QUOTE: Originally posted by Jetrock This weekend I had the privilege of visiting the South Shasta Lines, up in Gerber, CA. The owner of that proud line, Godfrey Humann, has operated his model railroad, represenational of the SP's Shasta Division (Gerber, CA to Dunsmuir, CA), for 54 years. Every other year he opens the layout to the public--but due to his advancing age, this may be the last year the layout will be open to the general public. The layout itself is very impressive--it's not as big as Northlandz or as elaborately detailed as the Chicago MSI layout, or even a very big club layout--but it is all the more amazing because it is the work of one man. While the line is freelanced, it definitely has a Southern Pacific flavor, complete with Daylights (with a blue stripe, for their mainline express passenger line, the Blue Bonnet Special) and mighty articulated cab-forwards. The Gerber division point and all the depots between Gerber and Dunsmuir are represented. In addition to this, there are also displays of steam-powered tractors (as well as early gasoline caterpillar and tractor equipment) and, as an unexpected treat, a 2-foot narrow gauge railroad on Humann's property! When I saw it in the distance (the layout is located on Humann's nut orchard outside Gerber) I assumed that what I saw was one of those tiny ride-on-the-top live-steam engines, but as we got closer I realized they had a genuine wood-burning 2-foot steam locomotive! The little 0-4-0 was built in 1936 in Germany for use on the Hamburg waterfront, and pulled a short consist of flatcars and an open "caboose" a half-mile or so into the orchards and back. Here's a link to a story with details on the last showing of the South Shasta Lines: http://www.paradisepost.com/articles/2004/04/08/features/feature1.txt If you live in northern California, or can get here in the next month, do so--you won't regret it! A great layout and a wonderful time.
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
QUOTE: Originally posted by Jetrock The layout itself is very impressive--it's not as big as Northlandz or as elaborately detailed as the Chicago MSI layout, or even a very big club layout--but it is all the more amazing because it is the work of one man. While the line is freelanced, it definitely has a Southern Pacific flavor, complete with Daylights (with a blue stripe, for their mainline express passenger line, the Blue Bonnet Special) and mighty articulated cab-forwards. The Gerber division point and all the depots between Gerber and Dunsmuir are represented. If you live in northern California, or can get here in the next month, do so--you won't regret it! A great layout and a wonderful time.