Layout Tour

Bakersfield

Bakersfield is the "lowest" level of SVL. Bakersfield is the source and/or destination for a lot 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. 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. Since some time in 2006 Bakersfield has been de-mechanized to allow for the development of Bayshore. In the near future (winter 2008) Bakersfiled is slated to be re-mechanized. On the plan is the reinforcement of structural members and the installation of new wheels. To be more environmentally friendly a lower db prime mover will be installed. Additionally there may be some track expansion in the form of track extensions and possibly the addition of an "A" block adjacent to Bakersfield in the under-bench-world.

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.

Carlsbad

Cavanaugh

Several small marine industries will be in the next block along the back wall.

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. As the saying goes people want to get the hell out of Dodge.

Eagle

A little town on the branch line.

Ebbetts Pass

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!

Escape

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jasper

Jasper is a hidden staging yard accessable via Kaos. Physically Jasper is behind Jacksonville. 10+ tracks ~10' long.

Jerico

Jerico has a high steel trestle which allows the SVL to cross the swift river.

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.

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.

Loop

Loop is a long double track block which allows trains to climb to the upper level or descend to the southern division.

Marshall

Marshall is a large staging yard hidden behind the Mt. Marvel Lumber Company scenery. It provides an additional fiddle yard for building up and tearing down trains which begin or terminate in Nowheres.

Mt. Marvel

This area is serviced by a private narrow gauge railroad owned by MMLCo. The new management team may widen the rails to allow bigger steam engines to haul all those logs. Construction in this area of SVL is just getting underway. Only the single track mainline and a stub switch to the future timber line exists at this time.

Nowheres

SVL's Nowheres Shops is the home to most of the railroads diesel locomotives. As you can see, SVL acquires its power from other bankrupt railroads, and very rarely repaints engines unless they previous road number is already in use. Operationally, Nowheres Yard in the center of SVL's operation. Trains which originate in Nowheres can either continue on the upper level towards Windsor, descend the grade down to Kaos Junction on the way to Bakersfield, or head over to Marshall for interchange. Nowheres also has a large passenger station and service facility, including a commissary to provide fresh food for dining cars. The Railway Express Agency delivers the fast freight service that SVL customers expect. The Railway Express Agency also still does a bustling business here in the pre-FedEx era. Nowheres yard is on the outskirts of town, as the mainlines moves northward, we pass near downtown. After Nowheres, the SVL mainline heads to Proctor Hill, an major source of revenue for the railroad.

Proctor Hill

Ferrum Mining Inc. is a major customer of the SVL. Unlike other ore companies, FMI has been blocked from using traditional ore mining techniques due to government intervention. To prevent damaging the sparse habitat of the rare spotted gopher, ore in Proctor is mined by deep underground tunnels, not by digging a large pit. As a result, of these regulations, this mine sure looks like it belongs back in coal country, but rest assured that those little ore cars don't haul anthracite. Proctor Hill is a company town.The ore miners depend on railroad alone for their connection to the outside world, as the town is unteachable by highway. SVL and the mineral rights holder keep things that way by a special arrangement. A sporadic mixed train sometimes brings supplies, mail, and visitors from the outside world, but most of the time, these folks are stuck in the 1940s and 50s. The mining company is still upset with an old coot who hauled his mobile home up a hill nearby. Recently, the squatter has worked out a deal with the government to conduct a biannual census of the spotted gopher population in order to prevent being himself from being evicted.

Quinn

The Quinn Branch bypasses some of the most treacherous, yet scenic parts of the Silicon Valley Lines. Blasted through the native gypsum and styrofoam, this cut-off allows the railroad to bypass most of the Silicon Mountains. Originally intended as a spur to service distant industry, Quinn sees more traffic now than originally planned. The railroad is still working on constructing the mainline through Ravine, Silicon, and Tracy, so all revenue freight headed in or out of Windsor must do so via this branch.

Ravin

Ravine is just past Proctor, and is aptly named due to the surrounding landscape. Unlike much of the SVL, the ground isn't flat here. Instead the engineers need to duck in and out of the tunnels, tiptoe across redwood trestles, and cope with the harsh weather. As you can see, the track crew is still busy blasting through the styrofoam strata, so in order to continue the end of the line, SVL is utilizing the Quinn branch to bypass Ravine and the remainder of mountain range.

Silicon

The high trestle in this area should be awe-inspiring... A nod to the legendary John Allen, this area will feature stunning mountains, waterfalls, and probably some rock climbers!

Tracy

Tracy is a place where varnish finds a home on SVL.

Upton

Got containers? Intermodal spoken here.

Victoria

Rogner Rock and Coal is a new customer of the SVL. Despite originally being located off line, the company decided to relocate their entire facility in order to gain more paying customers. This complex was scratch-built by a former member of SVL, and donated to the club when he needed to find a better home for this fabulous model. Speaking of scratch-building, Bill Goodenough, one of our recent recruits, has been working a large Ice platform to keep the Pacific Fruit Express cooled off.

Windsor

Windsor is the end of the line. There are 13 lucky staging tracks, which allow us to originate and terminate as many trains.