Bear Valley Model Railroaders

Open House - Layout Tour Sunday, October 20, 2013 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sort By: Date

Sort By...

Filters

Type Filters

Owen Miller, G Scale, Garden Railway, The Crystal Mountain Railroad. In his own words: ""My garden railroad consists of two 400 foot main lines with the outside main having a siding or runaround (reversing) track. I have 9 yard tracks with the longest being about 20 feet long. They all tie into the inside main. I have a double crossover to get from the inside to the outside main. I have a 30 foot trestle with two foot covered bridge in the middle. The height varies from 3 foot high to 16 inches. I also have a 3 foot tunnel that covers both mains. The minimum radius on the mains is 9 foot on the inside main. The trestle has 15 and 16.5 foot radii. I use LGB switch machines throughout and have them controlled by Aristo Train Engineer. "" For the wintertime, he even has a working rotary snow blower and spreader for the snow! Owen is a NMRA member. Photo courtesy of Rick Howland
BarstowRick

BarstowRick

Bear Valley Model Railroaders
0 x

Owen Miller, G Scale, Garden Railway, The Crystal Mountain Railroad. In his own words: ""My garden railroad consists of two 400 foot main lines with the outside main having a siding or runaround (reversing) track. I have 9 yard tracks with the longest being about 20 feet long. They all tie into the inside main. I have a double crossover to get from the inside to the outside main. I have a 30 foot trestle with two foot covered bridge in the middle. The height varies from 3 foot high to 16 inches. I also have a 3 foot tunnel that covers both mains. The minimum radius on the mains is 9 foot on the inside main. The trestle has 15 and 16.5 foot radii. I use LGB switch machines throughout and have them controlled by Aristo Train Engineer. "" For the wintertime, he even has a working rotary snow blower and spreader for the snow! Owen is a NMRA member. Photo courtesy of Rick Howland

1
1K
1
0
20 Oct 2013
Harold "Stubby" Ent's HO scale - SB&B Railroad. You will have to ask him what the initials stand for. Stubby's layout is totally new. If you visited his layout last time you will be surprised with what he's done. A total rebuild. The layout sits on a 9 X 15 foot base, a island layout sitting in the middle of his garage, a double deck layout, it has three reversing loops, a single main line with two sidings and a inner switching line with a number of industries to serve. You can walk around the outside of the layout and check out the hidden staging yard and stub end yard on the first deck. Stubby has CCTV camera's set-up to keep track of the trains. Last time I counted 8 each. He can operate trains either on analog DC or DCC. Prefering to operate with DCC. A MRC Prodigy does the job quite nicely. If the garage door is open you are always welcome to stop in for a visit. Photo courtesy of John Acosta.
BarstowRick

BarstowRick

Bear Valley Model Railroaders
0 x

Harold "Stubby" Ent's HO scale - SB&B Railroad. You will have to ask him what the initials stand for. Stubby's layout is totally new. If you visited his layout last time you will be surprised with what he's done. A total rebuild. The layout sits on a 9 X 15 foot base, a island layout sitting in the middle of his garage, a double deck layout, it has three reversing loops, a single main line with two sidings and a inner switching line with a number of industries to serve. You can walk around the outside of the layout and check out the hidden staging yard and stub end yard on the first deck. Stubby has CCTV camera's set-up to keep track of the trains. Last time I counted 8 each. He can operate trains either on analog DC or DCC. Prefering to operate with DCC. A MRC Prodigy does the job quite nicely. If the garage door is open you are always welcome to stop in for a visit. Photo courtesy of John Acosta.

