Model Railroading > The "Basement Locomotives" of 50-Years Ago ...

It has been just over FIFTY years ago that Vic Shattock's half-inch scale Live Steam basement railroad empire in Oakland, Calif had to be dismantled and hauled away after being in the same East Oakland location for some thirty years.
This basement railroad location was the birthplace of the "Golden Gate Live Steamers"
who now operate trains on some 10000 feet of track in Berkeley's "Tilden Regional Park".
Let's take a look at ALL of the original basement locomotives who entertained thousands of visitors over the years.

Photo 1. SP Class P-4 "Pacific" # 2422 (being turned on Vic's turntable)

Photo 2. SP Class P-4 "Pacific" # 2422 (being fueled by Vic on firing up track)

Photo 3. SP 0-6-0 Switch Engine # 1207 (stolen by unknown thieves in April-1946)

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Photo 4. SP Class MK-4 2-8-2 Mikado # 3217 (Starred on Hobby Lobby radio show
in New York City--October 19, 1938)

Photo 5. SP Class MK-6 2-8-2 Mikado # 3254 (Both "Mikes" custom-painted by SP)

Photo 6. SP Class P-4 "Pacific" # 2422 II (The first of TWO "unpainted" P-4's)

Note: Vic Shattock built many other locomotives NOT shown on this "basement" listing.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/14/11 23:42 by KeyRouteKen.

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Photo 7. SP "Consolidation" # 2753 (The whereabouts of this engine today are
unknown)

The San Francisco Call Bulletin newspaper, in a headline about Vic's railroad across the Bay in Oakland many years ago, proclaimed:
"HE WANTED TO PLAY WITH STEAM TRAINS" (I guess he did at that, huh ?)

That railroad was in his Oakland home from 1930--1961... In 1936, he formed the Golden Gate Live Steamers which met in the same basement on Friday nights. In 1948 they started building their first outdoor track in Oakland's Redwood Regional Park which was completed in 1950. In 1963 they completed the ground level inch and a half scale track at Redwood Park. The final operation of Vic's basement railroad along with the last combined meeting of the GGLS Club in the basement, was February 3, 1961.
In 1971, the Club moved from Redwood Park in Oakland to Tilden Park in Berkeley and greatly expanded from there. They are currently the oldest Live Steam club in the United States. They have been a tenant of the Eastbay Regional Park System for the past sixty-three years !

It is highly doubtful if Vic Shattock ever thought that his "DREAM" would last this long. Please join us at Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley on JULY 8, 9 and 10, 2011 as we celebrate our ** 75th Anniversary ** !!!!

KEN SHATTOCK (KRK)

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Wonderful photos. thank you so much for sharing. I love old steam photos most of all!

Gwen Mueller

I saw the remains of 3254 at a 2-1/2" gauge meet at GGLS back in the early 1990s. The fellow who owned it said he picked it up from a widow and it had been sitting outside for many years. The boiler had been removed, but otherwise looked like it was in pretty good condition, including the tender. I have several photos of it if you are interested, Ken.

Warren