5 Mile Railroad

[NWP Dave]

New Forum Member/1st post
I recently joined the Railwire forum and look forward to reading the posts to add to my daily RR fix. It looks like there is a lot of good reading to catch up on. It will take me a bit to figure out how the forum works, so bear with me while I learn the in and outs.

I am currently working on my “5 Mile Railroad” 6x10 HOn3 layout. 
The 5 Mile RR depicts a 4.8 mile (5 mile in my story) narrow gauge section of the North Pacific Coast RR (Later known as Northwestern Pacific RR) in Western Sonoma County, CA from approximately 1876-1906. This section began in Occidental, CA (Elevation 570 ft.) and ran northbound descending through a dense redwood forest along Dutch Bill Creek to a stop near Tyrone saw mill (Elevation 62 ft.).  5.7% grade if my calcs are correct. The mainline on the layout is built without any grade. There is one fictional section of track that connects  Streeton’s Mill to Occidental for logging operation. 

There are 11 main areas being modeled that did or still exist today. Two towns/villages, one passenger stop, two saw mills, two wood trestles (one curved, one straight), three bridges (one wood, two steel), one tunnel and a whole bunch of redwoods.
If the forum permits, here is my website with occasional 5 Mile RR updates. http://www.davestrainsandtrees.com/

Dave

[Dave V]

Welcome!

Hey, awesome to have another HOn3 modeler onboard! Even better that you're doing something completely different from the usual D&RGW/RGS stuff!

Your scenery is amazing by the way!

[NWP Dave]

Thanks. We lived in Occidental for 13 years. Many of the original buildings still exist making it easy to picture what it was like back in the day. Living in the redwoods was a treat.

[Hawghead]

Dave,

Welcome to the Railwire.  As Dave said it's great to see another narrow gaugeoligist (Dave as Dave said??? That's not gonna work you'll have to change your name  ).  The layout looks great so far and I'm looking forward to seeing more.  What will you be using for motive power?  I happened to search the North Pacific Coast RR and was only able to find two photos of the locomotives.  I've seen a model of the cab forward but I never knew it had a prototype, I always thought it was a kit bashed goof.

Again Welcome,
Scott

[Missaberoad]

(Dave as Dave said??? That's not gonna work you'll have to change your name  ).

[NWP Dave]

Scott:
Thanks.
My HOn3 roster is not prototypical of the NPC. But I acquired them in a collection I bought years ago and plan to use them for now. Each can make the mainline loop, but that’s it for the K27. So I will likely sell it in the future.

United K-27
Westside C-16
PFM Cowichan Shay
PFM Benson Shay
Westside Heisler

There are not many photographs of NPC locomotives. The NPC became the North Shore RR in 1902, then in 1907 the Northwestern Pacific took over.  The NPC photographs that do exist show mostly 4-4-0’s with the big balloon stacks. Here is a link that shows a few. https://calisphere.org/search/?q=north%20pacific%20coast%20railroad   

So the 5 Mile RR will have what I have for now. Also, the cab-forward #21 was a very unique locomotive for its time. I read an interesting article/info on its history somewhere. I have been tempted to buy the model that is available but always decide I need to catch up on projects first. 

Dave

[Hawghead]

The NWSL Spartan shows up now and again on Ebay, that would make a good starting point for an NPC locomotive.  You have to do the cab forward, you're probably the only person in the world that actually has a reason to build such an ugly locomotive. 

Scott

[pjm20]

Wiseman Models makes a kit for the cab forward, I believe it is non powered though.

[Mike C]

  Looking at that Cab foreward kit I think that it would fit best on a FED 4-4-0 . It should be a fairly easy boiler swap , although I've never done one . The tender will be difficult though as the motor needs to go there . I did see a long time back there was an article in MR about swapping a can type motor into the boiler area on a stock 4-4-0 , so it shouldn't be imposible , but I've never seen one running .   Mike

[NWP Dave]

Scott: Thanks for the heads up on NWSL's Spartan. At 65, I'm not sure trying to build the cab forward would allow me any time for everything else I have plans for. Perhaps finding a built one on Ebay would be better for me. I just finished building a Highway Miniatures Delivery Wagon that I thought would only take an hour. Two weeks later....

Here is the NPC #21 article https://www.sausalitohistoricalsociety.com/2019-columns/2019/6/5/bill-thomas-and-the-cab-forward-locomotive

Dave

[NWP Dave]

4/22/24 update

Spent some time Sunday detailing the space between Maquire Creek Trestle and the logging spur behind/above the trestle. Set two what I call, "Big trees". They still need to have branches and details added. Then, can't see it in photo, but a large log is set across the creek behind the trestle. I'm using it to hide where the creek originates. A little more scenery behind the trestle, then I'll start scenery in front working out from the creek. Eventually working my way around. I still have a bridge to build on the other end of the layout that I keep putting off. But I need it to finish the mainline loop.

http://www.davestrainsandtrees.com/5mile1Maquire1.html

The weather is getting warmer, so we are spending more time outdoors.

[NWP Dave]

July update: Hot in Wyoming! Did get to see UP's Big Boy a few times in and around Green River. What a beast!

Anyway, good time to stay inside and work on the layout. Close to finishing the Occidental Depot http://www.davestrainsandtrees.com/5mile1Occidental1.html . Need to add a few more details, attach to base, then do some weathering.

[mcjaco]

Great to see this Dave!

I've been a huge fan of the NWP and the Cal Northern since visiting them both (back when the SP still ran the branch) in the mid 80s when my Grandparents and Uncle lived in Petaluma. 

I've amassed a nice N scale collection of Cal Northern locos for a future project....if I ever have the space. 

[NWP Dave]

Matt: I worked on my former employer's NWP double deck, reverse mushroom style layout (Sonoma Mountain RR) http://www.davestrainsandtrees.com/SMRR.html . He built a 750 sq ft building to house his layout. Started in 2005 building benchwork, modeled Sausalito to Cazadero up until I moved to Wyoming.

[mcjaco]

My Uncle was pretty well known by the SP/NWP and the CFNR Crews.  His job with Western Bell got him some nice opportunities to pop into spots not usually afforded to most foamers.  He used to take me all over the line from Suisun up to Willits.  Never made it farther north than that.

This is a 30 year old project.  I took a undec Walthers HO Trainline model after my trip in 1993 and had to build a Geep 15.



Keep the updates coming!