2
698
1
0
15 Oct 2013
Russ Greek's, G Scale Garden Railway. The Rusty Spike, Rotton Tie Railroad, The garden layout sets on an area 40' x 16' and is a work in progress. It is landscaped with a verity of plants and trees. I model the 1890 period with scratch built Class A Climax locomotives, cars, bridges, and structures. I am in the process of converting to battery operation although I do run with conventional track power. I have a small collection of plastic rolling stock which I run on occasion. My work shop has an around the wall ceiling Lionel track. Russ is a NMRA member. Photo courtesy of John Acosta.
BarstowRick

BarstowRick

Bear Valley Model Railroaders
0 x

Russ Greek's, G Scale Garden Railway. The Rusty Spike, Rotton Tie Railroad, The garden layout sets on an area 40' x 16' and is a work in progress. It is landscaped with a verity of plants and trees. I model the 1890 period with scratch built Class A Climax locomotives, cars, bridges, and structures. I am in the process of converting to battery operation although I do run with conventional track power. I have a small collection of plastic rolling stock which I run on occasion. My work shop has an around the wall ceiling Lionel track. Russ is a NMRA member. Photo courtesy of John Acosta.

1
1K
1
0
15 Oct 2013
News Bulletin: The railroad is no more, dust on the floor. It has been dismantled due to new owners request. However, there is some noteworthy information shared here as to how it was built. Thus I'm leaving it in the my albums....for now. Ivan Cowper's, O & S Rail Link, Three Rail O scale and S Scale two track mainline. The layout got it's name when Ivan first entered the attic to see the finished bench work and over heard above the sound of the saw's "Oh $hit!" Marking a less then happy response. The O & S Rail Link, aptly got it's name. The layout resides in a mortuary attic in Big Bear City, CA. Access to the attic is on a pull down ladder. It sports a two track, S scale, loopity loop, main line with a bit of the old mixed in with the new. We used the original American Flyer S scale switches to build a double crossover and Gargraves, S scale track for both tracks on the main. On the O scale, You will find GarGraves Phantom, three rail track with the center blackened along with Atlas switches. It sports a Wye and a reversing ballon loop.. Wired to DPDT, Cab A and Cab B Block Control. A single track three rail O Scale main with two lengthy sidings so trains can meet and pass by each other. All easy to build with three rail track. One Vintage Classic, dog bone that is built just like you would of found in a child's bedroom years ago, with tght radius curves and all. Of noteworthy: Some CTC style signaling, that actually works. A control panel where light indicators come on to indicate the trains location. As seen in the picture is a four track stub end yard. A mock up of what was hoped to be a future San Diego Station. The layout was built by Doug Parcell and Rick Howland. Featured is a train station and yard tower structures built by and receiving Doug's careful attention to details and ability to assemble and weather them. The grades are 2% with one short hop at 3%. On the O scale main line, we pushed the curves out increasing the radius, every chance we got. The largest being a 72 inch diameter. Aside from all the features and fun already described. The layout sports a working wye and a double track reversing loop. Loads of fun for the three railers, O scale, and those two rail, S Scalers, of American Flyer heritage. Photo courtesy of Rick Howland
BarstowRick

BarstowRick

Bear Valley Model Railroaders
0 x

News Bulletin: The railroad is no more, dust on the floor. It has been dismantled due to new owners request. However, there is some noteworthy information shared here as to how it was built. Thus I'm leaving it in the my albums....for now. Ivan Cowper's, O & S Rail Link, Three Rail O scale and S Scale two track mainline. The layout got it's name when Ivan first entered the attic to see the finished bench work and over heard above the sound of the saw's "Oh $hit!" Marking a less then happy response. The O & S Rail Link, aptly got it's name. The layout resides in a mortuary attic in Big Bear City, CA. Access to the attic is on a pull down ladder. It sports a two track, S scale, loopity loop, main line with a bit of the old mixed in with the new. We used the original American Flyer S scale switches to build a double crossover and Gargraves, S scale track for both tracks on the main. On the O scale, You will find GarGraves Phantom, three rail track with the center blackened along with Atlas switches. It sports a Wye and a reversing ballon loop.. Wired to DPDT, Cab A and Cab B Block Control. A single track three rail O Scale main with two lengthy sidings so trains can meet and pass by each other. All easy to build with three rail track. One Vintage Classic, dog bone that is built just like you would of found in a child's bedroom years ago, with tght radius curves and all. Of noteworthy: Some CTC style signaling, that actually works. A control panel where light indicators come on to indicate the trains location. As seen in the picture is a four track stub end yard. A mock up of what was hoped to be a future San Diego Station. The layout was built by Doug Parcell and Rick Howland. Featured is a train station and yard tower structures built by and receiving Doug's careful attention to details and ability to assemble and weather them. The grades are 2% with one short hop at 3%. On the O scale main line, we pushed the curves out increasing the radius, every chance we got. The largest being a 72 inch diameter. Aside from all the features and fun already described. The layout sports a working wye and a double track reversing loop. Loads of fun for the three railers, O scale, and those two rail, S Scalers, of American Flyer heritage. Photo courtesy of Rick Howland

