Set in mid-1956, the Lake Erie and Southern (LE&S) is a freelance granger road operating in down-state Illinois.
The modeled LE&S Illinois division includes the 1st district between South Anderson Yard to Alton and St.Louis. (550 ft.) also the 3rd district between South Anderson to Peoria and Creve Croeur. (475 ft.). Active staging at both ends of the St. Louis line and staging for the P&PU RR at Creve Croeur supply the railroad with traffic. Eight 1st class trains and six 2nd class trains plus an assortment of extras are operated over the division. Operating positions include a 2 dispatchers, yardmaster with 3 switch engines at South Anderson yard, a yardmaster with a switch crew at Alton, IL., a footboard yardmaster at Peoria, plus eight road crews. Operating sessions are 4 hours long not including a 30 minute break in the middle. The layout dimensions are 29 ft. by 65 ft.
The Lake Erie and Southern Railroad uses Digitrax’s control system with UT4R Radio throttles all locos with working class lights and some sound. The LE&S is now full CTC on the St. Louis District. The Dispatcher is located in a separate room containing the Union Switch and Signal Centralized Traffic Control machine and communications are by block phones. The South Anderson to Peoria and Creve Croeur (P&PU RR) line will also be full CTC for the Riverrail 2010. The Peoria line also has the NYC operating with trackage rights from Mayfeild Jct. to Creve Croeur.
Ron,I really enjoyed myself yesterday,your a great host and everyone I met was terrific especially Drake. He took me under his wing -what a great guy. I haven’t stopped thinking about the session and look foreword to the next. thank you again, George