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A visit to the Iowa Interstate Subdivision 3 Journals/Blogs
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Super User 1,007 posts rrfaniowa Super User 1,007 posts
rrfaniowa

Today I spent a very enjoyable day in Iowa City visiting with Colin O’Brien along with his good friends, Clark Cooper and Steve Malcolm. 

Colin is in the early stages of building the 3rd Subdivision of the Iowa Interstate Railroad in HO scale. The modeled portion of the layout starts around South Scott Blvd. in S.E. Iowa City, Iowa, extends westward through the Iowa City yard and over the Iowa River in the heart of city, and continues west approximately 30 miles to just east of South Amana, Iowa, at the Iowa Interstate’s South Amana yard and engine facility. 

Below is Colin’s plan for a double deck layout:

[attach:fileid=/sites/model-railroad-hobbyist.com/files/users/rrfaniowa/3rd-Sub-Lower-Deck.jpg][attach:fileid=/sites/model-railroad-hobbyist.com/files/users/rrfaniowa/3rd-Sub-Upper-Deck.jpg]

In the next post I’ll share some additional photos and info on the layout and my visit. 

Scott Thornton
Modeling the Milan branch of the Iowa Interstate
http://www.iaisrailfans.org/gallery/STMilanBranch

Scott Thornton

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Rick Sutton Prolific poster 4,357 posts
Rick Sutton

You IAIS guys...

seem to have a lot of fun. I never heard of the railroad until I got involved with this forum and I really get a kick out of what you are up to. I grew up around a very obscure shortline and really enjoy seeing every post about the IAIS. I hope shortline isn't inappropriate but just wanted to say BRAVO! and keep the posts and pictures coming......love it!
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rrfaniowa Super User 1,007 posts
rrfaniowa

A visit to the Iowa Interstate Subdivision 3, continued…

Below are some additional images along with captions from my time with Colin, Clark, and Steve.

out-room.jpg 

Here is a general overall look at the layout room. Narrow shelves are the order of the day for the upper level while the eventual lower level may extend further out into the room. I discovered very quickly that Colin and I are much alike in our taste for neatness, ie: OCD brought to the hobby level. "Everything aligned and in its place" could be our motto.  

500.jpg 

IAIS 500 looking dapper with some weathered cars in tow. 

Turnouts.jpg 

Turnouts with Details West frog castings and Proto87 throw bars masterfully integrated.

tation-2.jpg 

An O-scale gas station under construction in the spray booth. The brick work and Mobil horse are the laser handiwork of Clark Cooper. 

graphics.jpg 

Colin has a neat collection of IAIS-related graphics – from golf balls to a custom layered diesel profile.

Finally, in addition to the layout, Colin and Clark along with several other modelers created a Free-Mo group called the "Knuckleheads". They built an oval shaped layout to take to shows and the modeling is excellent. Below are several images of their work.

Steamer.jpg Cows.jpg Bridge.jpg 

I hope you enjoyed this short visit, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the IAIS 3rd Subdivision takes shape.

Scott Thornton

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Virginian and Lake Erie Super User 9,217 posts
Virginian and Lake Erie

Looks like a very nice open

Looks like a very nice open plan. Has the best of both worlds a nice scheme for operations and the option of continuous run. Big aisles as well.

Rob in Texas

MRH Blog / Prep for an Operating Session / Delving Into the Past / The Club Blog / Youtube / etmrc.org
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pschmidt700 Prolific poster 2,583 posts
pschmidt700

Rick, it's a plot!

A fourth IAIS layout on MRH! All different, all being or on the way to being excellent examples of the art of model railroading. Hmmm, OK, I think I recognize conspiratorial efforts to make IAIS the most modeled Class 2 ever. You IAIS guys just keep dangling the bait. ...
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Joe Atkinson IAISfan Super User 3,774 posts
Joe Atkinson IAISfan

Go Colin!

Thanks for posting this Scott!  Great to see Colin's work represented here.  Now if we could just get Colin to share with us himself... 

Quote:

Hmmm, OK, I think I recognize conspiratorial efforts to make IAIS the most modeled Class 2 ever. You IAIS guys just keep dangling the bait. ...

Hmmm...you're on to our little plan.  Our stated mission (as agreed at the most recent IAIS Modeling & Conspiratorial Society meeting) is to make IAIS to modern modelers what the D&RGW is to the narrow guage crowd. 

Joe Atkinson
Modeling Iowa Interstate's 4th Sub, May 2005
https://m.facebook.com/groups/iowainterstate4thsub

https://www.iaisrailfans.org/gallery/4thSub

My MRH blog index

https://instagram.com/iaisfan
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Zephyrus52246 New member 2 posts
Zephyrus52246

Nice plan.

Looks like you've included all the IAIS elements along the line.  A shame you couldn't have more room between the Vernon siding and Melrose street for the Hawkeye Express to run.

Jeff Jones
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Colin OBrien New member 14 posts
Colin OBrien

Hawkeye Express

Quote:

A shame you couldn't have more room between the Vernon siding and Melrose street for the Hawkeye Express to run.

Jeff, you're absolutely right, and I wish I had more space for a longer run with the Hawkeye Express.  Seeing as how the layout will be set in September, my hope was to interrupt the regular operating schedule every once in awhile with some football train traffic.  

We'll see if I can increase the spacing as the lower deck's benchwork comes together. 

-Colin O'Brien
Colin O'Brien
Modeling Iowa Interstate's 3rd Sub, September 2008
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