It looks like a train, it sounds like a train, it's . . . a train.
It’s just one-eighth scale.
This yard in Costa Mesa is where model railroaders like Glen Swain tinker with their trains. His is a live steamer.
The coal, the fire, the condensed air, it’s all real.
And just like with full-sized locomotives, it takes Swain about an hour, and just the right amount of heat, before he’s ready to take his Fitchburg Northern out into the switch-yard to as he calls it, “play.”
Swain and the other guys out on the yard are also good for a history lesson or two.
“They would get their hands cut, and they would lose a finger. And usually depending, on how many fingers you were missing, were how many years you worked on the railroad,” said Swain.
There are five miles of track here, at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa, where the Orange County Model Engineers conduct their trains.
They average about 2,200 passengers every third weekend of the month, when they give free rides during public runs. The entire group is volunteer-based and lives on donations.
The one-and-a-quarter mile loops they run on the Mackerel Flats and Goat Hill Junction Railroad, names handed down from Costa Mesa and Newport Beach history, take about 12-15 minutes. Seven miles an hour never felt so fast.
Back in the yard, the club guys are hard work on replacement track. Ken Matassa is one of the founders of the club, which started back in 1989. He’s a walking train encyclopedia of the more than 25 different types of locomotives here.
“Its a living thing. It’s a fantastic, living thing to watch it move like that,” said Matassa.
But club President Gary Gorman admits that his 120 members aren’t getting any younger. He’d like more people to know about this hidden Orange County gem so that a new generation can keep these trains running.
“It seems like every child that gets on or off that train’s got a big smile. And that really makes us feel great,” Gorman says.
So for now, they’ll keep chugging along.
For more info:
Orange County Model Engineers
ocmetrains.org
(949) 54-TRAINS
Zack Tawatari <zacktawatari@gmail.com>
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Mon, Jan 14, 10:39 PM (16 hours ago)
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It looks like a train... it sounds like a train... it is a train.
It’s just one-eighth scale.
This yard in Costa Mesa is where model railroaders like Glenn tinker with their trains... his is a live steamer.
The coal, the fire, the condensed air. It’s all real.
And just like the full-size locomotives, it takes Glenn about an hour - and just the right amount of heat - before he’s ready to take his Fitchburg Northern out into the switchyard to as he calls it, “play.”
The guys are also good for a history lesson...
“They would get their hands cut, and they would lose a finger. And usually depending on how many fingers you were missing were how many years you worked on the railroad,” says model railroader Glen Swain.
There’s five miles of track here, at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa, where the Orange County Model Engineers conduct their trains.
They average about 2200 passengers every third weekend of the month, when they give free rides during public runs - the entire group is volunteer-based and lives on donations.
The one-and-a-quarter mile loops they run on the Mackerel Flats and Goat Hill Junction Railroad - names handed down from Costa Mesa and Newport Beach history - take about 12-15 minutes. 7 miles an hour never felt so fast...
Back in the yard, the club guys are hard work on replacement track. Ken Matassa is one of the founders of the club, which started up 1989. He’s a walking train encyclopedia of the more than 25 different types of locomotives here.
“Its a living thing. It’s a fantastic, living thing to watch it move like that,” Matassa says.
But club President Gary Gorman admits that his 120 members aren’t getting any younger... he’d like more people to know about this hidden Orange County gem... so that a new generation can keep these trains running.
“It seems like every child that gets on or off that train’s got a big smile. And that really makes us feel great,” Gorman says.
They’ll keep chugging along... but if you get the chance, you’ll see that these trains are just the ticket.
Zack Tawatari <zacktawatari@gmail.com>
|
|
Mon, Jan 14, 10:39 PM (16 hours ago)
|
|
|
|
|
It looks like a train... it sounds like a train... it is a train.
It’s just one-eighth scale.
This yard in Costa Mesa is where model railroaders like Glenn tinker with their trains... his is a live steamer.
The coal, the fire, the condensed air. It’s all real.
And just like the full-size locomotives, it takes Glenn about an hour - and just the right amount of heat - before he’s ready to take his Fitchburg Northern out into the switchyard to as he calls it, “play.”
The guys are also good for a history lesson...
“They would get their hands cut, and they would lose a finger. And usually depending on how many fingers you were missing were how many years you worked on the railroad,” says model railroader Glen Swain.
There’s five miles of track here, at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa, where the Orange County Model Engineers conduct their trains.
They average about 2200 passengers every third weekend of the month, when they give free rides during public runs - the entire group is volunteer-based and lives on donations.
The one-and-a-quarter mile loops they run on the Mackerel Flats and Goat Hill Junction Railroad - names handed down from Costa Mesa and Newport Beach history - take about 12-15 minutes. 7 miles an hour never felt so fast...
Back in the yard, the club guys are hard work on replacement track. Ken Matassa is one of the founders of the club, which started up 1989. He’s a walking train encyclopedia of the more than 25 different types of locomotives here.
“Its a living thing. It’s a fantastic, living thing to watch it move like that,” Matassa says.
But club President Gary Gorman admits that his 120 members aren’t getting any younger... he’d like more people to know about this hidden Orange County gem... so that a new generation can keep these trains running.
“It seems like every child that gets on or off that train’s got a big smile. And that really makes us feel great,” Gorman says.
They’ll keep chugging along... but if you get the chance, you’ll see that these trains are just the ticket.
