Model Railroading > Herzog Ballast around The Loop... La Mesa Club ~ San Diego, CA

I'm gobsmacked that it has been nearly 4 years (March 2019) since I've last been free and able to attend one of the weekend fun-run sessions at the famed HO Scale La Mesa Model RR Club in San Diego, CA... But then there was this bug going around you know, and man time flies!

This past (last) Sunday in January 2023, it was hi-time to fire-test my recently completed Herzog 2.0 ballast train. Two ScaleTrains ES44ACs, (one Citirail, one KCS), 24 customized/weathered Athearn RTR Thrall 4000cf HERZOG gons (with MacRail ballast car details added), and one modernized Atlas BN caboose on the rear. One important additional detail not seen in the images, every other ballast car has been equipped with a 20K resistor wheel set from JB Wheels.

1. ScaleTrains GEs leading the HERZOG ballast train past Ilmon.
2. HERZOG now at Bealville.
3. Track level at Bealville.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/02/23 22:59 by MrMRL.

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4. Approaching Marcel Siding.
5. 25 cars around the Loop, too short...
6. Looks better high in the air around the cliffs at Cliff.

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7. Last view from the flatter sections near Caliente.

Anyhoo, a big thanks as always to friends Dave Hussey (of Cannon & Co.) and Tim Costello, for the never expected yet always appreciated occasional invites to operate on a model railroad that near-accurately tackles the scale and grandeur of the world famous Tehachapi Loop!

http://www.lamesaclub.com
http://www.facebook.com/LMMRRC

Larger 1600x photos posted at my pbase page below...
https://pbase.com/mrmrl/la_mesa_club

~ Mr. MRL

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Stunning photos as always. Great to finally meet you Sunday. As I mentioned then, always enjoy your posts here. 

Really nice train! I like your power selection. Bummed there wasn't an upclose picture of the Caboose. 

Amazing scenes. It has been some years since I have been down to San Diego to see it.  In my opinion it is the most impressive scaled layout in terms of chosen route, realism, and accuracy.   I also like that it is not modern era and is of an era that has passed. Your ballast train is impressive too. What caught your interest to choose a ballast train over other types of trains?

Todd Clark
Canyon Country, CA
Trainorders.com

dmaffei Wrote:
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> Stunning photos as always. Great to finally meet
> you Sunday. As I mentioned then, always enjoy your
> posts here. 

It was a pleasure to finally meet and run with you as well Dave. Possible fleeting introductions at past BAPM events over the years can't quite compare to stopping and passing each others hand crafted model trains somewhere along a photo accurate replication of the Tehachapi Pass.

~ Mr. MRL

SCUfoamer Wrote:
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> Really nice train! I like your power selection.
> Bummed there wasn't an upclose picture of the
> Caboose. 

Pic is around 10 years old now, but here, an in your face angle of my model of BN 10195...

~ Mr. MRL



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/02/23 23:30 by MrMRL.

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webmaster Wrote:
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> Amazing scenes. (...) Your ballast train is
> impressive too. What caught your interest to
> choose a ballast train over other types of trains?

Thanks for the comments Todd.

I have found myself over the years beginning to increase a portion of my modeling interests towards more universal modern US/North American representative train types. This stepped-back approach to the look and acceptance of a model train may be due in part to a personal expansion of contemporary railroad engine liveries I've accumulated over the past several years. The Herzog ballast train for example works near-equally well with BNSF, UP, CSX, NS, CN, KCS, MRL, FEC, heck maybe even AMTK power pulling it around a particular layout. Herzog operates nationwide, for any railroad that needs service. That's what I enjoy about it, kinda like TTX, you see them everywhere. Any railfan or modeler can see HERZOG, sees those iconic large white letters down the car sides and instantly forms a connection, recalling the observation of a similar train closer to their hometown at some point in the past.


~ Mr. MRL

Excellent photos of your awesome train!

Real nice.
JB

MrMRL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Anyhoo, a big thanks as always to friends Dave
> Hussey (of Cannon & Co.) and Tim Costello, for the
> never expected yet always appreciated occasional
> invites to operate on a model railroad that
> near-accurately tackles the scale and grandeur of
> the world famous Tehachapi Loop!
>
> ~ Mr. MRL

Robbie, it is always a pleasure to have you join us. Great pictures, and of course an interesting consist. 

Dave

Very nice train and layout!

Great series Robbie. Thanks for sharing. 

Nice to run some trains with you, Robbie! it was a good time. You're right, there really is nothing else like the La Mesa layout. Thanks to Dave Hussey and Tim Costello for wrangling the details of the rhe run last weekend!

-Rick

Rick Selby
Redmond, WA
Pacific Northwest RPM

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Thanks for sharing. That is an amazing layout and the your train looks great too. In most views, the train looks longer than 24 cars.

Victor Baird
 

MrMRL Wrote:

> I have found myself over the years beginning to
> increase a portion of my modeling interests
> towards more universal modern US/North American
> representative train types. 

Makes sense.  Can run on any layout and be correct.

Todd Clark
Canyon Country, CA
Trainorders.com

First three photos by the O.P. are eastbound.  Last six photos by the O.P. are westbound.

Thanks again for comments and feedback folks.

~ Mr. MRL