As many of you know, I am currently building a layout that is intended to replicate the Chicago CTA, mile for mile, station for station.
its not set at any specific period, not is it 100% accurate. I have taken features of the historic CTA and incorporated them into the modern CTA. Some parts of the layout have historic elements that no longer exist, while other parts replicate the CTA as it exists today.
My overall intention is to give the overall feel of riding the L in Chicago. while at the same time tipping my hat to some of the historic elements now lost that made the system unique, such as the 3 track station at Indiana, used as a transfer point for the Stockyard and Kenwood branch lines, now demolished and replaced with a modern, 2 track concrete station.
I am currently working West to Skokie, and wanted to collect some opinions on my next part of construction.
the CTA is currently constructing a new station, the Oakton station on the Skokie Branch, it is due to open in a few months. The Skokie branch is historically, an express route, with stops at Howard, and Dempster (Skokie) which are the ends of the line.
So, I was wondering what people here would think me including the new Oakton station. Do you think its better to include everything that exists now, or leave the Skokie branch as its historical 2 stop express run.
One thing I am doing at Skokie that no longer exists. Skokie used to be part of the North Shore route, and operated until 2003 under Catanary wires, requiring special cars to operate the branch. The wires were removed in 2003 and replaced with 3rd rail along the whole line. However I spent my Summers in Evanston and often rode the swift "Under the wire" and all my childhood memories of the Skokie Swift are "Under the wires" So my intention is no matter what, beyond the Skokie shops, to create the Skokie swifter under the wires from the North Shore.
so, let me hear some thoughts on Oakton, I am leaning towards building it right now, but am still unsure.
its not set at any specific period, not is it 100% accurate. I have taken features of the historic CTA and incorporated them into the modern CTA. Some parts of the layout have historic elements that no longer exist, while other parts replicate the CTA as it exists today.
My overall intention is to give the overall feel of riding the L in Chicago. while at the same time tipping my hat to some of the historic elements now lost that made the system unique, such as the 3 track station at Indiana, used as a transfer point for the Stockyard and Kenwood branch lines, now demolished and replaced with a modern, 2 track concrete station.
I am currently working West to Skokie, and wanted to collect some opinions on my next part of construction.
the CTA is currently constructing a new station, the Oakton station on the Skokie Branch, it is due to open in a few months. The Skokie branch is historically, an express route, with stops at Howard, and Dempster (Skokie) which are the ends of the line.
So, I was wondering what people here would think me including the new Oakton station. Do you think its better to include everything that exists now, or leave the Skokie branch as its historical 2 stop express run.
One thing I am doing at Skokie that no longer exists. Skokie used to be part of the North Shore route, and operated until 2003 under Catanary wires, requiring special cars to operate the branch. The wires were removed in 2003 and replaced with 3rd rail along the whole line. However I spent my Summers in Evanston and often rode the swift "Under the wire" and all my childhood memories of the Skokie Swift are "Under the wires" So my intention is no matter what, beyond the Skokie shops, to create the Skokie swifter under the wires from the North Shore.
so, let me hear some thoughts on Oakton, I am leaning towards building it right now, but am still unsure.