5
173
1
0
15 Oct 2013
Greg McGinnis – HO scale, The Bear Valley Railroad, occupies approximately 100 square feet in a two-car garage. The mainline runs for 200 feet twice around the walls and over two peninsulas. Scenery is mountains to desert with a large town, trolleys and many industries. Most of the structures on the layout are scratch-built or built from scratch, from Greg's own artistry and craftsmanship. Look around to see if you can recognize any of the buildings and from what local influence they may have come from. You will find a famous desert depicted whose initials are MV. Another work in progress which allows for freedom of expression. Ask Greg to turn the lights on. Photo courtesy of Rick Howland.
BarstowRick

BarstowRick

Bear Valley Model Railroaders
0 x

Greg McGinnis – HO scale, The Bear Valley Railroad, occupies approximately 100 square feet in a two-car garage. The mainline runs for 200 feet twice around the walls and over two peninsulas. Scenery is mountains to desert with a large town, trolleys and many industries. Most of the structures on the layout are scratch-built or built from scratch, from Greg's own artistry and craftsmanship. Look around to see if you can recognize any of the buildings and from what local influence they may have come from. You will find a famous desert depicted whose initials are MV. Another work in progress which allows for freedom of expression. Ask Greg to turn the lights on. Photo courtesy of Rick Howland.

0
1K
1
0
26 Sep 2013
John Acosta – John’s HO scale Gulf & Pacific Railroad is a free lanced analog DC railroad set in the mid 1960s in a mountain area. The layout is located within a narrow L-shaped room with each leg 22 feet and 27 feet. The layout primarily features the Santa Fe, with the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific represented as well. Also featured is his father's railroad, the Gulf & Pacific. The 20-years-in-the-making track plan is a two-level walk-along shelf layout. Track is mostly Code 83 with some hand laid Code 70 on wood ties as well, and Code 100 in the older sections. The mainline run is about 120 feet long with 30 inch minimum radii for curves with easements. Railhead height varies between 48" and 58" above the floor. There is also a short, steep HOn3 branch ending at a crumbling "ghost town". The several towns on the layout are all named after John's children and wife, and one town has several scratch-built buildings resembling 1950 Palm Springs. Motive power is mostly diesels, with Shays for the branches. Through and way freights plus passenger trains operate point-to-point, with turntables at each end and at the middle with a modest yard. There are currently 18 industries and/or team tracks for switching, and a mini CCTV setup in one area. A fast-clock system is being developed at this time. The crossing gates/lights use the AZATRAX system with infrared detectors for reliable “nighttime” operations. The scenery is about ninety percent complete, and nearly all buildings are illuminated with detailed interiors. There are several photos of this layout on Bob Chaparro’s Model Railroads Of Southern California website in the "Albums" Section under "Gulf & Pacific RR", with some 50 videos on YouTube under "jostaiii". The windowless heated/cooled room is decorated with both authentic and replica railroadiana including an operating ex-SP Gyralite, SP switch stand, and REA signs. Passenger step stools from all the above railroads plus Pullman add to the atmosphere, along with two (AT&SF and UP) lighted drumheads and the original station sign from the Union Pacific depot in Riverside. The layout owner is a licensed architect and a NMRA member with 30 years in the Orange Empire Railway Museum. Photo courtesy of John Acosta.
BarstowRick

