SCLS goes to Joshua Tree

 

After about an hour of running we took a break and were given a tour of the JTSRR facility including its museum and historic rail cars. They have several  vintage rail cars undergoing restoration. Terry gave us a ton of info on the cars that are there and answered all our questions. Some of the cars we saw were a D&RGW dining car that still has a functional kitchen that is still in use at special events, the Pullman "Red Oak", a SP caboose, and SP5217 a railway post office car, which still had most of the original interior still intact.

 

 

On our way down to the museum Todd took some time to help out the guys moving some track for the 15" railroad. After the museum tour we hit the tracks again running the American along with a Hudson and the F-7. Charlie spent the afternoon giving rides to other visitors that were there. We had a lot of nice comments on our equipment and even had members from another club take the F-7 around for a lap or 2, before we headed out for a late lunch.

 

 

When we got back from lunch the guys from JT had just finished firing up their 15" Shay. Soon after we got to ride it, and Charlie and Steve even got a chance to operate it. What a great experience that was epically going over the bridge and through the rock valley that took over a year to carve out. By this time it was starting to get late so we made a few more laps before the sun went down and we had to load up and head home. This was a great trip for all the SCLS members that attended and we would like to thank the folks at JTSRR for their hospitality and inviting us out to their track.