One of my favorite scale railroads has to be the Hillcrest & Wahtoke located in Reedley, CA. Before I moved to the coast, I lived on a farm near the Hillcrest and when I heard they were putting in a steam train, well you couldn't keep me away from that. I only had a couple of opportunities to go there before I moved, but have stayed in touch with Sean and the gang over the years.
This year, I qualified and am now an engineer for the line, running some of the most gorgeous 5" scale 15" gauge locomotives anywhere. October is the start of the Pumpkin Patch at Hillcrest Farms and to kick it off, they host the Reedley Railfest. I arrived on Tuesday the 7th and proceeded to help out where ever needed. On Thursday the 9th, we had media day and the local NBC affiliate was there to do a live feed for the morning show and to tape for a promo that played throughout the weekend.
KSEE 24 News Reedley Railfest
Here I am with PCRR Zen Master Phil Reader as we are in a reverse move to make up the long train before dinner. On the front were the NPC #12 from CSRM & Glenwood #5. Cut in the middle was Redwood Valley #11 and I brought up the rear with Glenwood #13.
A section of three foot gauge track is in place and also visiting from the CSRM in Sacramento was the Mattole Lumber #1 formerly owned and operated by Henry Sorenson of McKinleyville, CA. He was an early steam preservationist and restored many locomotives up along the north coast. This locomotive is rarely seen and even more than that it hasn't been steamed in 7 years. I spent many an hour on this old wood burner and it was a blast!
The grand finale for the day was a re-enactment of the "Driving of the Golden Spike" ala Marie E. and Mattole Lumber standing in for UP 119 and CP "Jupiter" We spotted the loco's on the apex of the curve and nosed them in. John Lasseter had a copy of the original photo of the "Great Event" from May 10, 1869, and we all just gathered around and watched while Curtis Ferrington snapped off shots with a dozen or so cameras. Thanks to Al DiPaolo for sending me a copy that he reversed and made black and white. If your looking for "Grumps" he's up on the "Mattole" trying to get the cinders out of his eyes.
John Lasseter owner of the Marie E. shakes the hand of Al DiPaolo of the CSRM and caretaker of the Mattole Lumber #1.
Well that's all for now. A big thanks to Mojave Mike & Phil Reader for the pictures. You can view Mike's photo album here
For more info on the Hillcrest & Wahtoke, you can go here
Grumps - Out
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