Pete Pedigo's New Unionville and Western Railroad

 

This is Pete Pedigo's 1/8 scale railroad that he has built and operates with some of his best friends.  It is located north of Bloomington on his 50 acre homestead.  There is over 1 and half miles of mainline track with passing sidings.  There are 6 bridges on the layout, excuse me, railroad and a 175 foot long tunnel.

Bill Lesburg preparing to depart the main yard eastbound with his 1/8th scale coal fired Mountain type locomotive and cars.  As soon as his conductor boards he will obtain permission from the yardmaster to enter the departure track and perform a running brake test. Using his two way radio the conductor will call MJ Tower for his EC-1 authorization for train 561 to enter and occupy the mainline.  He will record his movement instructions on his EC-1 form and read them back to the dispatcher for accuracy and verification. A process repeated by all trains needing block authority anywhere on the railroad when not in the yard.   He will then be given permission to proceed as directed.  His first block will be through MJ Junction.  His second block will be through the Tunnel Block which includes a 175 foot tunnel on a 1 to 2.5 percent downgrade to Harrodsburg, Indiana.  

Bill Lesburg has just exited the roundhouse lead track and is topping off his tender with water before moving down to the end of the ladder tracks to back to his train on yard track #3.

Kent Bolerjack , engineer on his through freight, DRG&W train 5404, roaring up the  1.5% grade across the 105’ “Waterfall Bridge”. He is exiting Pedigo Block and entering Cochran Block and heading towards his meet with Monon train 561 at Harrodsburg.  After getting EC-1 Authority from the dispatcher he will then proceed up the 2.5% grade to the west portal of tunnel. 

 

Engineer Zach Simunic and his Conductor Ron Simunic drag this local upgrade headed back to Hunter Yard. They are slowing for a stop indication ahead at the semaphore at Harrodsburg.  They are returning from the coalmine division, a branch off the mainline at Wallace Junction that serves 4 coalmines. Sometimes L&N 5019 with a powered slug as shown is a 25 car train.

Owner of the New Unionville and Western Railroad, Pete Pedigo running light with IHB 9220, and stopped by a red semaphore, watches a roll by of Eastbound 5404 as it heads  downgrade for the next  half mile to Murdock, Indiana at the PM&B quarry which is where the Empire State Building’s limestone was quarried on the MONON Railroad.