https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=5862338 The 2nd May 2009 SoCal steamup was hosted at Eric Strauss’ residence in Sherman Oaks, California. Eric’s railroad is a raised dual loop system built upon a structure made of 2"x 6" wooden frames which are bolted together and supported on 4" x 4" posts. This raised framework in turn supports the track platform made of 5/16" thick Hardipanel concrete composite board. Although the entire line is nearly dead level, because of sloping terrain, the height of the railroad above grade varies from about 26" to 46". The earth in the area is very hard because of a very high clay content so the support posts do not go into the ground but instead are strap-mounted to precast concrete footers simply resting on a thin sand layer at ground level. The track is Llagas Creek nickel silver code 250 rail in their "narrow gauge" tie strips. Altogether, there are fourteen #6 turnouts including the three crossovers and six "yard" tracks for steaming up with lengths from 16 ft. to over 26 ft. The outside loop is 186 ft. long with a minimum radius of 8 ft. The inside loop is about 181 ft. long with a minimum radius of 7 ft.- 4". Access to the inside (running) area is provided by a hinged, counter-balanced, 4 ft. lift-bridge with it's closed (down) position magnetically held. Photos by Rick Parker en-us 1440 6/4/2009 6:12:32 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/EC3A5FA0-8AEB-4605-B462-93F52F5B37B8/218621149.jpg" border="0"> Jim Gabelich and his alcohol fired Aster C-12. Taken May 30, 2009 in Sherman Oaks, CA at Eric Strauss’ 2nd SoCal May Steamup (Image D5-01_547a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=5862338&IID=218621149 6/2/2009 12:47:11 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/B2A0516F-69A3-423F-9876-33CE36698D5E/218453523.jpg" border="0"> John Coughran’s Accucraft side tank Superior 0-6-2 butane fired loco with a superheater is hauling 14 Hartland coal cars. Taken May 30, 2009 in Sherman Oaks, CA at Eric Strauss’ 2nd SoCal May Steamup (Image D5-01_527a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=5862338&IID=218453523 5/31/2009 9:09:29 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/4526A96D-6EF4-4253-8084-1315211C5A4B/218329155.jpg" border="0"> Eric Strauss Hosted 2nd May 2009 Steamup. Taken May 30, 2009 in Sherman Oaks, CA at Eric’s 2nd SoCal May Steamup (Image D5-01_519a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=5862338&IID=218329155 5/31/2009 6:38:33 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/854558C9-DA62-4C3F-B6E6-4AF4031CCF95/218317786.jpg" border="0"> Sonny Wizelman, Travis Kelly (Mark’s son), John Coughran, Raul Barrile, and Steve Ciambrone enjoy lunch at Eric Strauss’ 2nd SoCal May Steamup Taken May 30, 2009 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-01_550a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=5862338&IID=218317786 5/31/2009 6:37:11 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/0D093D0D-9AD6-443C-9FE6-B0CDBC112B47/218317703.jpg" border="0"> Mark Kelly waters his Southern Mikado as Joe Gage looks on. Taken May 30, 2009 in Sherman Oaks, CA at Eric Strauss’ 2nd SoCal May Steamup (Image D5-01_548a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=5862338&IID=218317703 5/31/2009 6:35:58 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/40CBBA54-5C4A-4BB6-AA3C-31C5CB8AF4AD/218317630.jpg" border="0"> Mark Kelly fires his Southern Makado as Jim Gabelich prepares his live steam loco as others enjoy the day of steaming. Taken May 30, 2009 in Sherman Oaks, CA at Eric Strauss’ 2nd SoCal May Steamup (Image D5-01_544a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=5862338&IID=218317630 5/31/2009 6:33:49 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/E73A5DA9-612B-4899-8607-DBD2CE7C60F1/218317482.jpg" border="0"> Rob Meadows’ cattle car. Taken May 30, 2009 in Sherman Oaks, CA at Eric Strauss’ 2nd SoCal May Steamup (Image D5-01_541a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=5862338&IID=218317482 5/31/2009 6:32:41 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/F671DF2C-D91F-4EAA-A902-63FB81A79FD9/218317398.jpg" border="0"> Sonny