Chicago Great Western HO Scale Randy Garnhart
The HO scale Chicago Great Western Railway is based on a 75-mile section of the Chicago district in northwestern Illinois. The railway begins at German Valley, Illinois and ends at Dubuque, Iowa with staging yards at Chicago, IL and Oelwein, IA. I have modeled 2 different time eras, 1955/1961 and 1962/1968, changing the operating plan, locomotives, and cars depending on time eras.
My primary interest is in capturing the feel of northwestern Illinois and the operation of the prototype C.G.W. The C.G.W. is essentially a bridge route railway operating from Kansas City/Omaha/St. Paul through Olewein, IA to Chicago, IL. Train movement is by train order and radio with dispatcher and fast clock.
I can operate with an 8-person crew and dispatcher. Using the fast clock with an 8 to 1 ratio, I can duplicate a 24-hour day. My goal is to have a low-stress, fun-filled day along the C.G.W. in 1955/1968.
Randy Garrnhart (with a lot of help from my friends)
Some railway statistics –
Size – 17’ x 33’ With 2’ x 24’ Staging Era – 1955 or 1962
Theme – Prototype CGW with the IC, CB&Q & MILW. Style – Walkaround
Locale – Northwestern Illinois Height – 52” to 62”
Benchwork – L Girder, W/Homasote on plywood Track – Code 70
Mainline Length – 168’ Radius – 26” to 32”
Turnouts – Mainline #6, Yards #5 Maximum grade – 2.2%
Scenery – Hard shell and foam board Backdrop – Hardboard
DCC – Digitrax Command Control Fast Clock – 8 to 1
Communication – FRS/GMRS radios OP session = 3 hours
Car movement – Check Box Waybills 12 to 14 trains per session
Train movement – Modified TT&TO
