Prototype History: The "Imperial" 4-4-2s are among the most popular designs in Lightweight passenger service. They have an excellent array of middle to top level accommodations, with 4 double bedrooms, 4 comfortable compartments and 2 drawing rooms.
The drawing rooms have evolved from the Heavyweight days. The restroom is arranged differently (note that most of the toilets are near the centerline of the car, where their chutes can clear the underbody gear mounted along the car edges.) In place of the section and sofa combo, a sofa and two armchairs provide day accommodations. At night, the sofa folds down into a traditional upper and lower. The third berth is a "Murphy bed" that folds down from a wall locker.
The compartments have a similar arrangement of sofa and chair; being, in effect, miniaturized drawing rooms. The bedrooms are similar again, with less floor space and no chair. The fundamental difference between a "single bedroom" and a "double bedroom" is that the single does not have an upper berth.
There are still a few shortcomings with this design. For example, the compartments and bedrooms still have the open toilets (postwar cars will have these enclosed in tiny restrooms). The compartments also have the prewar style small windows above the main windows. These were originally designed to give the upper berth a window view. However, in these cars, the berths are mounted laterally.
Still, these are excellent cars: requiring only detail refinements to achieve the long-sought perfection of the sleeping car. These versatile 4-4-2s are found on trains throughout the country.
The drawing rooms have evolved from the Heavyweight days. The restroom is arranged differently (note that most of the toilets are near the centerline of the car, where their chutes can clear the underbody gear mounted along the car edges.) In place of the section and sofa combo, a sofa and two armchairs provide day accommodations. At night, the sofa folds down into a traditional upper and lower. The third berth is a "Murphy bed" that folds down from a wall locker.
The compartments have a similar arrangement of sofa and chair; being, in effect, miniaturized drawing rooms. The bedrooms are similar again, with less floor space and no chair. The fundamental difference between a "single bedroom" and a "double bedroom" is that the single does not have an upper berth.
There are still a few shortcomings with this design. For example, the compartments and bedrooms still have the open toilets (postwar cars will have these enclosed in tiny restrooms). The compartments also have the prewar style small windows above the main windows. These were originally designed to give the upper berth a window view. However, in these cars, the berths are mounted laterally.
Still, these are excellent cars: requiring only detail refinements to achieve the long-sought perfection of the sleeping car. These versatile 4-4-2s are found on trains throughout the country.
Road Name History: The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (CRI&P RR) (reporting marks RI, ROCK) was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was better known as the Rock Island Line, or, in its final years, The Rock. At the end of 1970 it operated 7183 miles of road on 10669 miles of track; that year it reported 20557 million ton-miles of revenue freight and 118 million passenger-miles. (Those totals may or may not include the former Burlington-Rock Island Railroad.)
Its predecessor, the Rock Island and La Salle Railroad Company, was incorporated in Illinois on February 27, 1847, and an amended charter was approved on February 7, 1851, as the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad. Construction began October 1, 1851, in Chicago, and the first train was operated on October 10, 1852, between Chicago and Joliet. Construction continued on through La Salle, and Rock Island was reached on February 22, 1854, becoming the first railroad to connect Chicago with the Mississippi River.
In 1980 Rock Island was liquidated. The railroad's locomotives, rail cars, equipment, tracks, and real estate were sold to other railroads or to scrappers. William Gibbons (the trustee) was able to raise more than $500 million in the liquidation, paying off all the railroad's creditors, bondholders and all other debts in full at face value with interest. Henry Crown was ultimately proven correct, as both he and other bondholders who had purchased Rock Island debt for cents on the dollar during the low ebb in prices did especially well.
Read more on Wikipedia and Rock Island Technical Society.
Its predecessor, the Rock Island and La Salle Railroad Company, was incorporated in Illinois on February 27, 1847, and an amended charter was approved on February 7, 1851, as the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad. Construction began October 1, 1851, in Chicago, and the first train was operated on October 10, 1852, between Chicago and Joliet. Construction continued on through La Salle, and Rock Island was reached on February 22, 1854, becoming the first railroad to connect Chicago with the Mississippi River.
