Touring Ron’s Five Model Railroads

The Western Eclectic fills its own 20x30 foot building. As the name implies, it features a variety of railroads. The lower line serves the Santa Fe and the Denver and Rio Grande Western, while the upper line has the Northern Pacific and anything else Ron decides to run. Both lines are separate continuous loops. There's also a narrow gauge line. Our tour begins and ends at Mofeta. At the Mofeta, Santa Fe roundhouse, the day has already begun for number 3458. Mofeta is a manufacturing district on the wrong side of the tracks. This Santa Fe consolidation number 2524 with 12 cars and a caboose in tow heads out of Mofeta yard. The lower line sees traffic from the D&RGW, as well as Santa Fe. At the other end of the Mofeta industrial area, a Northern Pacific passenger train leaves its four-track staging yard on the upper line. The head-end power is a USRA light Pacific. At Colina, the 462 runs through a curve truss bridge. Back at Mofeta, a D&RGW 2882 articulated begins its daily run. Meanwhile, the Santa Fe freight continues its run. At Curlew, the Santa Fe 280 roars through town. Close to the camera is the Russo Cabinet Company. There's their Curlew power plant. Here's a better view of both the cabinet company and the power plant. The NP passenger train is approaching Hazel. The railroad buildings here are painted in the Chicago and Northwestern scheme. Hazel is a popular tourist destination because of the mountains and the purified spring water. The Northern Pacific track passes above Calcite. At Calcite, Santa Fe number 1262 glides through town just before the 280 arrives to do some work. Calcite is a busy spot because of the engine facility here. Our Santa Fe freight will set out four balanced hoppers for use by the maintenance of way crews. The 280 has to wait for a westbound manifest to clear the switching lead. Sitting in the caboose does have its advantages, even though it rides like a converted boxcar. On the eastbound arrival track to the right, the 280 waits. At Hazel, a D&RGW 282 pulls through the narrow gauge yard as Santa Fe 2524 emerges from Calcite Tunnel. Just behind all of this activity, D&RGW 1224 pulls out of the Calcite tunnel With the Curlew power plant in the foreground, the Northern Pacific passenger run slips by the East Curlew engine facility on its way to Mofeta. Below is the Mofeta roundhouse. The NP cars are heading into the coach yard behind the large industrial building. At Colina, a Michigan-Cal two-truck Shay works the only grade on the railroad. Santa Fe 2524 moves through town on its way to Kimberton. Before entering downtown Kimberton, the 280 eases by the industrial section of town. Here you'll find Merchandise Hardware and Machinery and Vellakovski Distributors. Kimberton is based on small towns nationwide. It's loaded with buildings. The town planners made sure the streets were not parallel to the railroad tracks. The town is centered around the courthouse. On Main Street, there are apartment buildings on the left and stores on the right. Before leaving Kimberton, the Santa Fe consolidation passes with the Carlo Italian restaurant. The white building in the back is the Salvador Desk Company. Finally, number 2524 ends it's run at Mofeta yard.