BarstowRick

Bear Valley Model Railroaders
0 x

John Acosta – John’s HO scale Gulf & Pacific Railroad is a free lanced analog DC railroad set in the mid 1960s in a mountain area. The layout is located within a narrow L-shaped room with each leg 22 feet and 27 feet. The layout primarily features the Santa Fe, with the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific represented as well. Also featured is his father's railroad, the Gulf & Pacific. The 20-years-in-the-making track plan is a two-level walk-along shelf layout. Track is mostly Code 83 with some hand laid Code 70 on wood ties as well, and Code 100 in the older sections. The mainline run is about 120 feet long with 30 inch minimum radii for curves with easements. Railhead height varies between 48" and 58" above the floor. There is also a short, steep HOn3 branch ending at a crumbling "ghost town". The several towns on the layout are all named after John's children and wife, and one town has several scratch-built buildings resembling 1950 Palm Springs. Motive power is mostly diesels, with Shays for the branches. Through and way freights plus passenger trains operate point-to-point, with turntables at each end and at the middle with a modest yard. There are currently 18 industries and/or team tracks for switching, and a mini CCTV setup in one area. A fast-clock system is being developed at this time. The crossing gates/lights use the AZATRAX system with infrared detectors for reliable “nighttime” operations. The scenery is about ninety percent complete, and nearly all buildings are illuminated with detailed interiors. There are several photos of this layout on Bob Chaparro’s Model Railroads Of Southern California website in the "Albums" Section under "Gulf & Pacific RR", with some 50 videos on YouTube under "jostaiii". The windowless heated/cooled room is decorated with both authentic and replica railroadiana including an operating ex-SP Gyralite, SP switch stand, and REA signs. Passenger step stools from all the above railroads plus Pullman add to the atmosphere, along with two (AT&SF and UP) lighted drumheads and the original station sign from the Union Pacific depot in Riverside. The layout owner is a licensed architect and a NMRA member with 30 years in the Orange Empire Railway Museum. Photo courtesy of John Acosta.

1
79
1
0
24 Sep 2013
Jim Ostrich - The Wabash Garden RR was started only a few months ago. I have enjoyed model railroading with my dad, starting over 50 years ago with O scale Lionel trains and then a large HO railroad that moved with my dad to his house in Fallbrook. As luck would have it I bought a garden RR up in Big Bear that came with a 5 BR home in Eagle Point last year. Since we use this house as a rental I don’t ever get to run the trains there! A few months ago, after my dad’s passing, I decided to build a “new” garden RR at our other house in Sugarloaf. The goal was to have 3 individual tracks capable of 3 independent trains operating without the need to micro manage their operating. My old equipment was track-powered but I loved the ease of “initial operations” with RC powered trains, so I installed both track and RC power, to facilitate guest operations. I have 3 RC controllers, one for each “loop”. Switches are also (or will be) remote controlled. The layout is built on a sloping front yard, so it is elevated along the sides and is ground level at the front of the property. (It is located in the front yard, as you will see.). There are two parallel main lines, with a third loop that runs at ground level under the two parallel main lines. Since as a kid I traveled on Union Pacific passenger trains to visit relatives in the MidWest I have a lot of UP equipment. For the outer loop, I added a UP 5-passenger car train with dual UP F3 (A & B) units for motive power. I also have an ATSF Pacific being modified this week for RC power, and a UP 0-6-0 switcher. Cars are being converted to knuckle couplers from Kadee and a variety of different manufacturer’s. The Wabash RR is still under construction, but capable of operation today. Photo courtesy of Jim Ostrich.
BarstowRick

BarstowRick

Bear Valley Model Railroaders
0 x

Jim Ostrich - The Wabash Garden RR was started only a few months ago. I have enjoyed model railroading with my dad, starting over 50 years ago with O scale Lionel trains and then a large HO railroad that moved with my dad to his house in Fallbrook. As luck would have it I bought a garden RR up in Big Bear that came with a 5 BR home in Eagle Point last year. Since we use this house as a rental I don’t ever get to run the trains there! A few months ago, after my dad’s passing, I decided to build a “new” garden RR at our other house in Sugarloaf. The goal was to have 3 individual tracks capable of 3 independent trains operating without the need to micro manage their operating. My old equipment was track-powered but I loved the ease of “initial operations” with RC powered trains, so I installed both track and RC power, to facilitate guest operations. I have 3 RC controllers, one for each “loop”. Switches are also (or will be) remote controlled. The layout is built on a sloping front yard, so it is elevated along the sides and is ground level at the front of the property. (It is located in the front yard, as you will see.). There are two parallel main lines, with a third loop that runs at ground level under the two parallel main lines. Since as a kid I traveled on Union Pacific passenger trains to visit relatives in the MidWest I have a lot of UP equipment. For the outer loop, I added a UP 5-passenger car train with dual UP F3 (A & B) units for motive power. I also have an ATSF Pacific being modified this week for RC power, and a UP 0-6-0 switcher. Cars are being converted to knuckle couplers from Kadee and a variety of different manufacturer’s. The Wabash RR is still under construction, but capable of operation today. Photo courtesy of Jim Ostrich.

