The Latest News at River City Modelers
NMRA Pacific Northwest Region Division 5
Members of the River City Modelers train club must maintain their membership in the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA). Club members in the Spokane area are also members of the Pacific Northwest Region (PNR) Division 5 of the NMRA. For members who haven't checked recently and for anyone else interested here is a link to PNR Division 5 information.
Spokane Fall Model Train Show
The Fall Train Show is October 9, 2022. For more information Click Here.
The Fall Train Show is October 9, 2022. For more information Click Here.
New Amtrak Locomotives
#201 is Headed Home
Locomotive #201 rests outside the East Ely enginehouse. Note the beacon light on the top of the hood.
Very soon this scene will be recreated as the locomotive joins her sisters back on the NNRy! Check out the Nevada Northern Railway's Facebook page for photos of #201's journey Home. Facebook
How you bring home a diesel railroad locomotive that is 15 feet tall, 60 feet long and weighs about 200,000 pounds (100 tons) from railroad museums that lost their connections to the general railroad system? Your only choice is by truck and a very special truck too!
Why all of the fuss? The Nevada Northern Railway is a National Historic Landmark (NHL). National Historic Landmarks are so designated because they possess exceptional quality in illustrating and interpreting the heritage of the United States. Locomotives 201 fits that description; she will fill a missing part of our story, the transition from steam to diesel. Once she is home, she will join Locomotives 40, 81 and 93 as a National Historic Landmarks!
Why is Locomotive 201 so special? She was built by the America Locomotive Company (ALCO) in May 1951 as a RSD-4. She was specifically built for the Kennecott Copper Corporation for operation on the Nevada Northern Railway. She is a diesel-electric locomotive powered by a 12-cylinder diesel engine rated at 1,600 horses, with two three-axle trucks, and a traction motor on each axle. Only thirty-six RSD-4s were built and Locomotive 201 is the only one left!
Very soon this scene will be recreated as the locomotive joins her sisters back on the NNRy! Check out the Nevada Northern Railway's Facebook page for photos of #201's journey Home. Facebook
How you bring home a diesel railroad locomotive that is 15 feet tall, 60 feet long and weighs about 200,000 pounds (100 tons) from railroad museums that lost their connections to the general railroad system? Your only choice is by truck and a very special truck too!
Why all of the fuss? The Nevada Northern Railway is a National Historic Landmark (NHL). National Historic Landmarks are so designated because they possess exceptional quality in illustrating and interpreting the heritage of the United States. Locomotives 201 fits that description; she will fill a missing part of our story, the transition from steam to diesel. Once she is home, she will join Locomotives 40, 81 and 93 as a National Historic Landmarks!
Why is Locomotive 201 so special? She was built by the America Locomotive Company (ALCO) in May 1951 as a RSD-4. She was specifically built for the Kennecott Copper Corporation for operation on the Nevada Northern Railway. She is a diesel-electric locomotive powered by a 12-cylinder diesel engine rated at 1,600 horses, with two three-axle trucks, and a traction motor on each axle. Only thirty-six RSD-4s were built and Locomotive 201 is the only one left!
Abandon Railways in North America
This is an interesting map of where the abandoned rail lines were (are) in North America:
Sprague Union District
Great view from 1954 of three major grain facilities in Spokane, WA. On the right is the Sperry Flour Mill that is still across the street from the club. In the middle is the North Pacific Grain Growers elevator that was torn down last year. On the left is the Centennial Flour Mill, now part of ADM and still busy. Northern Pacific's Erie St Yard is on the lower left.
Eugene Train Show Scheduled for April 2022
The 33rd annual swap meet in Eugene, Oregon is scheduled for 1st weekend of April 2022 at the Lane Events Center in the Expo Halls. Set up from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Show Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is good for both days if hand stamped. Tables are $30 per table, 8 ft, tables, if you need an electrical drop it will cost you $15 per drop. Wall and electrical go first so register early. Flyer are coming out in late September. 22,500 square feet, 260 tables, vendors from 9 states. One of the largest swap meets from the Canadian Border to the Bay Area of California. The Willamette Cascade Model Railroad Club turned 50 years old in September of 2020.
Great Northern in Big Sky Blue
In this Great Northern publicity photo, new SDP45 #333 leads the "Empire Builder" in its redesigned "Big Sky Blue" livery near Montana's Glacier National Park during the fall of 1967.
Have you checked out our Facebook page lately?
'Ted has been putting a lot of pictures of the layout and member's trains on the Facebook page. Thank you Ted. Take a look click on the Facebook icon at the top of the page.
Something for our Milwaukee fans
Milwaukee Road "Little Joe" E-74 awaits departure from Avery, Idaho with an eastbound manifest on the morning of August 22, 1971.
