The 'Chicago Rail Link' began as a show layout and has since been modified into a layout for operating sessions. The railroad draws its name and locations from the real Chicago Rail Link that serves the south side of Chicago. The industries and commodities, however, suit the owner's fancy and include a furniture factory, brewery, and paper mill. The table was build out of foam core following plans in a Jan. 1991 'Model Railroader' article and contains only two pieces of wood.
Operating sessions model a day in the life of the Chicago Rail Link. Interchanges from the CNW and EJ&E arrive at the yard and are split up into locals which serve the online industries. Trains visit the Marcal Paper Mill, Rock Bottom Brewery, and the industries in the town of Irondale. Once local switching is complete, interchange runs send cars back to the CNW and EJ&E for delivery to off layout customers. Operating sessions are run using car cards printed with 'ShipIt! Car Cards'. Traffic is light enough that the yard master handles dispatching duties.
The scene with the switch tower is loosely modeled after Milwaukee's tower B12, which was moved from its original location and is now preserved in a track side park in Franklin Park, just south of O'Hare airport. The park is located behind End Of Track Hobbies, an excellent model railroad hobby shop, so a visit to this location has numerable benefits. I did decided against modeling the pubic swimming pool that is located opposite the tracks from the tower.
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Last Updated: 09/28/03