Riding the Encanada Pacific Railroad

One of the fun things I’ve gotten to do over the past few years is enjoy many of the full size and scale model steam-powered railroads around Southern California – some in public settings, and some privately owned.

Saturday, March 22, 2014, I was invited to visit the Encanada Pacific Railroad where they steamed up the 1/8 scale (1-1/2 inch scale) Class D Shay Locomotive.

 

 

 

 

Richard T. Jerome, 79, owns the railroad, which runs on 1,200 feet of 7-1/2 inch gauge track (which was built 7-5/8 wide for a smoother ride) laid on the property at his house. His neighbor Mike Rusiewski, 50, serves as engineer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was invited to the event by Mike, who had befriended me on Facebook – due to our common interests in railroads, Disney and Bourbon.

I arrived around 1 p.m. and we went down to Richard’s train shed, where Mike and Richard proceeded to get the #2 engine ready for steaming.

First they put a full propane tank into the compartment into the boxcar that sits right behind the tender. Then they rolled it partially out of the shed to fill the tender and boiler with filtered water.

 

 

 

Next, Mike put oil in all the gearboxes and went through his checklist. Then the pair hooked up an air hose from a compressor – needed due to the lack of steam pressure in the cold engine – and lit up the boiler.

It took about 20 minutes for the engine to get up to its operating pressure of approximately 120 PSI.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then it was time to walk the and inspect if for any damage or debris on the rails, and to make sure all the track switches were set correctly for the day’s run.

It was time for the first ride of the day. I hopped on board the passenger car coupled to the rear and we were off.

The ride was very smooth, I could tell that even with the clickety-clack of the wheels on the rails, that Mike and Richard did a good job laying the track a few years ago, and that the trucks (wheels) on the rolling stock were in great shape.

After two laps around, Mike found that a valve was not allowing water to be piped through from the tender to the boiler. So they backed the engine off the main line and rolled out the diesel Santa Fe engine to keeps guests at the day’s birthday party for Richard’s granddaughter satisfied with train rides.

 

Meanwhile, Mike and Richard set to work repairing the valve – which essentially has a small square washer in it that lets the water flow through from the tender.

 

 

Valve repaired, Mike topped off the water, lit off the boiler, and found that everything was working fine.

 

 

Off the #2 went to take kids and adults on rides around the track.

There were enough people at the party that they kept both trains running for a couple hours.

Finally, with water and train riders running low, the Shay was taken off line to power down. They turned off the boiler then blew out the steam through the engine to clean out any scale. Then they drained the water and blew air through the boiler and lines to clear out any remaining water. After making sure everything was safe, the engine was put away for the day.

Mike and I adjourned to his house where he shared some very nice and rare Bourbons with me. A really cool way to spend a Saturday afternoon, thanks Mike and Richard!

 

 

About the Encanada Pacific Railroad engine #2

The model is a reproduction of a three-cylinder, four-truck Class D Shay Locomotive. Ephraim Shay (1839-1916) invented the Shay Locomotives as a better way to transport logs to sawmills.

The engines used pistons mounted on the side of the boiler that connected to the wheels via gears – as such delivering more tractive power. This allowed them to haul heavier loads in tight quarters.

They were popular in the mountains and on narrow-gauge lines in states like Colorado. Many of the Shay Locomotives were manufactured by Lima Locomotive Works of Lima, Ohio.

Read about other Disney connections and trains at the Orange Empire Railway Museum here.

Maybe Tom’s Farms and its train is more your speed.