2-8-8-0 "Consolidation Mallet" Locomotives
One of Great Northern's handsome 2-8-8-0 Consolidation Mallets, #2012 (N-3), is seen here on a September day in 1951 after just leaving the Hillyard Shops in Spokane, Washington before being transferred to the Minot Division. Built in 1940 by GN shop forces, she had previously worked the Inside Gateway on the Klamath Division between Bend, Oregon and Bieber, California where freight was interchanged with the Western Pacific. She could produce 4,200 horsepower, carried 63-inch drivers, and offered 104,200 pounds of tractive effort. Gayle Christen photo.
Chicago & Northwestern Takes Over River City Western
Check out the Photo Albums under Services for more of the day that the C&NW took over the RCW. And this is just a reminder that any members railroad has trackage rights on the River City Western. While we are not having ops sessions you can still come in and run your trains.
Not a Sun Kink!
Earthquake in New Zealand! Look how far those concrete ties moved.
A Wee Mishap!
CSX W018-07 had a wee mishap at Hamilton, Ohio this afternoon. With a loaded rail train up front and a loaded ballast train on the rear, the weakest link was found climbing the grade out of Hamilton, Ohio toward Indianapolis. I'm sure this sounded spectacular. Amtrak is annulled for Sunday and cleanup is proceeding. Thank You John L. for Sharing
WOW - You Have to See This Switch Operate!!
Thanks Bill F. for Sharing
UP Not Following Social Distance!! Shouldn't They Be 6 Feet Apart!!
Why a $600 million herd of iron horses has been put out to pasture in Salt Lake City!! Great Article - Thanks for sharing Gary and Dennis!
Thank You Rick C. for sharing. You have been busy!!
Bored Hanging Around the House - How About Doing A Little Coloring!
Have the kids or grand kids (heck even yourself) color it. Then scan it, or use your phone to take a picture of it.
Now send it to me at john.kuglin@gmail.com and I'll post your picture on our website!
Now send it to me at john.kuglin@gmail.com and I'll post your picture on our website!
| Coloring Fun |
Don't Forget to Tour the RMC Layout. 10 Amazing Videos Showing the Excellent Work of the RCM Members!! Start with Video 1 and Go for a Train Ride!!
Do You Remember Cheers? So True Today!!
Thanks for Sharing John L.
Recently Discovered Footage of First Railroad into Spokane!!
Thanks John L. and Rick for Sharing
Thanks John L. and Rick for Sharing
Thanks Ron for Photo
March 2020 - Our Youngest Attendees Enjoying Playing with Trains at the RCM Spring Show!!
March 2020 Cover of the Goat - The Hustle Muscle Busting Winter!
BNSF Local Project
4 New High Speed Switches - Being Installed Behind the Old Sunset Junction Building
February 13, 2020 Photos Courtesy of Gary T.
February 13, 2020 Photos Courtesy of Gary T.
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BNSF lead engine floated flawlessly out of the Kootenai River
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Then and Now: NP North Coast Limited
January 19, 2020
Credit to the Spokesman Review and Gary T. for sharing this information
Click Here for Story
Train Derailment Rescuers Honored
January 23, 2020 at 6:00 am | By MANDI BATEMAN Editor
Credit to the Bonners Ferry Herald and John L. for sharing this information
Click Here for Story
January 23, 2020 at 6:00 am | By MANDI BATEMAN Editor
Credit to the Bonners Ferry Herald and John L. for sharing this information
Click Here for Story
Thank you John L. and Mark M. for the Photos
Fascinating Article on James J. Hill's Letter to the Stockholders on Retiring from the Chairmanship of the Board of Directors. July 1, 1912
Thank you Gary for Sharing and John L. for securing permission to post from the GNRHS
The ‘Gem’ Between --- More Information on the Izaak Walton Inn 80th Birthday!
Where on the Railroad are We? Great Information on Station Names - Thank You Larry B. for Sharing!
| Station Names Document |
RCM Makes a Donation to the Shriners Hospitals - Click Here to Read the Thank You Letter
The GN Hustle Muscle Plowing the Road this Winter!!
Click on Picture to Read the Article
From Employee Housing to Resort, Izaak Walton Inn Turns 80
Can you remember the prices below! How much did you pay for your last cup of coffee? Thanks Rick for sharing.
Members enjoy weekly conversations at breakfast. Check out the calendar for place and time and attend the next one!
Members enjoy weekly conversations at breakfast. Check out the calendar for place and time and attend the next one!
GNRHS Table at the RCM October Train Show.
I think we need a model of the HM 400 on the table - Don't you!
Maybe the 1 to 1 scale shown below!!
Great work guys!!
I think we need a model of the HM 400 on the table - Don't you!
Maybe the 1 to 1 scale shown below!!
Great work guys!!
Some of our members enjoying the ultimate model railroad scale 1 to 1!!
Where's Waldo? Can you find the Hustle Muscle!
Sandpoint bridge project approved – and you helped make it happen!!
RCM Members working at the Missoula, Montana Train Show September 2019
Crossing gates were timed just right. Precision technology at it's best! Want to trust a driver-less car? Thanks John L.
John Langlot wins the GNRHS Hustle Muscle Award!!