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Introduction
Our group first started talking about building an On30 layout for showing at the 2004 National Narrow Gauge Convention in December, 2002. We settled on modeling a generic 30” gauge railroad, based on the several 30” gauge railroads in California. Most of the sections are inspired by the Yosemite Short Line. This line was started in 1905 but work stopped in the spring of 1906, immediately following the San Francisco earthquake and fire. The line was never finished, service never started and the 8 miles of completed track was removed by 1915.The YSL was organized to tap into the lucrative Yosemite tourist trade, the several mines located south of the Sierra Railway in Tuolumne County and the rich timberlands near Crane Flat (owned at the time by the General Manager of the Sierra). A lumber mill was planed for Buck Meadows, near Groveland. When work was stopped, the line had 2 small Porters with two additional Porters on order. All of these were transferred to the Empire City Rwy, a 30” gauge railroad higher in the Sierra in Tuolumne County and owned by the Standard Lumber Co. At the time the same men controlled both the Sierra and Standard. Standard added a 5th Porter and purchased two used 3’ gauge Shays, which they re-gauged to 30”. The YSL also had 30” gauge flat cars and both passenger and general freight cars on the drawing board. One flat car remains today and is now at Railtown 1897 SHP in Jamestown. This car had worked on the Empire City Rwy. with the Porters following the closure of the YSL. When the Empire City Railway ceased operation in 1913, the 30’ gauge equipment then found its way to several other locations: These included the Molino Timber Company in the Loma Prieta area of Santa Cruz, the Johnson & Pollock Lumber Company in Siskiyou County north of Mt. Shasta and the Sloat Lumber Company in the Feather River area of Plumas County.
Our layout was designed to be sectional but not modular – every section is needed to operate the layout and sections only mate one way. It goes from about 49" to 65" above the floor and has curves and bridges crossing section edges and other shady things not normally allowed for modular interfaces. A modular group could do this as well but it would take some serious planning and would be less flexible than normal modules. The basic framework was designed by member Jim Long and is made mostly of door skins and blue insulation foam. Our standard was the Bachmann 2-6-0 had to be able to operate everywhere on the mainline that loops the layout and on the branch line that extends to the logging area. Since we are not modular it was not felt necessary to have other standards. Sizes of the sections are all 24” deep but vary in length from 44” to 72” and group members have either one or two sections. The various lengths were set by members ability to store and transport their sections. Each member selected a theme for their section(s) and a track plan was developed. Track is Micro Engineering set on California Roadbed Co. “Homabed” and turnouts are by Railway Engineering. Basic work on the sections was done as a group but structures and most scenery are the work of individual owners. We attempted to unify the look of the layout by trying to do all track and scenery at the joints between two sections while they were connected together. The group regularly met to join parts of the layout and work on common projects (wiring, lighting, track work, fascia, scenery). Group member Dave Biondi painted all the backdrops.
There are 10 members in the group. Some of us knew each other before this project, but this is the first thing we have done together as a group. We have an agreement every section will be made available whenever the group displays the layout, even if the owner can not make it. We also agreed that if any one leaves the group their sections will stay in the group and a new “owner” will be found. Current group members are: Dave Biondi, Richard Brennan, Dave Connery, James Eckman, Isaac Good, Ron Kolodzieczak, Pat and Ronnie LaTorres, Jim Long, Ken Lunders, Scott Maze, Frank Markovitch and John Roth. Brad Lloyd is a former member and built two of the current sections.
The Gang
NEW 9/30/2008This photo was taken at the 2008 Narrow Gauge Convention in Portland Oregon. Top left, Jim Long, Isaac Good, Frank Markovitch, Ken Lunders, Pat LaTorres, John Roth, Ron Kolodzieczak. Bottom left, Dave Connery, Jim Eckman, Scott Maze, Richard Brennan and Ronnie LaTorres. Missing is Dave Biondi. John Roth also is a member of a modular On30 group, California Central Coast Narrow Gauge Railroad - On30 modular group. They've shown at a fair number of Bay area venues.
An older photo, round up the usual suspects! Missing is Pat and Ronnie LaTorres, Ken Lunders, Frank Markovich and John Roth. Top left is our backdrop artist extraordinaire Dave Biondi.
The Layout
Two shots of the whole layout put together.
Older Photos
Overall view from
Narrow Gauge Convention 2004
Long view from PCR meet December 2003,
note missing greenery!
Motive Power and Rolling Stock
Rolling Stock Philosophy
I suspect the original YSL was planning to use
some pretty radical curves and grades, the original equipment
was only 18' long! In keeping with the spirit of the
original, no Bachmann rolling stock is used as is, its 25'
length and general size is too big. The vast majority of the
equipment is bashed, scratched or built up from kits. The
sizes range from about 14-20' for most of the rolling stock
and we use 20" wheels for most of our rolling
stock.
