ATSF Los Angeles Division, circa 1949

[Cajonpassfan]

Thank you very much, Simon, for the kind words. You do make a good point...but it's an uphill battle that I have given up long ago. Life is too short.
The Society is basically a bunch of HO guys, and they are very nice and knowledgeable people, don't get me wrong. But for the most part, they are just not interested in looking at anything smaller than their "real" models  When we had a National convention here some years ago, I put my N scale Cajon layout on tour and included pictures (below) of my layout.
Not a single person showed up, not one....
Otto K.

[MDW]

Their loss.....
Your layout kicks a$$ with or without the 3800’s.

Michel

[johnb]

Their loss.....
Your layout kicks a$$ with or without the 3800’s.

Michel

agreed....

[Cajonpassfan]

Ha! Thank you, but a few 3800's would really kick a$$!
Otto
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[johnb]

Ha! Thank you, but a few 3800's would really kick a$$!
Otto
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3d prints?

[MDW]

Ha! Thank you, but a few 3800's would really kick a$$!
Otto

Yes Otto.  Yes they would!!!!

Michel

[Cajonpassfan]

3d prints?

Well, that is an option. I actually have several of Jason's (Superturbine) boiler castings, and Dirk (ATSF N scale) makes great 15K gallon tenders appropriate for these. It's the 2-10-2 mechanism that's a challenge; the Bachmann's are way too small-drivered (prefect for the early 900/1600 classes) and the Concor mech is too long). I've stretched a Kato Mike, and have had one  3800 "under construction" for some time. I need a small fleet of these, so that's a cumbersome and time consuming proposition and I have two layouts to finish meanwhile. Getting a 3800 commercially would definitely solve this challenge.
Otto

[johnb]

Well, that is an option. I actually have several of Jason's (Superturbine) boiler castings, and Dirk (ATSF N scale) makes great 15K gallon tenders appropriate for these. It's the 2-10-2 mechanism that's a challenge; the Bachmann's are way too small-drivered (prefect for the early 900/1600 classes) and the Concor mech is too long). I've stretched a Kato Mike, and have had one  3800 "under construction" for some time. I need a small fleet of these, so that's a cumbersome and time consuming proposition and I have two layouts to finish meanwhile. Getting a 3800 commercially would definitely solve this challenge.
Otto

I feel your struggle...SP 0-6-0's, 4-8-2's and 2-10-2's

[superchief]

Otto,
    I feel your pain every time we have an open house/ or op session other than our locals I go above and beyond to make sure all track and locos are clean to put on a "good" show for the HO bunch. The ones that show up usually have good things to say other than they cannot read the card numbers, a reason I went to car tabs! I had one show up ran one train and then went to he car and talked on the phone for the next two hours. On our first Pro Rail sessions I had Chuck Hitchcock and my friend(n scale) had David Barrow, David never showed up and rumor got back to my friend that he stayed at the hotel and was not going to a damn n scale layout. Chuck did show and was a great guest, I had some passenger train numbers wrong(not enough research!) and Chuck sent me some information after the event to help me out!! I am a member of the historical society but it is geared 90% to HO. Would love someone other than Bachmann to run a 3700 or 2900 class 484 and a good 3800 2102 would be most welcomed in n scale!!
                                                           Gordon Bliss / Santa Fe - All the Way

[Cajonpassfan]

Well, Gordon, I'm not sweating it; it is what it is.
In other news, since the Santa Fe had the largest fleet of stock cars in the country at one time, I was excited to acquire a couple of old double deck Sk's by Pecos River Brass. They look more "open" between the slats than the IM cars, and I like that, but in some ways seem crude...especially in blown up pics, see below. Doors, ladders, rivets...And they don't roll very well, either....oh well, I'm a bit disappointed, but I'm not dumping them yet...they do have "character"
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

Not much progress on the layout. We've been traveling to visit family on the east coast, enjoy the grandkids and take in some glorious fall colors. Stumbled on a beautiful if abandoned stone arch bridge that used to carry B&M trains between Boston and Montreal I believe, pics below. Would be a joy to model. But I digress...
I did play with my  layout design a bit: I have some real estate available for a single family residential neighborhood north of 5th Street, about 13" by two feet between the mainlines leaving San Bernardino and the edge of the layout. I'd like to create a transition between the urban center and open running, if that makes sense. There should be room for three streets/two blocks of houses, looking for something not too upscale and generic, and not something everyone else has. Just playing with ideas for now....
Otto

[MVW]

I'm curious, Otto. In the photo of the three houses, what's the source for the one in the middle? With a few modifications -- primarily to the porch -- that would make a pretty good stand-in for my childhood home. I've kinda, sorta been on the lookout for something like that.

Always great to see your updates!

Jim

[Cajonpassfan]

Jim, as you probably know, there were/are many thousands of these Sears Catalog houses all over the country. One could order one on line, er, by mail, and have a boxcar load of everything from lumber to roofing to nails delivered to the nearest team track. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if it turned out you grew up in one of them...how cool is that?

I bought the kit on Ebay, see below. The corner house is also from the same seller. With little work, I think these will make great models. And the price is hard to beat...
Thanks for your kind comment, too.
Otto

[OldEastRR]

Cajonpass, are you looking for a few brick residences too? (from pre-1930)

[Cajonpassfan]

@OldEastRR not really. In this part of California, and especially in working class neighborhoods near the railroad tracks like this one, brick houses were rare. Most were stick-built with either wood siding or stucco finish. If anything, I need more smaller, low end frame houses to capture the feel of this neighborhood.
Thanks for your interest!
Otto