Hello, all. My name is Joel. I am in the planning stages of a "what-if" railroad -- the River City Northwestern. Set in KCK in 1961. The premise is that following the Kansas City Northwestern's bankruptcy in the late 1910's, the publicly-owned Leavenworth & Topeka actually purchased the KCNW tracks between Holton and KCK. The L&T then abandoned it's line in favor of the more direct line into KC. (The book "Missouri Pacific Northwestern" is the background of this concept.) The MP ran the KCNW as a branch line until 1917. The line then went independent before entering receivership under CGW men in 1919 or so. MP bought the terminal tracks with the promise that if the KCNW resumed operations within 5 years, the MP would switch the terminal for free. In real life, everything ends there. My what-if takes off from there with the CGW and MP jointly running under a 99-year lease the rebranded RCNW. The MP uses the Carbondale Branch for its Colorado Eagle to cut 50 miles off the route leaving KC and avoid trackage rights over the Frisco to Paola. (I think it was. Sorry. It's business. Nothing personal.) The CGW would continue to use the Leavenworth to Meninger Jct. trackage as its entry to KC (never shifting to the MP Omaha Sub, which in real life it did). So, I was looking at the CGWs Ohio Ave. Yard, and came across some maps with Frisco overlays from a 2009 thread that showed the MP/CGW trackage. Had to join to see the maps. But it also gives me an excuse to buy more locomotives -- in the Frisco variety. And add a bit more switching intrigue. Regards; Joel
Welcome! We have a hand full of "what-if" modelers here on the forum that may provide good insight on the craft. One more map that may be of help if located in this thread. http://frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/kansas-city-interchanges-1980.13483/ Its in post #12. It's a little blurry but somewhat readable.
