![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudLevJgZPRqfpYjyxxRsJ6bWAT7IfP_4wuS8MsdIb_7M0ddwnoQr0GI_GVDMijZ-gd2k-E8FHqE8lyEzgucRJPs_UJbgHw8tFktoRS63mjw_5a6SvH1KzlzSEEEnqEqkK8yHC/s640/IMG_20170129_113955.jpg) |
The town of Ballard in the foreground. Santa Rosalia with end of the line in the back |
I've been following
Tony Thompson's blog "Modeling the SP" for a couple years and I've referenced it a couple times from this blog. It was great to experience the layout and Tony's flavor of prototype paperwork in an operations session today. I was paired with an knowledgeable operator and off we went. The layout atmosphere is decidedly 1950's California with palm trees, the Southern Pacific, and lots of era- and location-appropriate details.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACA5_qXt0DPMVy5SdpzeJ_t5o7MGxOM1X_4lGNXC-f6k-b43yh1I6E-1TH_YZ3_bKpCUDslj2dcrjqhEU9XNk0vsJcIkjtPp_ORWMcpDkbzpi_w72ti5XmuwjNj3DP_UOlE5P/s640/IMG_20170129_115511.jpg) |
View down Nipomo Street in Ballard |
This team started out on the Ballard side of the layout with the local having just arrived in front of the depot in Ballard. For the next 1 1/2 hours we were busy switching Ballard and taking a trip down the branch to Santa Rosalia.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Geavtaeh2Atu99NqGhLOk_nsM7FQrlvD5UsGoLjlwTbLp8OA2PCx-i1VJtJA0K0NC-R0mgbRhqaD0f7brfIKt1qer_SfP8gVNa1PfsWqlaI_0ZQAO_HnlFy6DXTDjYVOx6mY/s640/IMG_20170129_122400.jpg) |
Thick oil hoses for unloading tank cars, made from wire. Simple, yet effective. |
We were early on our return trip to Shumala, and waited at yard limits until the team switching in Shumala was ready to take us in.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPddgpIHQG7YES9XkKysCyc5fnnxiWw7rtIQkHHznJqqgdr_VywID_aFY9SjvbQ-Fp9TNf5aRnFz7kEoilfcwB3awIQ6hqj1uKLzqoxajmR9nqBJUDvqsicw8oyIf3Hj2dKjs4/s640/IMG_20170129_114051.jpg) |
"Let's go to the cafe on Chamisal Road. I hear they have a good lunch menu." |
Shumala is on the Pacific Coast main line which runs on a bluff right next to the Pacific Ocean. Tony has captured that scene nicely with the MOW house high up on the cliff. I can almost hear the seals barking on the beach. I love how Tony has incorporated vignettes like this on the layout to create a feeling of place.
After the other team had left Shumala we go to work on our part of the session on the Shumala side. Throughout the day, I had a great time, and enjoyed the friendly chats, banter, and hospitality before, during, and after the session.
Thank you for hosting us today, Tony.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01IMkFHZAg946Ltyy5HXME0lvs26yyvbpD3c9iQTtIQUcSPEK2swKUqKSivJ04SMalj6_5vKGxfmOx0bgtMPZwctO7uGLxgmtRQYNC6pvbhW7HnDkDmkbtbs4qcPfzSltAAZG/s640/IMG_20170129_114126.jpg) |
Chamisal Road down at the tracks |
2 comments:
There's a typo in your link to Thompson's blog. It should be modeling rather than modelling.
Thank you, Matthew. Fixed.
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