For as long as I've been following the IAIS, their MOW department in Atlantic has used an ex-Chessie 50' PS-1, C&O 21054, as their local tool shed.  I've always liked this car, and found it especially interesting in that the IAIS never bothered to patch it at all (much like their ex-NP boxcar/tool shed in Council Bluffs that's still in full NP paint and lettering).

I've been wanting to model Iowa Interstate's Jordan Spreader #9500 (ex-RI 95319) for years, but it's a significant kitbash using the Walthers spreader kit as a starting point.  Recently, though, I was able to get a good deal on a disassembled, partially-stripped OMI UP Jordan Spreader that, with a few minor changes, would be a perfect match for the 9500.  This thread will chronicle all aspects of the model's return to service.

At 4:05 this afternoon, I watched my Mom - one of the greatest sources of encouragement in my life and my hobby - pass peacefully into eternity, a victim of Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) that was diagnosed just 10 months ago.  As much as I write here about far less important things, I felt it was only right to post a tribute to Mom.

Growing up in the 1970s, I've long had a fondness for cabooses, especially the MP short bay window design.  In fact, the lack of cabooses on my portion of the IAIS has been the only major regret I've had about my choice of prototypes.  It's been so bad that I've often thought about backdating the layout to RI times, or even starting over with a different 1970s prototype, in order to allow caboose ops.

Oh, there it is. 

I finished the water and foliage at Walnut Creek today, so I thought I'd get a few action shots there.  I still need to return to touch up the backdrop seams and add trees, but I plan to complete those tasks in bulk once I finish all the backdrop pics throughout the layout.

Over the 14 years I've been following the IAIS, I've gone to great effort to confine my modeling strictly to my chosen era, both to focus my efforts as well as to limit my hobby spending.  A friend has even jokingly (?) referred to me as "heartless" due to choices I've made to part with equipment that doesn't fit my timeframe.  

..."No, it's Iowa."  Finally time to start adding some of my own "Fields of Dreams".