2012 February SoCal Steamup with Eric Strauss https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567 The February 2012 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 Coal Fired Accucraft 2-8-2 D&RGW K-28 2/19/2012 2:31:11 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/D1009BF2-E36B-4D20-A6CB-2BE15D9FDFEA/257821740.jpg" border="0"> Lee Barrett with Lee’s new coal fired Accucraft 2-8-2 K-28 D&RGW live steam locomotive. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_182a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821740 Coal Fired Accucraft 2-8-2 D&RGW K-28 2/19/2012 2:30:51 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/4D41D218-B7E9-4E0E-B6A1-9FFBF9EBCC2B/257821728.jpg" border="0"> Lee Barrett with Lee’s new coal fired Accucraft 2-8-2 K-28 D&RGW live steam locomotive. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_188a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821728 Coal Fired Accucraft 2-8-2 D&RGW K-28 2/19/2012 2:30:33 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/158E14CA-4534-4BDA-A8C8-A8ADD927D31A/257821721.jpg" border="0"> Lee Barrett with Lee’s new coal fired Accucraft 2-8-2 K-28 D&RGW live steam locomotive. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_176a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821721 Jim Gabelich & Lee Barrett 2/19/2012 2:30:13 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/39F39A91-6974-43E1-9798-636C26622A3F/257821711.jpg" border="0"> Jim Gabelich & Lee Barrett with Lee’s new coal fired Accucraft 2-8-2 K-28 D&RGW live steam locomotive. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_171a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821711 Jim Gabelich & Bill Wilbanks 2/19/2012 2:29:46 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/29D5F073-3BF0-4361-A05E-48B410B39069/257821698.jpg" border="0"> Jim Gabelich adjusts the throttle on Bill Wilbanks’ recently converted coal fired Accucraft 2-6-0 Mogul. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_157a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821698 Jim Gabelich & Bill Wilbanks 2/19/2012 2:29:24 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/F4FD75DA-3D42-4C7C-A6BC-E53A7A1CD1A9/257821687.jpg" border="0"> Jim Gabelich watches Bill Wilbanks feed coal to his recently converted coal fired Accucraft 2-6-0 Mogul. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_148a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821687 Rob Meadows & Bill Wilbanks 2/19/2012 2:28:57 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/65AF318C-55C7-4F9E-B4FC-55EE42F785BA/257821675.jpg" border="0"> Rob Meadows & Bill Wilbanks prepare their live steam locomotives for a run. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_135a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821675 Carl Meinhof’s S2/6 K.Bay.Sts.E.B #3201 2/19/2012 2:28:32 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/101FCC07-E096-4DD1-A304-351A1B894955/257821663.jpg" border="0"> Carl Meinhof’s 1906 Royal Bavarian State Railway Express Locomotive S2/6 K.Bay.Sts.E.B #3201. The S2/6 was manufactured in the 1080’s by Aster for Fulgurex. The prototype was once tested at 154 km/h (95.7 mph). Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_165a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821663 Rob Meadows’ Aster Pannier Tank Loco 2/19/2012 2:28:07 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/626D5CC7-4A4C-4C5C-AE64-28FAA74CFFB8/257821653.jpg" border="0"> Rob Meadows’ live steam Aster built Pannier Tank locomotive and freight cars. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_142a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821653 Eric Strauss & Jim Gabelich 2/19/2012 2:27:42 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/F19E9589-A37E-476D-8FCB-E5EC1EA1BEF5/257821640.jpg" border="0"> Eric Strauss watches as Jim Gabelich adjusts his Aster built live steam Paris-Lyon-Mediterranee (PLM) 231A Pacific locomotive. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_130a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821640 Nickel Plate Road 779 Berkshire (2-8-4) 2/19/2012 2:27:18 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/3723E802-BD4B-46C1-9A32-876ADC9B460F/257821630.jpg" border="0"> Mark Kelly’s Nickel Plate Road 779 Berkshire (2-8-4) live steam locomotive by Aster. