Overland Models - 28058.1 - MOW, Jordan Spreader, Medium Blade, Ballast - Chicago & North Western - 11983

Road Name History: The Chicago and North Western Transportation Company (reporting mark CNW) was a Class I railroad in the Midwestern United States. It was also known as the North Western. The railroad operated more than 5,000 miles (8,000 km) of track as of the turn of the 20th century, and over 12,000 miles (19,000 km) of track in seven states before retrenchment in the late 1970s.

Until 1972, when the company was sold to its employees, it was named the Chicago and North Western Railway. The C&NW became one of the longest railroads in the United States as a result of mergers with other railroads, such as the Chicago Great Western Railway, Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway and others.

By 1995, track sales and abandonment had reduced the total mileage back to about 5,000. The majority of the abandoned and sold lines were lightly trafficked branches in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Large line sales, such as those that resulted in the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad further helped reduce the railroad to a mainline core with several regional feeders and branches.

The company was purchased by Union Pacific Railroad (UP) in April 1995 and ceased to exist.

Brand/Importer Information: Since 1976, Overland Models has been a premier importer of fine brass scale models. The company’s new ownership, having passed from father to son, is steeped in the family’s passion for and knowledge of model railroads. We are dedicated to OMI’s tradition of quality, service and attention to detail, and are taking bold steps to introduce new models and features to delight the most discerning collector and hobbyist.

Our devotion to accuracy of detail is a hallmark of our products. We not only have a historical in-house library for reference, our project team also goes on-site to take measurements, photos and talk with railroad and other employees. We also maintain excellent relationships with manufacturers who know that we pride ourselves on maintaining the highest integrity in representing their product. And our relationships extend to our customers, many of whom offer railroad experience and knowledge from which our models are designed and refined.

Our products are handcrafted by some of the world’s foremost manufacturers of detailed brass models using our exact specifications. The models are beautifully factory finished for the most authentic representation possible. Our models now feature NMRA-compliant DCC plugs so that customers can install the decoder of their choice.

These combined resources and our commitment to quality make Overland Models the most realistic, highly collectible models you can own.