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Model railroaders find their Mecca
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| H&N photos by Lee Juillerat Trains heading different directions pass alongside each other at Train Mountain. |
June 28, 2006
By LEE JUILLERAT
H&N Regional Editor
CHILOQUIN - Forget Disneyland. For model railroaders, the Train Mountain Railroad near Chiloquin is an international Mecca, a fantasy-land come true.
“This is unreal. I can go up to 3 1/2 hours if I go the entire length of the tracks,” gee-whizzed Bill Dobbs of Villanova, Penn., who worked 30 years for the Erie-Lachawanna Railroad.
He spent four days in his pickup truck hauling a 24-foot trailer filled with his steam-powered locomotive and 18 cars.
“This is an amazing place,” echoed Seth Corwin of Hornell, N.Y., who doesn't get enough of trains on his job at Steamtown National Historic Site, a railroad park, in Scranton, Penn. “Why come here? To take a train and run it wide-open for 2, 2 1/2 miles. You can't do that anywhere else.”
“Amazing,” gushed Dave Latham of Wales, a country known for its “little railroads.” “This is one of those place you must come to see,” said Latham, one of several international miniature railroaders.
Miniature railroad center
Train Mountain is the center of the miniature railroad universe this week because it's hosting the 2006 Triennial, an international meet held every three years. This week, more than 300 scale-model trains and 1,000 railroad aficionados will be chugging around the 13 miles of 7 1/2-inch gauge mainline track.
In all, Train Mountain has 25 miles of track, which the Guinness Book of World Records says make it the world's longest miniature hobby railroad.
Activities officially began Monday and will run full steam through Saturday with daily seminars and, on Saturday, an all-train assembly, all-whistles and horns blow and Cavalcade of Trains.
“Unlike a lot of places, Train Mountain is constantly evolving and progressing,” boasted Russ Wood, one of about 30 Klamath Basin people serving as a volunteer for the meticulously planned gathering. Like many others, Wood moved from Martinez, Calif., to the Klamath Basin six years ago to be closer to Train Mountain.
Train Mountain was launched 19 years ago by Quentin Breen, the Train Mountain president who is overseeing the meet.
Railroaders lured
This week's Triennial Meet has lured railroaders from around the nation, some with years of experience and newcomers like Tom Veltman of Springfield, a retired Weyerhaeuser accountant. As of Monday, Veltman had only 20 hours of experience on his Willamette Pacific diesel engine, modeled after a shortline railroad that ran out of Albany.
“I'm a newbie,” Veltman said.
Far more experienced is Dobbs, who began working for railroads as a teenager - “It's been my life work. Railroading put me through college.” A long time model railroader, he first visited Train Mountain in 2000.
During an hour-long ride, Dobbs followed a meandering route that took his train and passengers past miniature towns, alongside towering ponderosa pines and displays of wild iris, mule ears and other wildflowers, and viewpoints of snow-capped Mount McLoughlin. At one point, his Rio Grande scale-model engine and cars were dwarfed as they passed alongside a retired Rio Grande caboose.
Serpentine highlight
Among the track's highlights is a loop through the Serpentine, a series of long loops around the scale-model Train Mountain Lumber Co., and passage through a 300-foot long galvanized culvert tunnel. A side trip from the mainline goes to Steuer, a scale-model logging town that has a grapple loader that can drop or unload logs.
“Just to do something,” said Jim Davenport of Seattle, whose Northern Pacific and Rio Grande engine and cars have been hauling logs.
People looking for something different to do can visit Train Mountain by taking Highway 97 north to Chiloquin, turning left (west) on the South Chiloquin Highway and following signs. Admission is $25 per day for adults. $10 for youth 7 to 12, and $5 for children 6 and younger. Food and beverages are available, along with railroad memorabilia. For information call 783-3030.
By LEE JUILLERAT
H&N Regional Editor
CHILOQUIN - Forget Disneyland. For model railroaders, the Train Mountain Railroad near Chiloquin is an international Mecca, a fantasy-land come true.
“This is unreal. I can go up to 3 1/2 hours if I go the entire length of the tracks,” gee-whizzed Bill Dobbs of Villanova, Penn., who worked 30 years for the Erie-Lachawanna Railroad.
He spent four days in his pickup truck hauling a 24-foot trailer filled with his steam-powered locomotive and 18 cars.
