madcow

Progress shot of window display car.

!n they years spanning 1975-1976 The nation was treated to the American Freedom Train. Here is my progress shot of one of the display cars I am building in HO scale.

While an elderly couple mourns the departure of a friend, one can't help thinking of the "Fallen Flag" in the backround.

Although the power still waves the CNW flag, This is really the Twin-Cities to Chicago day train, operated by the MadCow. Note the UP inspired paint scheme on the first sleeper. This car is lettered for the CNW.

A 'pure' CNW F7A leads a sister and a GP-9 westbound at Ablemann. These units are starting to get the MCOW re-stenciling.

As i was walking back to the car from some railfanning, I caught this shot of a man reflecting as he passed by the cemetery.

The FP45B unit #8 with dynamyics wailing, roars by at 50 mph on the shippers special. This is one RARE unit!!

With bi-level commuter cars in tow, The NorthWesterns' rarest power make an appearance on a shippers special. Here SD40T-2 #8960 leads the 45B unit on a westbound journey.

An ex commuter F7A arrives with a sister on the point of an executive special touring the system.

Lots of action on the new MadCow Route. Here a trio of 4-axle geeps led by GP-35 845 cross highway 26 as they slow for work in Dachshundville.

Eastbound time-freight led by ex-CNW 1755 slows to 40mph as she passes through Dachshundville on the MadCow Route.

Ole' Joe Miller really knew how to go in style. This truss-rod equipped Observation car was the finest of it's day. The Miller Bros. Wild West Show travelled the U.S. putting on authentic "Cowboy and Indian" performances. The car is on it's way to the museum at Baraboo.

Crawling down the rocks at Ablemann has it's advantages. I was amazed at the condition of these old coaches, having been built in the 1800's. Through the years, it took a ton of TLC to insure these cars made it to our generation.

While these cars are still incredible shape, special FRA waivers were required to move them from one carrier to another. The cars will be stored in a special building in Baraboo.

While most of the retired Strates' cars are coaches, These two heavyweight observations made a beautiful sight! The cars were in storage in Florida and were donated to the Baraboo museum when the owner of them passed.

Employess of the Madison Central of Wisconsin Ry. enjoy a Saturday excursion over the newly acquired Reedsburg sub. Managment runs the special train seen here at the Ablemann High Bridge.

With the CNW takeover in transition, a wild assortment of power is common. Case in point, an ex-CNW E7A leads FP45B and an E7B on the eastbound journey to Madison.

Ex-CNW 1203 gets into position for spotting the empties arriving from the west. The GP-30 & GP-9 are now owned by the Madison Central of Wisconsin, a private entity.

Ex-CNW, now MadCow Route F7A #427 leads sister F7A #416 westbound at the quarry at Ablemann.

New owner Madison Central of Wisconsin is under control of the Ex-CNW Madison Division. Five brothers from Baraboo Wisconsin have purchased the line and a large assortment of equipment. Here a MadCow SD50 and SD40T-2 arrive at Ablemann with an empty rock train for loading.