THE SIERRA WESTERN
& SANTA FE RR

REDDING JUNCTION

• This is where the Santa Fe crosses the Southern Pacific at grade. The tower is maintained by the Santa Fe
• A pair of interchange tracks are located between the Southern Pacific & Santa Fe mainlines immediately after the crossing
• The Southern Pacific then disappears behind the backdrop to a three track staging yard with reverse loop which represents Redding, Dunsmuir, and all points to the north. The Santa Fe continues on to Redding
• A large Owens-Corning fiberglass plant is located on the west side of the junction. It is switched by the Southern Pacific

REDDING

• This is the mid point of the Redding Division. Here the valley ends and the mountains begin
• A medium sized yard and basic engine facilities are located here
• In the days of steam this was the where helpers were added to all northbound trains and removed from most southbound trains which required the helpers to assist with braking. There was much activity around the roundhouse, turntable and full engine service facilities in that era. Today, helpers are still added on to northbound trains, but on only about half the trains
• The roundhouse and turntable are still occasionally used, but most of servicing is now done in Chico
• Beginning at the north end of the yard the mainline follows the realignment necessitated by the building of Shasta Dam in the late 1930's and Lake Shasta which formed behind it. This the beginning of the 2.3% grade towards Douglas Pass
• Exiting the yard the mainline immediately curves towards the north-east and becomes single track again. It heads towards a tall ridge which contains the lake.

LAKE SHASTA

• The single track mainline tunnels through a ridge and immediately crosses over the 562ft Pit River bridge to gain access to the east shore of the McCloud River Arm of Lake Shasta.
• The mainline follows the lake for several miles to gain elevation before tunneling through South Benito Ridge.
• This area will be modeled with the lake surface against the backdrop and the ridge that the track follows towards the aisle. The mainline will follow the ridgeline approximately 75-100 ft above the lake surface. The train operator will be looking down onto his train and the lake as if standing higher up on the ridge. This configuration will benefit visibility to the lower deck by angling the underside of the upper deck higher towards the aisle.

DOUGLAS

• The small town of Douglas is located in a short and shallow valley which forms a gap in Harboeck Ridge
• The Santa Fe surveyors used this gap to eliminate the need for a tunnel through the ridge.
• The mainline drops downgrade into Douglas from South Benito Ridge and curves through town on a long and relatively flat horseshoe curve.
• A passing siding on the left side of the mainline begins 1 mile before the curve.
• Two additional tracks on the inside of the curve serve as the interchange tracks with the Sierra Western RR which has its southern terminus here.
• The Sierra Western began its existence shortly after the Santa Fe laid tracks through this area in the early 20's. The owners had planned to tap the rich lumber reserves from the Pacific coast to the Yosemite valley area. It never reached beyond Lowell, the east end of the line about 50 miles east of Douglas, and Heldatt, the western terminus about 35 miles to the west. The portion that was built served a thriving lumber industry which lasted until the late 40's. Today, it still serves a few industries, including a rock quarry and a small lumber mill, before reaching Heldatt. All track to the east to Lowell was abandoned in the early 50's. Steep grades and sharp curves require small motive power and short trains. Never having been a prosperous railroad, the SW has been forced to continue maintaining and operating a few steam engines and some 1st generation diesels.
• The old Santa Fe depot, located on the outside of the curve, is used by both railroads to transfer passengers and occasional less-than-carload freight.
• There are only two industry spurs off the Santa Fe mainline - a cement plant and a warehouse. They are usually switched by the Sierra Western crews.
• The Sierra Western also has a small engine facility in Douglas. It includes a small three track yard, a roundhouse and a turntable.
• The Santa Fe mainline becomes single track again at the end of the horseshoe curve. Here the grade increases to 2% until reaching Wyona

MACDONALD

• Highest point on the Sierra Western RR.

HELDATT

• End of the line for the Sierra Western RR.

WYONA

• Wyona used to be a train order station. It was abandoned in 1945 when the second track from Wyona to Raymond was constructed and CTC was installed through here.
• The second track was built to lessen the uphill grade from 2.8% to 2.0%. It is parallel, but not adjacent to, the original grade. In places it is several hundred yards to the east of the original grade. Along with the lessened grade, it has broader curves, fewer tunnels and increased clearances.
• The original track is now used for southbound trains coming downhill after cresting the pass between Wyona and Raymond.
• The newer track is used for trains moving uphill and eliminates the need for half the helpers that used to be required here.
• Occasionally, the direction of travel on the two tracks is switched when the situation requires it.

