bs, the later U28Bs...

Wolv - Both the Marre and the Foster books give locomotive HP (the Marre book is specific for the RI locos, of course). But sometimes they disagree. They also give dates built (Foster) and dates bought and dispositioned by the RI (Marre). Very useful info, IMHO! For example the RS3 had...