Silicon Valley Lines: Lower Level

We begin our tour of the railroad at the Bayshore yard.

Bayshore

Bayshore will eventually feature a large engine facility and classification yard.

For now, you'll have to use your imagination, because as of early 2004, this area has no installed track work. The turntable and roundhouse will be located in the "wider" area where all the NCE throttles are laying on the benchwork.

Most trains actually originate from staging at this time, so this lack of track isn’t a huge problem.

Cavanaugh

A waterfront intermodal facility and several small marine industries will be in the next block along the back wall.

Bakersfield

Bakersfield is the "lowest" level of SVL. Because the Bayshore yard is not in operation, Bakersfield is the source and/or destination for about half of SVL’s trains.

The fact that this area is a large staging yard is only part of the story. The entire yard is built on a movable platform in order to allow cars to be spotted without reaching into tight quarters.

The view from “Down under”

Not satisfied with manually rolling the yard in and out, some of the members of SVL decided that Bakersfield wouldn’t be complete without a fully automatic system to reposition the yard at the flick of a switch.

Because of the sheer amount of testosterone involved in building such a beast, we almost named the area “Binford” in homage to the 1990s Tim Allen TV show Home Improvement.

For the rest of the story about Bakersfield, a.k.a. the MegaDrawer, click here.

Dayton

Finally, we get to a non-subterranean area of the layout with active operations!

Dayton is an important junction, rail links to the SVL Cochias branch line, and a connection to Bakersfield, a major interchange (a staging yard).

This an urban area which features quite a few interesting customers, including a coal fired power plant, miscellaneous manufacturers, and breakfast cereal company.

Dodge

Dodge is the connection to Bakersfield, and acts as the link between SVL’s lower level and the "lowest" level. The passing siding will most likely be used to store helper locomotives, because at around 2.5%, that route is steep.

Ebbets

Leaving Dayton, the railroad begins a gentle climb through Ebbets. The “high-road” through this area allows for some free and clear running, but since this is single-track territory, SVL engineers better not be napping on the company’s time!

Fryton

Fryton is a rural area, with a passing siding, and a single storage track for SVL's ballast car fleet.

This area can be a pretty busy place, as it is the only passing siding between Dayton and Hallelujah Junction.

In the valley below, Fremont, a small agricultural town, is served by the Cochias branch of SVL. A throwback to old time railroading, Cochias has no block signals, so only one engineer works that area at a time.

Fremont

Fremont is meant to stir up memories of the good ole days in the Valley of Hearts' Delight, when the primary product of the area was produce, not microprocessors.

Farmer Jensen happens to grow some of the best apricots in all of the valley. Trains move this precious cargo on a daily basis— mostly due to the poor condition of the area roadways.

Those folks have been waiting for a train quite some time. As of early 2004, there is not yet passenger service to Fremont. Obviously there is a market opportunity here.

Greeley

Greeley connects Fryton and Hallelujah. There are no industries or passing sidings in this block, so the dispatcher has to be careful to avoid over booking this block.

Gotham Springs

Gotham Springs is the end of the branchline, and is undergoing construction at this time. The area will feature a few industries, a turntable, and a connection to the narrow gauge Gotham Springs and Saint Germain Railway. This little railroad that could stays in the black by moving well-to-do patrons between towns on the SVL and the St. Germain Hotel, a posh spa. It also helps supply lumber to the SVL.

Hallelujah

Hallejuah is where the SVL single mainline track mainline widens to double-track.

The town features a lumber yard, more than a few warehouses, and a large cannery which are all served by the Silicon Valley Lines on a weekly basis.

On the outskirts of town, you will find the Hallejuah Golf Club. SVL crews have been known to duck whenever someone yells FORE!

Igo

Igo is a small block between Jacksonville and Hallelujah, and another bustling railroad town on the SVL. Igo has some light industrial sidings, but this area is difficult to switch because a crossing with a rival railroad prevents most trains from stopping in this area.

Predatory pricing on freight service may soon put that other road out of business, which should make life easier for the SVL dispatcher.

Jacksonville

Jacksonville continues around the lower level, and features a gravel pit, grain elevators, Kaw Valley Plastics, and a coal dock.

As you can probably guess from those industries, most of SVL's hopper cars tend to spend a fair amount of their useful lives either being picked up or set out in this area. A large center passing track is also provided here to allow passenger trains to get by slow moving freights or locals.

This area was once part of the previous SVL modular layout.

Jacksonville also features a small harbor

Kaos

Aptly named, Kaos features an interchange, and also is the start of the SVL mountain division. Lines to Jasper Junction, Kallispell, and the upper level make this part of the road a great spot for railfans.

Kaos is one of the first places that visitors to the club will see, so it is one of the first places with painted track, ballast, and ground cover.

Kalispell

Kalispell, inspired by the rust-belt youth of one of our members, features an automotive plant and several other industrial customers. It isn't uncommon to see large boxcars and auto racks moving in and out, as several trains a day are needed to keep the plant busy. The factory has a coal fired power plant which also needs anthracite on a daily basis.

After a long day on the clock those workers get pretty thirsty, and lucky for them Buzz Beverages, the local brewery is also an SVL customer. Rumor has it that some of the train crews have been known to lay over in Kalispell just for the free beer and/or local cultural establishments.

Fishing isn't recommended here