I actually really like the look of that. One of us was talking about converting those things to coal one of these days, and after seeing that skin I'd definitely be on board with that.
Some more WIP shots of the Anywhere Ohio conversion. After getting permission from Ericmp (the original creator of Anywhere Ohio, what this route started out as), I'm happy to announce that one day in the future (don't ask me when) this route will indeed be released!
Today, we catch a glimpse of the LE&E lines through Sterling Falls, Ohio. On the north side of town, the railroad maintained a large yard complex with repair shops. With Sterling Falls being the changeover point between the Lake Division and the Buckeye Division of the CCFtW&C (a LE&E subsidiary), as well as the interchange point with the LE&E's mainline to Toledo and Detroit, it's certainly a hive of activity. Today, we catch train number 89, the westbound
Executive as it passes by the LE&E's 8th Avenue yard. Heavy holiday traffic is once again evident, and the amount of mail and express up front may signify a second section of the train close behind. Note the freight tracks below, as well as track number 4 ducking under the passenger mains, tracks 2 and 3, up above.
Now ducking under Jefferson St, the train slows for its station stop and threads the crossovers at the end of the yard. The
Executive was the LE&E's secondary service serving Detroit and Boston, serving to carry overflow traffic and M&E shipments that the famous
Motor City Limited did not handle. In addition, while the Motor City Limited operated via the LE&E mainline through Akron, just to the south, the
Executive operated via the CCftW&C line through Cleveland, before turning north at Sterling Falls to rejoin the LE&E line to Detroit at Toledo. Additionally, while the
Motor City Limited operated via the LE&E's mainline through Pittsburgh, the
Executive operated via the CCftW&C's Spencer cutoff, bypassing the Steel City to the north. Although competition with the New York Central was fierce, it's 1947, and the
Executive still carries a New York section, as well as cars for Columbus, Ohio; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Kalamazoo, Michigan. Within a year, the train will lose its New York cars, as well as have its routing changed to operate via Pittsburgh, with additional stops being added at Youngstown and Albany. The train will soldier on until March, 1962, when the westbound section would be cut back to a Boston - Pittsburgh local before being cut altogether later that year. Eastbound, the train would last until 1967, when the remnants (a pair of coaches, a snack bar-parlor-lounge, and a single sleeper) were unceremoniously struck from the timetable.
Now leaving Sterling Falls, number 89 swings around the big curve out of the station and under State St.
Picking up orders at Parker Street tower, the train crosses over to track 1 on the Buckeye division.