In 1980 Rock Island was liquidated. The railroad's locomotives, rail cars, equipment, tracks, and real estate were sold to other railroads or to scrappers. William Gibbons (the trustee) was able to raise more than $500 million in the liquidation, paying off all the railroad's creditors, bondholders and all other debts in full at face value with interest. Henry Crown was ultimately proven correct, as both he and other bondholders who had purchased Rock Island debt for cents on the dollar during the low ebb in prices did especially well.
Read more on Wikipedia and Rock Island Technical Society.
Brand/Importer Information: Centralia Car Shops is an N-Scale manufacturer based in Des Plaines Illinois. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Des Plaines hobbies. Des Plaines Hobbies was founded by Ron Sebastian in 1984. Centralia subcontracts its manufacturing to InterMountain and 'piggy-backs' the production runs onto the InterMountain runs using the same factories in China as InterMountain. Shipping from factories in China is also coordinated with InterMountain as is distribution to retailers.
Des Plaines Hobbies is a old fashioned hobbyshop with an emphasis on Model Railroading. It was started 33 years ago when you could purchase a tube of glue and sticks of balsa wood. That is still true today, although we have added a few items. About 20 years ago we ventured into some light manufacturing and are also home to Centralia Car Shops, S Scale America, and O Scale America lines of kits, decals and parts. Also along the way we have purchased a few small lines that we still offer such as Microscale's S Scale decal line and Mullet River Model Works HO and S lines.
Des Plaines Hobbies is located 3 1/2 miles north of O Hare International Airport at 1524 Lee/Mannheim (US 12-45). Pace buses conveniently run north and south on Lee/Mannheim from O Hare and the Des Plaines Metra station (1 mile north). For drivers, there is parking for a couple hundred cars out front and on the right side of the store. We are located on the south side of the Jewel food store under the red awning. Come for a visit. ADA restroom available. Coffee is usually hot, if not, ask and we will put a pot on.
Des Plaines Hobbies is a old fashioned hobbyshop with an emphasis on Model Railroading. It was started 33 years ago when you could purchase a tube of glue and sticks of balsa wood. That is still true today, although we have added a few items. About 20 years ago we ventured into some light manufacturing and are also home to Centralia Car Shops, S Scale America, and O Scale America lines of kits, decals and parts. Also along the way we have purchased a few small lines that we still offer such as Microscale's S Scale decal line and Mullet River Model Works HO and S lines.
Des Plaines Hobbies is located 3 1/2 miles north of O Hare International Airport at 1524 Lee/Mannheim (US 12-45). Pace buses conveniently run north and south on Lee/Mannheim from O Hare and the Des Plaines Metra station (1 mile north). For drivers, there is parking for a couple hundred cars out front and on the right side of the store. We are located on the south side of the Jewel food store under the red awning. Come for a visit. ADA restroom available. Coffee is usually hot, if not, ask and we will put a pot on.
Manufacturer Information: Centralia Car Shops is a small brand owned by Des Plaines Hobbies in Chicagoland and distributed by Intermountain Railways.
Here is what Des Plaines Hobbies say about themselves:
Des Plaines Hobbies is a old fashioned hobbyshop with an emphasis on Model Railroading. It was started 33 years ago when you could purchase a tube of glue and sticks of balsa wood. That is still true today, although we have added a few items. About 20 years ago we ventured into some light manufacturing and are also home to Centralia Car Shops, S Scale America, and O Scale America lines of kits, decals and parts. Also along the way we have purchased a few small lines that we still offer such as Microscale's S Scale decal line and Mullet River Model Works HO and S lines.
Here is what Des Plaines Hobbies say about themselves:
Des Plaines Hobbies is a old fashioned hobbyshop with an emphasis on Model Railroading. It was started 33 years ago when you could purchase a tube of glue and sticks of balsa wood. That is still true today, although we have added a few items. About 20 years ago we ventured into some light manufacturing and are also home to Centralia Car Shops, S Scale America, and O Scale America lines of kits, decals and parts. Also along the way we have purchased a few small lines that we still offer such as Microscale's S Scale decal line and Mullet River Model Works HO and S lines.
Item created by: CNW400 on 2020-12-02 09:07:11. Last edited by CNW400 on 2020-12-02 09:07:12
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