ORACLE ROCK & GRANITE COMPANY

• The largest industry on this district is the Oracle Rock & Granite Company's quarry, processing plant and loading facility, located on the west side of the mainline 2 miles before reaching Raymond
• Various types of rock, including high grade granite slabs, are quarried nearby and processed and loaded here.
• The company maintains its own 30" gauge electric railway to move materials to the processing plant.
• This is the Santa Fe's busiest customer on the Redding Division. It is not unusual to switch 30 or more carloads per day in and out of the plant.
• The double track mainline passes underneath some of the plant's conveyors which feed large piles of rock and gravel for later loading.
• A double crossover is located on the mainline 2 miles before the plant. It is often used by crews while switching the plant. Another facing point crossover is located about ½ mile past the plant. It too is used by crews switching the plant, and is also used to switch Raymond.
• An abandoned logging branch curves off to the right across the tracks from the Oracle plant. It is now less than a mile long and is mostly used as additional storage for cars to and from the gravel plant.

RAYMOND

• Raymond is a small, well kept town located on the edge of a small valley. Tourism is the main industry here, with several popular ski resorts nearby. The station still sees passenger service, especially in the winter, since the roads into this area can sometimes be difficult. In the summer, tourists visit for a relaxing vacation and provide enough business that many of the resorts continue to stay open. Some of these people arrive by train
• A siding and five industry spurs are located on the west side of the main.
• The mainline remains double tracked up to the north edge of town. There it becomes single track again and begins a steady 2.1 % ascent to Hipoint before dropping down into McCloud.
• At the end of the double track another logging spur used to swing off to the right to a lumber mill. It continued under the main and up a long, narrow valley to the lumber stands. The logging mill operated here until the early 50's when a forest fire swept through the area. Although the town was spared, the mill burned to the ground. Several years later the branch washed out beyond the mainline bridge and has been abandoned ever since.
• Some of the old mill tracks are still being used by another industry which has located there.

HIPOINT

• This is the highest and most remote point on this district of the Santa Fe. A long passing siding is still active here, but the train order station, water tower, and maintenance-of-way buildings have all been abandoned and are in a state of disrepair. Some MOW is still stored here on a short track in front of the old train order station.
• This area also sees the most severe weather and has always required much monitoring and track maintenance. MOW facilities had always been located here from the very start. It was not a pleasant assignment for the crews. Today, modern maintenance techniques and more efficient MOW equipment has permitted the facilities and crews to be located in a more hospitable place.

MCCLOUD

• This is where the Redding Division ends. All trains change crews here. Most trains continue without reblocking or switching.
• As the Santa Fe mainline approaches the south end of the McCloud yard it parallels abandoned Mcloud River RR right away .
• The yard is at the south end of town and includes a small classification yard, car shops, roundhouse and turntable.
  • The McCloud River RR's track begins opposite the Santa Fe yard throat and parallels the Santa Fe mainline past the north end of the yard until it crosses at grade and disappears behind the backdrop. An engine service lead to the Santa Fe's roundhouse is also crossed by the McCloud.
• Interchange with the McCloud Railroad occurs on a short interchange track adjacent to the grade crossing. It only holds eight cars and is often filled.
• There are several industries switched by one of the two railroads including a large lumber mill that is switched by both
• The Santa Fe mainline enters a tunnel and ends in the Klamath Staging yard. This yard is made up of 12 tracks, each 25ft long to handle 35 car trains.
• The McCloud RR has a four track staging yard under the Klamath Staging yard. It is reached by disappearing behind the lumber mill and backdrop.
• There is a reverse loop disguised as a track entering a warehouse. It connects to the McCloud track behind the backdrop and follows this track to the grade crossing to complete the loop. The loop will allow continuous operation when desired.
• Another track curves behind the lumber mill buildings and becomes the top of the helix to the lower level. It can be used as an additional staging track.
• This is the end of the modeled portion of the layout.

MCCLOUD STAGING

• McCloud staging yard - four tracks

KLAMATH STAGING

• All track north towards Portland, Oregon