1
797
1
0
24 Sep 2013
Steven Huether - is showing his layout for the first time. The Mile High Railways, bridge line made up of several short lines. T&T - Timber & Tidewater, B.I.G - Big Injun & Gulf, and the B&B - Belleville & Bear Creek. Also leases trackage rights to the Santa Fe, Southern Pacific and others on special occasions. The layout is basically a twisted dog bone with 18" radius curves, #6 switches, 3% grades and a hidden staging yard. It's built in a 9' x 11' bedroom (small), a small Western Town, Small yard with turn table, large mountain area with spectacular cliffs, pier with an operating light house and some small industries with sidings. Track work is operable and Steve uses DCC by MRC for locomotive control. Scenery and buildings are in varying degrees of completion. Recently a mountain built with Bragdon's GeoDesic Foam highlights the railroad. Steve knows his layouts limitations and runs equipment appropriate to the sizing compression. Photo courtesy of Rick Howland.
BarstowRick

BarstowRick

Bear Valley Model Railroaders
0 x

Steven Huether - is showing his layout for the first time. The Mile High Railways, bridge line made up of several short lines. T&T - Timber & Tidewater, B.I.G - Big Injun & Gulf, and the B&B - Belleville & Bear Creek. Also leases trackage rights to the Santa Fe, Southern Pacific and others on special occasions. The layout is basically a twisted dog bone with 18" radius curves, #6 switches, 3% grades and a hidden staging yard. It's built in a 9' x 11' bedroom (small), a small Western Town, Small yard with turn table, large mountain area with spectacular cliffs, pier with an operating light house and some small industries with sidings. Track work is operable and Steve uses DCC by MRC for locomotive control. Scenery and buildings are in varying degrees of completion. Recently a mountain built with Bragdon's GeoDesic Foam highlights the railroad. Steve knows his layouts limitations and runs equipment appropriate to the sizing compression. Photo courtesy of Rick Howland.

2
1K
1
0
22 Sep 2013
Rick Howland aka BarstowRick – The Howland Pacific Railroad of the Williams and Ashfork Division. A freelanced bridge route based on memories of real places, trains and times. It is an N scale layout housed in a 10’ x 10’ metal shed (not recommended). FYI, a work in progress. The layout sports a six track hidden staging yard and a six track stub end yard. A triple helix and what appears to be a double tracked mainline where train meets are a common event. The most avid description and Rick's favorite, is a "A folded over pretzled dog bone". Benchwork is old school, open box style grid. The era or circa reflected is of the late 40s and 50s through to the late 70s. The Santa Fe is the primary user of the railroad with Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, Western Pacific and The Denver & Rio Grande all putting in appearances. The Great Northern has an overland bridge route and drops in from time to time with a string of cars. A Museum Special, sponsored in part by the Norfolk & Western/Southern R&R, along with the private varnish organizations, occasionally tours the layout. Steam can be found at times, all though not in great abundance. Will they ever make a Stove (something exceptional minus those dreaded traction tires) that will actually pull ten cars up his 2% grades? It is rumored you can find powered box cars making the pull. Most curves on the mainline are 15" to 24"s with a barely tolerated 13" in the hidden staging yard and upper yard. A local model railroader, Greg McGinnis, donated a mini-city for the layout that is referred to as San Berdu. You will find an 7" radius trolley line. He built the town’s unique station from scratch, named (of all things) Rio Bendejo. Definition can be found by looking it up in Google's Dictionary. See, if it doesn't look like a train station you've seen in the greater Southern California arena. A mini CCTV setup helps Rick keep an eye on the hidden spots. The layout is wired to DPDT standards, supporting Cab A and Cab B operations, with a cut in DPDT that allows Cab B to be switched over to MRC's, DCC operations. This was originally written by myself and edited by John A., into third person. I'm editing what follows, changing to first person and adding a paragraph. A short biography of self. I grew up, spending my summers in Barstow, Ca. With a family of Rails, that worked for the Santa Fe. Having a child's bird's eye view maturing into a young man with memories of how it was. My family of rails shared much knowledge of this railroad and it shows on my layout. On this layout I attempt to recreate some of my favored memories. Like many, I depend on books but don't trust them 100% unless written by a Rail, I.e., a good friend, Chard Walker. Rail fans have done a good job capturing the essence of the railroads but aren't always factual on their reporting. Reporting, as though they are hard facts when that may not be the case. You won't find me calling a switch a "Turnout", I won't make that mistake. Only the engineering departments of the railroads called them turnouts. I'm a railroader and will pursue the tradition of calling them "Switches". A ardent Santa Fe #3751 supporter. Photo courtesy of Rick Howland.
BarstowRick

