G. A. Human writes……….
South Shasta Lines, a real railroad in miniature and built to a
scale of inch to the foot including trains, track, buildings,
bridges and actual terrain in replica of the Southern Pacific’s
Shasta Division, Gerber to Dunsmuir, will hold its 14th annual
public shows every Sunday in April and the first two Sundays in May
unusual, interesting and educational for all ages, lasts about one
hour. Refreshments will be available. Located at my ranch 2 miles
south of Gerger. Admission is by donation – adults, 75cent;
children, 50cent.
South Shasta Lines originated more than sixteen years ago, in
the fall of 1947. I own and operate my own farm now, though my
first ambition was to be a steam locomotive engineer. Never having
worked on a real railroad in my life, I have spent 15,000 man hours
creating the South Shasta. Every year sees new growth and the
system now extends just beyond the mighty Pitt bridge which has
been completed. This bridge, more than eleven feet long, took some
14 months to build and is complete in every detail. The bridge
carries both the highway and railroad across Shasta Lake. Just
beyond can be seen construction crews working and blasting their
way thru the rugged mountains towards Dunsmuir.
South Shasta Lines actually operates trains as in real life.
Orders are given over an intercom to two engineers. The route is
over and thru scenery from Gerber thru Redding and to just beyond
the Pitt bridge as it actually exists, though it be in
miniature.
Ten steam locomotives operate on the rails of the South Shasta,
from the lowly switcher to the modern giant mallet, 4-6-6-4, type.
All were built by hand to inch scale in the South Shasta shops, as
is all freight and passenger cars. Featured this year, and of
special interest to many, will be the lines first mallet locomotive
working the heavy grades on the South Shasta.
Many rare features exists on the South Shasta Lines, such as
working fireboxes in the steam locomotives; a mail catcher, which
actually catches the mail at 75 scale miles per hour; water plugs
and towers; neon sign that works; an operating section car; a
miniature locomotive bell that really rings.
South Shasta Lines is located in abasement 36’x60′. It
is being built and operated by one family and has now become one of
the largest operating systems in the west.
The South Shasta Lines added attraction, a Steam Traction Show
and Museum, featured annually in connection with the model railroad
is a show in itself, with 10 ton real size live steam traction
engines, old time threshing machinery and farm equipment. These
steam engines, used for threshing and in sawmills, are more than a
half century in age and have been restored, and will be in
operation for all to see and enjoy an old fashioned hayride. For
the older folk, the whistle, and smell of hot oil and the hiss of
steam will bring nostalgic memories; and to the youngsters, an
education on steam powered farm equipment used during Grandpa’s
time.
