My layout is modeled after
Southern California during the early 1960s. It is built as a round the
room shelf type layout, 14 to 18 inches wide allowing for close up
photography. Enjoy the photo tour and be sure to check out more
web-article links for model building projects at the top and the bottom
of this page.
Here is the new Athearn, MT4 Locomotive out for its test run and photo.
The prototype of this commute train in 1981 was known as "Baxter's Choo-Choo." Baxter Ward was a L.A. County Supervisor, 1974-80. His idea for a commuter rail system eventually turned into the L.A. Metrolink.
The North Hollywood depot is now used for Railway Express and Pacific Motor Trucking freight shipments long after the Pacific Electric stopped running passengers in 1952. In later years SP repainted their structures to gray. This fine model kit is now produced by Showcase Miniatures on a limited production run.
The Burbank local makes a stop at the maintenance of way yard to set out several hopper cars of ballast.
Caboose 807 and train heading southbound on the Lone Pine branch.
There is new SW 1500, Athearn
switch engine on the layout, the SP 2467. You can see from the
prototype picture below that both engines are waiting on the main line
for the orders to move.
The SP 2462 (SW1500) and gravel
cars wait on the main line at Sun Valley. The work train will back up
all the way to San Fernando for the rebuilding of the main line there
after the Sylmar Earthquake in 1971.
The SP trackage runs along the Los Angeles River for many miles and also crossing it in several places. This fascia model was made from a corrugated cardboard box and Latex indoor paint.
The Westbound "Coast Mail" train is about to depart the Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal.
The "Coast Mail" seen here passing Burbank Junction Tower.
The layout module in only fourteen inches wide at this point. On the prototype, a concrete dranage channel does runs along the tracks in the same place, however on the model, one channel side wall is used to make the facia.
Richard Hughes is a retired railroad conductor and owns this HO model of an SP, AC9. He worked for the SP back in the early 1950s and ran these monster locomotives on the Modoc Line in Northern
California. He says "these locomotives were very easy to operate!"
The Chatsworth Hauler eastbound off the Coast Line at Burbank.
Prototype color photos from my Freight Car collection.
New power 5840 and 2913 waiting at the Burbank Depot.
There goes the local up the Valley Line to finish the day job at Sun Valley.
Switching work at the San Fernando Sunkist Packing House.
NEW! Here's a Trona Railway, HO layout in PDF format (888.5KB), I had designed for the 2006 layout contest for Model Railroader Magazine. It didn't win, but this shelf layout can be expanded to whatever room size you may have.
My wife Cheryl and I have produced a series of Christmas train stories for her nephew, we hope your Children will enjoy them too. The Town Christmas Tree This will be the last of the Christmas stories.
