[?]

Speeder Trip on the Big Trees & Pacific Railway and Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Railway 4/26/2015 Part 6

We left Motel 6 in Gilroy and went north on US 101 one exit then took CA Highway 156 east over Pacheco Pass to Los Banos and breakfast at McDonald's where I had hot cakes and sausage. We then took CA Highway 156 East to CA Highway 99 south, to CA 41 South to East Mount Whitney Avenue to South Fowler Avenue to Douglas Avenue to 12th Avenue to Dover Avenue, then south on CA Highway 43 and Lacey Boulevard in Hanford stopped to fill the car with petrol. From here we drove south looking for trains and at Sandrini finally found one.

BNSF 7192 East at Sandrini. From here we moved one siding south to Elmo siding where we found another BNSF train.

BNSF 8345 West at Elmo siding. We turned around and saw a headlight coming.

Amtrak San Joaquin 702 met BNSF 8345 West at Elmo.

BNSF 8345 West DPU at East Elmo. From here we headed to Wasco and set up at West Wasco for a few more trains.

Amtrak San Joaquin 713 came up Wasco siding and stopped; it was over an hour and twenty minutes late at this point.

BNSF 7132 East went through Wasco next.

Amtrak San Joaquin 713 left West Wasco for its stop at Wasco. Chris and I drove down to the Sonic in Shafter for lunch then took CA 43 south to Interstate 5 to Main Street, which we took to Valley Boulevard to Alhambra to our last stop on this trip. We parked at the rear and walked to the front to go in.

I had contacted this group and they said "See you Sunday!" so Chris Parker and I were welcomed in and met the Chief Dispatcher whom we talked with for a few minutes before I started my picture-taking.

In April 1940, six dedicated HO enthusiasts joined to form the Pasadena Model Railroad Club. The first meetings were held at members' homes but soon a club layout was started at 856 E. Maple Street and this railroad was named the Sierra Pacific Lines. It was built with brass rail on fiber ties and powered with 6-volt automobile batteries. The building had been a retail shop and its total area was only 20 x 25 feet but the project attracted other capable modelers and provided experience for the larger layouts which were to follow.

In 1956 a large downstairs storeroom became available and a second, much improved, railroad was built. The new facility was 40 x 45 feet, affording space for 570 feet of double-track main line with 10 passing sidings, each of which could handle 20-car trains. There was also space for a narrow-gauge logging branch and a trolley system. Steel flex track and high-speed, closed-frog turnouts replaced the old brass rail. During this period the club began developing its own standards for layout construction and operating equipment. Rigid adherence to these standards has resulted in quality workmanship and reliable performance. The second Sierra Pacific was operated until 1963 when construction of the 210 Freeway finally forced its abandonment.

The search for a new home led to a vacant bowling alley at 139 West Main Street in Alhambra and the third layout was begun. With more than 5,000 square feet of area, the bowling alley afforded space for a huge, single-track, point to-point system with long passing sidings and numerous industrial spurs. The railroad was planned with an operating concept based on the kind of traffic it would handle, where freight would originate and terminate, etc. In short, the Sierra Pacific was to have a realistic relationship to the economics and operation of a corresponding prototype system.

Ten mainline cabs enabled operators to move trains over the entire route from Alhambra to Zion while nineteen additional panels controlled yards, engine service and local industries. Train routing was directed by two dispatchers. A trainmaster handled overall scheduling and all operator's positions were linked by intercom. The members steadily developed the layout, adding structures, scenery and a wealth of fine detail, but it all came to an end in 1979 when the lease was not renewed and again new headquarters had to be found. This time the members were determined to settle on permanent premises!

After several months, the present location was discovered and 21 of our members formed a limited partnership to buy and maintain the building. This partnership, called Sierra Pacific Associates, leased the building to the club. The club has been gradually acquiring the individual partners' shares and now owns the building outright.

Today's location is a big improvement over the Main Street layout. It provides more space for the railroad and we have ample facilities for a meeting room, restrooms, individual lockers, a library and work areas. A full year was spent remodeling the building and during this time, structures, control panels and other items salvaged from Main Street were stored at members' homes. In December 1980, the new layout was started but within six months, there was a potentially disastrous setback. A late-night fire in a portion of the building, then being sub-leased, caused considerable damage and the tragic loss of some fine scratch-built structures. Damage to the building was covered by insurance but, of course, there was no way to compensate for the loss of the models.

The operations plan was retained as well as the A-to-Z sequence of route names. Aside from these holdovers, the entire railroad had to be reshaped to the new building dimensions. The track plan was enlarged to fit the 70 x 72 foot room. The road was built on a grid with risers to establish the route profile. Laminated splines were attached to the risers and this base was overlaid with marine-grade mahogany plywood. The individual ties and ground walnut shell ballast were then cemented down and finally the steel rail was spiked to the ties. To insure precision track work, the club makes its own track gauges of hardened and ground tool steel. There are no rail joiners; the rail is silver-brazed in continuous lengths, interrupted only by .025 inch gaps to isolate the electrical blocks.

The main line is about 1,700 feet and at normal speeds and traffic conditions takes about an hour to traverse. The three principal yards, Alhambra, Midway and Zion, will handle a total of approximately 2,000 cars. In addition to the ten cab operators, two dispatchers and trainmaster, the completed railroad will require about 25-30 more operators to fully man the yard, branch line, and industry controls.

In February 1984, the Pasadena Model Railroad Research Center was established for the purpose of acquiring books, photographs, periodicals, motion picture film and videotapes related to all phases of railroading. This ongoing project, supported by donations is becoming a valuable historical resource. More recently a theatrical lighting system has been installed allowing trains to operate in a semi-automatically controlled 24-hour day-night sequence.

With completion of mainline trackage, late in 1985, the club has resumed monthly operating sessions. Construction emphasis has shifted to completion of the several branch lines serving the coal mines, ore and limestone mines, and the lumber mill and logging operations. These branches bring raw materials and manufactured commodities for shipment by rail (naturally) to destinations along the line. The extensive branch line is being developed using DCC technology from the port city of Zion through Colton and Delta to Echo with a line branching off to Alhambra. We are installing working signals on the Sierra Pacific and 1996 saw the completion of the semaphores. Work is progressing on the searchlight signals. Much like a real railroad we have had to relocate some trackage to improve operations. Most notable was the realignment of the helper pocket return switch and relocation of the east end of Powderhorn main and sidings, creating a smoother route and a maintenance of the way siding.

2015 marks the 75th Anniversary of our club and although the major work is completed, there is much work ahead. Presently envisioned major projects including the hidden storage yard, Urban Renewal of the City of Echo, Construction of Troy and the logging interchange, and Construction of the Port of Zion are underway. Whatever the future brings, the Pasadena Model Railroad Club will continue to pursue its objectives to bring dedicated modelers together in good fellowship and to build an HO railroad to the highest standards for their and the public's enjoyment.

Sometimes pictures are better than words.

What a fantastic model railroad they have. A special thank you to the Pasadena Model Railway Club for having Chris Parker and I here to visit your excellent model railroad.

Before we left, we packed up all of Chris Parker's things before I drove him back to LAUPT and dropped him off then I then drove south down Interstate 5 back to Santa Ana and home. It had been one excellent trip and now to write all about it.

RETURN TO THE MAIN PAGE