Hi all! I just switched to US railroading from european. after reading too many Model Railroading issues, I now can't resist anymore a bit more info here: http://sp-coastline.blogspot.com I'm modeling the SP coast line in the 1970s. I need a little help from you guys to plan the Guadalupe, CA yard. this yard would be the center on my layout and I want to carefully plan it so I can operate it at its best. Though I visited a large part of California, I've never been is Guadalupe and definately not in the 1970s here is the first yard trackplan based on topozone.com maps, John Signor's book, internet info... anyone knowing the Guadalupe yard or anyone wanting to help in any way is much appreciated :shade: http://kopfbergbahn.calogero.org/misc/guadalupe-yard.pdf
Only thing "wrong" is your orientation to north/south. The "top" end needs 2/b bent to the right. But it's your RR so do what you want. You can also get aerials from Google Maps. They'll show more current trackage but it probably hasn't changed that much since the '70s. Definetely include the Santa Maria Valley RR in your layout somehow. Even if it's just their trains coming into Guadalupe yard and not the whole RR. There would have been beet traffic & supplies in bound going to the sugar plant. Not sure about outbound traffic but there must have been something. Passenger trains would have been Amtrak after May '71 but w/ SP cars in early '70s & Amtrak Superliners in late '70s. What other stations/towns are you thinking about including. Keep us posted on your layout design progress.
Should have looked at your top link first. Can see why you have Guadalupe oriented that way. You'll have some traffic going in/out of Lompoc at Surf. There is a Dolomite mine there & there was alot of covered hopper(?) traffic back in the day. Calender sees alot of covered hoppers to haul out lightwheight coke. Don't know about "70s but the ones used now are very distinctive. Again keep us posted on your progress.
thanks for your aswer and useful info! about the SMVRR I think I'll add a siding to the SMVRR spur (like the prototype) and use the two tracks as visible staging for sugar beet gondolas, as I saw and read on john signor's coast line book. I know about the yard orientation, but that's the space I have do you know more about the structures/industries in the guadalupe yard? thanks
Being a Santa Fe fan don't follow the SP much. There's the Souther Pacific Technological Society & there's sure to be a Yahoo group on the SP. Went thru Guadalupe many times as Amtrak conductor but didn't ever have time for pix. Maybe some of the other Trainboarders will chime in w/ more info.
Here's a link to a search on Yahoo groups for their SP sites. Two are Espee & espee_forever. http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query="southern+pacific"&submit=Search