BarstowRick

Bear Valley Model Railroaders
0 x

Rick Howland aka BarstowRick – The Howland Pacific Railroad of the Williams and Ashfork Division. A freelanced bridge route based on memories of real places, trains and times. It is an N scale layout housed in a 10’ x 10’ metal shed (not recommended). FYI, a work in progress. The layout sports a six track hidden staging yard and a six track stub end yard. A triple helix and what appears to be a double tracked mainline where train meets are a common event. The most avid description and Rick's favorite, is a "A folded over pretzled dog bone". Benchwork is old school, open box style grid. The era or circa reflected is of the late 40s and 50s through to the late 70s. The Santa Fe is the primary user of the railroad with Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, Western Pacific and The Denver & Rio Grande all putting in appearances. The Great Northern has an overland bridge route and drops in from time to time with a string of cars. A Museum Special, sponsored in part by the Norfolk & Western/Southern R&R, along with the private varnish organizations, occasionally tours the layout. Steam can be found at times, all though not in great abundance. Will they ever make a Stove (something exceptional minus those dreaded traction tires) that will actually pull ten cars up his 2% grades? It is rumored you can find powered box cars making the pull. Most curves on the mainline are 15" to 24"s with a barely tolerated 13" in the hidden staging yard and upper yard. A local model railroader, Greg McGinnis, donated a mini-city for the layout that is referred to as San Berdu. You will find an 7" radius trolley line. He built the town’s unique station from scratch, named (of all things) Rio Bendejo. Definition can be found by looking it up in Google's Dictionary. See, if it doesn't look like a train station you've seen in the greater Southern California arena. A mini CCTV setup helps Rick keep an eye on the hidden spots. The layout is wired to DPDT standards, supporting Cab A and Cab B operations, with a cut in DPDT that allows Cab B to be switched over to MRC's, DCC operations. This was originally written by myself and edited by John A., into third person. I'm editing what follows, changing to first person and adding a paragraph. A short biography of self. I grew up, spending my summers in Barstow, Ca. With a family of Rails, that worked for the Santa Fe. Having a child's bird's eye view maturing into a young man with memories of how it was. My family of rails shared much knowledge of this railroad and it shows on my layout. On this layout I attempt to recreate some of my favored memories. Like many, I depend on books but don't trust them 100% unless written by a Rail, I.e., a good friend, Chard Walker. Rail fans have done a good job capturing the essence of the railroads but aren't always factual on their reporting. Reporting, as though they are hard facts when that may not be the case. You won't find me calling a switch a "Turnout", I won't make that mistake. Only the engineering departments of the railroads called them turnouts. I'm a railroader and will pursue the tradition of calling them "Switches". A ardent Santa Fe #3751 supporter. Photo courtesy of Rick Howland.

3
95
1
0
16 Sep 2013
BarstowRick, Sep 15, 2013
Joe Lovett likes this.
    There are no comments to display.