Dave, there are still some dairy herds out in West Marin, out on the hills. But, down around Caliente, I would agree, would be beef cattle. Tejon Ranch extends out near there. Jim, don't change anything, looks fantastic, and can't wait for whatever is coming next!
My family on my Aunts side was the last family in CA to move cattle by horseback drives. They were always brown and some blacks. I used to see them by the hundreds! But the thing I remember most was driving down those dusty roads with my Dad leaning out the window of the truck going 'Moooooooo' and me looking at those cows chewing and never answering him......stupid animals......LOL
Heres some family photos. Interesting to note how close the scenery looks to yours. These are some of the last of the real cowboys in California.
This was the back of one of the trucks. My Fathers brother, my Uncle John, was a truck driver, and he met Bud Ginochio's daughter, my Aunt Lynne, while driving for them.
The scene looks great no matter what though Jim. (I am planning on some cows on my hills too.....for obvious reasons!)
Wow! Who'd a thunk the thread would turn in to a history of cows in California! Jerry, those photos are great! As to the Ferengi, it's all in the ears... And what's coming next was to me, one of the more interesting facets of the whole project! Next Sunday... It's amazing how stuff gestates in your brain and suddenly becomes real. Is this a great hobby or what?
Had to go with Holsteins here too, but then it is Wisconsin. Funny thing tho, having married into a beef raising family. Would love to include some longhorns. Layout looks great Jim, as always!
As hinted at and promised, here's what I consider to be the "jewel" in the Caliente project, and a first ever for me: electrical power poles with wires. Here's the upper end of the line at the Caliente cell tower. Look very closely - the transformer is wired correctly. Here's the transformer at the crossovers proper. Got to have some way to power the switches and light the signals! The poles are 1/16" dowels, the transformer from a scrap sprue, the conduit .025 rod, the transformer wiring stripped from decoder flex, and the power wire EZ Line from Berkshire Junction. I love what this brings to the scene!
Very nice touch on the poles, lines and transformer. I like it!!! Also, glad to see the cow theme die out. Daryl
Thanks, everyone! Ben, that was done by very gingerly holding a hot soldering iron NEAR the rod and letting it melt a bit - kind of like glass blowing...
