Milwaukee Road Locomotive Roster: A Look at Power on the Janesville Division


Milwaukee Road Motive Power on the Janesville Division

The Milwaukee Road’s legacy is alive and well in my Janesville layout, with vintage locomotives faithfully representing the iconic power that ran through Wisconsin in the 1980s. Let’s take a closer look at the motive power on the layout and how each engine contributes to the smooth flow of operations.




The Milwaukee Road roster on my Janesville layout reflects the diversity and workhorse mentality of the 1980s Midwest rail scene. Each unit has a specific role in the operating scheme, with power assigned based on real-world usage and layout function.

MILW 1610 – EMD SW1

Assignment: Janesville Yard Switcher
Role: Primary yard engine for classification, team track spotting, interchange prep

1610 is an EMD SW1 assigned to switching duties in the Milwaukee Road’s Janesville Yard. With 600 horsepower, it’s well-suited to low-speed, short-distance moves within the yard limits. It handles car classification on Yard Tracks 1–3, services the team track, and prepares blocks for transfer to CNW or SOO.

MILW 2001 – GP40

Assignment: Road Power – Monroe Turn, through freight
Role: Long-haul movements and online industry work

MILW 2001 is used on the Monroe Turn and other through freight assignments requiring sustained road power. With 3,000 horsepower and a high-speed profile, it hauls mixed freight, interchanges with CNW at Janesville, and rotates into Fox Lake staging between sessions. It is typically assigned to trains requiring four to six cars and return movements to the east.

MILW 402 – H-15-44 (Fairbanks-Morse)

Assignment: Local and secondary yard support
Role: Light local freight, industrial switching, occasional yard relief

MILW 402 is a Fairbanks-Morse H-15-44 primarily used for industrial jobs and support switching. On this layout, it assists in light local runs and fills in when the SW1 is unavailable or additional switching capacity is required. It often handles trailing work for the interchange or special spot moves like sand hoppers and the roundhouse spur.

Operational Summary

All units are equipped with DCC and assigned unique addresses. Their usage is based on realistic horsepower needs, operational range, and mechanical plausibility for the modeled era. Assignments rotate to reflect seasonal freight changes and interchange demand.

This roster supports reliable, repeatable sessions while staying true to the Milwaukee Road’s operational footprint in Janesville.


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