Lou & Rose VanWinkle
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The first loop, the Starved Rock Scenic Railroad, was built around a small plastic pond. It features two stops, Starved
Rock and Stand Rock, where tourists detrain to enjoy the scenic delights. A switch off the loop leads to the passenger
loading platform and an engine service track. Building and operating the first loop was great fun, so plans were made
for a major expansion. The second loop is a folded dogbone, 47ft over the ends. There are three spur tracks off the loop. One leads to the Starved Rock Scenic route. Another simulates a connection to the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern. The third spur represents a connection to the Union Pacific. There are five switches along the line to serve industries, and sidings inside both ends of the dogbone. This loop is named Englewood, Chicago & Pacific. Englewood is where the real LS&MS turned north toward downtown Chicago, and to an imagined connection to the Union Pacific. The time period modeled would be around 1900 - all steam engines and wooden cars. Wiring the control panel was finished in early September. Trains are running! But much work remains. Buildings, landscaping and numerous details have yet to be completed. It might be considered work-in-progress. But trains are running!
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