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_152b)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821630 PLM 231A Pacific, Nickel Plate Berkshire 2/19/2012 2:26:56 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/C9A39EBC-4F13-4959-9E3C-C4B6E80ED150/257821620.jpg" border="0"> On the left, Jim Gabelich’s Aster built live steam Paris-Lyon-Mediterranee (PLM) 231A Pacific locomotive with Blue 1900-1930 vintage French coach built by Pete Comely. On the right, Mark Kelly’s Nickel Plate Road 779 Berkshire (2-8-4) by Aster. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_125a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821620 Jim Gabelich & His PLM 231A Pacific Loco 2/19/2012 2:26:35 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/824399B6-3CFB-405E-BDA8-4C3AC500364D/257821609.jpg" border="0"> Jim Gabelich and his Aster built Paris-Lyon-Mediterranee (PLM) 231A Pacific locomotive with Blue 1900-1930 vintage French coach built by Pete Comely. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_136a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821609 D&RWG C-16 & Nickel Plate Berkshire 2/19/2012 2:26:13 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/7D5B11F0-6627-4129-9340-5BAD0F6E5D26/257821601.jpg" border="0"> D&RWG C-16 “Bumble Bee” & Nickel Plate Road Berkshire Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_119a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821601 Steve Ciambrone’s 4-6-2 K-4 by Accucraft 2/19/2012 2:25:51 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/BEFCB84F-26DF-4A90-BAC7-80EF570DE93B/257821590.jpg" border="0"> Steve Ciambrone & His 4-6-2 K-4 by Accucraft. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_122a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821590 Steve Ciambrone’s 4-6-2 K-4 by Accucraft 2/19/2012 2:25:29 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/182EA400-1193-4ADF-AF7E-0BC8911674B1/257821582.jpg" border="0"> Steve Ciambrone & His 4-6-2 K-4 by Accucraft. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_154a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821582 Steve Ciambrone’s 4-6-2 K-4 by Accucraft 2/19/2012 2:25:06 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/0091BC86-631B-4202-99A0-1B08E88F421F/257821570.jpg" border="0"> Steve Ciambrone’s 4-6-2 K-4 #3750 by Accucraft. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_115a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821570 Mark Kelly, Nickel Plate Road Berkshire 2/19/2012 2:24:44 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/1A124F28-219F-41FC-829A-396815488554/257821546.jpg" border="0"> Mark Kelly adjusting his Nickel Plate Road 779 Berkshire (2-8-4) by Aster. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_111a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821546 Mark Kelly, Nickel Plate Road Berkshire 2/19/2012 2:24:10 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/A89FA365-A71B-4BE4-9E05-A15DC35BD093/257821485.jpg" border="0"> Mark Kelly adjusting his Nickel Plate Road 779 Berkshire (2-8-4) by Aster. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_109a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821485 Joe Gage’s C-16 D&RWG “Bumble Bee” 2/19/2012 2:23:47 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/82E8AB8F-B0D5-45EA-9ABF-0C648FA7ED90/257821444.jpg" border="0"> Joe Gage’s Live Steam D&RGW C-16 #268 Bumble Bee 10-Wheeler by Accucraft. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_107b)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821444 Joe Gage’s C-16 D&RWG “Bumble Bee” 2/19/2012 2:23:31 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/CDF0F288-2862-4DCF-B754-67FFBA4B8569/257821415.jpg" border="0"> Joe Gage’s Live Steam D&RGW C-16 #268 Bumble Bee 10-Wheeler by Accucraft. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_107a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821415 Joe Gage & his C-16 D&RWG “Bumble Bee” 2/19/2012 2:23:11 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/029CADC4-6F59-48D7-9129-48924B5998D3/257821377.jpg" border="0"> Joe Gage & his Live Steam D&RGW C-16 #268 Bumble Bee 10-Wheeler by Accucraft. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_101a) <!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821377 Eric Strauss’ Back Yard & Layout 2/19/2012 2:22:45 PM <img src="https://img.dotphoto.com/i/c/859F2725-604E-41E5-BC3A-CCBCB08D07AB/257821330.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 4 ft. lift-bridge. Taken February 18, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, CA (Image D5-22_105a)<!--skw=kw_photo kw_color--> https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rickparkerphoto&AID=6505567&IID=257821330