Wizelman's detailed Accucraft two truck Shay. Taken May 30, 2009 in Sherman Oaks, CA at Eric Strauss’ 2nd SoCal May Steamup (Image D5-01_539a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=5862338&IID=218317398 5/31/2009 6:31:12 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/BFADAA09-836C-4AE6-A2B1-2A0EDCE64ED0/218317284.jpg" border="0"> Eric Strauss, Bill Turkel, and John Polen admire Rob Meadows’ Pannier Tank loco and hand built cars. Taken May 30, 2009 in Sherman Oaks, CA at Eric Strauss’ 2nd SoCal May Steamup (Image D5-01_537a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=5862338&IID=218317284 5/31/2009 6:29:44 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/B8830008-3AE6-4446-8239-4F2DE7F18BF0/218317168.jpg" border="0"> Joe Gage’s Shay & Logging Train. Taken May 30, 2009 in Sherman Oaks, CA at Eric Strauss’ 2nd SoCal May Steamup (Image D5-01_534a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=5862338&IID=218317168 5/31/2009 6:28:21 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/233C13C6-00FF-4C3A-B9C8-1ACE0789D222/218317056.jpg" border="0"> Joe Gage’s log hauling Shay & Bill Turkel’s coal hauling C-16 “Bee”. Taken May 30, 2009 in Sherman Oaks, CA at Eric Strauss’ 2nd SoCal May Steamup (Image D5-01_533a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=5862338&IID=218317056 5/31/2009 6:26:58 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/8D9E0E7A-C6EE-475B-84D9-7D11BA1A0787/218316977.jpg" border="0"> Bill Turkell’s C-16 D&RWG “Bee” 10-Wheeler by Accucraft. Taken May 30, 2009 in Sherman Oaks, CA at Eric Strauss’ 2nd SoCal May Steamup (Image D5-01_530a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=5862338&IID=218316977 5/31/2009 6:25:48 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/0C7388B4-282C-4354-A99B-1503B1EADC27/218316884.jpg" border="0"> Raul Barrile, Jim Gabelich, and Rob Meadows inspect Eric’s 4 foot counter balanced lift-bridge that provides access to the inside running area as others enjoy the day of steaming. Taken May 30, 2009 in Sherman Oaks, CA at Eric Strauss’ 2nd SoCal May Steamup (Image D5-01_525a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=5862338&IID=218316884 5/31/2009 6:22:18 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/D14495E2-3EDE-4D79-AED7-E364B49E8B58/218316597.jpg" border="0"> Rob Meadows’ Flat Car with Land Rover. Taken May 30, 2009 in Sherman Oaks, CA at Eric Strauss’ 2nd SoCal May Steamup (Image D5-01_516a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=5862338&IID=218316597 5/31/2009 6:21:06 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/0761EC18-BF41-4F55-8CCE-D15529D8DB35/218316509.jpg" border="0"> Rob Meadows' flat car with cable reel. Taken May 30, 2009 in Sherman Oaks, CA at Eric Strauss’ 2nd SoCal May Steamup (Image D5-01_515a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=5862338&IID=218316509 5/31/2009 6:20:05 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/B2D8E0D7-AEFB-4C4F-952F-718E2F091283/218316437.jpg" border="0"> Rob Meadows' flat car with steam roller. Taken May 30, 2009 in Sherman Oaks, CA at Eric Strauss’ 2nd SoCal May Steamup (Image D5-01_514a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=5862338&IID=218316437 5/31/2009 6:19:06 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/D3E04479-5FD4-47A9-A401-57680A8A4C61/218316360.jpg" border="0"> Raul Barrile’s butane fired Roundhouse Fowler 0-6-2 hauling LPG cars. Taken May 30, 2009 in Sherman Oaks, CA at Eric Strauss’ 2nd SoCal May Steamup (Image D5-01_513a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=5862338&IID=218316360 5/31/2009 6:18:09 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/8B50B6B2-5832-4CF2-BBFB-CA6E01DB7E21/218316282.jpg" border="0"> Eric’s railroad has fourteen turnouts including three crossovers and six "yard" tracks for steaming up with lengths from 16 ft. to over 26 ft. The mainline loop is 186 ft. long with a minimum radius of 8 ft. Access to the inside (running) area is provided by a 4 ft. lift-bridge. Taken May 30, 2009 in Sherman Oaks, CA at Eric Strauss’ 2nd SoCal May Steamup (Image D5-01_510a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=5862338&IID=218316282