Division 1 (Queensland)

Australasian Region
National Model Railroad Association Inc

Member's Page: Ken Keitch: SHASTA PACIFIC RR
spken @ shasta.com.au

The Shasta Pacific RR is an imaginary subsidiary of the Southern Pacific RR that a STB ruling protected from being swallowed up by the yellow peril meger. It is set in western USA and stretches from Portland to Mojave via Tehachapi & covers a loose time frame 1940 - 1996. The Shasta Pacific uses mainly SP locos, with a few from UP, BN & SF, but has repainted some of the equipment in its own colors as time & traffic permit. Colors are similar to SPSF Kodachrome, but with a forward leaning arrow in lieu of the war bonnet curve.
    As the Shasta Pacific CEO is a long time SP fan, short versions of several SP famous 'Name Trains' are operated in authentic colours as tourist attractions.
    The HO scale layout is housed in a 2-car garage in my backyard at Landsborough & is the 4th layout built. Previous layouts were at Sandgate, Gayndah, & Gold Coast when I lived at those locations. Present layout construction commenced in mid-1998 & Stage 1 & 2 trackwork is now operational. A decision was made about 1995 to go with DCC for my control system. A Lenz system was obtained & was great to operate. In 1999, an NCE system was purchased to take advantage of latest technology. Loco decoders are Lenz, NCE, TCS, System One, Atlas & Digitrax, plus Soundtrax, Proto 2000 & Broadway sound decoders. Switchmaster or Tortoise slow motion machines power all mainline turnouts, & are controlled by DCC accessory decoders (NCE or EasyDCC) and push buttons. Although using DCC, the layout is wired in blocks for ease of fault finding & to enable me to add automatic signalling at a later date.
    The layout has bi-directional single track continuous running with several passing loops & a reversing track. There are several short sidings at various intervals around the layout to allow for local operations. A hidden 4-track staging yard is under construction below track level on the northern wall.
    Minimum radius is 27.5" with most mainline curves 33" radius & super-elevated. Early construction was code 100, but recent additions are code 83. Height of the layout is designed to assist my aching back. Lower level is 45", intermediate level is 54". A DC point to point section with automatic reversing has been laid to model the operations of SP subsidiary Pacific Electric - great for running in a loco, also. A narrow gauge section depicting Southern Pacific 3- foot gauge operations in Death Valley will be added later.
    To depict the mountainous nature of the countryside modelled, all types of scenery construction are utilized with plaster covering chicken wire, gauze, polystyrene, calico, or cardboard. Some sections only have base scenery & will have more detail added in due course. Rock moulds & bridge abutments are being added as time permits.
    Shasta Pacific CEO, Ken Leitch, has had an interest in Southern Pacific since 1958 when he purchased his first US HO rolling stock Ð SP 'Golden State' passenger coaches made by Rivarossi (from Athearn moulds) & Athearn rubber band drive F7A & RDC units plus a Lionel (HO) GP-9 unit.
    Ken is a Life Member of NMRA, honorary life member of Gold Coast Model Railway Workshop, & a member of Caloundra (Sunshine Coast) Model Railroad Club.
    Please feel free to contact Ken via e-mail.

Photos

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