“This is an amazing place,” echoed Seth Corwin of Hornell, N.Y., who doesn't get enough of trains on his job at Steamtown National Historic Site, a railroad park, in Scranton, Penn. “Why come here? To take a train and run it wide-open for 2, 2 1/2 miles. You can't do that anywhere else.”
“Amazing,” gushed Dave Latham of Wales, a country known for its “little railroads.” “This is one of those place you must come to see,” said Latham, one of several international miniature railroaders.
Miniature railroad center
Train Mountain is the center of the miniature railroad universe this week because it's hosting the 2006 Triennial, an international meet held every three years. This week, more than 300 scale-model trains and 1,000 railroad aficionados will be chugging around the 13 miles of 7 1/2-inch gauge mainline track.
In all, Train Mountain has 25 miles of track, which the Guinness Book of World Records says make it the world's longest miniature hobby railroad.
Activities officially began Monday and will run full steam through Saturday with daily seminars and, on Saturday, an all-train assembly, all-whistles and horns blow and Cavalcade of Trains.
“Unlike a lot of places, Train Mountain is constantly evolving and progressing,” boasted Russ Wood, one of about 30 Klamath Basin people serving as a volunteer for the meticulously planned gathering. Like many others, Wood moved from Martinez, Calif., to the Klamath Basin six years ago to be closer to Train Mountain.
Train Mountain was launched 19 years ago by Quentin Breen, the Train Mountain president who is overseeing the meet.
Railroaders lured
This week's Triennial Meet has lured railroaders from around the nation, some with years of experience and newcomers like Tom Veltman of Springfield, a retired Weyerhaeuser accountant. As of Monday, Veltman had only 20 hours of experience on his Willamette Pacific diesel engine, modeled after a shortline railroad that ran out of Albany.
“I'm a newbie,” Veltman said.
Far more experienced is Dobbs, who began working for railroads as a teenager - “It's been my life work. Railroading put me through college.” A long time model railroader, he first visited Train Mountain in 2000.
During an hour-long ride, Dobbs followed a meandering route that took his train and passengers past miniature towns, alongside towering ponderosa pines and displays of wild iris, mule ears and other wildflowers, and viewpoints of snow-capped Mount McLoughlin. At one point, his Rio Grande scale-model engine and cars were dwarfed as they passed alongside a retired Rio Grande caboose.
Serpentine highlight
Among the track's highlights is a loop through the Serpentine, a series of long loops around the scale-model Train Mountain Lumber Co., and passage through a 300-foot long galvanized culvert tunnel. A side trip from the mainline goes to Steuer, a scale-model logging town that has a grapple loader that can drop or unload logs.
“Just to do something,” said Jim Davenport of Seattle, whose Northern Pacific and Rio Grande engine and cars have been hauling logs.
People looking for something different to do can visit Train Mountain by taking Highway 97 north to Chiloquin, turning left (west) on the South Chiloquin Highway and following signs. Admission is $25 per day for adults. $10 for youth 7 to 12, and $5 for children 6 and younger. Food and beverages are available, along with railroad memorabilia. For information call 783-3030.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of HeraldAndNews.com. Comment Disclaimer: The editors of heraldandnews.com reserve the right to refuse publication of any comment posted for consideration. We may refuse for any reason, including use of profanity, disparaging comments, libelous comments, etc. Any reader who notices a comment they believe is particularly offensive, should notify us at webmaster@heraldandnews.com.
leesa wrote on Jan 23, 2009 12:37 PM:
" these things should never happened in this world. the world should be safe. "
samantha r. wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:12 PM:
" this article is So true when your a teen girl and your pregnant It seems to feel like your life is over and there is no way you can fix it but that's not true if your young and your going to have a child then stay focused in school your child wants you to succeed in life so he/she can succeed in life my name is Samantha R. I'm 14 years old i live in Klamath falls and i might be pregnant :] If so I'm determined to make sure my child has a better life then i did :] "
Babe wrote on Jan 23, 2008 6:54 PM:
" I think that chiloquin people do need help and not just the teens but i have also seen places that are alot worse i moved from L.A to chiloquin and ive been back there since and trust me chiloquin is nothing. I also think that crime and drugs etc. are noticed more because it is so small compared to other places and there is no form of disaplin at all "
Tony P. wrote on Jan 19, 2008 7:55 PM:
" I remember the night the plane went down.. My mother crying and my dad in tears.. his dad searched for him for years...
"
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RSS
Jane D. wrote on Apr 10, 2009 12:00 AM:
I Love You Bobby
May your soul Rest In Peace
-Deems "