MONON HO Scale Bob Supinger
For me, the MONON was an easy choice for a prototype. The railroad maintained an engine house about 2 blocks from my childhood home in Indianapolis. As a confirmed train nut at age eight, I spent many hours sitting on a small bench outside the telegraph office watching the engines come and go.
The MONON proved to be ideal for modeling purposes. With only 600 miles of track, all within the state of Indiana, it managed to provide a diversity of freight activity along with legendary passenger service between Chicago, Indianapolis, and Louisville. The MONON trackage formed a large “X” with one leg extending from Chicago to Indianapolis and the other leg reaching from Michigan City to Louisville. The two legs crossed at Monon, Indiana, hence the name MONON.
The termination of the Chicago/Indianapolis leg at Indianapolis seriously limited southbound traffic. The MONON Central is an imaginary subsidiary of the MONON and connects the cities of Cincinnati and Louisville directly to Indianapolis. With the Southport Yard as the focal point, freight turns cover the 100-mile runs to Cincinnati and Louisville.
In a typical operating session there are five freight turns and one local switcher at Indianapolis. These operate on orders issued by the dispatcher under Verbal Authority.
Eight passenger train runs are made via timetable. Four of the passenger runs involve switching of express cars and sleepers.
The MONON Central requires four to six operators, although as many as eight have been accommodated by doubling crews (not usually recommended).
The layout occupies a space of 16 by 24 feet and is approximately 90% completed.
