Robert Bowdidge – Southern Pacific Vasona Branch
Description
The Vasona Branch layout models the Santa Clara Valley – now Silicon Valley – in the early 1930’s. I aim to reproduce actual track arrangements, buildings, and scenes along the prototype San Jose – Los Gatos – Santa Cruz branch. I’ve used Sanborn fire insurance maps, railroad valuation maps, and historic photos to recreate lineside buildings and scenes, and researched the local fruit industry to help me understand the operation of the industries and likely traffic. The layout is a two-deck 10′ by 14′ HO layout in half of a two car garage, arranged as a point-to-point layout with staging yards on each end. Track is complete, and most scenery is done. Operations is heavily skewed towards switching, with two-man local switch jobs handling the canneries, packing houses, and other industries along the line. Occasional commute trains keep the crews watching the 2-1 fast clock. Some trains also make the scenic run over the hill to Santa Cruz.
Scale: HO
Era: 1920 – 1940
Approximate Size: 10×15 – 150 Sq. Ft.
Percent Complete Benchwork-100% Trackwork-100% Scenery-60% Signaling- 80%
Location: San Jose
Access: Benchwork-100% Trackwork-100% Scenery-60% Signaling- 80%
Parking: Close Street Parking is available (< 200 feet)
Find out more on the Vasona Branch Blog