Thing have been moving slow at the PPVRR. Times are hard, the Valley has been hit hard and there isn’t much cash in the Railroad funds. Nevertheless, the mountain bridge needs to be in place before the tourist season. Here is an aerial view of the construction.

I think that the Niles Canyon Railway didn’t expect the turnout they had for Steam Fest II. Line from the depot to the main street. What a wait for tickets. Despite the wait, it was nice to see four steam engines running. We almost missed the #3’s appearance. But I didn’t want to walk back to the depot to get a picture when it finally showed up. We took the short ride on the Mason County Logging #7. The trucked it down from Willits, Ca.

I’ve made several references to the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad this past week. Here is a short video clip I found of when my Son riding on it in 1992. I just love this! It’s a great place for parents to take the kids, or for parents to feel like they are young too.

I was playing around with some photos I took when I last visited the Niles Canyon Railway. I wanted to see what it might look like to see full size rolling stock of the this fictitious railroad. Here is a Photoshop manipulated caboose:

While surfing the internet I happened on this image of an interesting Minature Train. I found out it was one of three such trains that shuttle visitors around the Venice beach resort town that opened in 1905. Curiosity got the better of me and I set out to find out what happened to the cute small scale 2-6-2. Funny thing is, it’s right here in my own area. It is located at Vasona Park in Los Gatos, CA. The Billy Jones Railroad. I had no idea of the history. I took some pictures back in the early 1980’s.

One day when I was little I was sitting on a bed at my Great Grandparents farm house in Turlock, CA. Great Grandma showed me a jar of buttons. She dumped them out on the bed. I picked one up and asked, “GGma was GGpa in the army?” She said he worked on a train. I’ve never really got the full story. The gist of the story is that he worked as an Engineer. I’m figuring he worked for Santa Fe. My Grandfather was born in Newton, KS. Newton Kansas’ The history is intertwined with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Shortly after the birth of my Grandfather, my Great Grandparents move to a farm in California. Here is a picture of my GGpa on a Case Steam Tractor. Photo was taken somewhere near Lodi, CA.

First look  at the Ping Pong Valley Railroad. A ways to go, but we’re making progress.

Went out to lunck yesterday with my wife. Sort of a pre-Valentine’s. After lunch the car seemed to be magnetically pulled toward the train shop. Funny thing was, I wasn’t driving. And I wasn’t sneaking a trip to my favorite store. Anita said she wanted to get me a gift certificate, but figured it was easier to just let me choose what I wanted. I asked if getting me stuffed at lunch was an attempt to slow me down when she let me loose in the train shop. Well’ I know my limits. So, I picked up some additional cars for my Santa Fe passenger train. Super Chief 4 car Set B

Know I’m running Set A and B behind a F3A and F7B, with an addition of the Regal Spa Sleeper. Nine cars being pulled around the Ping Pong Valley. Love my wife.

Modern 130′ Turntable (Assembled, Motorized, Programmable Indexing) Walthers Part # 933-2613, p. 194 Walthers 2010 N&Z Scale Reference. This is sweet! From what I’ve heard worth every penny. A friend of mine installed the HO version and is very pleased. The Ping Pong Valley Railroad is hoping for full economic recovery so that funding can be restored to railroad development.