RiverRail

From Railroad Depot

RiverRail is the name adopted by the Operations Group of Model Railroaders in La Crosse, Wisconsin and surrounding areas. A group dedicated to the realistic operations of model railroads as well as fellowship between rail fans and model railroaders. RiverRail is a round-robin group of model railroaders helping to plan, build and operate model railroads from all areas and eras. From the plains of the midwest in the early 50's, to the mountains of Montana and Idaho in the 70's, and even into modern day operations, everyone is sure to find something they can enjoy during our near-weekly operating sessions.

Currently, our group consists of eight operating railroads and six railroads under construction. We have operating sessions just about every Saturday and invite new operators to join the fun of Model Railroad Operations .

[edit] Operating Railroads

A pair of Dash 9's cross the Bow River bridge on the BNSF Idaho Falls Sub, casting their reflection in the crystal clear waters.

Milwaukee Road units await their next assignment in the Pekin staging yard on the Peoria Western railroad.

BNSF Idaho Falls Sub: This layout is a freelanced late 90's BNSF set someplace between Spokane Washington and Sandpoint Idaho. This location allows me to have some MRL units exercising trackage rights on the BNSF, as well as a community switched only by an MRL local.

Dodgeville, Madison & Northern: The Dodgeville Madison and Northern Railroad is based on the line abandoned by the Illinois Central in 1942 that ran from Freeport, Illinois to Dodgeville, Wisconsin. In the new incarnation of that branch, the line lives up to its early promoters by extending to Lone Rock, Wisconsin on the Wisconsin River from whence lines radiate to the Twin Cities, La Crosse, Eau Claire, and Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

Great Northern: Set in 1968, ore traffic dominates this double-deck layout set in the Iron Range of Minnesota. Operation includes car classification and service to local industries at Cass Lake yard, an ore marshalling yard, an ore dock switcher and mainline operation by five to six crews. The railroad also interchanges with the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range.

Lake Erie & Southern: Set in mid-1956, the Lake Erie and Southern (LE&S) is a freelance granger road operating in down-state Illinois.

Midwest Rail: Shortly after the merging of Burlington Northern Railroad and Santa Fe railroads, BNSF began looking for ways to streamline its operations in various parts of the country. One of the areas selected was a 50 mile stretch of track between the Midwestern cities of Great Lakes in the south, and St. Peter in the north.

Milwaukee Road: This layout is set in the mid 1970's and features one of the Milwaukee’s busiest routes, the Milwaukee Road River division from La Crosse, WI. to St. Paul, MN. Like on it’s namesake, operation includes manifest freights, numerous way freights (patrols in Milwaukee-speak), and Amtrak trains #7 & #8.

Montana Northland: This mid-1970s freelance railroad is set in western Montana and central Idaho. Trains climbing the heavy mountain grades require helper service as the MNRR hauls it's principle commodities, grain, potash and timber products. Connections with the CN, [[Canadian Poacific|CP], Rio Grande, SP, [[Western Pacific|WP] and the Milwaukee Road generate large amounts of bridge traffic. You will thoroughly enjoy this 20 x 26, plus 24 x 18 railroad which uses a creative mushroom design.

Peoria Western: The Peoria Western Railway was born in the minds of Chicago, Milwaukee, and St.Paul officials in the early 1920s. After leasing The Chicago, Terre Haute and South Eastern in July 1921, management turned their eyes to Peoria, a Gateway in Central Illinois. A willing partner was soon found in the Chicago Great Western, which also lacked access to Peoria.