Some issues that we have had, the Shay seems a bit jerky on grades, the Climax seems to be better. The Shay does VERY poorly with vertical transitions, it is just a bit too low to the track and this causes shorts!!! The Porter and Davenport usually are very sweet. Athearn's and Bachmann's cheap diesel chassis (bash fodder!) surge rather badly. The Forney is impossible for our curves. I haven't run my 2-6-0 for a long time, it runs slow, but I've never run it up or down a grade.
Rolling Stock
Some of our assorted rolling stock.
New 2/7/2009
New 07/09/2008 Photo by Scott Maze
This loco is a vertical boiler chain-drive critter from England. Despite the ungainly appearance, they were a very popular adaptation of Sentinel's road steam wagon(!). Sentinel made these locos in
various narrow gauges from 1923 to 1951. I love real prototypes that make kit-bashed critters look ordinary!
This loco is from a Wrightlines kit--all I added were the bell and footboards. I managed to squeeze Soundtrax DSD-090LC sound into the cylinder box on the front, with a speaker in the vertical boiler
(under the cab). It is powered by a Black Beetle.
The loco will be operating on my Sierra Magnesite quarry line, which is part of the Yosemite Short Line.
If anyone wants one of these beasties, check out www.keykits.net-- they have all kinds of weird and wonderful English critters.
New 07/09/2008 Photo by Scott Maze
New 07/09/2008 Scan by Scott Maze
Scott's 4-6-0 bashed from a 2-6-0 photo by Scott Maze New August 10th, 2008
Scott's British Critter, don't ask me what it is! photo by Scott Maze New August 10th, 2008
Scott's wandering train as also seen on the California Central Coast Railroad New 2/7/2009
New 2/7/2009
New 2/7/2009
New 2/7/2009
New 2/7/2009
New 2/7/2009
New 2/7/2009
New 2/7/2009
Scott's Boxcar photo by Scott Maze New August 10th, 2008
Issac's flatcar photo by Scott Maze New August 10th, 2008
Its scratchbuilt, while based on the West Side the trucks and truck spacing are YSL sized. West Side used monster trucks and were high riders, this is a low rider
Older photos
The YSLs latest
acquisition, a little Davenport. We are so modern!
A Hunslet switching on the
quarry line. I wonder if it misses endless rain?
Lovely old Porter in full
array
The Sections
Section 1 and 2 - Big Oak Flats by Scott
Maze
Scott Maze's portion of the quarry branch
line. This are changed from a feed store to cattle pen
to a new building. Pen and new building are below.
New 2/7/2009
This was replaced by this!
New 2/7/2009
Nice figures as well as details.
Scott Maze's British motive power, pay no attention to the wires behind the man!
Scott Maze's Red Oak Flats, in the foreground is a transfer table and car for the quarry, very different for us Yanks.
Everyone's out on the porch when the weather is so nice. More from Scott Maze.
Older photos
Older feed store that was replaced
Overall shot minus rolling stock
With spring coming, much of the plaster snow is now melting.
Section 3 - Round Hill Mill built by Ken Lunders and in
possession of John Roth
The water tank at Round Hill. Ken's fine modeling work
combined with Dave Biondi's backdrops makes a fabulous little
scene. Everything behind the water tank is backdrop!
Late evening at the Round Hill Mill, no locomotives on the
trestle please!
Early morning at the Round Hill Mill, it processes Ubiquisite
ore a material found almost anywhere. Prototypes include the
Red Stone Mill and the Gentle Annie Mine, Ken Lunders has
created a nice PDF describing the prototype and the
techniques he used.
You can get it here: Round Hill Mill
prototypes and construction
Ken's also the owner/operator of Stevens Creek Models that carries
kits and parts for On30, O as well as those other
scales.
Older photos
Some of the areas are recovering from their
plaster winter, spring is coming soon! Round Top Mill under
construction, one primary construction material, cereal box
cardboard!
Round Hill Mill before
shot
Round Hill Mill under
construction
Sections 4 and 6 - Sawmill area by
Ron Kolodzieczak
I don't have any smart aleck comments about the sawmill,
these were supplied by show attendees.
Notice of correction!
I'm not up on ancient history, what are all these little
houses with one door and no windows for?
Ron Kolodzieczak's sawmill drew lots of
attention and a cash offer.
New 2/7/2009
Ron added new trees to his section, they really change the look.
New 2/7/2009
New 2/7/2009
The ghost of narrow gaugers past..........
Older shots
Raising the
sawmill
The counties largest dance floor is
about to become cutting edge. Some great machinery!
They rolled up the sidewalks
and forgot where they left them. What a party! PCR
meet
Our thirsty steamers now have a new
place to fill up.
Sections 7 and 8 by Jim Long
Jim Long's trestle, a fantastic job. Also some railfanning
before CAL-OSHA.
Some of Jim Long's structures. Jim updated his module a bit,
it was roughly handled by hoodlums at the Sacramento World's
Greatest Hobby Show.
New 2/7/2009
A peaceful moment.
New 2/7/2009
A more recent shot of the Ironworks area.
