TOMMY HOLT'S WESTERN PACIFIC RAILROAD 2012

In 2012 I had the pleasure of meeting Tommy Holt, courtesy of Riley Triggs.  Tommy lives in the Austin, TX area and has a huge, beautiful Western Pacific layout.  Unfortunately we didn't get to operate on the day of my visit but I hope to operate there on my next trip to Austin in 2014.

Thanks again Tommy and Riley!

The railroad has it's own building.  Nice!

Major CTC machine

Beautiful scratch built Stockton station

This is the work room downstairs.  The layout is upstairs.

Mr. Riley Triggs, chauffeur extraordinaire

Notice the track lines for the yard on the fascia

This is the two staging yards

Riley Triggs, Tommy Holt, me

Riley Triggs, Tommy Holt

Stairway down to the work room

A VISIT TO DAVID BARROWS' CAT MOUNTAIN AND SANTA FE 2012

A visit to David Barrows' layout in Austin, TX in 2012.  Awesome railroad.  Years ago (1980's with Mark Bridgwater?) I operated the original Cat Mountain and Santa Fe and that was an amazing experience to say the least!  The Cat Mountain was one of my favorite railroads to operate.  The other was the Virginian and Ohio in Dayton.  I operated there in 1976 I believe!

David's new layout is much simpler that the old CM.  Much as been said about the simplicity of the new layout, however, I found it to really be perfect.  No, it's not just a plywood table top.  It does have scenery, buildings, etc.  I thoroughly enjoyed the layout and my visit with David.  Thanks again David!  I look forward to returning.

STRUCTURES BUILT FOR THE CPRX BY JOEL MORSE

Since I've had no time to build structures with all the other projects, Joel offered to build some for the railroad to make it come to life a little more.  Thank you Joel!  These are temporary structures to occupy space and give the railroad somewhere to set out and pick up cars.  The names of the structures are the actual names of the industries that will be modeled.  Here is a series of photos of Joel's work.  The first and second are the master at work and I can't thank him enough!

Joel Morse bangin' 'em out!

Lestico Automotive Supply (for guess who)

Lestico Automotive Supply

The Sunmaid facility

Another view of Sunmaid

The Dole facility

Martyn Bridge & Signal (Again for guess who)

Valley Organics

Lopez Paint Company

Fresno Plastic Company

Railex facility

Below are photos of the building process.