Older shots
The YSL still runs a fair bit of steam, so we need tanks. Here's an unusual one that's a fine example of modeling:
It's a long fall if we derail here, Jim Long's bridge prior to backdrop and trees
More of Jim Long's section before extensive landscaping
Here are two shots of our trestle, I forgot the name of the canyon though! In the first shot you can see most of it with all of the carefully modeled vegetation and the trestle itself.
Here's a closeup of the trestle showing some of the many bolt castings that went into making it a great model. On the trestle is trusty Shay #21 and the high security boxcar. I think it's going to get some doors soon, the lads are tired of prying off the siding to get at the contents.
Section 9 and 10 Stamp mill and mine by Dave
Connery
Snaking through Dave Connery's Shawmut Mine, rough
trackage!
Awesome modeling! Not mine of course.
Running past the tipple, the guy running the mine tram is a
real speed demon.
Older Photos
Shawmut Mine, one of the
many mining operations in the area
Section 11 Apple shed by Dave
Biondi
Dave Biondi's apple and what have you warehouse.
New 2/7/2009
Dave redid his trackwork and added this neat engine house and work area.
Section 12 Whistle Stop at Carlon by Jim
Eckman
New 2/7/2009
New motor coach stops of on logging branch. Frank's new trees improve the background.
We realigned the track on this module since we couldn't get anything up it in a reliable fashion! Note the new bridge and other construction.
New 03/09/2008 Dawn at Carlon, from an old picture courtesy of Picasa.
Ranger station, but no Smokey around. This station has been relocated to a position off the layout!
Older Photos
Older general store version, since replaced.
After dropping off and probably goofing off, the Rolling Outhouse tries to make up for lost time heading for the bridge
Bumming around at Yosemite
Section 14 - Camp 14 by Brad Lloyd in possession of Frank Markovich
New water tank and trees added by Frank. Track has been reworked as well.
New 2/7/2009
This section has already had some serious
rework done on it by Frank, when things get further along I
will post more pictures.
This is Brad Lloyd's logging module, the remains of a
successful logging operation, messy weren't they!
Older photos:
Poor photo prior to
rigging
Section 15 - Camp 14 by Brad Lloyd in possession of Pat and Ronnie LaTorres
This section has already had some serious rework done on it by Pat, when things get further along I will post more pictures.
New 2/7/2009
Track has been reworked, hopefully we will have some quarry action next show!
Brad Lloyd's quarry operation with British motive power, don't ask me what the engine is! I can only recognize Stirling singles. I have been told that this is a "Quarry Hunslett" since so many were used in the Welsh slate quarries.
Questions
What about the group?
I do think a local group is really key to
getting things up and running. It doesn't have to be very
big, probably as few as few as 3 or 4 can serve as critical
mass. Some of the things that helped us:
- Definite goals, show at the NNGC!
- Regular meetings, one reason that I think that it's important that you modules fit in your normal mode of transport. If you drive a big truck, your already set, at least until you fill up. Even the smallest car can generally carry a 2x4 module. Everything had to be there for the YSL to run, but maybe you don't have to bring them all.
- A big place to gather together.
- An overall thought one what your groups modules will grow up to be. Whimsy is a valid choice, but it should be a choice and not an accident.
Cool ways of work for portable
goodies:
- Foam is your friend.
- Plaster is the enemy, use acrylic matte medium or white glue with industrial paper towels.
- Glue everything or make it removable, because it's coming off one way or the other.
- If the object is heavy think about pins if you must leave it in place.
- Bamboo skewers make great foam reinforcement and can be used to make long wiring holes.
Make a couple of small dioramas if you want to try out some techniques.
I visited your web page and I like what you've done. I have several questions.... you said your mountains are foam covered with cheese cloth and matte medium?
Yes, on my module that is the case. Others used plaster cloth or house paint mixed with dirt!
What do you put on top of that?
Nothing. Matte media comes in different thicknesses, the thick stuff is totally moldable as to shape and thickness. It's expensive though.
Did you use ME flex track?
Yes. Some sections use handlaid Code 70
though. Roadbed used is HO Homabed, spikes nicely.
California Roadbed Co.
Inc.
What did you use for switches?
We used Railway Engineering for the most part, some of our group handlaid their own.
There is a group of us here in North Texas building a portable layout. We have started out with foam and a thin plywood box also. I would be curious to see photos of how you join each module.
1/4-20 bolts and wingnuts, I'll take pictures
at the convention.
What did you use to construct the large mountains?
Foam, lots of foam! On mine I used matte
medium and cheese cloth, very strong! Others used plaster
cloth. Others used white glue on foam.
How much do the modules weigh?
Mine's 2' x 4' and maybe weighs 10-15 pounds
and it fits in the back of a small Saturn station wagon,
larger modules are moved in body bags in the back of pickups
and a few people have vans.
Do you use a specialty vehicle to transport them?
No, everyday cars. The modules are mostly made from foam of one kind or another glued in a thin plywood box, they are very sturdy yet light weight.